Spinnaker [Distributed: Wednesday, October 11, 2006]

Learning about wine is like learning a new language: It can be challenging yet fun. The hardest thing it seems, when reading the back of a wine label or talking to someone who possesses some knowledge, is understanding all the terms that are used. Do not worry, the people at the wine store are there to help you make the right decision. The same holds true for your waiter or perhaps the manager at a decent restaurant. Someone at that restaurant should have knowledge of the wines they sell and will help to answer your questions and match your food with an appropriate wine.

Speaking of matching food with the appropriate wine, several "norms" exist. White wines are generally drunk with light appetizers and salads because of their crisp clean notes. White wine is also generally a chicken or seafood wine and in some cases certain types are used to make dessert wine. Red wines can be a bit more complicated but here is a simple rule of thumb. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz and in some cases Pinot Noir are red meat wines. These wines are "bigger" and stand up to the fats in the meat much better. Pinot Noir can also be paired up with seafood instead of a white according to foodandwine.com.

This is just a quick reference guide to go by. Many more varietals from around the world exist, so many that it would fill up pages upon pages. Different types of wine can be paired with various types of food. Not every varietal is the same either. The region, vintage and way a wine was made has more to do with how it tastes than what it is called. For more information on what wines pair well with foods go to http://www.foodandwine.com/wine and look under the recipe pairings area.

Be adventurous and have fun with wine. Becoming a wine connoisseur does not have to break the bank. Plenty of very good wines exist for under $15 and even under $10. Do some simple research, talk to the salesman at your local wine shop and pick their brains. That's what they are there for, and they love to help newcomers to the wine arena.

Put a cork in it
Corks are a very important part of winemaking. Classically, cork has been made from just that, the cork tree. This is still the standard for most winemakers, but several of the makers have become disenchanted with cork because it is estimated that up to 5 percent of bottles are "corked" or spoiled by the cork according to thewinedoctor.com. In these instances the cork is soiled or tainted before it is placed in the bottle.

Winemakers have solved this cork problem in two ways, the first through synthetic corks and the second through screw caps.

Synthetic corks are shaped just like real corks, but they are made out of tough swirly-patterned plastic and are formed in one piece called supremecorq, according to http://www.wineanorak.com.

Screw caps are a growing trend in wine making, especially for white wines. White wines, particularly ones that are fermented in steel casks, that are crisp and clean such as Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling or floral such as Gurvurtztraminer must retain their flavor and cannot be tainted, and therefore are bottled with screw caps. Do not be confused, this is not the sign of a cheap wine. This is particularly popular with wines from New Zealand and Australia.

Etiquette 101: Church

Next time you and your buddies are at your wits end for something entertaining to do, go to the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles Web site, pull up the driver's handbook link and play a game of drivers' Jeopardy. You'll be surprised that there are rules in it that you don't remember or never even knew.

While some of the aggravations facing drivers today are wrought out of cluelessness, many are a symptom of rude behavior. While the best thing a person can do is to be proactive and learn or relearn the DMV's driver's handbook, there are a few steps one can take to ease into being a better driver.

1. Keep to the right lane unless passing another vehicle (DMV Handbook). For some reason, people no longer feel it is necessary to get out of the passing lane for faster cars. Constantly driving in the fast lane impedes the flow of traffic, and it is illegal. Drivers using the left lane are supposed to move to the right for vehicles traveling faster behind them. Just because you are driving the speed limit is not an acceptable excuse to stay in the left lane. Please, move to the right lane, especially if someone appears suddenly on your bumper. It may be irritating and equally rude of him, but that doesn't give you the right to play judge and hold up traffic in the process.

2. Don't drive while talking on your cell. If you must take a call, do it, put the person on hold and then pull over to talk. We're probably all guilty of having done this at some point. Talking and driving is akin to drinking and driving; it puts others at as much of a risk as it does the offender. It's a selfish thing to do.

3. Treat bicycle riders as you would automobile drivers, they have the same rights (DMV). A bicyclist is physically vulnerable to injury, so leave him enough clearance when you pass. And if you're turning right, check that a bicyclist isn't going through the intersection to your right.

4. Always signal. Florida law changed recently to include signaling for lane changes, not just turns. I find that people generally don't mind letting you in front of them if you just signal. But when you shoot in front of them with no blinker action, it is a catalyst to road rage. You'd better hope the guy you just cut off didn't just get thrown out by his wife and jump in the car, tire iron in hand, looking for trouble.

