Court of Master Sommeliers Growing at a Rapid Pace

Established in 1977, the Court of Master Sommeliers has set the bar for excellence in the beverage service at the highest level.  Only 229 people in the world have passed the examination; a number that continues to grow each year. There are four stages in the journey to become a “Master Sommelier.” The first, an Introductory Course and examination includes a “fast paced review for a day and a half, with a theory exam at the end of the second day.” On the Court of Master Sommeliers America Facebook page  or the Court of Master Sommeliers Worldwide Facebook Page you can find photos and videos of Introductory Classes happening around the country, and around the world respectively.
Screencap of the Court of Master Sommeliers US Twitter feed.

Screencap of the Court of Master Sommeliers US Twitter feed. (Screencap by: R. Jacobson)

The second step towards becoming a Master Sommelier is to take the Certified Examination, which candidates are strongly encourage to wait at least 3 months following successful completion of level 1, in order to have time to prepare and study for the examination. With over 9,000 followers on Twitter, the Court of Master Sommeliers frequently updates their Twitter with new testing dates, test results, and announcements to keep all potential Master Sommeliers in the know.

The third step of the process is a 3 day Advanced Course, and an additional 3 day Examination which is divided into 3 parts:

* Practical restaurant beverage service and salesmanship in a dining room setting.

* Written Theory

* Deductive Tasting of 6 wines

The fourth and final step in becoming a Master Sommelier is the Masters Theory Examination, followed by the Masters Practical and Tasting Examination, which will test the candidates on extremely specific details on a wide range of topics.

Using #courtofmastersommeliers on Instagram will allow you to find photos and videos of potential Master Sommeliers successful completion of each of the stages in the process. You will also find groups of friends “studying” together, by sharing bottles of wine, and trying to use the deductive method of tasting to determine the grape varietal, where the wine was produced, and the vintage.

The 2013 documentary, “Somm” follows a group of friends on a quest to become Master Sommeliers. The documentary chronicles the men as they dedicate their lives to passing what has been called “the most difficult test in the world.”

Local restaurateur Erin Burke recently completed level 1 of the process, and says “the two day review and examination were extremely fun and interesting, but challenging, and no joke.” Burke plans on taking the second examination, the Certified Sommelier Examination in the fall, and hopes to eventually become one of only 23 (number as of date of publication) woman to have passed the level 4 examination.

Some of the tools that Burke uses to help her prepare for the level 2 Court of Master Sommeliers Examination. (photo by: R. Jacobson)

Some of the tools that Burke uses to help her prepare for the level 2 Court of Master Sommeliers Examination. (photo by: R. Jacobson)

 

For more information on the Court of Master Sommelier, or to register for the Introductory Examination, visit their website.

 

 

 

Big Brother 17 – Week 2 Power Rankings

After potentially the most intense first week in the history of US Big Brother, it is time to update the Power Rankings for the remaining fifteen houseguests.

The Power Rankings for the rest of the season will be based on 6 criteria.

  • Likability
  • Game Play / Alliances
  • Under the Radar Potential
  • Mental Competition
  • Physical Competition
  • The ability to not be annoying

 

The houseguests will be ranked 1-15 for each of the categories (1 being the best, 15 being the worst.) The houseguest with the lowest score will have the best power ranking.

Here are the Week 2 Power Rankings… (Spoiler Free, and as of Sunday nights episode)

 

  1. Liz/Julia

    (photo credit: thebbinsider.com)

    (photo credit: thebbinsider.com)

 

  • Likability 11/15
  • Game Play / Alliances 11/15
  • Under the Radar Potential 13/15
  • Mental Competition 12/15
  • Physical Competition 15/15
  • The ability to not be annoying 10/15

Total Points – 72

Liz has landed in last place in this week’s power rankings mainly because of the twin twist. If the houseguests catch on to her being a twin, she will be a HUGE target, and may be evicted before Julia even gets to play on her own. 5 weeks seems like a remarkably long time for two people to pretend to be the same person. I know it was done in season 5 with Natalie and Adria, but that was 11 years ago, and reality contestants were not as aware of such twists. If Liz could have played the game on her own, her ability to fly under the radar would be exceptional, but look for all eyes to be on her and her sister in the next couple weeks.

