Bob McDonnell on Gianni Zonin Receiving Wine Enthusiast’s 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award

. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

RICHMOND – Governor Bob McDonnell issued the following statement regarding Wine Enthusiast, one of the world’s leading wine publications, awarding Gianni Zonin, the owner of Barboursville Vineyards, its 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award.  He also commented on Eric Trump, owner of Trump Estate Vineyards & Winery’s nomination for Wine Enthusiast's 2013 Rising Star Award.  The presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award will be made on January 27, 2014 at the Wine Enthusiast’s Wine Star Awards in New York City; the winner of the Rising Star Award also will be made at this event.  Both Zonin’s award and Trump’s nomination represent significant milestones for Virginia's burgeoning industry.

“I congratulate Gianni Zonin for receiving Wine Enthusiast's Lifetime Achievement Award and his efforts in elevating Virginia wines both nationally and internationally.  His work and legacy is truly remarkable. Indeed, Gianni Zonin is a visionary wine pioneer, who saw the potential in establishing a wine producing estate not just in the United States, but in Virginia in 1976.  Over nearly 40 years, Zonin and his staff have helped establish Virginia as a major wine region by producing outstanding wines and offering tourists to Barboursville Vineyards an truly remarkable experience.  His work and vision have helped to elevate the entire industry.  Ranking among the top five wine producing states in the nation with more than 230 wineries, Virginia is now among the top wine travel destinations in the world.  This is a remarkable achievement given that when he purchased Barboursville and planted vines, there were only a couple of wineries in Virginia.  For all this , I salute Gianni Zonin for his lifetime of achievement and contribution to viticulture in Virginia and around the world.

“Eric Trump is truly a rising star in the global wine industry and could not be more deserving of Wine Enthusiast's Rising Star Award nomination.  We are very pleased that he and his family decided to invest in Virginia's wine industry.  It was clearly the correct decision for both Eric and the Commonwealth.  In just two short years, Eric has significantly expanded the distribution of Trump wines both nationally and internationally, while elevating the overall integrity of the wines.  I'm confident that Eric and the team at Trump Winery will continue to raise the bar for Virginia wines in the coming years.  I wish him good luck at the award ceremony in January.”

Zonin is chairman of Casa Vinicola Zonin (The Zonin Wine House), a company of family-owned vintners since 1821 and currently the largest private wine enterprise in Europe.  The Zonin Wine House owns eleven major wine estates in Italy and one in the United States, Barboursville Vineyards, which is located in the Monticello American Viticulture Area.  The properties, which are planted in specialized vineyards, are located in regions that are highly regarded for their production of world-class, premium wines.  Barboursville’s 2009 Octagon, a Bordeaux-style blended red wine, was awarded the 2013 Governor’s Cup as Virginia’s top wine.

Trump is Executive Vice President of Development & Acquisitions at the Trump Organization and President of Trump Winery.  Since opening in October 2011 under Trump's leadership, the winery has established distribution in 20 states and exported to three countries.  In May 2013, Trump Winery received a 91 point rating from Wine Enthusiast for the Sp Reserve making it Virginia’s highest rate wine in history.

For more information on Wine Enthusiast’s 2013 Wine Star awards and nominees, please visit winemag.com.

Related articles

• It's Virginia Wine Month!
• Is Virginia Wine Country Poised To Be The East Coast Napa?
• Barboursville Earns Top Bling for 2009 Octagon
• Governor and First Lady McDonnell to Host Second Annual Virginia Wine Summit
• Governor McDonnell Announces Sales of Virginia Wine Reach New All-Time High
• 38th Virginia Wine Festival, September 14th and 15th, 2013

Liberty's Kids 23, The Hessians Are Coming, Battle of the Hook Pre Show

As a Pre Show to the upcoming Battle of the Hook event coming here to Gloucester, Virginia in less than 3 weeks, we have here, Liberty's Kids episode number 23, The Hessians Are Coming.  Please see below for more information in regards to the Battle of the Hook.