5. Say thanks with a wave. We all know the wave means thanks, unless there's a finger involved. Just when we're feeling pretty good about ourselves for letting someone in front of us when we didn't really have to, they respond by doing nothing - no thank-you wave or nod or anything. We call them a farthead, and our blood pressure goes up a couple of points, and then we are reluctant to go that extra effort of niceness for the next person. Then that person who had a really long, bad day and is waiting for a break in line from us calls us a dickweed, and the chain continues.

6. Stop for school busses. It's scary that some people break this rule - sad, in fact. Children have virtually no judgment, and they're very unpredictable when on or around a road. On a two-way street or highway, all drivers moving in either direction must stop for a stopped school bus, unless the highway is divided by a raised barrier or an unpaved median at least five foot wide, then you do not have to stop if you are moving in the opposite direction of the bus (DMV).

7. Pedestrians and drivers must yield the right-of-way to funeral processions (DMV). The law aside, just do it out of respect. How many times will that person die and be buried? This is it. One time only. We owe it to the family and friends in mourning to pull off to the side of the road and wait there respectfully until they have passed.

8. Don't park in the handicapped parking spots if you are not handicapped. That's just shameful. On the other side of the coin, while I'm sure there are those who abuse the system, don't assume that everyone who parks in a handicap spot and walks out of his car is a villain. My Dad, who cannot speak or walk due to a brain disorder, took advantage of the handicapped parking his first year after being diagnosed. To others, he appeared normal, but his trips out in public and out of his car were difficult for him. I wouldn't have had the heart to ask him to park farther away just because he wasn't in a wheelchair or walker yet. Etiquette rule here? Never assume.

9. Don't tailgate in rain. It seems some people find it very uncool to drive at slower speeds in rain. Jacksonville is notorious for oil-slicked roads that get really slippery when wet. I don't want to lose my life or any limbs from an accident just because I felt forced by the guy on my bumper behind me to speed up.

I have one theory about the cluelessness of drivers. The Florida learner's permit exam can be taken online, and only 15 of the 20 questions on the test have to be answered correctly to pass. That's a 75 percent success rate. That would be a "C" in high school or college and a "D" in many elementary and middle schools. We have people on the road who are, at best, average drivers. What about the questions they missed? There is no remediation required, so the driver could possibly go the rest of his or her life never knowing some of the rules for driving. What if they're the really critical rules? Ones that could cause accidents and homicides.

Learners' permits are even offered online now. A person can take the test in the privacy of their home, and cheat their way through it, thus pushing the possible error curve even higher.

The solution must start with us. We must become proactive in our driving efforts and play by the rules of the road as well as the rules of etiquette.

Drive safely and be blessed.

'The Departed': Classic Thriller

His career ambitions were pretty much fulfilled, says Leonardo DiCaprio, when Martin Scorsese called him to talk about playing Howard Hughes in 2004's "The Aviator."

"After we finished `Gangs of New York,' I thought, `OK, I've worked with the best there is and I came out of it OK.'" So when Scorsese called him about doing his next film, "I felt - I don't know, validated isn't really the word maybe - but good, you know. It was like we had something together. But was there something more I wanted to do? Yeah."

"Listen, I loved making those movies, and I think they'll stand the test of the time. But I'm like any other actor. I would have killed to make a great gangster movie with Martin Scorsese."

No blood sacrifice proved necessary. According to DiCaprio, he and the director each received the script for "The Departed," a Grand Guignol gangster drama written by William Monahan, and both were knocked out.

"It was classic Scorsese stuff, cops and criminals and the thin line that divides them, but it was also very different than any of the gangster movies he had made before," says DiCaprio, 31. "He never makes the same movie twice. He's very conscious of that. And he'd never made this movie before, and that excited him. And when he's excited, you get excited, you know what I mean?"

"The Departed" is a remake of a classic cops and robbers movie, but it just happens to be one few people have seen. "Infernal Affairs" was the most popular film released in Hong Kong in 2002, and by the time it was released in major cities in the United States in 2004, it had spawned a prequel and a sequel.

The plotline is irresistible. Two police cadets from the same class take very different routes to success: One gets kicked out of the academy and becomes right-hand man in a gang led by a ruthless killer. The other rises to the top of the police force. What neither knows is that the gang member is an informant for the cops, and the cop is in the employ of the gangster as a mole. Eventually, both sides realize there's a rat in their midst, and the race is on to find him before their true identities can be revealed.

