Over the course of the last 170 years, Zinfandel has established a quality reputation in California becoming known as “America’s Heritage wine”.  The history of Zinfandel is a classic All-American success story—being transformed from a little-known grape into one that has achieved such tremendous popularity that it is grown on more than 39,000 acres.  Zinfandel is now the third most crushed wine grape in California, after Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay.  While the true origins of Zinfandel remained a mystery into the early 21st century, historians have traced Zinfandel’s roots in the United States back to the 1820s, when George Gibbs, a Long Island, New York nursery owner, imported unnamed cuttings from the Schonbrunn imperial horticultural collection in Vienna, Austria.   By 1832, a Boston nursery was advertising “Zinfendal” vines for sale.  Between 1835 and 1845 “Zinfandel” became a popular “table grape” grown in hothouses in the Northeastern United States.  Frederick Macondray a sea captain and horticulturist, who grew the “Zinfindal” in Boston, Massachusetts, is credited with bringing some of the first Zinfandel cuttings to California on his sailing ship in the early 1850s.  History of Zin – ZAP  Thank you, reader.    

The Federal Government recognizes 11 holidays.  However, several things can affect when you observe your holidays such as your alternative work schedule (if you work one) and if you work full-time or part-time.  There are also special rules for state and local holidays for employees who work outside the Washington DC metropolitan area.

Federal Holidays

New Year’s Day January 1

Martin Luther King’s Birthday 3rd Monday in January

Washington’s Birthday 3rd Monday in February

Memorial Day last Monday in May

Juneteenth National Independence Day June 19

Independence Day July 4

Labor Day 1st Monday in September

Columbus Day 2nd Monday in October

Veterans’ Day November 11

Thanksgiving Day 4th Thursday in November

Christmas Day December 25

https://www.commerce.gov/hr/employees/leave/holidays   

“House burping,” in which people open the windows of their homes to let in fresh air—even in the dead of winter—has grown in popularity.  It’s part of a German practice called “lüften,” which translates to “airing out,” in order to ventilate.  Air quality professional Tony Abate, who is the chief technology officer for AtmosAir Solutions, said house burping may actually be good for you, too, noting it prevents mold, contaminants and carbon dioxide build-up.  That kind of action can help Americans, who spend roughly 90% of their time indoors, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.  Lüften is practically a way of life in Germany.  The Washington Post reports that some leases contain a clause requiring tenants to open their windows several times a day.  What Is House Burping and Why Are Some People Doing It?  Thank you, reader.   

Violin by Giuseppe Guarneri, Cremona , ca. 1730, "Kreisler" in the Library of Congress

Fritz Kreisler acquired this violin from William E. Hill & Sons in London in 1931. The violin was described in Hills'1931 opus, The Violin-makers of the Guarneri Family (1626-1762):  Their Life and Work.  Prior to Kreisler's acquisition, the violin had an especially colorful history.  It was first seized by the French in Madrid and then seized at sea by the English.  Next, the violin was owned successively by a parson in Whitehaven; several gentlemen who cherished it throughout their lives--one of whom, William Thompson, marked out his appreciation by branding his initials on the pegbox; and two sisters who guarded it jealously and for many years refused to sell it.  Eventually, the violin was bought by the collector John Mountford, who also owned the 1699 "Castelbarco" violin.  Mountford kept the "Kreisler" for the rest of his life.  With the onset of World War II, Kreisler and many other European artists found refuge and a new home in the United States.  In 1952, he presented this violin to the Library of Congress, showing his gratitude to his new home by this matchless gift.  https://www.loc.gov/collections/musical-instruments-at-the-library-of-congress/articles-and-essays/stringed-instrument-collection/violins/kreisler/   

Noun  From forty +‎ winks, possibly referring to a nap supposedly lasting as long as it takes a person to wink (i.e., blink) forty times.  forty winks pl (plural only) (idiomatic, informal)  A short sleep, especially when taken during the day; a nap.  Synonyms:  shut-eye, twenty winks   

March 13, 2026