 

  1. Da’Vonne

    (photo credit: thebbinsider.com)

    (photo credit: thebbinsider.com)

 

  • Likability 14/15
  • Game Play / Alliances 6/15
  • Under the Radar Potential 15/15
  • Mental Competition 8/15
  • Physical Competition 10/15
  • The ability to not be annoying 14/15

Total – 67 Points

Da’Vonne promised in preseason interviews that she was there to play the game, and was she not kidding. After forming potentially the worst alliance in recent history with Audrey and Shelli, they became two of her biggest targets within days. Da’Vonne (and I) correctly predicted that her inability to not blow up on her fellow houseguests would be her downfall, and after only 2 weeks, she has found herself in some boiling hot water. If she can somehow survive Thursday’s eviction, it will not be long before she finds herself right back on the block the next time Clay, Shelli, or any of their buddies win HoH. And next time, she will be flat out back doored.

 

  1. Audrey

    (photo credit: thebbinsider.com)

    (photo credit: thebbinsider.com)

 

  • Likability 15/15
  • Game Play / Alliances 5/15
  • Under the Radar Potential 14/15
  • Mental Competition 9/15
  • Physical Competition 8/15
  • The ability to not be annoying 15/15

Total – 66 Points

Much like her one time ally, Audrey has come out swinging, and things could not have turned out much worse for her. She is beyond lucky that she has the support of Clay, because he is in control of one side of the house, and without him, she would likely have been going home this week. How amazing would it have been though, to see Audrey and Da’Vonne forced to work together in the BoB to try and save themselves. Seeing the two of them running around in the same oversized sweatpants would have been the moment of the season.

The only reason Audrey is ranked so high in the Game Play / Alliances category is because even though they don’t trust a word she says, she is tight with Clay and Shelli, and they are the king and queen of the house. Audrey will be considered a target every week, but should be able to last a few more weeks because the house will consider her an “easy week” in future weeks, and won’t want to “waste” their HoH on getting rid of her.

 

  1. Jackie

    (Photo Credit: bigbrother.wikia.com)

    (Photo Credit: bigbrother.wikia.com)

  • Likability 12/15
  • Game Play / Alliances 12/15
  • Under the Radar Potential 1/15
  • Mental Competition 15/15
  • Physical Competition 13/15
  • The ability to not be annoying 7/15

Total – 59 Points

Jackie is playing the game much better than I thought she would. I thought that her tie with Jeff, coupled with her loud/abrasive personality that we saw on The Amazing Race, would put a huge target on her back. Jackie, however, has kept her cool, laid low, and separated herself as much as possible from Jeff. I predict that Jackie will be nominated many times, but will go very far in the game. Does she have a chance of winning it all? No. Not a shot in hell. Jace has a better shot at winning the game than Jackie does.

 

  1. Meg

    (Photo Credit: thebbinsider.com)

    (Photo Credit: thebbinsider.com)

 

  • Likability 6/15
  • Game Play / Alliances 7/15
  • Under the Radar Potential 3/15
  • Mental Competition 11/15
  • Physical Competition 14/15
  • The ability to not be annoying 11/15

Total – 52 Points

Meg was my preseason favorite, and while I still like her, I am a bit disappointed with her so far. She is just kind of “there.” I know that her strategy was to lay low, and not be annoying, but she is doing too good of a job with that, and is coming off as being incredibly boring. I want to see the girl that was in the preseason interview with Jeff play the game, not somebody that is trying super hard to not be as annoying as they really are. Like Jackie, I think that Meg will find herself on the block many times as a pawn, and she should be able to survive each of the votes unless, for some crazy reason, the house decides that they need to get rid of her. But, if she does not make some big game moves, as she promised in her preseason interviews, she will not have any chance of winning the game. Unless she is sitting next to Jackie, of course.