Which he most certainly did: With Catholic church bells pealing in the background, Scorsese set the story in South Boston, where seriously dangerous gang boss Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson) has groomed - some might say seduced - a local kid since childhood to become a state policeman. Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon) eventually rises to the top of the Special Investigation Unit, where the boss (Alec Baldwin) is determined to bring down Costello.

Meanwhile, angry Billy Costigan (DiCaprio), child of a mother born to Boston society and a blue-collar father who wanted nothing to do with the mob, is secretly recruited by gang task-force leaders (Martin Sheen and Mark Wahlberg) and sent to insinuate himself in Costello's gang and gain his confidence.

Scorsese has said he was thrilled when Nicholson accepted the role of Costello; the two giants of American film had never worked together. But in the past decade, Nicholson's acting style has become more and more exaggerated, and rumors from the set said the script had to be altered to accommodate Nicholson's conception of his character. Without giving too much away, let's just say the devil he played in "The Witches of Eastwick" has duller horns than Costello, and that Nicholson makes Al Pacino's Tony Montana in "Scarface" seem rational.

DiCaprio, who shares the most scenes with Nicholson, says that when he did his first scenes with him, his focus was on "maintaining a similar level of intensity. I mean, Jack is Jack, the Jack. He doesn't go out there much, but when he does, he brings it all. I had to be prepared, you know, because I knew what would be coming at me. No, I wasn't scared. Let's say I had to stay on my toes."

'The Good Life' extols selflessness

The "Good Life" searches for answers to the questions we all ask: Who am I? Why am I here? How can I find significance in my life? How can I make my life count? And it suggests that your answers to these questions will determine how your life story is written.

The theme of the book "The Good Life" is that there is only one way to live the good life, which is to give yourself away. What you do for yourself doesn't matter, and what you do for others has lasting consequence.

The author, Charles Wendell "Chuck" Colson, born Oct. 16, 1931, was the chief counsel for President Richard Nixon from 1969 to 1973 and was one of the seven who were jailed for Watergate-related charges.

After his release from prison, Colson founded his nonprofit organization Prison Fellowship, where he has worked to promote prisoner rehabilitation and reform of the prison system in the United States, all to dismantle the "lock 'em up and throw away the key" approach to criminal justice. He is also founder and chairman of the Wilberforce Forum which is the "Christian worldview thinking, teaching, and advocacy arm of" Prison Fellowship.

"The Good Life" sets out to answer those deep questions that determine how we will live and how we will die and whether our lives will count for something. It is part memoir, as Colson reflects on his own rights and wrongs, part his own experiences and part the stories of others.

Colson wrote this book to help readers get to understand their own stories and find answers to their own searches for meaning, purpose, and truth.

In it is an account of powerful stories that illustrate how people have lived out their beliefs in ways that either satisfy or leave them empty.

The book's first chapter gets off to a slow start, recapping a scene from the movie "Saving Private Ryan." But while the drudgery of getting to the ultimate point, the analogy, makes is a bit exhausting, the book from the second chapter forward redeems itself and offers staying power for the rest of its duration.

The book takes four parts. The first takes the reader on a journey for the good life. Colson touches on the truths to a life of significance and elaborates on the great paradoxes in life. The short second part discusses the rewards of giving. In the third part, Colson sheds light on illusion, morality and the natural order. The last part of the book lends itself to a personal call to action on behalf of the author, tying all the loose ends together to reveal infinite truth and providence.

From a lifetime of experiences, including being jailed for the Watergate incident, Colson's reflections assume a deep humility, and many will welcome this teaching book, this well-researched book, built on his 73 years of learning and extraordinary experience. This is a must read for everyone who wants to understand how to live a life of meaning and purpose.

Gallery offers art, culture

University of North Florida students, faculty and staff, along with the greater Jacksonville community, have access to photographs, paintings, sculptures and other fine artwork right here on campus through the University Gallery.

Located on the first floor of the Founder's Hall in Building 2, the gallery is home to numerous exhibits throughout the year, including not only student and faculty work but also work from artists around the country and the world.

After Building 2 was remodeled in the late '70s, the library became what we now know as the gallery. When it opened in 1981 it was given to the Art Department to set up exhibitions that came to campus on a semester-to-semester basis, said professor and Gallery Director Paul Karabinis.

However, since that time, the gallery has been continuously open and expanded it offerings to become more than just a place to see art, Karabinis said. Numerous lectures, films, readings and demonstrations by contributing artists and others are all offered at the gallery, he said.