Benjamin Franklin Announces The Battle of the Hook from Chuck Thompson

Related articles

• Liberty's Kids 22, Lafayette Arrives, Battle of the Hook Pre Show
• Liberty's Kids 21, Sybil Ludington - Battle of the Hook Pre Show.
• Liberty's Kids 20, An American In Paris - Battle of the Hook Pre Show
• Liberty's Kids 19, Across The Delaware - Battle of the Hook Pre Show
• Liberty's Kids 18, American Crisis - Battle of the Hook Pre Show
• Liberty's Kids 15, The Turtle - Battle of the Hook Pre Show
• Liberty's Kids 14, New York New York - Battle of the Hook Pre Show
• Liberty's kids 12, Common Sense - Battle of the Hook Pre Show
• Liberty's Kids 11, Washington Takes Command - Battle of the Hook Pre Show
• Liberty's Kids 8, The Second Continental Congress - Battle of the Hook Pre Show

Federalist Papers No 19, The Insufficiency of the Present Confederation to Preserve the Union, Continued 5

For the Independent Journal. Saturday, December 8, 1787

MADISON, with HAMILTON

To the People of the State of New York:

THE examples of ancient confederacies, cited in my last paper, have not exhausted the source of experimental instruction on this subject. There are existing institutions, founded on a similar principle, which merit particular consideration. The first which presents itself is the Germanic body.

In the early ages of Christianity, Germany was occupied by seven distinct nations, who had no common chief. The Franks, one of the number, having conquered the Gauls, established the kingdom which has taken its name from them. In the ninth century Charlemagne, its warlike monarch, carried his victorious arms in every direction; and Germany became a part of his vast dominions. On the dismemberment, which took place under his sons, this part was erected into a separate and independent empire. Charlemagne and his immediate descendants possessed the reality, as well as the ensigns and dignity of imperial power. But the principal vassals, whose fiefs had become hereditary, and who composed the national diets which Charlemagne had not abolished, gradually threw off the yoke and advanced to sovereign jurisdiction and independence. The force of imperial sovereignty was insufficient to restrain such powerful dependants; or to preserve the unity and tranquillity of the empire. The most furious private wars, accompanied with every species of calamity, were carried on between the different princes and states. The imperial authority, unable to maintain the public order, declined by degrees till it was almost extinct in the anarchy, which agitated the long interval between the death of the last emperor of the Suabian, and the accession of the first emperor of the Austrian lines. In the eleventh century the emperors enjoyed full sovereignty: In the fifteenth they had little more than the symbols and decorations of power.

Read the rest below;

Federalist Papers No 19 Insufficiency To Preserve Union (5) from Chuck Thompson

Related articles

• FEDERALIST Papers No. 18 Insufficiency of the Present Confederation to Preserve the Union - Continued
• FEDERALIST Papers No. 17. The Insufficiency of the Present Confederation to Preserve the Union
• Federalist Papers No. 16. The Insufficiency of the Present Confederation to Preserve the Union 2
• FEDERALIST Papers No. 15. The Insufficiency of the Present Confederation to Preserve the Union
• The Federalist Papers No 14, Objections to the Proposed Constitution From Extent of Territory Answer
• Federalist Papers No. 13 Advantage of the Union in Respect to Economy in Government

October Gloucester, VA Ordinances In Violation of State Code

Sec. 3-14. Use of fireworks causing injury to animals.

It shall be unlawful to set off or use any fireworks that result in an injury to any animal caused by direct contact with the fireworks or if the animal injured itself from fear of the fireworks.

  Sounds like a decent ordinance.  If it could be enforced, it would be.  Problem is, it has no parallel in state code that we can find.  Also, we tested this and the county can not nor will not enforce it.  What they have done in the past is send out Sheriff's deputies to try and witness an event.  The deputies only stay so long and if they do not see anything themselves, there is nothing they say that they can do about it.

  In other times, officials have instead sought to attack those who reported the issues.  ???  No joke.  Dig through this site and you will eventually find confirmation on this.  (Clue, go back a few years and dig through posts after the 4th of July).    It's hard to argue against an ordinance that for all intents and purposes seems very logical and in the best interests of the people.  But when it has no basis in state code, it has no business being there in the county ordinances.   It's once again Gloucester officials making up their own nanny state rules at their own whim and pleasure which do not serve the common good of the people even if it appears to.

