tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post7527715550645795207..comments2024-03-22T00:35:12.415-07:00Comments on HoseMaster of Wine™: OOPSRon Washam, HMWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11238869156614617705noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-67302498230110520312010-06-29T12:12:36.380-07:002010-06-29T12:12:36.380-07:00Touché! That's it, of course!
Hi, my name is ...Touché! That's it, of course! <br />Hi, my name is David & I'm an aging poodle bachelor-- & a sucker for babe-fueled marketing.viNomadichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10871310275756229282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-44690485399760299742010-06-29T08:19:26.442-07:002010-06-29T08:19:26.442-07:00D J,
You certainly aren't the sole sicko in t...D J,<br /><br />You certainly aren't the sole sicko in this bunch. But you might be the only Jagermeister fan. Over the years, I've found that the better looking the women selling the product, the more revolting the product is. And Jagermeister girls are usually babes.Ron Washam, HMWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11238869156614617705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-21478813421171263222010-06-28T19:42:18.927-07:002010-06-28T19:42:18.927-07:00What, am I the sole sicko here? First two years in...What, am I the sole sicko here? First two years in NY & NYU dinner would be a plate of Meze with a couple glasses of the pine resin wash at Meandros, a Cypriot place on MacDougal, not far from Folk City. Then my friend héctor's marriage tanked & we got sick on two bottles. Never again.<br /><br />But Master-Hunter? I don't mind chasing a big dinner down with a couple those. Big dinners are increasingly few & far between, I'll own.<br />(Heh-- captcha: PUBTON)viNomadichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10871310275756229282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-48408850671585114692010-06-27T08:23:47.899-07:002010-06-27T08:23:47.899-07:00Have a feeling the Retsina just made him sick and ...Have a feeling the Retsina just made him sick and it was the bad high coos that did him in...<br /><br />Greener Felt Liner<br />soft pad over plastic sheets<br />absorbs verdant urine<br /><br />(Sorry, can't even blame that one on a third martini)Davenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-52307280717832606732010-06-26T19:39:26.453-07:002010-06-26T19:39:26.453-07:00Dave,
Isn't Retsina what Socrates drank to ki...Dave,<br /><br />Isn't Retsina what Socrates drank to kill himself? They didn't have Jagermeister in those days, and Gruner Veltliner was illegal.Ron Washamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10386836101202976147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-49346377931927903852010-06-26T18:27:12.839-07:002010-06-26T18:27:12.839-07:00Marcia said:
"Tell me it ain't as tough ...Marcia said:<br /><br />"Tell me it ain't as tough as Jagermeister?"<br /><br />Having spent two years in Germany one decade, like you and Ron, I too found the big J revolting, until we visited Greece and tipped back a bottle of Retsina, aka turpentine that probably won’t kill you. Fortunately we were able to Vaynerupchuck most of it directly into the VWs fuel intake. The shit was powerful enough to get us the hell out of Athens the long way without refueling.Davenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-12629943093695891472010-06-25T08:47:28.889-07:002010-06-25T08:47:28.889-07:00Amy Love,
Did anyone really think for a single mo...Amy Love,<br /><br />Did anyone really think for a single moment that I would attend OOPS? I have a life, and a damned fine one. <br /><br />Have a blast, Love! I expect lots of juicy gossip and behind-the-scenes reports from the Poodles.Ron Washamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10386836101202976147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-18728630545068778612010-06-25T00:29:16.568-07:002010-06-25T00:29:16.568-07:00I go out of town and don't look at blogs. Paul...I go out of town and don't look at blogs. Paul and I talked tonight about our disappointment that you are not here. Ftr, I did offer room space weeks ago.<br /><br />-Awinebookgirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01108898075062843791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-88636934681672187332010-06-24T20:55:58.098-07:002010-06-24T20:55:58.098-07:00Thomas,
