ME I live in Copenhagen with my wife, our two brilliant kids, and Rita the dog. I enjoy reading, writing, jotting down not so brilliant ideas, and hanging o...
Today a commercial airplane crashed and killed 180 people. Every day the equivalent of 73 fully-loaded commercial airplanes worth of children (0-5 years) die from easily preventable diseases. Today a lottery winner made headlines. Every day thousands of babies win the lottery of being born in the right place at the right time (like me, and probably you). Today a heat wave caused 20 deaths and…
Your brain is like a GPS in the business of predicting the very next moment saving energy by following routine gliding effortless through life disturbed only occasionally by inconsistent sensory input This perfect autopilot following road signs by the beaten track efficient, stable, predictable society's backbone keeping those wheels turning right? Well evolution needed a backup plan The busy…
As I write this, I'm listening to Joseph Haydn’s Symphony No. 18 in G Major. I know little about Haydn or classical music in general. I can sense the complexity. I feel the emotions it stirs. But I can't articulate what it is that this composer and these musicians do to move me. Still, I can appreciate it. Wine works in a similar way. Expertise is one way to make sense of it. It implies words and…
The industrial winemaker follows a formula. His goal is predictability. His wines reflect his precise, controlled efforts. His god is 'the market'. His practice is perfection. The small-scale winegrower follows a philosophy. Her aim is consistency across decisions and actions. Her wines are shaped by nature, chance, and a gentle human hand. Her god is 'the nature of things'. Her practice is love.…
The caricature drawing was bought with petty cash outside a tourist site. Impressive at first, but soon forgotten. The painting was sought out with intent — bold, elegant, whimsical, vivid, mysterious, or even enchanting — yet always the same. The mirror , encountered by intuition, has no direction, opinion, or style. Just pure reflection, open to all possible interpretations. It reveals the…
I could have used the word "mindful" instead. But "slow" works better. Slow is easy to put into action. Just do what you always do, but do it slowly. Simple! Many activities change completely when done slowly. Talking with people Cooking Folding laundry Walking, biking Grocery shopping Hugging your mum And my favorite - maybe because I have a certain knack for it: Slow thinking So let's not forget…
Wine and glassware. Here are my two cents on the topic. Finding the right wine glass is important for your perception of the wine. but The idea that different wine types require different glass types was mainly invented by glass manufacturers. and Certain easily manipulated subgroups of the wine society have jumped in with both feet, acting as powerful leverage for those glass manufacturers.…
Most wine descriptions focus on what the wine is . This approach, common among merchants, sommeliers, and critics, aims for precision and clarity. It eliminates confusion and sparks emotions or images that attract or repel us. The goal: making decision-making easier through affirmation. Describing wine in terms of what it is creates a narrative, a form of storytelling. I call this marketing. But…
Seek out uncharted waters. Cast the net widely. Drop anchor, dive in, see what you've caught. Immerse yourself fully. (Evaluate later) My next post might surprise you. Save it in your inbox.
I continuously think of principles for my writing. Here is the list of principles so far: Aim to surprise. If a point is obvious, I don't make it (unless it's so obvious that it's easily overlooked). Use plain language. If I can't explain a topic in plain language, it's a sign that I don't understand the topic myself. Luckily this comes natural to me when writing in English (I don't know how to…