#25 October 2024

[brian-in-finance]

Video 📹 from Instagram

Remember… all endings are also beginnings. We just don't know it at the time. — Mitch Albom

[dpdailyupdate]

Terrible Influence Austin Pre-Show Pictures

25 October 2024

[ariadneslament-likes]

October 25th 2024

[rabbitcruiser]

Global Champagne Day

Global Champagne Day is celebrated every year on the fourth Friday in October and this year, it falls on October 25. The beverage is a sparkling wine that originated and is produced in the Champagne wine region of France. Most champagne is produced with Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay grapes; although smaller amounts of Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris (called Fromenteau in Champagne), Arbane, and Petit Meslier are also used. Traditionally, it is served in a champagne flute, whose characteristics include a long stem with a tall, narrow bowl, thin sides, and an etched bottom. It’s usually reserved for celebrations, especially New Year’s Day, right as the year begins, and the winners of racing competitions tend to spray champagne at each other and the crowd.

History of Global Champagne Day

The oldest recorded sparkling wine is Blanquette de Limoux, which was supposedly invented in 1531 by Benedictine monks in the Abbey of Saint-Hilaire, near Carcassonne. The process was achieved by bottling the wine before the initial fermentation had ended. A hundred years later, an English scientist named Christopher Merret documented the addition of sugar to a finished wine to create a second fermentation. He detailed to the Royal Society what is now called ‘méthode traditionnelle,’ in 1662, but it would not be used for champagne until the 19th century, about 200 years later.

In France, the creation of the first sparkling champagne was accidental. It was called the “Devil’s Wine” because bottles exploded or corks popped as a result of the pressure in the bottle. At the time, the bubbles were considered a fault. The invention of the muselet by Adolphe Jaquesson in 1844 helped prevent the corks from blowing out. Even when it began to be deliberately produced as a sparkling wine, for a very long time champagne was made using the ‘méthode rurale,’ in which the wine was bottled before the initial fermentation had finished.

The production of champagne saw massive growth in the 19th century, from a more regional production of 300,000 bottles a year in 1800 to 20 million bottles by 1850. In that century, champagne was noticeably sweeter than the ones from today. A taste for drier champagnes began when Perrier-Jouët decided not to sweeten his 1846 vintage before exporting it to London. Thus, in 1876, the designation of ‘brut’ champagne was created for the British, to identify the driest champagne, made with less than 0.4 ounces of added sugar per liter.

Global Champagne Day timeline

1531

Oldest Recorded Sparkling Wine

The Blanquette de Limoux is seemingly invented by Benedictine monks in the Abbey of Saint-Hilaire, near Carcassonne.

1662

Christopher Merret Describes the ‘Méthode Traditionnelle’

It is the creation of a second fermentation by adding sugar.

1663

Oldest Written Use of ‘Champagne’

The poet Samuel Butler refers to a “brisk champagne.”

19th Century

The ‘Méthode Traditionnelle’ is Used

About 200 years after it was first documented, sweet champagne becomes the norm for this century.

1844

Invention of the Muselet

Adolphe Jaquesson creates it, and it helps prevent corks from blowing out because of the pressure in champagne bottles.

Global Champagne Day FAQs

What does champagne symbolize?

It is perceived by many as the wine of happiness and celebration of excellence, which presides over all moments of celebration and success. This is why we always drink it to celebrate important things.

Is champagne stronger than beer?

In most cases, yes. A bottle of beer usually has around 4.5% alcohol whereas a bottle of champagne has around 12 to 20% alcohol.

Is champagne the healthiest alcohol?

It contains antioxidants that prevent damage to your blood vessels, reduce bad cholesterol and prevent blood clots; proteins that are beneficial for your short-term memory; fewer calories than both red and white wine, and can lower your risk of contracting diabetes by 13%.

Global Champagne Day Activities

Pop open a bottle: This one is self-explanatory. Gather some friends or family and drink your favorite champagne.

Learn how to open a bottle with a champagne saber: If you’re a big enough enthusiast of champagne, you’ve probably heard of this unusual act. There are specific sabers you can buy that are made for cutting the top of champagne bottles. You need to follow some special instructions, so make sure you know what you’re doing before you try it in front of others.

Visit the Champagne region: The ultimate way to celebrate. You can learn first-hand how champagne is made, visit a palace and a cathedral, and fly over the vineyards on a hot-air balloon.

5 Mind-Blowing Facts About Champagne

Right to the name: It is illegal in most countries to use the word ‘champagne’ to refer to any sparkling wine that doesn’t come from the Champagne region in France.

