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Wine is more than an alcoholic beverage. It's almost a way of life! There are more wine accessories available than you could even imagine. From the necessities like corkscrews and glasses, to the not so necessary yet entertaining accessories like decanters, ice buckets, and pourers- there is more to wine than just drinking it.

Corkscrews & Openers

While there are hundreds of varieties of corkscrews, they all work in basically the same fashion. You screw one end directly into the center of the wine's cork, and use a handle to life the cork out of the bottle in order to enjoy your bottle of wine.

If you want something other than a corkscrew, you can find another style of opener that uses cartridges to "pop" the cork out of the bottle. The pop style openers tend to be a little more expensive than the traditional corkscrew, but image is everything when it comes to wine, and a specialty opener may be just the extra accessory you need for your dinner parties or restaurant atmosphere.

Decanters

Decanters are glass bottles with special shapes designed to encourage the heightening of wine flavors when you store your open wine in them. They also make for a nice presentation when you place the decanter on the table.

There are literally countless different shapes and styles that decanters come in. Many resemble a glass flower vase. Certain wines should be placed in specific shapes of wine decanters in order to enhance the flavor of the wine to the fullest extent. Others can be stored in any of the fancy decanters.

For an incredible display, you could find a decanter with it's own base unit. These are highly stylish, and often hold the decanter at an angle, and suspended over the table.

Some decanters come with glass ball stoppers to be placed on the opening of the bottle in order to keep the freshness in when the wine is stored. Air can have damaging effects to the properties of wine, and so it's usually best to keep open wine in an airtight container.

Additionally, some decanters are able to remove sediments from older wine and aerate younger wines to further enhance their flavors.

Decanters are certainly not necessary to drinking wine (you can place the cork back in the bottle of a wine to keep the air out when you're not pouring the wine) but they certainly make for a nicer presentation and can actually help the overall flavor of the wine.

Wine Racks

Where do you store your wine bottles? If you're like most people, you keep them in one of your kitchen cabinets until you're ready to use them, or maybe in the basement. If you drink wine often, however, you would probably enjoy having an elegant and functional wine rack in the kitchen or dining room that is designed to display and hold your wine bottles, glasses, and accessories.

Some wine racks are mounted to overhead cabinet space, so that the bottles are placed lying down inside them, while the glasses hang from their stems. These are perfect for kitchens with decent space under their overhead cabinets. If you don't have the room for this style of wine rack, there are wine racks that sit directly on the counter, and hold the bottles at arms reach.

If your kitchen simply doesn't have the space on the counter top or under the overhead cabinets for these styles, you can enjoy a wine rack that stands alone. These often have small base units, sometimes refrigerated, as well as space for glasses and accessories. They take up more floor space, but can really dress up a dining area.

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How exactly does the type of wine glass you use really matter? It is generally accepted as a rule that serving an alcohol is very easy. You can easily pass on the beer in the can or the bottle, with a bottle opener. For hard variety of alcohol, the spirit is added to the mixer and with some decorations like a mini umbrella and a straw; the drink passes off quite well. But wine is one alcohol that refuses to stick to this adage. You need to properly understand why you need a good wine glass to serve your wine. It has been proven scientifically that each wine has an apt glass required for serving it in its best temperatures for a good drink. Even otherwise, it is in the interest of best etiquettes to use proper wine glasses. And what better could you have asked for than the antique wine glasses to suit your special occasion?

Collectors have a wide range of antique wine glasses to choose from. This helps them to build up their best collection. These exquisite pieces should be taken out and used only during appropriate situations so that you can give proper care to such glasses. It is very important that you use this glassware only when you are sure that your guests would not damage any of the glasses. They can further care for their collection by storing them in dust free cabinets when not in use. In spite of all your care, there is no guarantee that you can always save your good collection from any breakage.

With the help of your antique wine glasses, you can add luster to any of your sophisticated parties The Lenox collection is a great way to start your antique glass wine collection. The gold wine glass, pale green wine glass, and clear wine glass are just a part of this wonderful collection.

With regard to antique crystal wine glasses, due care should be taken to make sure that the wine does not stay for long in your exquisite glasses. For avoiding any damage to these antique crystals wine glasses immediately rinse out each glass after use. That way you can keep them as good as new for a long period of time. The Noritake Spotlight Antique Gold wine glasses and Sasaki Facet Double Old fashioned wine glasses are the most popular antique crystal wine glassware. And it is the Mikasa Antique Lace wine glasses that make the best antique etched wine glasses.

There are surely several ways to serve your wine. Also there are many more ways serve it in. Yet without doubt the antique wine glasses set are the best way to impress your guests. With such a beautiful set you will be always armed to serve well no matter what type of wine comes across your way. It is sure to keep all the wine drinkers happy all the way!

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Wine themed celebrations are my favorite type of celebrations. Not only because you are practically guaranteed great food and drink, but also because I love the wonderful wine theme favors that are given out at these events!

I've received many of these favors over the years including bottles of wine, wine scented soaps and candles, wine coasters and wine bottle stoppers. But by far the most practical, and in a sense the ones that I appreciated most, were the wine opener favors.

These favors are both functional and elegant at the same time as they are typically made of stainless steel or brushed metal. Small is size but big on their bottle opening ability. And no wine connoisseur would get caught dead not having one of these on his or her body at all times. After all, you never know when you are about to come face to face with a great bottle of wine!

What to look for in a wine opener tool:

·         Compact in size. You want it to easily fit into a purse or a pocket.

·         At the very least, It must have a retractable corkscrew and knife.

·         Lightweight but solid feel.

If the opener tools don't already come gift packaged you can easily take care of that yourself. Small, drawstring organza bags are perfectly sized to hold these bar tool favors.  If you really want to go all out with the presentation have small, personalized hang tags made and attach them to each favor bag.

Diva Entertains, Copyright 2009

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The history surrounding the governmental regulation of wine labels in the US is a a fascinating one. The current federal agency that regulates the alcoholic beverage industry is the TTB. (Alchohol & Tobacco Tax & Trade Bureau.) Their regulations in regards to wine labels and the specifics of the items that appear on them are actually only about 30 years old. (In their current versions.) This includes the definition and use of AVAs. AVAs first came into existence in 1980. Though 56% of all the US AVAs are in California, you may be surprised to know that the very first AVA is actually in Missouri. The AVA of Augusta (in Missouri) was formally established in June of 1980. Number 2 on the list after it is the Napa Valley AVA which was established in 1981.