Ultimately, Karabinis said he would like to bring visiting artists to campus for a few days or a week and have them offer workshops.

"I think it [the gallery] is part of the necessary cultural and extracurricular activities and amenities that should be available on a university campus," Karabinis said.

"From Paper to Stone: Drawing and Sculpture by Enzo Torcoletti," is currently on display in the gallery until Oct. 19. The exhibit is composed of sculptures and sketches created by Torcoletti over the past few years. Torcoletti was born in Italy and maintains a sculpture studio there, according to the gallery Web site. He is a professor of art at Flagler College in St. Augustine and has been involved in sculpture for more than 30 years.

The Art and Design Faculty Annual will replace Torcoletti's exhibit in November. Both full-time and part-time art and design faculty will showcase their work through a variety of media. This will be the 25th annual faculty showing in the gallery.

In the spring, the gallery will host an international printmakers exchange and the Art and Design Senior Annual and Student Annual Exhibits. An exhibit to showcase emerging Northeast Florida artists is also planned, according to the gallery Web site.

"I look for shows that I can usually bring in an artist to talk about their work and being an artist, to inform students," Karabinis said. Being able to talk to artists about their work and how they do what they do is beneficial to students, he said.

The gallery is open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free and open to public.

A complete schedule of exhibits and other events can be found at UNF's Gallery Web site at www.unf.edu/dept/gallery.

Throught the Looking Glass

HONEY, I THINK WE STARTED OFF ON THE WRONG FOOT
A heavily intoxicated groom became outraged during his Boston wedding reception where, he claims, a guest groped his bride. The resulting enthusiastic and vociferous exchange of views on the matter prompted someone to call the cops and some of his friends to remove him to the parking lot. When the police arrived, he got into a heated argument with them, which led to his arrest. The whole sorry episode gave the wife second thoughts about the marriage, and she immediately got a restraining order against her new husband, which he immediately violated as soon as he was released, causing him to be arrested again.

WAKEY-WAKEY
A teenager, dressed only in ladies panties broke into a video store in Durham, N.H., in the dead of night. He was discovered by store employees the next morning, because he had wrapped himself in the drapes and fell asleep on the couch.

OK GUYS, HAVE WE GOT EVERYTHING? ARE YOU SURE?
Some drug dealers transported a large amount of cocaine to Massachusetts in a rental van, but left some of the illicit stash inside the vehicle when they turned it in. Employees of the rental company discovered boxes containing more than $1 million worth of cocaine and $120,000 in cash. A police officer, posing as a company employee, called the dealers to come down and pick up the boxes. This led to the arrest of one of them. A search of the dealers' residence turned up another $1.5 million worth of cocaine and another $120,000 in cash.

HEH HEH, THEY'LL NEVER CATCH ME NOW ... WHAT THE...!!
To counteract a rash of auto thefts, police in Pawtaucket, R.I., have come up with a decoy vehicle - equipped with hidden cameras and a Global Positioning Device - which they park in high-crime areas in hopes that a thief will steal it. Once he does, the cops remotely shut off the car and lock the doors trapping him inside.

I'M A LAW-ABIDING CITIZEN, OFFISHER
Police in Hudson, N.H., spotted a man driving erratically, turned on the siren and went after him. The driver, who was drunk, led them on a chase, during which they laid down a spike strip that flattened one of the tires. Though he persistently refused to pull over, he did stop at every red light he encountered. Police called this "unusual." But it helped them in ultimately apprehending him.

LUCKY IN LOVE, MAYBE
The chief executive officer of a large corporation appeared in a New York City courtroom to answer charges that he stole $7 million from his company and gambled it away. When bail was set at $350,000 both his wife and mistress stepped forward to bail him out. The judge told him, "You are an incredibly lucky man."

IT'S WRONG, BUT SOMEHOW YOU HAVE TO ADMIRE THE GUY
A woman in Roccalumera, Italy, caught her lover in bed with a married woman, went berserk, set his house on fire then threatened to kill him with a machete before being restrained by passers-by. What is unusual about this is that the jealous girlfriend is a nun and the man is a priest. She is 39 and he is 70. He had been sleeping with both women for several months.

Zan on the Street

Hey, hope you guys liked the reggae feature last week. I know, you wanted the illustration in color, me too, but we had a few issues that didn't allow us to do that so we took one for the team. Also, if any of you have backpacked around or traveled in Europe or abroad and have tips or some insight that we could use, shoot it over to one of our e-mail addresses here at the Spinnaker (at the bottom of the articles) as we will be doing an article on traveling in a few weeks and are wide open for whatever wisdom you wish to pass on to us.