   Below is the link to the Virginia state codes as they apply to animals.  Check for yourself to see if you find any parallel.  http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?

In less than one hour, the Gloucester Board of Supervisors meeting will begin.  At this meeting, they will only be addressing one ordinance in violation of state code while there are many that remain in violation of state code and they are aware of a number of these violations.  There are a lot of questions about these people voted in that we expected to represent us and instead have made it a choice to misrepresent us at so many levels.  

Related articles

• Gloucester, VA Animal Control In Violation of it's Own Ordinances?
• Gloucester, VA Officials Selling Hand Guns For One Dollar Each
• Ted Wilmot, Gloucester County Attorney Throws Board of Supervisor's Under The Bus?
• Gloucester Animal Control Ordinances Debate Continues
• Why does the Gloucester Animal Control Ordinances Debate Continue
• Animal Control Criminals of Gloucester, VA Should Be Fired?
• Gloucester, VA Government Employees Happy Meal, Literally
• Constitution Day
• Gloucester, VA Officials Honor Animal Cruelty Criminal?

Plug & Play, Reisefieber - Latest EP Release Check it out

English: Compact Disc player carousel for three CDs. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The guitarist, Kuba Majsiej with Plug & Play took the time to let us know about the latest release from the band called Reisefieber.

 It's 4 more great songs from the band.  Sorry, they do not offer free downloads on these tracks, but you get to check out the latest from these guys and they produce some really good stuff, so it's worth checking out.  Here is a link to the CD offer if you are interested in the tracks and want to purchase them.

http://plugandplay.bandcamp.com/album/reisefieber  This will take you to the area where you can purchase the CD tracks.  We are always happy to work with any bands and help promote their works and get the sounds out to everyone.  Just contact us through this site and send us your information.  We prefer to work with bands that offer our readers free track downloads and those bands get our preferences.

The Benefits of Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkin seeds (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By Dr. Mercola

If you’re in the mood for a chewy snack that doubles as a phenomenal health food, look no further than pumpkin seeds.

With a wide variety of nutrients ranging from magnesium and manganese to copper, protein and zinc, pumpkin seeds are nutritional powerhouses wrapped up in a very small package. They also contain plant compounds known as phytosterols and free-radical scavenging antioxidants,1 which can give your health an added boost.

Best of all, because pumpkin seeds are highly portable and require no refrigeration, they make an excellent snack to keep with you whenever you’re on the go, or they can be used as a quick anytime snack at home, too.

9 Top Health Benefits of Pumpkin Seeds

1.  Heart Healthy Magnesium

One-quarter cup of pumpkin seeds contains nearly half of the recommended daily amount of magnesium, which participates in a wide range of vitally important physiological functions, including the creation of ATP (adenosine triphospate, the energy molecules of your body), the synthesis of RNA and DNA, the pumping of your heart, proper bone and tooth formation, relaxation of your blood vessels, and proper bowel function.

Magnesium has been shown to benefit your blood pressure and help prevent sudden cardiac arrest, heart attack, and stroke, yet an estimated 80 percent of Americans are deficient in this important mineral.

2.  Zinc for Immune Support

Pumpkin seeds are a rich source of zinc (one ounce contains more than 2 mg of this beneficial mineral). Zinc is important to your body in many ways, including immunity, cell growth and division, sleep, mood, your senses of taste and smell, eye and skin health, insulin regulation, and male sexual function.

Many are deficient in zinc due to mineral-depleted soils, drug effects, plant-based diets, and other diets high in grain. This deficiency is associated with increased colds and flu, chronic fatigue, depression, acne, low birth weight babies, learning problems and poor school performance in children, among others.

3.  Plant-Based Omega-3 Fats

Raw nuts and seeds, including pumpkin seeds, are one of the best sources of plant-based omega-3s (alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)). We all need ALA, however, ALA has to be converted by your body into the far more essential omega-3 fats EPA and DHA -- by an enzyme in which the vast majority of us have impaired by high insulin levels. So, while pumpkin seeds are an excellent source of ALA, I believe it is essential to get some of your omega-3 fats from animal sources, such as krill oil, as well.