Since then in the years spanning from 1981 til 2007 over 180 additional AVAs were established across the country in 30 states. The current total is now at 196. If you are interested in seeing the complete list with date and full description details they can be found on the TTB's website at ttb.gov/wine and following the AVA link.

There are a number of factors that wine consumers use in making their purchasing decisions. One of those criteria is tied to the use of an appellation on the label. In particular in many cases the use of an AVA as their use though not specifically defined as a quality indicator is often seen as one. However as a result of the growth in the number of AVAs and their customers not necessarily being familiar with the "where" of all of them wineries have begun placing the county name directly below the AVA name on their labels. Doing so acts as a further geographic guide to the consumer viewing that label to whom for example "Horse Heaven Hills" has no meaning. (A southeastern Washington AVA)

Wineries want to do whatever they can to make their product stand out and have appeal for their audience. The wine label acts as the marquee for doing just that. The use of AVAs on labels holds strong appeal to wineries as can be seen in relation to the ongoing increase in their numbers. However until all of the newer AVA names become household terms to the masses of wine consumers the addition of the county name next to it may continue to be seen.

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I love wine and certainly drink my fair share of it, and you may as well. Then again, you may like wine but just not be sure which you like best. It can be easy to get confused when looking at hundreds or thousands of different types. How can you tell if you'll think a wine is good?

First of all, if you like it, it's good! It is a matter of personal taste. If you have a one you enjoy, write down the label information. Don't plan on remembering! Try the wine again and see if you enjoy it as much. Keep in mind how and when you have a wine can affect its enjoyment. There may be ones you love with food, but don't enjoy as much alone, and vice-versa.

Try wines similar to the ones you've found you enjoy. If there is an Australian Shiraz you enjoy, for example, try other ones too. Wine shops are also great as you can get advice from people that know wine well. They can often suggest new wines you may love based on previous wines you enjoy. You will not get this kind of advice at a supermarket for example, even if they have a wide variety.

Also experiment. Try different wines. One great way is to get some friends together and just open some different bottles to see what people like. This can be a formal wine tasting, or you just opening a few bottles whenever people get together.

Remember the golden rule: If you like it, it's good! You taste is in charge.

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Cooking with silicone provides an easy to store, easy to clean experience in the kitchen. This flexible material that is both heat and cold resistant has exploded in its number of applications for cooking, baking and kitchen preparation in the last several years. This article explores several of these new opportunities to expand your silicone collection.

In the utensils arena, newcomers have expanded the range of applications from more conventional tools such as spatulas, brushes and spoons to honeydew servers, spoon and fork holders, spoon rests, multi-function openers and bottle scrapers. Joining the more prolific pot handle holders are the silicone lemon squeezer, garlic peeler and cake decorating tools. Like other silicone products, these are available in a wide range of colors and shapes. Examples include spoon rests with a frog design and jar openers shaped like a penguin.

For egg preparation, silicone poachers are available in both handle and free floating style. Some free floating egg poachers are designed in fun shapes such as that of a hen or of a cracked egg. In addition, egg frying molds with small handles allow the host to create a perfectly round, heart shaped or even flowed shaped fried egg for their breakfast guests. These fried egg molds may likewise be used to create fun shapes for pancakes.

Some diverse silicone applications that you may or may not see in your local store include cup covers, tea infusers, wine bottle storage holders (a rectangular silicone tray with indentations for laying wine bottles), food ties, bag ties, ice cream molds, collapsible cups and even a turkey sling/lifter!

As you can see, only the imagination limits the possibilities for silicone in world or cooking and food preparation.

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In the spirit of comfortably decorating our homes, the ability to combine form with function goes a long way towards making our job much easier. And for those with smaller living environments, the inclusion of furniture that serves a dual function can be enormously helpful. For those who enjoy wine as a beverage and a hobby, the purchase of a wine rack table can display wine bottles beautifully and still function with the utmost efficiency.

Choosing a wine rack table depends largely on your personal style, space considerations, and budget. A smaller wine rack table can fit in a corner and hold several wine bottles underneath it, maximizing space and providing vertical storage. The flat top provides an extra space from which to serve drinks. For additional storage, choose a wine rack table that provides space for some stemware pieces and additional barware such as a bottle opener.

If you have a larger space with which to work, then a lower, wider wine rack table may serve a number of purposes. While providing more space for a greater number of bottles than its smaller counterpart, this particular wine rack table also offers a larger horizontal table top for serving and enjoying cocktails. A wine rack table of this variety may also offer drawer space for efficiently storing barware accessories.

Also be sure to consider the overall style of your home when choosing a wine rack table. Manufacturers offer designs of every variety - from contemporary and country to antique and eclectic. The materials of each wine rack table differ largely as well - from solid wood of every variety, to metal and wrought iron. Choose a wine rack table based on your needs as a wine enthusiast, as well as how the particular table will function within your room as piece of furniture and as a decorative item.

Begin your search for the perfect wine rack table by exploring local home improvement stores, furniture stores, and large retail outlets that display a variety of home goods. You will find a range of styles, sizes, and prices so do your homework before you purchase.

A beautiful wine rack table can add sophistication, organization, and functionality to your home, allowing you to display your wine with style.

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Whenever you go out to buy a wine corkscrew, you may just think that you are buying a wine corkscrew and nothing else. You may also think that that they are all the same, and you can just pick up any kind you want. Well, today we are going to talk about the features that you should look for in a corkscrew to make sure you are getting the best for your money. We will talk about a few of the fancy up class ones and if they are better than the old fashion ones. The corkscrew is one of those inventions that has been remade over and over again. However, what a lot of people do not understand is that the normal lever wine openers are the best for you. We will now go into more details on why.