This week at Freebird in Jax Beach, John Brandon plays on Friday night. Ladies over 21 can get in free and everyone else pays $10. Saturday night, Tim Reynolds displays his guitar skills at Freebird. Tickets are $15 and doors open at 8 p.m. for both shows.

Elsewhere around Jacksonville, reggae dance hall sensation Buju Banton plays Plush Thursday night with doors opening at 8 p.m. Also at Plush this weekend, Atreyu plays Friday night. Tickets for the event are $22.50 and doors open at 7 p.m.

The Nintendo Fusion tour gets past a few of Bowser's henchmen and rolls into town with rockers Hawthorne Heights and many others at Plush Saturday afternoon. Check out these guys for $20 in the afternoon at 2 p.m. before they have to duck down a sewer pipe.

Speaking of sewer pipes, go check out what comedic foulness Lisa Lampanelli spews forth at The Comedy Zone. Lampanelli performs Wednesday night through Saturday night. Lampanelli has appeared quite a bit on Comedy Central and has roasted some of Hollywood's biggest stars.

That's about it for worthwhile things going on around town. Of course, there is the ever present downtown scene with live music at Thee Imperial, Fuel and Jack Rabbits that could be worth checking out if you are looking for something to do in that area.

Meanwhile, in another part of town...

Are you sick of drinking the same old thing? The people at Total Wine understand and have you covered. According to Total Wine's Web site, each of its stores carries approximately 8,000 different types of wine, 2,000 types of spirits and 1,000 different types of beer.

Total Wine has an extensive collection of beer, both domestic and imported, including many microbrews. Some of the microbrews include Blue Moon Belgian White, Mississippi Mud Black and Tan, Rogue Dead Guy Ale, Flying Dog Dogtoberfest and Shipyard Pumpkinhead.

More impressive is the wine selection. Total Wine features wines from many different vineyards and in many different vintages.

Several wines the store offers come from the West Coast and can also come from different countries, such as Italy, Spain, Australia and New Zealand.

If you are in the mood to try something from the other side of the world, Australia is putting out some quality wines at reasonable prices. Some of the wines from Australia include the Kirralaa Cabernet 2002 or the Oxford Landing Shiraz.

Also, check out some of their champagne selections for that special night. The choices include Dom Perignon 98 and Jacquesson Cuvee or sparkling wines, such as Chandon Brut Classic and Korbel Brut Rose.

Not into beer or wine? That's quite alright, because Total Wine has a wide selection of liquor. Some of the bourbon brands are Jim Beam and Southern Comfort. As for the rum, Total Wine has popular brands like Malibu, Captain Morgan and Cruzan. Some of the rum available may be used in fruity mixed drinks that go well for parties and social gatherings or just for a tasty drink. You may want to try Jose Cuervo Tequila or imported vodkas like Grey Goose or Belvedere.

If you're into cordials, creams and liqueurs, Total Wine has you covered. One such cordial is the Godiva Chocolate that comes in flavors of creme, dark and white. If you want more of a coffee flavor try Kahlua or Starbucks Coffee Liqueur. For a more creamy flavor, try Bailey's Irish Cream or Starbucks Cream Liqueur. For the island taste, check out Heering Cherry Liqueur or DeKuyper Coconut Amaretto.

On the inside, the store is big and organized into detailed sections. These sections contain categorical headings that make it easy for shoppers to find what they're looking for. They also sell gift bags to put the wine in if you're on the go. In addition, glasses are for sale if you're in the market for fine stemware that is an important component in tasting wine.

Something interesting to know about Total Wine is that they have wines dated back to 1994 and 1995, according to Matt Achorn. He also mentioned they have wines hand-crafted from smaller vineyards which produce high quality products at a tremendous value. The prices at Total Wine vary according to size and flavor and change from time to time.

If you have any questions or need assistance with an item in the store, associates are more than happy to help and Total Wine prints a buying guide that thoroughly explains items in stock.

To reach the associates at Total Wine, call 998-1740 or visit them at 4413 Town Center Parkway.

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EXPRESSIONS

The Taster's Almanac

Etiquette 101: Church

'The Departed': Classic Thriller

'The Good Life' extols selflessness

Gallery offers art, culture

Throught the Looking Glass

Zan on the Street

Meanwhile, in another part of town...

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