It was called ‘shampanskoe’ in Russia: This translates to "that, which is of Champagne," only in 2021 did Russia ban the name for imported sparkling wine, but it’s still used today for some brands produced in former Soviet republics.

High velocity: When popped, a champagne cork can reach a velocity of 24.8 miles per hour.

177 feet and nine inches: That is the longest recorded cork flight.

$2.07 million: That is what the most expensive bottle of champagne costs, designed by Alexander Amosu and Swarovski, handcrafted from 18-carat solid gold, and with a deep-cut 19-carat white diamond at its center.

Why We Love Global Champagne Day

It’s a day to share our favorite champagne with others: Usually, people only drink champagne at celebrations, but if you’re a big enthusiast, this day is a good excuse to drink with friends and family. If you own several bottles, you can make a show out of it and have them try different types.

It’s a chance to learn more about champagne: The history and process of making champagne is quite lengthy. There are many books and internet articles, and videos documenting everything very well.

It makes us feel like James Bond: While it’s often said that the Vodka Martini is the secret agent’s favorite drink, he has drunk champagne more often in the films. It shows up over 35 times, and his favorite brand seems to be Bollinger, which is seen in 14 movies.

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[brian-in-finance]

About Claire…

Her empathy and her ability to connect with people and understand the difference of right and wrong and where justice should be—that’s all of the stuff I love about her. And her capacity for loving and living and even fighting so immensely. She has such an immense capacity for feeling, and that’s such an incredible thing to be able to play. — Caitríona Balfe

CB IG posted 25 October 2024

Taking the Claire wig off for the last time! 😭

[card-of-the-day]

Today's Card Is: Sunder

[brian-in-finance]

Shippers should stop emphasizing the skin dipping on that beach, because according to John and Sophie there were only 2 full moons, his and hers, not the others. Starz just posted the clip on their IG. 🏖🌃🌕🌕

Thanks for the messages, Anons. 😃 (I think Jamie was busy elsewhere. 😬)

Let’s listen:

Video 📹 from Instagram

Screenshots account for the final 14 seconds of the video.

This is what I hear:

Sophie: J.B. was like, “Should we go for a swim?"

John: Naked.

Caitríona: And we did.

Sophie: Naked.

Sam: We did a skinny dip, yeah.

Sophie: And on the way to the sea, I remember I was just running and I just face-planted on the floor.

Based on that conversation, I think all four late-night party people went swimming, probably each of them naked. Whether all or some swam, whether some wore underwear, whether two or four bare bottoms were visible, is incidental to me. They enjoyed their time together and have a funny story to tell. (Sorry, Richard 😂)

This isn’t a life-altering or career-sinking or marriage-debunking event. It was a good time had by all. Four creative adults who have worked together for many years, on a TV show that isn’t shy about nudity, went skinny-dipping on a warm summer night. That one of them is married to a man who wasn’t there? Please… 🤦🏻‍♂️

IMO, on the list of things people should stop (Anon’s words) emphasising, skinny dipping barely invites notice. 😉

Remember… if people were meant to be nude, they would have been born this way. — Oscar Wilde

[procrasticat]

When I heard of the first Prompt of the Month („Backpack“) I remembered the most bizarre excuse of a backpack - and that’s Ginkos Shelf of incredible oddities that he just slings over his shoulder like a maniac.

I would not be surprised if nobody were to recognise him though. Mushi-Shi is one of the most underrated anime of all time - everybody should watch it.

[brian-in-finance]

Who spies, behind Richard’s little eye? ☘️

IGS jamie.roy_

Posted 27 October 2024

[dpdailyupdate]

New DanAndPhilGAMES ‘Our Phanniversary Newlyweds Game’ 🖤

25 October 2024

[ldshadowdoodles]

[336] The Fairy Queen and her Flower Crown

-🌷

[ojiropanelotd]

Day 187! HES SO COOL!! Chapter: 182

[withbriefthanksgiving]

25 October 2024

[glitterlikegold]

October 25, 2024

[rabbitcruiser]

World Lemur Day 

World Lemur Day celebrates lemurs and spreads the word about the need to conserve them; it inspires a love for them and actions to save them from extinction. It also celebrates Madagascar, the island nation located 250 miles off the east coast of Africa that lemurs call home. Events are held around the world on the day, in person and virtually. World Lemur Day takes place on the last Friday of October, and the World Lemur Festival takes place during the weeks surrounding it.