I nominated Samantha, which earned me a H...Thomas,<br /><br />I nominated Samantha, which earned me a Huck Finn raft of shit, and Alfonso, and then someone nominated me. Apparently, the category isn't about talent, but more how relevant one is to promoting wine blogging in general, and how well one promotes the Poodles. I'm not speaking of myself, I'm not talented, just odd. But Alfonso writes like he's Irish, and Samantha is literature in the genuine sense of the word. Heimoff will win, and he is a wonderful wordsmith, honestly, and his presence at OOPS helps them far more than it helps him.<br /><br />I think I told Samantha at one point that I have my share of awards hanging on my wall--none of them means half as much as the fantastic assemblage of voices I have here on HoseMaster. I feel like I've won just about every day of the year.<br /><br />Eric,<br /><br />Thanks. I hated it. But I always do. If only my whole life had had people commenting on my stupidity, I might have been better off.Ron Washamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10386836101202976147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-73088172740878012112010-06-24T13:30:39.827-07:002010-06-24T13:30:39.827-07:00Having been out of the loop, probably by design of...Having been out of the loop, probably by design of those who hate truth, I had no idea Ron, Sam, and Alfonso were nominated. Makes me almost feel like I might even deserve to be shunned... <br /><br />I'm taking my Golden Parachute now and going out to do some gardening for the rest of my life. Just me and my real poodle, Oliver, who puts bloggers to shame with his way with words on so limited an alphabet.Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07322028233207741737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-57438055095698774412010-06-24T12:45:51.242-07:002010-06-24T12:45:51.242-07:00I'm with Sam. The "harelip poodle" n...I'm with Sam. The "harelip poodle" nearly did me in.<br />Truly one of your best Ron.<br /><br />BTW, the secret word is:<br />wineersh.<br />Ironic isn't it???<br /><br />EVOEric V. Orangehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10421713709476706024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-8360566371714577592010-06-24T09:34:36.871-07:002010-06-24T09:34:36.871-07:00(bit of an inside joke, my verification word is ju...(bit of an inside joke, my verification word is jurableb)<br /><br />It could have been worse, Sam. It could have been pastisbleb.Charlie Olkenhttp://www.cgcw.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-605293411848151752010-06-24T09:05:13.780-07:002010-06-24T09:05:13.780-07:00Charlie,
Wow love. You humble me with your adora...Charlie,<br /> Wow love. You humble me with your adoration and praise. Not sure I deserve to be listed with such names but the fact that you find something in my words that touch you...well that there makes me very proud. I love you Charlie.<br /><br />Thomas,<br /> And thank you to you as well, feeling all loved and junk this morning. As to the Poodle Awards, the three of us; Ron, Alfonso and myself were in fact nominated....the judges were the ones that thought there was better writing elsewhere. So I guess much like wine, it's subjective.<br /><br />Big hugs and a giant thank you to you both.<br />Oh and Jimmie a kiss to you too kid!<br /><br />(bit of an inside joke, my verification word is jurableb)Samantha Duganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05214278596698698245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-51426255979105321872010-06-24T08:14:43.426-07:002010-06-24T08:14:43.426-07:00Don't you people sleep?
Charlie,
It's be...Don't you people sleep?<br /><br />Charlie,<br /><br />It's because you're a wonderful writer that I'm looking forward to your Fall book release, "Don't Call Them Puffs, Buttholes." Sorry, Amy leaked the title to me. I guess I shouldn't say "leaked" about a Poodle. I am not a wine writer by any stretch, I'm a joke boy who knows a bit about wine.<br /><br />No one's asking every wine writer to be Gerald Asher any more than we expect every wine to be Chateau Rayas. I think we all agree that Tom Wark's words were said in the space of the eleven minutes it took him to write his post, and were said from a PR perspective. Frankly, what does Tom Wark know about wine writing? About as much as I know about Marketing, which is always get a cart that doesn't have wobbly wheels. And whenever one declares the Golden Age of something is the one you are living in, one is always wrong.<br /><br />You read a LOT more blogs than I do, Charlie. I don't have the heart. But winning a Poodle won't make any of them more talented, only more convinced they're talented. The Poodles are a hilarious sham, the sort of backslapping and sycophancy that gives every blogger a bad name. However, I can conclude all of that with a great big So What?<br /><br />Thomas,<br /><br />As much as I agree with you, I don't think it's valuable to get lost in definitions of what makes a Golden Age. Nor do the Poodles reflect reality any more than the other great marketing awards--the Oscars, the Emmys, the People's Choice, ad nauseum. They weren't designed to. I guess the MacArthur "Genius" Grants are the one award that is given by anonymous judges. Here we have the polar opposite of "Genius" awards, the Poodles, so perhaps anonymous judges are appropriate in a satirical sense.<br /><br />Jimmie,<br /><br />When I started writing most of those guys were decomposing.<br /><br />Kathy,<br /><br />All I know is that if this is a Golden Age of wine writing, no one will look back and point at the HoseMaster as proof. I think, though, I did have 140 characters in The M.S. Conspiracy.Ron Washamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10386836101202976147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-28040253683135519412010-06-24T07:59:03.124-07:002010-06-24T07:59:03.124-07:00A little story:
