Harlan Vaughn's Blog, page 77
September 20, 2012
Wine Review: West Ridge 2011 Zinfandel
Got this bottle from Vinesse Wine Club.
This wine is a:
RED
ZINFANDEL
from CALIFORNIA
Vineyard: Paso Robles
Producer: West Ridge
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Keep in mind that I’m just a dude who likes to drink wine. I’m in no way an expert or a sommelier or anything like that. So this review should be taken with a grain of salt. Just one opinion of one variety.
So apparently the zinfandel grape really thrive in an area called Paso Robles, located in San Luis Obispo County, California.
BODY: Light-to-medium, which I like in a red. Not too heavy. Would pair well with a light red sauce pasta, veggie pizza, or something snacky like bagel chips. Also would be great to drink while cleaning the house. Or sipping while reading a wonderful book. ;)
TASTE: Fruity, but only on the inside of the taste. Before you reach the fruit flavors, there’s more going on than that. Something spicy and rich. Then you get tastes of raspberries, or maybe even blueberry jam. The alcohol taste is well-shielded by the flavors, but like a good fruit wine, it has a little bite right before the end. Very simple, not overly subtle.
FINISH: The end finishes really, really clean and with just a hint of sweetness. The taste left behind is light and almost refreshing. Definitely easy to sip and don’t really need food to cleanse the palate between tastes.
SCORE (1-10): 7.5 The only thing holding this wine back is a lack of depth. It’s a simple, clean wine with just a couple of flavors. To really bump it up into 9 or 10 territory, there would have to be another level of finish or another hint of a flavor (maybe a hint of oak?). But that being said, 7.5 is a great score, and for the price, it’s well worth it. Would definitely drink again when in the mood to have a red that’s smooth, kinda light, and doesn’t require a lot of attention.
The Matter of Current Politics in Fiction Writing
There is always a danger of including political, or even cultural, references in a piece of writing. If the story is intended to be “timeless”, these references can severely date the story.
However, if that is your intent, it can add a lot of power to your plot, and give your characters a LOT of added dimension.
In my book Here Lies Death, I definitely tackled modern politics. The challenge was to not appear biased as a writer, but to let the opinions of my characters let the reader know how they are supposed to feel, thus leading the reader to empathize with me as the writer, or perhaps just even the omniscient narrator of the story.
I used clearly defined dates in my story. It starts on December 21, 2012, the day of the supposed end of the world, as predicted by the Mayans and runs to 2015. But more than this, it takes the reader to a very near-present time. Think about what happens in November 2012. The election. I’m sure you’ve already seen many articles and heard many opinions on it already. But how to let the reader know your opinion without seeming preachy? That was a huge challenge for me.
I had a character that was the president, religious groups, protesters, and a world that votes on their own slow demise. Could’ve been super sticky and difficult to manage. Here’s what I learned:
Let the characters do it. Be wary of negative adjectives when describing political matters. Just state the facts. The readers are all big boys and girls - they can make up their own minds. And by making them think about it, it pulls them deeper into your story and helps them understand what the characters are going through.
If you must discuss politics, if it is essential to your story, try to be as balanced as possible unless you are writing a story intended to persuade or an op-ed piece. Otherwise, stay neutral, and use your characters as tools, as an outlet. Know them, and know yourself.
Writing about politics in fiction can add a distinctly human element to your story, and, depending on your stance, can push your story into a more charged and respected realm.
As with everything though: keep it classy.
Update: American Express Officially Sucks
See previous posts here and here.
I spent about two hours on the phone with Amex CSRs yesterday trying to get them to give me some sort of recompense for ignoring my request for a card upgrade and sending instead the completely wrong card. They bounced me all around their phone system, each rep more clueless than the one before. I ended up talking to about 10 dumb reps.
Apparently there is no signup bonus attached to the card I received (it’s 25K bonus points right now) and there is no way for them to attach the bonus, bump me a few points, or waive the first years’ annual fee. So basically there is nothing they can do for me. What a joke. The representatives were useless, and when I asked them point blank, “So there is nothing you can to to correct this?” they answered “Yes.” And this is customer service for their most premium card.