Madagascar is rich in biodiversity, and much of its flora and fauna can be found nowhere else in the world, as is the case with lemurs. Scientists believe that lemurs may have gotten their start on Africa's mainland before arriving; they think lemurs floated to the island on vegetation, and then evolved and diversified over millions of years. Madagascar was a favorable environment for them because the landscape was habitable, there were varied food sources, and there weren't any large predators.

Today there are over 100 species of lemurs. By one count there are 112, but the number changes when new ones are identified through discoveries and genetic testing. Subfossils indicate there once were more and that some became extinct, possibly from being hunted by humans after humans arrived on the island. The 2020 update of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species indicated that almost all lemur species were threatened with extinction and that almost a third were critically endangered.

The smallest lemur is the Madame's Berthe mouse lemur, weighing in at 30 grams, and the largest is the indri, which may weigh up to 9.5 kilograms. Subfossils indicate that some lemurs were once as large as gorillas. Some other lemurs are the ring-tailed lemur, dancing sifaka, and aye-aye. Lemurs have unique traits in common. They have a heightened sense of smell because of their long snouts and wet noses and have improved night vision because of their tapetum lucidum, an extra layer of tissue behind their retina. All lemurs except aye-ayes have incisors and canines that lean forward instead of upward, called toothcombs, which are used for grooming, as well as to eat seeds and bark.

The forests of Madagascar benefit from lemurs, who help them grow by pollinating plants and dispersing seeds. Lemurs eat fruit but don't digest the seeds, and leave the seeds around the forest in their droppings. They also may get seeds and pollen stuck in their fur while looking for fruits and nectar, and may pass them onto other flowers.

To protect lemurs, the challenges and threats they face must be known. They face habitat change and loss, climate change, invasive species, and poaching. The forests of Madagascar are decreasing in size, changing the habitats of lemurs. This negatively impacts individual lemurs and the species as a whole. Madagascar is one of the top countries affected by climate change caused by humans. Droughts in the south and yearly monsoons in the north have become more prevalent in the twenty-first century, affecting all life on the island, including lemurs. Being that Madagascar developed in isolation when non-native species enter the ecosystem, they can threaten those that live there. Lemurs are also hunted for the pet trade, for food, and for cultural reasons.

A "fady" is a taboo of the Malagasy people, those who reside in Madagascar. For some, hunting, killing, or eating the indri is fady, since legend says that the spirits of ancestors live on within them. The aye-aye is associated with evil, and legend says that bad things may happen to those who see one. They are often killed because of this.

Lemurs benefit from ecotourism. Those visiting Madagascar bring money to the local economy, and, in turn, the Malagasy see the benefit of having the lemurs around—tourism wouldn't thrive without them. As the economy grows, the lemurs benefit. Conservation work in Madagascar is complex and supports wildlife, habitats, and people. Building relationships with and working with the Malagasy is crucial. Establishing and maintaining protected areas, reforestation efforts, dealing with invasive species, captive breeding at zoos, and reintroducing and relocating species are all part of conservation efforts. These efforts are given a boost today with World Lemur Day!

How to Observe World Lemur Day

World Lemur Day is celebrated individually, but also by zoos and other organizations. Some ideas for participation include:

Post on social media with the hashtag #WorldLemurDay and tag the Lemur Conservation Network. They can be found on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Focus your posts on the urgency of lemur conservation and how everyone can help make a difference and save lemurs from extinction by working together. Use the social media guide to help you craft your posts.

Utilize the Lemur Conservation Network's participation guide for ideas on how individuals, member organizations, zoos, educators, and libraries can participate. For individuals, they suggest holding a fundraiser for a Lemur Conservation Network's member organization; sharing photos of lemurs seen at zoos or during travel to Madagascar, along with information about them, what is loved about them, and memories of the trip; creating and sharing information graphics about lemurs; holding a community event, such as a lemur-themed happy hour, film screening, or costume party; visiting a school to teach kids about lemurs; or walking around in a lemur costume.

Plan your own event. Consider collaborating with a Lemur Conservation Network member organization to create one. Send details about your activity or event to the Lemur Conservation Network for them to add to their event calendar, and check the calendar for other events to attend.

Join the Lemur Conservation Network.

Volunteer with the Lemur Conservation Network or with an organization in Madagascar that protects lemurs.

Read a book about Madagascar.

Listen to a podcast about lemurs or Madagascar.

If you are a teacher, you could use the Lemur Conservation Network's teaching resources for your classroom.

Check out the Lemur Conservation Network's "Professional Resources for Research and Conservation."

Check for other ideas on the Lemur Conservation Network's "How to Help" page.

The Lemur Conservation Network suggests contacting them to learn more about participating in the day.

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