There are some very fancy corkscrews out there that you can buy. However, one of the best is, of course, the lever wine opener. This is one of the best corkscrews, because it requires very little effort on your part. Not only that, but a lot of them come with little replacement tips that you can put on them if they ever get warn out. These are good for people that have very limited arm strength. If you are a person with arthritis, you may like the lever style best. If you have enough money, you can go out and spend tons of money on an electric wine opener, which works great, but most people just need your everyday run-of-the-mill wine opener, and the lever wine corkscrew is for you.

Also, be sure to make sure that your wine corkscrew is made out of metal and not plastic. There are a lot of plastic tipped corkscrews out there, but they do not work well. Sure, they may work good for a little bit, but you always risk the chance of these breaking off a lot easier in the cork. Also, over time you will notice that the plastic starts to get bent out of shape. When you first get it, it will be twisted all the way down. Over years of use, the twist in it will start straightening out, and you will have nothing more than a straight corkscrew that is going to do you know good. So be sure to stick with what works, and that is the metal wine corkscrew.

Last, but not least, if you are going to get a manual twist corkscrew and not a lever corkscrew, then you need to go with one that is very sturdy and has an off center tip. You will have to have a lot more aim when using these. You risk a much less chance of breaking the cork with the corkscrew. That is because of the chosen spot for the point of the center of the turning radius. Overall, these are things that most people would more than likely not think too much about when they go to get a corkscrew. However, putting just a little time and effort into it could be all you need to get one that will last you a lifetime.

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Whether you're running a hamburger joint at a corner Main Street in a small city of America's Heartland, or working at a bustling investment business right in the heart of Chicago, there will be times when you need a little something extra to pamper a client, a supplier, a business associate, partner or secretary.

Making sure that the office or your business has a small stock of Promotional Products is a sign of a well-planned, structured company or organization. It doesn't have to contain hundreds of items, but it is a good idea to always keep at hand some gifts or give always for the unexpected.
Here's a good, upgraded list of Promotional Products that any business should have in stock to give deserving individuals:

1. Pens - An all-time classic that will always be needed. But don't settle for just plastic. Get something exciting like the Gripper, the Rubber Gripper or the Executive Grip Pen to make an impression.

2. T-Shirts - Everybody loves a free T-Shirt, but don't forget that you need to stock both men's and ladies versions! Unless it fits your company profile, white, Navy Blue and Black are always safe buys.

3. Padfolio/Portfolio - Because carrying around note pads and pens simply needs a good organizer!

4. Mouse pad - Everybody uses a computer these days. For an exclusive style, get a Leatherette version with built in wrist support, and a calculator

5. Mugs - A must for any business. You can go for the standard 11 oz. Ceramic mugs but you will get bonus points from anyone if you choose a different design such as the Barrel, or a stainless travel mug.

6. Key Chains - Because everybody has at least one set of keys that they carry around and this is a good place to have brand presence. A modern flashlight key chain or Compass key chain will give an old product a new life.

7. Bottle Openers - A lot of people drink beer and quite frankly you never know when you need to crack a cold one open. Works great for a tailgate party or going camping.

8. Tote bags - Not only do you need Tote bags for your trade shows, but a Tote bag is an excellent vehicle to get your brand out in the streets - literally. It is recommend you stock a Fashion type Tote Bag for the ladies.

9. Caps - Everybody wears hats for outdoor and indoor activities. A high quality baseball cap, or how about an acrylic beanie for the younger generation?

10. Wine Glasses - Not to say you'll be handing out wine glasses every week, but for that special person, a set of exclusive hand-blown wine Glasses will definitely give a strong impression.

If you keep inventory of these Promotional Products it does not guarantee that you will have everything you will always need, but will guarantee that you will always have something to bring out for that special person who walked the extra mile for you today. And it goes without saying - that all of the Promotional Products need to be branded with your company name, logo or slogan.

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Owning a restaurant is not sufficient, it is essential to have optimum promotion for letting more people know about your restaurant. Blogging is one of the best ways that can be used for letting the targeted audiences know about the restaurant.

Blogs are emerging everywhere on internet with the basic motive of attracting the target audience. Blogs are the content marketing tools that are considered to be an ideal vehicle for promoting your restaurant business. Blogs can give the readers or targeted audiences to interact with the restaurant owners by means of publishing the reply posts below blog entry. Though almost all restaurants have their websites but these websites are hardly utilized. These websites have certain common topics such as menu, private or group bookings, capacity, ambiance of restaurant; there is no interaction amongst the audiences and restaurant owners.

In such cases, blogging is considered effective and a more personalized form of communicating with the people. Blogging has become one of the most popular tools that are used widely by those involved in the restaurant business. There are numerous blogs by waiters, chefs and also by the restaurant customers. The restaurant website can be made more interactive with the regularly updated restaurant blogs. With the blogs that are updated frequently can help in making the website used in a better way and at the same time interactive.

Blogging can be used for promoting restaurant news. By making announcements about the restaurant such as restaurant anniversaries, fund raising projects in which the restaurant is taking part, hiring of new chef, press releases and other ways are best ways for restaurant promotion.

Adding blogs for presenting new additions that have been made in menu is also an excellent way for the people to know about the new dishes. Making announcements of the new courses that are being presented in the menu can be done effectively with blogging. Posting the list of special dishes in the blogs on a regular basis is also used for promoting the restaurant business.

Restaurant blog promotion can also be used for promoting the upcoming events and special that will be held in the restaurant. These might be the guest musicians such as DJs, Jazz bands, local performers, guitar players and others. Restaurants have entertainers on regular basis thus making it visible for the targeted audiences using blogs is essential for restaurant marketing. Other events such as wine tasting, wine pairing feasts and foodie events can also be announced on the blogs.

Restaurant Blogging can also be used for promoting special dinners at restaurants during festive seasons such as at the time of Christmas and Thanksgiving. People must be reminded by the means of blogs that they can host parties and dinners for groups, small or large. Restaurant owners can also announce gift cards as a means of promotion.

Besides attracting the targeted audiences, blogging can also be done for making available for the audiences cooking tips, ideas and recipes. For building readership and driving more interest, recipes can always be posted on the blogs. The faithful customers can get the opportunity to cook the dishes that are based on those recipes and with this the restaurant is expected to catch the attention of more guests to the restaurant.