I did get a small win. They bumped me 20K Delta miles, which puts my balance nearly to 100K - enough for a free trip to Australia. But as far as MQMs, the whole reason for this debacle, the CSR said she could not do that. Well then, what is the freaking point? So the only thing I’ve gotten out of this is some Skymiles. Not an upgraded card, not a signup bonus on the new card, not a fee waiver, or even a removal of the hard inquiry from my credit report. Was it worth it? All in all:
NO.
I’m mostly likely going to cancel the card and reapply when the signup bonus is better, although that seems ridiculous since I ALREADY HAVE THE CARD.
Overall, I am thoroughly unimpressed with American Express and how they treated this matter. If this is how they treat their Platinum Card holders… they can go fuck themselves.
End result: 20K Skymiles, no card upgrade, unnecessary credit inquiry, accidental new account and absolutely no compensation from Amex.
Bottom line: Skipping it. Will wait for something better to come along. Not worth my time or money.
Taste left in mouth: Fuck you, Amex.
September 19, 2012
Update: Amex Sent Me the Wrong Card
So I called Amex today. Not only can they not give me a signup bonus for the card they accidentally sent me or remove the credit inquiry they promised me would not happen, but now they’re telling me that because the upgrade bonus they failed to give me a week ago has now expired, that I might not be able to get that either. And how is that my fault?
When I called earlier today, I was sure they’d throw me some sort of bone for such an obvious error. A signup bonus, Membership Rewards points, or at the very least a reduced or waived annual fee. Nothing. I’ve only had the stupid card for a day and am very disappointed in the customer service already.
I’m also not sure they’re going to give me the upgrade bonus they originally promised me, either (for the card I actually asked for). And they gave me the “unfortunately, sir…” bullshit about removing the credit inquiry. Soon after, they said an annual fee would be charged at the end of a billing statement on a card I never applied for on a new account that was never supposed to be opened. How gracious.
If they can’t get me the upgrade bonus for my existing account and take the inquiry off my credit report, at the very least, I’m tempted to say fuck it and completely cancel both cards. I spoke with several CSRs, none of whom were helpful or did anything more than read from a pre-written script. I realize I asked for something out of the ordinary, but they’ve made an error and are doing nothing to make it right. Or does this type of thing happen all the time? In that case, nothing lost if I cancel everything.
And all these years, I thought Amex was supposed to have some of the best customer service around. Color me extremely underwhelmed and disappointed.
The CSR said she would call me back by Friday. Until then, any way to turn these lemons into lemonade?
September 18, 2012
Sooo... I just accidentally got an Amex Platinum Card
Holy crap. So I just got home, saw I missed a package of wine (more on that at a later time), and grabbed the mail out of the box. Something from Amex. “Oh great,” I thought. “Must be my new Platinum Delta Skymiles card.”
I set it down on the counter and went out again to walk Fenwick. When I got back, I poured myself a nice rum & coke, slipped my finger under the flap of the envelope, and almost dropped my drink. Holy shit. It wasn’t a Delta Skymiles card at all. They sent me the wrong Platinum card. They sent me THE Platinum card. Oh my mother fuck.
HOW?
I currently have the Gold Delta Skymiles card. Last week, on September 13th, I called to upgrade after seeing an offer on the Amex website. I’m pretty close to making Silver Medallion status on Delta this year, and if I got 5,000 MQMs, it would very nearly push me into Silver territory. Knowing all my MQMs will vanish on December 31st, I rang them up to get the Platinum version of the card. Gold—>Platinum. A bit more of an annual fee, but so what. Worth it for the MQMs. Easy, right?
The CSR and I talked about the new annual fee, the upgrade bonus including the MQMs, and how my account number would remain the same. I’d get a new card in about a week, she said. Cool, fair enough. I confirmed with her that upgrading would NOT trigger a hard credit inquiry, just a soft one, and that the annual fee would be prorated for the rest of the year. I also confirmed that the MQMs would post before December 31st so I could get status. Fine, fine, fine, she assured me. Yes, yes, yes. Great.
