BC (Before Computers), a bookmark was more than an electronic save of a website or page on your Kindle. And even though more and more of us are now turning to digitized editions of our favorite books, actual bookmarks (or bookmarkers) are more popular than ever among collectors. Early books were precious commodities, laboriously hand made, hand written, and hand embellished. Even after the 15th century invention of the Gutenberg printing press, conscientious readers looked upon books as valuable assets to be protected from damage. Placing an open book face down or folding a page corner to "mark" one's place could weaken or damage the book's spine or create a permanent crease in the paper. Bookmarkers were the logical solutions to the problem. Early bookmarkers were often thin ribbons permanently attached to the book itself or to an "anchor," such as a bead or other small object of wood, ivory, or silver. By the Victorian era, improvements in printing and manufacturing methods fostered an explosion in not just the number of books available at reasonable prices, but also in the variety of bookmarks. This was the era when the paper (die-cut, advertising, souvenir, etc.) and celluloid (looks like ivory, but it's not!) markers that collectors so prize today came into their own. Pagemarkers comprise a special group of Victorian markers. Readers of the period would often find that pages in their books had not been completely separated by the publishers. Pagemarkers were usually metal implements shaped like knives or letter openers that the reader could use, not only to keep his place, but to slit the pages apart. Pagemarkers were often decoratively pierced or shaped and are avidly sought by collectors. Find information on these collectibles at: http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/abu/y211/m06/abu0289/s06

Today, strict regulations are enforced to ensure that the appellation "Champagne" applies only to the wines produced according to the long-established traditions in the Champagne region of France. The Appellation of Controlled Origin (AOC) oversees the stringent regulations and traditions developed over centuries of experience. These rules cover all stages of the wine's development, from vineyard cultivation to final bottling, and are enforced under France law. The appellation system is key to differentiating Champagne from sparkling wines. The unique terroir of the Champagne region and the strict regulations in place ensure only wines following the exacting standards defined over centuries are given the name "Champagne." In 1927, the vineyards of Champagne were legally defined, according to the wine producing history of the villages. Since 1927, only three grape varieties have been allowed in the production of Champagne: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. In addition, quality regulations have been enacted to limit the yields in the vineyards and in the press houses. Standards have been outlined for the pruning, the height, the spacing and the density of the vines, to ensure harvesting by hand. More recently, measures have been taken to lengthen the minimum aging time to fifteen months for Non-vintage Champagnes and to three years for Vintage Champagne. European producers have long recognized the importance of "terroir"—that wine made from grapes grown in a particular location will have a unique taste. The word "terroir" has no English translation. It means place, certainly, but also it implies soil characteristics, climate, and altitude, for example." http://www.champagne.us/index.cfm?pageName=appellation_champagne

Although the first wine-producing vineyards in Champagne appeared between the 3rd and 5th centuries AD, the events of the 17th century brought the beginning of Champagne as we know it today. The vine-growers of Champagne had learned how to stabilize their wines and keep them fresh for several years. As a result of their hard work and the preciousness, the Champenois also obtained a white wine by combining both black and white grapes that had been grown in the Champagne region. By the last decades of that century, they mastered the mysteries of effervescence, which was their stroke of genius. In 1908, the appellation of Champagne was created through a decree that delimited an area within which the wines produced, and only those, would be entitled to the appellation Champagne. It was also during this period that it became clear that particular sections of land created the best grapes and that specific techniques were necessary to create Champagne. In 1927, a law was enacted that developed the limits of the vine growing region of Champagne, thus extending the Champagne appellation to include both grape and wine production. Strict rules were enacted at the same time relating to grape growing, the authorized pruning systems, harvesting and handling conditions in Champagne, as well as the method of natural fermentation in the bottle. http://www.wineorigins.com/?page_id=44

American Sparkling Wine was first introduced in 1892 by the Korbel brothers who started producing sparking wine in Sonoma Valley using the “Champagne method”. American sparkling wine is the only in the world that can be called “Champagne” other than what is produced in Champagne, France. However, U.S. regulations require that the term be used on a wine label only if it appears next to the name of the appellation (place of origin) where it is produced. An example is Gloria Ferrer Champagne Sonoma Valley. http://frenchoaktv.com/wine/sparkling/american-sparkling-wine/

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From: Lorie Vallejo Subject : babel Def: 1. A confused mixture of noises or voices. 2. A scene of noise or confusion. One of the most notable details in Douglas Adams's book The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is the existence of the babel fish, a small, yellow, leech-like creature, which, when a person sticks it into his ear, enables him to instantly understand everything said to him in any form of language. The babel fish is a universal translator which simultaneously translates one spoken language to another. It was not a good thing for the main character, Arthur Dent, when he had a babel fish in his ear while a Vogon recited poetry.

L'Arlésienne, L'Arlésienne (Madame Ginoux), or Portrait of Madame Ginoux is the title given to a group of six similar paintings by Vincent van Gogh, painted in Arles, November 1888 (or later), and in Auvers, February 1890. L'Arlésienne is pronounced 'lar lay zyen'; it means literally "the woman from Arles". The subject, Marie Jullian (or Julien), was born in Arles June 8, 1848 and died there August 2, 1911. For the story by Alphonse Daudet, see L'Arlésienne (novel and play). For the opera, see L'Arlésienne (Bizet). For films derived from them, see L'Arlésienne (film). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L'Arl%C3%A9sienne_(painting)

How beautiful it is to do nothing, and then rest afterward. See this and other Spanish proverbs at: http://thinkexist.com/quotation/how_beautiful_it_is_to_do_nothing-and_then_rest/196221.html

The Red Sea is a seawater inlet of the Indian Ocean, lying between Africa and Asia. The White Sea is a southern inlet of the Barents Sea located on the northwest coast of Russia. The Black Sea is an inland sea bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas and various straits. The Yellow Sea is the name given to the northern part of the East China Sea, which is a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean. See more plus maps at: http://geographyias.blogspot.com/2010/11/yellow-red-black-white-sea-y-r-tey.html

To Grind Nuts in a Food Processor: Add about 1/4 cup (or more) of the sugar or flour called for in the recipe; that will prevent the nuts from becoming oily. And process for 50 to 60 seconds even though you will think it is done sooner — the finer the nuts are, the better. Weeknight Kitchen June 29, 2011