You can be up to date with how to use blogging for restaurant marketing by following aaronallen.com. The advices made available by them have helped a number of restaurant owners for prospering and developing so that they can earn considerable profits. Professional help can be attainted by them and some ideas for blogging that can be implemented for having maximum benefits.

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Your skin is actually the largest organ in your body. It's actually comprised of three layers, the epidermis or top layer, the dermis, or middle layer, and the subcutaneous or inner layer. Your skin is the barrier between your body and the outside world, and protects your insides from the outside world.

Your skin has four major functions.

It keeps harmful biological and non biological stuff out, like bacteria, pollutants, viruses and more.

It regulates your body temperature.  When you are hot, you sweat, releasing water and toxins and cooling you down. When you're cold, tiny muscles around your hair follicles cause goose bumps and help you warm.

Of course your skin is a waterproof barrier as well, keeping moisture inside and preventing your body from being flooded when you swim or bathe.

It also serves as a sensory receptor, and can feel pain, which indicates danger, pleasure, and well as environmental and temperature conditions.

Your skin actually regenerates every 15 to 18 days when you are young, slowing down to regenerating every several months once you hit your seventies and later. It weights up to about 11 pounds and is mainly made of water, along with protein and a little fat.

Your skin naturally ages, but you can keep it from aging faster than normal by taking care of it. Avoiding sunlight is the biggest factor, but not smoking or coming in contact with lots of second hand smoke is another significant factor, as well as diet.

Your skin is not only your largest organ but pretty amazing as well!

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Imagine seeing the real Australia that few ever have the chance to experience? To stop, explore and discover places reserved for the lucky few. As the Indian Pacific cruised towards Perth on the last stages of its 3 day transcontinental journey from Sydney, passengers sat in the lounge car reflecting on a unique experience.

For many, it was the journey of a lifetime. What makes this adventure so unique?

The Indian Pacific is not a high speed dash across Australia.

The train's itinerary is carefully designed with the appropriate balance of whistle stop tours, all planned to unlock the vast and diverse continent's richness and diversity.

Those magic moments impossible for you to arrange, if travelling on your own.

I was fortunate to travel on this unique journey and I share with you the highlights and experiences of fellow passengers.

Sydney.

Australia's largest city is the county's main port of entry for overseas visitors and the start of the 3796 km odyssey across Australia.

In the late afternoon we cruised through Sydney's outer suburbs and climbed through the majestic Blue Mountains with its deep ravines and amazing scenery.

Broken Hill.

The following morning we were greeted with a spectacular desert sunrise and an introduction to the Australian Outback. Overnight we travelled from heavily timbered mountains to flat, almost treeless plains.

Broken Hill is a large inland city built following the discovery of huge silver deposits. Australia's major industrial company BHP had its origins here and although mining is still a major industry, tourism also plays an important role in the region's economy.

We were given a number of tour options during our tour hour stop here. I chose the tour of the mines as well as the city highlights. Broken Hill was the location of the popular movie Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and also featured in the movie Mad Max.

Adelaide.

South Australia's capital was the end of the journey for some passengers. They were either stopping in Adelaide or spending a short time here before joining the Ghan train for its trip north to Darwin or The Overland for its daylight journey to Melbourne.

Adelaide has many attractions. The well planned city is nestled alongside the Torrens River and is the base for exploration to many popular tourist destinations including the famous Barossa Valley wine region, Flinders Ranges and Murray River.

Cook.

This isolated tiny town in the middle of the Nullabor Plain was a real eye opener and a totally new experience for everyone. This was the true Outback. Seemingly in the middle of nowhere, Cook's sole reason for existence was as a base for rail maintenance crews. It now has a population of 4.

Before our cabin attendant Nikki opened the doors for our 1 hour stopover, she warned us with a glorious piece of understatement: "It's pretty warm out there!"
She wasn't joking! When the furnace- like blast hit us we felt like retreating to the comfort of the train. Most of us braved the 47c ( 120f ) heat and we were rewarded with the discovery of a town that once boasted a school, hospital and general store.

Kalgoorlie.

In the gathering dusk, we returned to civilization. A myriad of lights from mine operations, welcomed us to our next whistle stop.

Kalgoorlie is a fascinating city. In the 1890s it was the centre of one of the biggest gold rushes in Australian history. By 1903, it had a population of 30 000, serviced by 93 hotels, 8 breweries and 25 brothels.

Two expedient ways to relieve the young single miners of their hard earned cash!

Today this vibrant inland city is the heart of a prosperous mining and tourist industry. Gold mining is still a major source of income and one open cut, called the Super Pit is so huge, it can be seen from space.

The train stops briefly at Kalgoorlie for a whistle stop tour and this is one that I recommend you take. You will learn of the raunchy and turbulent past of this outback city, spend time at the super pit and drive past one of the three remaining brothels.

In fact one of the brothels, Langtrees, is a quirky tourist venue, with daily guided tours of the "facilities". I took one of these tours a few years ago ( strictly as a visitor of course!) and was fascinated by what goes on behind the closed doors of these establishments.

There is so much to see and do in this region and a short tour does not do it justice.

If you want to explore the goldfields, why not leave the train at Kalgoorlie, hire a car and drive to Perth, a distance of less than 600km? Alternatively, stay a few days then travel to Perth on the fast and very comfortable day train called appropriately the "Prospector."

In the early hours, the svelte Indian Pacific slid smoothly away from Kalgoorlie and we were soon barrelling westwards towards our final destination on the Indian Ocean side of the continent.

As our train approached Perth past wheat fields, through the spectacular Avon Valley and alongside vineyards with the last of their leaves glowing golden in the sunshine, I was fascinated by the Australian-ness of it all.

It was like viewing a Frederick McCubbin landscape painting with its graphic images of the Australian bush.
Three days and 4352 kilometres after leaving Sydney, the Indian Pacific arrived at its western terminus, Perth the booming capital of Western Australia.

Reflections.

In many ways I was disappointed that this fascinating odyssey across my homeland had come to an end. There are few better ways to see and feel the magic of the Australian continent than on the Indian Pacific.