Flash forward to today. It was a Platinum card alright. But it was THE Platinum card. With a new account number. A quick check of credit report indicated that a hard inquiry had recently posted. On September 13th. Fuck. And what about the MQMs? The annual fee on this shiny new piece of plastic? To keeping the same account number?
Did I even get a signup bonus for this card? Is there a way to add one? Can they remove the credit inquiry? Am I stuck with it? Of course I would like to keep it: I’m well aware of the benefits. But it wasn’t what I was expecting. If I wanted this card, I would have at least waited for a big signup bonus.
So what’s the next step? I’m hoping I can get them to throw me some MR points, waive the annual fee, and ya know, give me the card I originally wanted so I can get the MQMs. AND take the inquiry off my credit report. I confirmed multiple times that upgrading would NOT incur a hard pull.
I’m honored to have the card… and surprised… and also feeling a little… BAITED. Anyone else ever dealt with something like this?
I’ll call them tomorrow and try to get it straightened out. I have a feeling it will be a long conversation, and I have to finish watching “Drag Me To Hell” tonite. Oh, and have another rum & coke. Major first world problems.
Damn you for sending me this beautiful card, Amex! It’s like someone handing you something really expensive that you didn’t ask for, and hearing them say, “D’ya like it? It’s expensive. Not what you wanted, but still pretty, right? DO YOU WANT IT? DO YOU?!?”
Werd. Thoughts, anyone?
September 17, 2012
There Goes the Neighborhood?
What has become of my beautiful Park Slope? How little I have known thee.
Park Slope is a neighborhood that borders all of Prospect Park on the west. The ground literally “slopes” down - to walk to the park from is wester border (4th Ave), you have to walk up a hill. Prospect Park is the highest point in all of Brooklyn. The neighborhood that borders Park Slope on the west is Gowanus, AKA “The Lowlands”, named so because if there is ever a major flood… yeah. It’s low.
Park Slope’s Wikipedia page tells me there are lots of actors, writers, and musicians living in the hood. More painters live here than any other place in Brooklyn. And the restaurants and bars are awesome. You can probably tell by now that I love this nabe. But something is happening here that I can’t quite figure out. It’s happening slowly.
Is it more gentrification? Too many new buildings? Rent that’s been slowly increasing for the past two years? I can’t tell. But one day last week, I rounded the corner at the end of my block and saw a giant, white fence that jutted out into the street and a sign that said the sidewalk on my block will be closed until May 2013. The reason? A new condo building.
There is another relatively new condo building further up on 4th Ave that doesn’t look like it’s been successful. Ground-floor space is still papered over and unoccupied. But seeing this project taking place made my heart sink a little. I don’t live in “prime” Park Slope. I live in an area that just as safe and interesting, but with fewer strollers and pregnant women. An area south of 9th Street referred to locally as “South Slope”. I immediately thought of my rent increase notices. How this project has already had so many negative consequences: underground fire, burst water mains, occasional loss of electricity and internet (!) , and now the total loss of the sidewalk; I wonder if it will eventually drive me away from this area. Away from Park Slope.
I suppose that’s New York for ya. Always changing, always unraveling. I’m not sure if I like the changes that are happening. But I never thought I would live here forever anyway. But I got a little comfortable here. And the second I felt settled, something happened that made me wonder what was really happening, what the greater implications were. There is an allegory for the entire city buried somewhere in here, as I’m sure every nabe goes through this all the time.
(The Squid and the Whale is set in Park Slope)
I’m not ready to say goodbye to the ‘Slope yet - and seeing it change before my eyes is kinda… strange? Unnerving? Life-affirming?
Any other Park Slopers been noticing changes afoot? If Cantina closes, I will seriously consider moving to Bushwick.
September 14, 2012
September 13, 2012
September 2, 2012
Here Lies Death | Free 9/1-9/3
Eternal life. True love. And a world bent on killing it.
Free download this weekend, September 1-September 3, 2012
Here Lies Death by Harlan Vaughn