In another life, one of my art cri...A little story:<br />In another life, one of my art critics had been working on a vague story all week for a Sunday newspaper cover feature. Deadline: Thursday noon. I threw out all the usual threats and still the story did not arrive. Finally, at 6:30 pm on Friday, Harriet filed. It was long in newspaper terms (maybe 3,000 words for a 1,000-word slot). I was ready to slash the story to smithereens and then go after her.<br />Until I read it. <br />At 7 pm, two hours before the press run, I called the pressroom and coerced them into reworking the section. <br />I ran (almost) every word. It was beautiful, intense and intelligent. Worth savoring every word.<br />Some can do the same with 140 characters. Some with satire. Some without thinking. <br />Yes, "even" in wine it can be done. But, like Harriet and 100+ wines, the stars are few and far between.Kathynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-14312633845495349792010-06-24T07:26:32.167-07:002010-06-24T07:26:32.167-07:00As most consumer markets expand, so do the product...As most consumer markets expand, so do the products “feeding” the market. When Charlie started, only Motzart & Beethoven were composing. Today, it is more of everything; variety of wine, availability of info, general increased consumption. <br /><br />“Golden Age?” Yes, for PR people. But from my vantage point, the landscape of useful information is proportionately the same as many years ago. (I will side with Ron’s ‘Golden ‘ analogy.)<br /><br />Sam, Charlie, Ron, Alphonso, Tom P., and a small group of others that I have not mentioned, but should be listed here, are or have worked actively in the industry. It shows, you feel it, you sense it when you read their words.Jimmie Schnipkenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-21102947975842665072010-06-24T05:53:12.474-07:002010-06-24T05:53:12.474-07:00Of course, the judges are stuck with the public...Of course, the judges are stuck with the public's nominations, the Zagat model, which always struck me as about as useful a way to evaluate quality as a blind fold and a dart board.Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07322028233207741737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-82534035388216160602010-06-24T05:38:32.959-07:002010-06-24T05:38:32.959-07:00No, no. I mixed arguments there, Charlie.
Innovat...No, no. I mixed arguments there, Charlie.<br /><br />Innovation is one part of creating a Golden Age. Quality is the other. <br /><br />If it is a Golden Age of writing, then I'm looking for the innovation (i.e. 100-point scale for wine reviewing as the model) and Quality, good writing.<br /><br />Thus far, I see no innovation beyond technology use. How it is being used is as old hat as Madison Avenue, and similarly, too.<br /><br />As for quality writing: it's there, but in small quantity and doesn't seem to gain the recognition it deserves.<br /><br />Sam's blog proves that good writing is one part innate: a voice and a communication talent. The other part is developing the skill or craft to carry the voice so that it is not confusing and does not lose the audience, and is inspiring. I'm thinking now of Alfonso's (the Italian Guy) writing. Why he isn't on the "Best Writing" nomination is a testament to the low standards of the blogging community that has little room for high standards, or maybe little ability to recognize them (I have no idea who the judges are, so I make no claim against them individually, only universally).Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07322028233207741737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-40080593357124288962010-06-24T00:48:18.229-07:002010-06-24T00:48:18.229-07:00Asking wine writing to achieve at the level of Ger...Asking wine writing to achieve at the level of Gerald Asher is a big stretch. <br /><br />Each generation of writers has its poets and romantics and each generation has its reporters. I would argue that there is romantic winewriting in this world, but that it has to compete now with thousands of voices and has a hard time getting heard.<br /><br />Samantha Sans Dosage falls into that category. So does Brooklyn Guy on occasion. There are probably others. Enobytes might get there some day. Jordan Mackay has some of the best ideas for describing wine, but his efforts are hidden, and he is forced into making a living which, in my view, dulls some of his takes on things.<br /><br />Gerald Asher came to writing late, having made a great living in the English wine trade. His writing is that of a gentleman storyteller, which combines well with his humanity and makes his writing both personal, warm and insightful. But he is not so much constrained by financial bounds the way many good writers are.<br /><br />I agree with much of what Tom P. has said, but I get lost in the argument that wine writing has to invent new ways of expressing itself. I don't agree with that. Good writing informs, enlightens, expands the readers' horizons. It does not necessarily have to take on new form to do that.