Which still begs the question: Why not fly from Sydney to Perth? It takes only 4 hours and it's much cheaper.

Granted, some have a fear of flying and are aware of its dangers.

Paul and Jessica from California, volunteered the answer as we enjoyed a drink in the lounge car.
"We came here to see Australia", said Paul. "If we flew, it would be just like a flight from New York to our home in San Diego. We would see nothing.
The Indian Pacific gave us a chance to meet many Aussies and learn about their country. We saw and experienced the outback and the inland mining towns as well as scenery very different to home. This to us was the only way to see the real Australia."

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Time was when many wedding favors consisted of miniature bottles of alcoholic spirit of some form or another, but in recent years these have been replaced with more contemporary favors consisting of cookies, candles or even mini trees!

Alcoholic wedding favors are a nice idea for a winter wedding where bottles of whiskey or brandy make a nice winter warmer for your guests. Whilst bottles of lighter spirits are nice for weddings in the warmer months. Here are a few ideas for alcoholic wedding favors for you to consider:

Wine: Wine themed weddings are very popular or even if your wedding is taking place in a vineyard, then wine is an excellent choice for your favors. However, you will need a good sized budget to afford some decent wine, even if you are having a small, intimate wedding. Try to find half bottles from a merchant or wholesalers where you can negotiate a good price for bulk quantity.

Spirits: As mentioned above, miniature bottles of spirits where once common place at weddings and are perhaps now considered slightly retro! However, retro is in at the moment so get with the trend and give your guests mini bottles of whiskey, brandy or rum.

Cocktail Mixes: Favors stores offer a choice of cocktail mixes in sachets which can be personalized. These are a great choice for beach or wine bar weddings or you could coordinate them with your signature cocktail which you will serve at the wedding.

Champagne: Now this is for those with very big budgets or for those with a minimal number of guests. Champagne is available in a variety of bottle sizes although for the purposes of wedding favors you will want to be looking a half bottles! Vintage champagne will cost the most whilst sparkling wines from the new world and Spanish Cava offer cheaper alternatives which don't compromise on taste!

Other Alcoholic Beverages: For a fall wedding give out bottles of spiced cider punch or for a festive wedding try bottles of mulled wine. As an alternative to giving out actual alcohol, why not give out boozy recipes instead? How about punch, tipsy cake, tiramisu or brandy sauce?

Alcoholic favors are great for adult only weddings, but if children are present then don't forget to get different favors for them too! If you feel that mini bottles are too little on their own they why not add a nice glass as well. Other accompaniments to any alcoholic favors include bottle stoppers, bottle openers, corkscrews, coasters, pourers and cocktail shakers.

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Waiter Corkscrew

This is probably the most ubiquitous wine opener in the world, and the ultimate in simplicity. This tool features a design that allows the entire tool to fit in your pocket, and as such has become the overwhelming favorite of wait staff and picnic goers. There are three essential parts that all fold out from the body of the tool: the corkscrew itself, a lever that acts as a fulcrum on the top of the bottle, and a small foilcutter to cut the foil from the top of the bottle. No wine cellar would be equipped without one at a minimum for backup. To use the opener simply remove the foil from the neck with the knife, twist the corkscrew fully into the cork, and then place the lever on the top of the bottle and pull the cork up and out. Some devices feature two shoulders on the lever in order to maximize leverage, in this case use the one halfway down the lever first, finally use the top shoulder to get the cork the rest of the way out.

Wing style

Here is another very popular type of wine opener. Using the mechanical advantage of a lever and gear, this device makes uncorking a bottle easier than a typical cork puller. While the price is a little higher than the waiter style, it is a great choice for the home user or anyone that does not wish to wrestle with a wine bottle. Simply rest the bottom of the opener on the top of the bottle, screw the corkscrew into the cork, and then push the levers down and they will lift the cork out. This could be the second most important accessory for the wine lover, second only to the wine glasses. These models come in a wide selection of metals including nickel-plated steel, or plastic. It is highly recommended to buy only heavy-duty metal types as they are more solid and will last for years.

Lever Pull

This type was made famous by the brand named "The Rabbit", and it does make very quick work of opening wine bottles. Featuring a clamp you hold around the neck of the bottle with one hand, and a lever that plunges then pulls the corkscrew with the other. This gizmo efficiently removes a cork in just seconds. If you have a lot of wine to open, you will certainly find this toll useful. But be aware that this premium product comes at a premium price. A quality lever pull wine opener will cost up to $100 or above.

Twist Corkscrews

A two piece corkscrew with no levers, clamps, or hinges makes this one of the easiest and our favorite corkscrew for every day use. Use the device by first placing the bottom "seat" on top of the wine bottle. The corkscrew piece then slides into a guide hole in the top and is automatically centered on the cork. Begin twisting and the screw first drives into the cork, than it stops against the shoulder of the seat and as you continue twisting it lifts the cork clear. Broken corks are pratically impossible when using this style, as are cork pieces floating in the wine when completed. And at prices less than $50.00, this is in the top 10 accessories for any wine buff.

Uncorking Machines

If you have an entire room reserved just for your wine collection, than you are likely ready for an uncorking machine. With the simple pull of a lever in one direction, you will be able to twist the corkscrew in, and then pull it out of the bottle. Reverse direction and the cork will spit out and you are ready to do it again. The entire process takes less than 10 seconds. The design of these machines makes opening wine not only efficient, but also impressive. But be sure these machines are not cheap in the least; expect to pay over $100 for the most basic model that clamps to a tabletop. And for advanced models you would expect to see on an Italian estate the price tag will exceed $500.00.

Pump Style

The last style opener we will mention is the pump style. These insert a long needle through the cork into the air space above the wine. Then using either a pump or a cylinder of compressed air, the cork is removed by building up pressure under the cork so it pops out, just like champagne. These tools are a little bit more gizmo than workhorse, but for the enthusiast who has it all, this might make a good gift just for the amazement factor when it is time to open the bottle.

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If you enjoy wine and your friends enjoy wine, a casual wine tasting can be a great way to enjoy wine together and test each other's palates. You can hold blind tastings if you really want to test your skills and the skills of your friends, or you can just get together and try out the different types of wines that you and your friends enjoy.