4.  Prostate Health

Pumpkin seeds have long been valued as an important natural food for men’s health. This is in part because of their high zinc content, which is important for prostate health (where it is found in the highest concentrations in the body), and also because pumpkin seed extracts and oils may play a role in treating benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH, or enlarged prostate). Research suggests that both pumpkin seeds,2 and pumpkin seed oil used in combination with saw palmetto may be particularly beneficial in supporting prostate health.

5.  Anti-Diabetic Effects

Animal studies suggest that pumpkin seeds may help improve insulin regulation and help prevent diabetic complications by decreasing oxidative stress.4

6.  Benefits for Postmenopausal Women

Pumpkin seed oil is rich in natural phytoestrogens and studies suggest it may lead to a significant increase in good “HDL” cholesterol along with decreases in blood pressure, hot flashes, headaches, joint pains and other menopausal symptoms in postmenopausal women.5

7.  Heart and Liver Health

Pumpkin seeds, rich in healthy fats, antioxidants and fibers, may provide benefits for heart and liver health, particularly when mixed with flax seeds.6

8.  Tryptophan for Restful Sleep

Pumpkin seeds are a rich source of tryptophan, an amino acid (protein building block) that your body converts into serotonin, which in turn is converted into melatonin, the “sleep hormone.” Eating pumpkin seeds a few hours before bed, along with a carbohydrate like a small piece of fruit, may be especially beneficial for providing your body the tryptophan needed for your melatonin and serotonin production to help promote a restful night’s sleep.7

9.  Anti-Inflammatory Benefits

Pumpkin seed oil has been found to exhibit anti-inflammatory effects. One animal study even found it worked as well as the anti-inflammatory drug indomethacin in treating arthritis, but without the side effects.8

What’s the Best Way to Consume Pumpkin Seeds?

In order to preserve the healthy fats present in the seeds, pumpkin seeds should be eaten raw. If you choose to purchase seeds from a bulk bin, make sure they smell fresh – not musty, spoiled or stale, which could indicate rancidity or the presence of fungal mycotoxins. Organic pumpkin seeds are preferred, as they will not be contaminated with pesticides or other harmful chemicals.

However, most nuts and seeds have anti-nutrients like phytic acid that can make all the previously discussed important nutrients less bioavailable when you consume them. So if you plan on consuming seeds or nuts on a regular basis it would be wise to soak or sprout them. To make them more palatable you can then dehydrate them in your oven, or better yet and more cost effectively in a dehydrator. There are many dehydrators on the market but Excalibur is generally considered the best. I have used one for over 20 years. They are readily available on Amazon.

If you prefer to eat the seeds roasted, do so yourself so you can control the roasting temperature and time. Raw pumpkin seeds can be roasted on a low heat setting in your oven (no more than 170 degrees F or 75 degrees Celsius), sprinkled with Himalayan or other natural salt, for about 15-20 minutes.

Related articles

• 10 Health Benefits of Pumpkin Seeds
• Time to take a closer look at pumpkins the other squash
• The many benefits of Pumpkin
• In the Spirit of Halloween ....
• Pumpkin Seed Tip Recipe
• Kuerbiskern Eis (Pumpkin Seed Ice Cream)

Liberty's Kids 22, Lafayette Arrives, Battle of the Hook Pre Show

Liberty's Kids episode number 22, Lafayette Arrives.  Battle of the Hook pre show.  We are now a little less than 3 weeks from one of the nations largest American Revolutionary re enactment battles.  The Battle of the Hook, which took place in Gloucester, Virginia is going to be re enacted here.  See details below.

Battle of the Hook from Chuck Thompson

Related articles

• Liberty's Kids 21, Sybil Ludington - Battle of the Hook Pre Show.
• Liberty's Kids 20, An American In Paris - Battle of the Hook Pre Show
• Liberty's Kids 19, Across The Delaware - Battle of the Hook Pre Show
• Liberty's Kids 18, American Crisis - Battle of the Hook Pre Show
• Liberty's Kids 13, The First Fourth of July, Battle of the Hook Pre Show
• Liberty's kids 12, Common Sense - Battle of the Hook Pre Show