Author Dick Wimmer died on May 18 at his home in Agoura Hills, Calif. He was 74. Saying that agents and publishers had spurned him 162 times, Mr. Wimmer laid claim to being the most-rejected published novelist in history. Finally, in 1989, “Irish Wine” was published by Mercury House. The novel tells how, after that epiphany on the tracks, Seamus Boyne resurrects himself and his career and reunites with an old friend, Gene Hagar (a struggling author), who eventually flies to London for the gala celebrating Boyne’s exhibit at the Tate — the start of their joyful antics. In a review for The New York Times, C. D. B. Bryan called it a “taut, finely written, exhaustingly exuberant first novel.” The Los Angeles Times said Mr. Wimmer had encased “the zany saga in an enchanted aura by couching it entirely in the stream-of-consciousness prose hallowed by James Joyce and disciples.” Despite the reviews, “Irish Wine” did not become a best seller and Mr. Wimmer, while continuing to write and edit other works, returned to teaching. Since 1968, he has been an adjunct professor of English and creative writing at more than two dozen colleges. Mr. Wimmer wove his zany strain through two sequels that were published in 2001 as parts of the “Irish Wine Trilogy.” In “Boyne’s Lassie,” Seamus returns to the United States to find his long-lost daughter. In “Hagar’s Dream,” Boyne’s friend falls in love with his buddy’s daughter, now 20 years old. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/25/arts/dick-wimmer-74-irish-wine-author-is-dead.html

Seafood Watch: 2011 Press Kit from Monterey Bay Aquarium In 1997, an aquarium special exhibition - Fishing for Solutions - prompted an internal review of the aquarium’s own seafood-buying practices, resulting in a list of recommendations for internal use. Visitors began asking for a copy of this list and the Seafood Watch pocket guide was born. Since its debut in 1999, the Seafood Watch program has grown to include six regional pocket guides, with three Spanish-language options, featuring popular seafood found in different regions of the U.S. In 2008, a guide to sustainable sushi was introduced. Guides are updated every six months to reflect ongoing research, resulting in “Best Choices,” “Good Alternatives” or items to “Avoid.” In partnership with zoos, aquariums and other institutions across the U.S., the Monterey Bay Aquarium has put over 36.7 million Seafood Watch pocket guides in the hands of consumers; over nine million guides were included in the 2007 DVD release of the animated film Happy Feet. Thousands of guides are also downloaded each year from the aquarium’s website. Increased consumer demand for seafood has had a profound effect on the health of our oceans. Today nearly two thirds of the world’s assessed fish stocks require rebuilding. Bycatch – the unintended capture of marine life in fishing gear – is having a serious impact on ocean wildlife, particularly long-lived animals such as sea turtles, sharks, marine mammals and seabirds. Bycatch is also concern because of the sheer volume of fish and invertebrates that are thrown overboard; it’s estimated that eight percent of global landings are discarded. With the worldwide catch in decline, aquaculture (or fish farming) seeks to fill the gap. In the next year, for the first time, farming will likely overtake wild-caught fish as the leading source of our seafood. While fish farming can help ease pressure on wild fisheries, some aquaculture methods can have their own negative impact. One major concern is the amount of wild-caught fish required to feed carnivorous species of farmed fish, such as salmon and tuna.
http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/storage/pressroom/presskit/pdf/11-Seafood%20Watch%20Press%20Kit_2.pdf
scrumptious delightful, excellent; especially: delicious perhaps alteration of sumptuous First Known Use: 1830 http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scrumptious

See UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity at: http://www.unesco.org/culture/ich/index.php?lg=en&pg=00011 It includes expressions and traditions in art, dance, festivals, processions, tournaments, weaving and food. Created by one Emma Rylander Lane of Clayton, Alabama, who published her recipe in 1898, Lane cake is popular all over the South. In some versions the cake is frosted with a cooked white icing, but you may coat the sides with more of the delicious filling. This cake improves in flavor as it ages and mellows. Covered and uncut, it may be made two days before serving, and it doesn't need to be refrigerated. Find recipe for this three-layer cake at: http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Lane-Cake

Mead is an alcoholic beverage made from the fermentation of honey as its primary sugar source and is often referred to as honey wine. Being made from honey, one would naturally expect it to be very sweet and although it usually is, it can actually range from dry to very sweet. Mead is usually still, though it can be made sparkling and can range from a mild low alcoholic content up to very high. Mead is arguably the oldest alcoholic beverage on the planet with some evidence dating it back approximately 10,000 years. Due to many different cultural and financial reasons, mead has fallen out of favor over the many years and now we call it the 'oldest alcoholic beverage no one has ever heard of.' from Long Island Meadery http://www.limeadery.com/lgm_aboutmead.html

To make mead requires three basic ingredients – honey, water and yeast. In nature, the bees concentrate the sugars in honey in order to preserve the honey. Water must be added to the honey to bring the sugars to an acceptable level for the yeast to ferment them effectively. All meads, or honeywines, are fermented. They are wines. from Sky River Mead http://www.skyriverbrewing.com/Mead/beer-or-wine.html

Greenhouse gases trap heat from the sun and warm the planet's surface. Of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, 87% are related to energy consumption. From 1990 to 2009, greenhouse gas emissions in the United States have grown by about 0.04% per year. The United States accounts for about 20% of the world's total energy-related carbon dioxide. http://eia.gov/energy_in_brief/greenhouse_gas.cfm
Cities (not state capitals) in the U.S. that share their name with their own state

Alabama City, Alabama
Arizona City, Arizona
Arkansas City, Arkansas
California City, California
Colorado City, Colorado
Delaware City, Delaware
Florida City, Florida
Idaho City, Idaho
Illinois City, Illinois
Iowa City, Iowa
Kansas City, Kansas
Maryland City, Maryland
Minnesota City, Minnesota
Mississippi City, Mississippi
Missouri City, Missouri
Montana City, Montana
Nebraska City, Nebraska
Nevada City, Nevada
New York City, New York
Ohio City, Ohio (Cuyahoga County)
Ohio City, Ohio (Van Wert County)
Oregon City, Oregon
Texas City, Texas
Virginia City, Virginia
Find also Cities in the U.S. that share their name with a different state such as Arkansas City, Kansas and Cities in the U.S. that share their name with another country such as Mexico City, New Mexico. Interesting comments at: http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/archive/index.php/t-72285.html