Many formal wine tastings do not allow you to swallow the wine. The tasting is simply to get the taste, smell the bouquet and enjoy the overall experience of the wine. At your casual tasting you can feel free to allow your guests to drink the wine, but there may be sobriety issues if you do this. It is also important to realize that you may not get the full flavor and effect of the wine as you get deeper into the tastings.

Either way that you perform your tasting you will want to have clean glasses for each person and each bottle. You will also need a clean white tablecloth. The white tablecloth will allow you to get a good view of the wine. The tablecloth allows you to see the wine's body and any sediment that may be in the glass from an aged wine. Candlelight will also allow you to see the wine clearly and any sediment that may be in the bottle or decanter. Clean glasses are extremely important, as any residue in the glass will cause your wine to have an impure taste.

To help keep the event easy, ask your guests to bring a bottle of their favorite wine. You may also need them to bring their own glasses if you do not have enough. You will also need some crackers or bread to help cleanse the palate as well as room temperature water. Cold water will shock your taste buds.

You will want to decant your red wines. If you cannot decant them all at once, you may want to pour a small amount in each glass and allow them to breathe a bit. The more air contact the wine has, the better they will taste. You may also choose to explore the difference that decanting makes. Taste the wine at ten and fifteen minute intervals. White and blush wine should be chilled slightly before serving.

When you taste your wines, it is a good idea to have a paper and pencil available so that your guests can take notes and rank their wines. You will also want to start with lighter and simpler wines and then move on to the drier and heavier wines. You will not taste your white wines as well as if you drink the heavier and dry wines first. If you must reuse a glass, swirl some water around in it and dry it with a clean cloth so that the water does not dilute the wine.

Begin by looking at the wine and observing its clarity and color. A wine is judged on its color, aroma and taste. Hold the wine up to a light and note the color of the wine. The wine should also appear to be clear and cloudy. Next, tip the glass slightly and swirl it gently. The wine flows around the glass and if the wine clings and dribbles down the side in "legs" or stripes, this mean that the wine is a medium bodied wine. If the wine forms a sheet, it is a full-bodied wine.

Next, tip the glass and swirl the wine around while holding it a little bit away from your nose. This helps to increase the amount of scent that is available for your nose to smell. Inhale the wine deeply and then move it away, this will keep you from becoming overwhelmed by the aroma. You may be able to smell fruit, yeast, grass, or earth in the wine.

The last step is to taste the wine. Take a small sip and push it up in front of your mouth and then inhale through your teeth. Slosh the wine around in your mouth and cover your tongue with it. You are going to want to taste the predominant tastes at first and then the secondary tastes that appear. Is the wine's taste complex? Does it have a wood-taste?

Take a moment between wines to rinse your mouth and take a bite of unsalted crackers or bread. This will help to clear the taste from the previous wines. If you hold a blind tasting, place the bottles in brown bags or remove the labels. Have your guests make notes and guess what the varietals and brands are.

Wine tastings don't have to be formal affairs. They can be very casual and you can have a lot of fun with it. There are even wine tasting kits that you can buy to supply you with the necessary bags, tags and other wine information that you may need.

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Retiring is a point in life that a lot of people look forward to, although most find that they are not really prepared for it. It is not so much the financial or security aspects of retiring that people today struggle with; instead, it is realizing just how much time they have on their hands once work is no longer a part of the weekly equation! Of course, many retirees will fill this extra time with travel or with "work that isn't really work" (volunteering, babysitting, even part time jobs in totally unrelated fields to what the retiree was doing before), but many find that hobbies are also an essential part of staying vital after retirement.

For many, retirement hobbies are something that were enjoyed during working life but that retirement allows them to focus on even more. Retirees should keep in mind that no matter how much they love any one activity, the opportunity to concentrate on that hobby consistently may mean that they grow tired of it. It is important, therefore, to have a range of hobbies during the retirement years. Here is a list of some of the most popular activities pursued by people after they retire.

Bird Watching

Although the title is still contested by gardening and amateur photography, bird watching has been demonstrated to be the most popular hobby in America today. The retired community is no exception, and bird watching combines both a great hobby and an opportunity to travel. Like any good hobby, bird watching can be as involved or as casual as the participant wishes, with high quality equipment available as well as hundreds of different resources. Clubs are available all over the United States, and of course anywhere a person travels there is opportunity to watch a new species.

Gardening

Gardening remains a steady favorite among retirees. It is a way to get outside, get exercise, create something through hard work, and add to your pantry or your home décor alike. Gardeners in locations that are not temperate, of course, will have to deal with four or five months of the year being unsuitable to their past time (unless of course they are also enthusiasts of indoor gardens and greenhouses). Still, the opportunities during the growing months are staggering; planting, tending, fertilizing and finally harvesting gardens can mean hours and hours of peace. Opportunities to enter produce and floral arrangements in fall fairs or other county celebrations also allow people to show off their craft.

Wine

Nothing has exploded world wide in the last few years in a bigger way than wine. No longer just a beverage, wine is now a commodity. For many, this hobby does not just involve redoing their basements into cellars, but also making sure that they have all the best accessories and display cases for their collections. Like bird watching, it is also a hobby that can be taken all over the world; there are many popular vacation spots that also offer dozens of wineries to be toured and tasted at. Wine enthusiasts never have a shortage of opportunity as just a trip to a local restaurant is an occasion to indulge the past time!

There are dozens of other hobbies that retirees find are a great way to invest their well earned leisure time. Photography, golf, various table games, fishing, collecting, and crafts all remain popular among retirees. A strong combination of several different hobbies will mean a very busy retirement!

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As all brides-to-be know, planning the perfect wedding can cause a lot of stress. However, all that stress is worth it when you see your guests having a wonderful time at the reception. One of the ways you can help make them have that great time is by giving bottle opener wedding favors. Although many people consider wedding favors sort of an afterthought when it comes to wedding planning, it does not have to be that way at your wedding. One of the popular things that many brides are doing today is giving out practical and useful keepsakes.