<br /><br />Ron, thanks for the kind words. If my writings have anything special in them, it is because I have outlived most of my writing peers and thus have more history to inform my comments. I have never thought of myself as a brilliant writer. Asimov, Asher, Kramer, Washam, Dugan, Mackay are all better writers than I am. I have just sliced more baloney than you all so I can slice and dice it in my own style. Fortunately, a few people still pay me or I would be living in a retirement home working on my bocce ball and mustache trimming skills.Charlie Olkenhttp://www.cgcw.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-43185143211894455482010-06-24T00:32:19.378-07:002010-06-24T00:32:19.378-07:00I have been worrying about Walla Walla for a coupl...I have been worrying about Walla Walla for a couple of days now, and it comes down to this.<br /><br />Poodles make puddles. Who is going to clean up after them?Charlie Olkenhttp://www.cgcw.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-80761210757638595922010-06-23T15:34:59.643-07:002010-06-23T15:34:59.643-07:00My Darling Samantha,
You're making me hungry ...My Darling Samantha,<br /><br />You're making me hungry for a good cheesedick. Or, wait, aren't cheesedicks people from Wisconsin?<br /><br />Marcia Darling,<br /><br />Is Dorothy Parker related to the dead Robert?<br /><br />And I'm not in Poodletown because I'm pouting that I didn't get a nomination and Chronic Negress did (I noticed she hasn't posted since June 1--I hope she's OK. I want her to win!)Ron Washamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10386836101202976147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-77981775439272067382010-06-23T15:30:58.411-07:002010-06-23T15:30:58.411-07:00I think the irony is that the vast majority of win...I think the irony is that the vast majority of wine bloggers out there recognize their limitations and would also disagree with Tom. Hey, Tom has been selling wine bloggers for five years now (there is no denying my first bit of actual visibility came because of his recognition of my blog) so he has to stick to his guns and keep promoting them. Promoting is what he does, and, like anyone good at his job, Tom loves a challenge. Hard to think of a greater PR challenge than selling wine bloggers as a golden age. Unless it's promoting offshore oil drilling. The two have a lot of pollution in common.Ron Washamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10386836101202976147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-16782686520249054052010-06-23T15:28:56.598-07:002010-06-23T15:28:56.598-07:00Oh goddamn it Thomas. I was already having a crap ...Oh goddamn it Thomas. I was already having a crap day thanks to some chessedick listing me as the worst wine reviews, (which I don't even do on my blog...grumble) and now you go and bring up the, "bit of".....dang. Should you need me I will be under that rock over there....Samantha Duganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05214278596698698245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-53906361647978234462010-06-23T15:19:46.982-07:002010-06-23T15:19:46.982-07:00Man, this is a tough room to play!
Dorothy Parker...Man, this is a tough room to play!<br /><br />Dorothy Parker would approve, of course....<br /><br />Guess that’s why Ron’s Round Table cohorts are staying in the Algonquin Room instead of Poodling.Marcia Macomberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07237764449953259939noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-19656959837341549562010-06-23T15:15:33.538-07:002010-06-23T15:15:33.538-07:00After re-reading my last comment, I realized it la...After re-reading my last comment, I realized it lacks explanation, so here goes.<br /><br />To the first point: if the standard is high, I don't think lowering the standard is the answer. I don't buy into the idea that everyone gets a gold star just for showing up.<br /><br />To the second point: in the early 80s, Parker was innovative with his take on reviewing wine and his push of the 100-point scale. Love it or not, and I've never loved it, it's clear that nothing has yet replaced that innovation in wine criticism. It appears that everything since has been either a copy or a bad alternative that proves to be just a copy.<br /><br />Parker did it with old technology. Our new technology has given us myriad ways to promote our egos, gossip faster than ever before, and issue baseless opinions by the pound, yet no one seems to have been able to apply the technology to create an innovative approach to wine writing or even to wine criticism--they are not the same thing, you know.<br /><br />On top of that, the law of averages, or even the 80-20 rule, easily precludes the possibility that most of what appears in wine blogs is useful, or even readable. On any given day, hundreds of paragraphs are filled with such important phrases like, "sort of" or "a bit of" or "good but not great." Clear indication of poor writing skills and even poorer talent at coming up with something worthwhile.<br /><br />Tom, the evidence simply does not support your claim.Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07322028233207741737noreply@blogger.com