There seems to be a shift in brides' attitudes when it comes to wedding planning these days. Although it still is important for them to get what they want, which is obvious because it is their day, there also seems to be a need to do what will please the guests. By giving a favor such as a bottle opener, you are showing your guests that you care about them as well. You easily could get a satchel of potpourri, but instead you went with something that actually is useful. Although it is something small, it still is a huge gesture.

Another great thing about giving bottle opener wedding favors is that you have such variety. If the majority of your guests are wine drinkers, then you can go for a stylish stainless steel wine bottle opener. However, if more of your guests drink beer out of bottles, you can opt for a classy stainless steel beer opener. This actually is an important decision when it comes time to order your favors because you want to keep your guests in mind. Since the whole purpose of giving these favors is so they will be used, you want to make sure they actually will be.

Another nice thing about giving bottle opener wedding favors is that within the different types of bottle openers, there are different styles. This is great for matching the openers with your existing wedding theme or decor. For instance, if you are having a classic wedding, you might want to go for a heart opener. On the other hand, a starfish would be great for a beach theme wedding. The best part about these favors is that your guests will think of you every time they use it.

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This is my confession. I have to be honest with you. I always thought promotional products was a waste of marketing resources. Until I started my own business and everything changed!

I am a former marketing director and executive who frowned on the whole world of merchandise and promotional products.

In 2008 I was laid off due to budget cuts - business reality of the new millennium, right? - I started my own business selling software in the pharmaceutical field. It was an eye opener and for the first time I was confronted with trying to find out what marketing activity, strategy and materials really work to win over clients and new business.

Anyone who starts up a business knows, that when you start your own business you have to do everything yourself:

you answer the phone, make the copies, run the books, build and maintain the website, file taxes, write reports, set pricing, clean the office - and somewhere in this 24-hour a day operation you have to do what matters - make customer calls and make a good impression.

I started showing up at meetings armed to my teeth with sales arguments, spiffy presentations and well-rehearsed for price-discussions. Over 4 weeks I made 100 sales calls. I did not close one sale. And with every meeting, I had this weird feeling that the customers considered me "cold". Myself, I just felt business focused.

I had been a marketing executive for so long, that I had forgotten it takes more to close a sale than just talk.

Then it hit me when I was surfing the web for ideas and stumbled upon promotional products - I can't just show up at meetings empty handed. I have to go back to the roots of building business the right way: building a relationship. And that's what it's all about.

Here i've been calling this poor secretary for weeks to get my foot in the door - the least I can do is bring her some sort of promotional product. And get my name out there at the same time.

And how about the poor chap i'm boring with my sales talk? Could I improve my odds and his mood with a great promotional gift?

And that was all it took. I was happy to find that the world of promotional products has so much to offer at competitive prices. I spent a fraction of what I would spend on expensive brochures and a 30-second tv-commercial filmed in some studio.

2 days later a box of travel mugs with handles, personalized shot glasses, beer bottle openers, t-shirts and hats stood at the door step of my office. Delivery was so fast.

Armed with promotional products and a new attitude I spent the next month calling on prospect customers. I was determined not just to close the business, but build relationships with the people that I met.

After only 5 days on the road, I had signed my first client to the company. It turned out that the client was a big fan of Mexican food and I brought in these awesome personalized margarita glasses (hint: the secretary had told me on the phone that her boss was a big fan of spicy tacos - I took note!)

not only was this promotional gift a perfect gift - for about 20 bucks, me and the client started of a great discussion that led to a great dinner. 1 year later, he's a friend, and represents 30% of the turnover of my little business.

And it started over a margarita poured in a personalized margarita glass.

I will never frown on promotional products again!

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Favors are essential when it comes to parties or celebrations whereby you present them as door gifts or a token of appreciation. Such events range from baby showers, weddings to birthdays. People began to come up with new funky ideas for these unique presents such as diaper cakes, can openers, miniature honey jars and many more. In this article, we will talk about giving out coffee as gifts on special occasions.

Coffee plays a crucial role in our society nowadays as people get addicted to the rich taste of this beverage. It was first used as for rituals and slowly evolved into a staple beverage for billions of people throughout the world. Coffee gifts are still in the niche market, but it would make unique favors as people normally go for common favors. If you are daring enough to venture out of the convention, do consider giving out coffee as favors on your special celebrations.

Coffee gifts include coffee beans, coffee gift baskets, coffee mugs, scoops, as well as pre-packed coffee. Personalized coffee favors are made available and you have a whole range of products to choose from. All you need to do is place your order of the quantity of desired coffee products that you need from the suppliers and they will deliver the products to your door step. The price for these goodies depends on the quantity as well as the quality of the products. Most of the online suppliers do offer gift tags and thank-you notes at low prices.

Other than ordering complete readymade favors from suppliers, it is also possible for one to prepare their own unique coffee gifts. The materials needed are cellophane bags, coffee, ribbons, gift tags, and 1 - 2 oz bags that we can use to seal in the aroma of the coffee. Pick the flavor of the coffee based on your theme and you can purchase processed coffee off the rack or from suppliers. Weigh and pack them in sealed foil bags. You may want to add on a tiny scoop or saucer spoon to the package before you attach your gift tags. Finally, wrap the coffee bags with cellophane bags, tie and decorate with ribbons.

This special beverage represents the love and memories of the people who are giving out the gifts. It symbolizes the perfect blend of all elements like people as well as the coffee itself. Furthermore, they make perfect gifts for coffee lovers.

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One of the most enjoyable ways to enjoy your home bar and wine furniture is to have a wine and cheese party. To make the party a big hit, however, requires creativity and planning. In planning your party, your first step is to select a theme. For example, do you want wines and cheeses from all over the world represented? Or, do you want wines and cheeses representing just one region, California for example. For the sake of putting our focus on a particular theme, let's use wines and cheeses from all over the world.

When you send out your invitations to the party, make sure they detail the party's theme. For time's sake it's best to assign a region to each guest, or multiple guests, depending on the number of people you anticipate will attend. Each guest will be instructed to bring a bottle of wine and a cheese from that region.

Alternate between red wines, white wines, and even sparkling wines with each invited guest. Give your guests a suggested price range as well. For some extra fun and ambiance, have your guests bring a theme decoration or two representing their assigned regions,( the country's flag, for example). Make sure that your guests are instructed to r.s.v.p. This is important for determining the supplies you'll need to provide.

When your guests arrive, give them a glass for red wine and a glass for white wine. Also have some Champagne flutes available for the sparkling wines. Make certain that you have at least one ice bucket and/or wine chiller available to keep the cold wines chilled. As far as needed bar accessories, you'll want a cheese slicer and several special cheese knives. The cheese slicer features a thin band, and is essential for many soft cheeses. If your guests have not cut up their hard cheeses, have them do so in small squares.

Make sure you provide plenty of toothpicks. It's also a good idea to have bottled water handy to refresh the palate between wines and cheeses. Your guests should be situated in "stations" around your home bar area. A word here about wine openers. An event like a wine and cheese party will definitely help you understand the value of a "heavy-duty" wine opener! When you're opening this many bottles of wine, a commercial quality opener will make the task almost effortless. A savings of energy that you'll appreciate at the end of the day! Definitely invest in a quality opener if you haven't already.

Use a mobile wine cart to move around the room and attend to your guests. A wine cart is an excellent resource at a wine and cheese party! Also, for those of you that would like to get fancy, provide your guests with wine adornments. These adornments attach to the stem of the wine glass and allow wine drinkers to identify their own glasses. Wine adornments are available in a variety of wine oriented themes.

By following these simple suggestions and guidelines, your wine and cheese party will be a smashing success! It might even inspire you to form your own wine "club." Good luck!

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The rabbit corkscrew is a wise used device when it comes to opening wines. Even if it is very easy to use and manipulate, there are people that say it can get unreliable and even hard to handle, but their problem is not the opener. They simply do not know how to use it correctly and this is where their problem comes from. For all of you new comers to the wine lovers community, here are some basic instructions on opening a bottle with a rabbit corkscrew.

- The first thing you have to do before starting to use the rabbit corkscrew on a bottle, is to remove any type of protections the bottle has. This means no seals; no foils or any other packaging should be present. People that try to use the opener on bottles with seals will only make the opening process a lot more complicated and a lot harder than it should be.

- Then, you should take the corkscrew by its handles and place it on the bottle. You will notice how it will securely attach itself to the bottle. Manage the handles a bit so that the device is tightly placed, in such a way that it may even be able to lift the entire weight of the bottle if detached from the table.

- When the rabbit corkscrew has pierced the cork, you can begin to squeeze on the handles gently. No force is required to pull the cork out. If you attempt to open the bottle by force, as it is required when using other openers, you might damage the device. So simply push the handles concomitantly until the cork pops out. It will only take some seconds if handled correctly.

- If your rabbit corkscrew hasn't been used for a while, it might need some technical revisions. Any mishandling or damage that is not attended to can affect its integrity in such a way that it might start to push the cork down inside instead of pulling it upwards. Make sure all parts are securely placed before using an old opener.

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The history of Italian wine begins with the first wines that originated in the Middle East. The Old Testament has many references to wine. Wine was used by the early Minoan, Greek, and Etruscan civilizations, which brings us to the roots of Italian wine history.

Italy is one of the oldest wine regions in the world, and the history of Italian wine has roots that are even older. When we tell the history of Italian wine, we must speak of people who have been consuming and relishing wine for thousands of years. Its ancient origins trace to the Mesopotamians, sometime between 4000 and 3000 B.C., who lived near present-day Iran. Many left their marks on the Mediterranean shores. The further study of Italian wine history tells us the Spaniards brought vines into Sardinia, Sicily and other places centuries after the Arabs and Phoenicians planted what many believe to be the first "foreign" vines in Italy, beginning the history of Italian wine.

The Etruscans (English name for the people of ancient Italy and Corsica whom the ancient Romans called Etrusci) from Asia Minor also produced wines. The history of Italian wine was then passed to the Romans who recognized the potential of the slopes that gave them Falernum (renowned wine produced in ancient Rome, often mentioned in Roman literature but has since disappeared), Caecubum (came from a small territory, ager Caecubus, at Amyclae in coastal Latium), Mamertinum and other heady wines eulogized by poets from Horace (65 B.C. - 8 B.C.) to Virgil (70 B.C - 19 B.C). The Mycenaean Greeks settled in Sicily and southern Italy in the eighth and seventh centuries B.C., driven by unsettled conditions at home, and found the climate so beneficial to growing grape vines that the ancient Greeks were prompted to nickname their colonies "Oenotria" ("oinos" meaning wine in Greek), the land of wine.

Romans loved their wine, drinking it with every meal. Roman red and white wines contained more alcohol and were generally more acidic, sturdy and powerful than modern fine wines. It was customary to mix wine, which may otherwise have been unpalatable, with a good proportion of water. They preferred sweet wine, but interestingly their best, most prized wine was white coming from the area that they thought was the best wine-growing region, the Falernian region near Naples. They mixed additives such as honey with this wine making an aperitif called mulsum. Herbs and spices were also often added. Wine and salt water was known to be mixed. Chalk was mixed with wine as well to reduce acidity.

When we study the history of Italian wine, we note the population explosion in Rome from 300 B.C. to the beginning of the Christian era, when demand for wine increased greatly. The Romans made large contributions to the ancient art of viniculture; they are credited for using props and trellises. Italian wine history recognizes the Romans as the first to understand that aged wines taste better and that certain wines should be aged between 10 and 25 years. They improved the Greek presses used for extracting juice, and classified which grapes grew best in which climate, increasing yields. The study of Italian wine history teaches that the Romans were the first to store wine in wooden barrels, understand that wines kept in tightly closed containers improved with age, and how to utilize the cork.

Italy is the largest producer of wine in the world with more vineyards than any other country, including France. Grapes are grown in almost every part of Italy, with more than 1 million vineyards under cultivation. Italian wine history takes us on a journey of over 2,000 years. Today, Italian wines tend to be higher in acid, dry and can be light bodied as in a simple Chianti, medium bodied as in a Montepulcino, or full bodied as in an Amarone or Brunello.

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