 

10. Austin

Matelson, Austin

  • Likability 9/15
  • Game Play / Alliances 10/15
  • Under the Radar Potential 6/15
  • Mental Competition 13/15
  • Physical Competition 2/15
  • The ability to not be annoying 6/15

Total – 50 Points

The best thing that could have happened to Austin is Jace being evicted in week 1. Now that Jace is gone, Austin will be much less annoying and will find more stable allies. Also, now that his bro is gone, he will be able to focus more on the game, and less on his bromance. He has been doing a great job at going under the radar, and could do quite well if he aligns with the right side of the house and downplays his physical abilities. Like Meg though, he has been a bit of a disappointment as far as entertainment value is concerned. But, I suppose that flying under the radar is a much better strategy than being entertaining, so good on him.

 

  1. Jason

    (Photo Credit: thebbinsider.com)

    (Photo Credit: thebbinsider.com)

  • Likability 8/15
  • Game Play / Alliances 3/15
  • Under the Radar Potential 12/15
  • Mental Competition 4/15
  • Physical Competition 9/15
  • The ability to not be annoying 13/15

Total – 49 Points

Jason winning the first HoH may not have been the best thing for his game. It threw him directly into the spotlight, and forced him to show his cards from the get-go. As long as he is in the house he will likely have half the house coming after him, and he doesn’t seem to be worried about it, which is quite admirable. If he loses his closest ally, Da’Vonne this week, he is in some big trouble. But, if she can somehow manage to stay, the two of them could wreck havoc on the house in the coming weeks. Either way, Jason has been entertaining, and proven himself to be a strong player, which I did not see coming.

 

  1. James

    (Photo Credit: thebbinsider.com)

    (Photo Credit: thebbinsider.com)

  • Likability 13/15
  • Game Play / Alliances 8/15
  • Under the Radar Potential 10/15
  • Mental Competition 7/15
  • Physical Competition 3/15
  • The ability to not be annoying 5/15

Total – 46 points

James has been one of the most surprising players to me so far this season. I am very impressed by the way he was not scared to stab Jace right in the front. This guy has got some balls, and does not seem to be intimidated by anyone. With that being said, every time he is HoH he is going to want to make big moves rather than just take the easy road. This is admirable, but it will make his target bigger and bigger each week. He is a good player, but will play too hard, and will not make many friends in the process. He has a very long road ahead of him if he is going to win the game; especially if the Clay/Shelli side of the house has the power.

 

  1. Steve

    (Photo Credit: thebbinsider.com)

    (Photo Credit: thebbinsider.com)

  • Likability 7/15
  • Game Play / Alliances 15/15
  • Under the Radar Potential 2/15
  • Mental Competition 1/15
  • Physical Competition 11/15
  • The ability to not be annoying 9/15

Total – 45 Points

Steve has some work to do if he wants to go much further in the game. He needs to form some tight alliances, not just friendships. His best bet right now would be to form a tight alliance with Vanessa, Austin, John and Becky, then form a side alliance with Clay and Shelli. He would have almost all of his bases covered, with the exception of Jason/James, which he would still have the numbers to stay in most scenarios in which he found himself on the block.

As of now, I do not think he is anyone’s main target, but on the other hand, he is also not anyone’s main ally either, and that is less than ideal for Steve.

 

  1. Jeff

    (Photo Credit: bigbrother.wikia.com)

    (Photo Credit: bigbrother.wikia.com)

  • Likability 10/15
  • Game Play / Alliances 4/15
  • Under the Radar Potential 8/15
  • Mental Competition 10/15
  • Physical Competition 4/15
  • The ability to not be annoying 8/15

Total – 44 Points

Jeff has been playing a surprisingly good game recently. I feel as though he has formed some tight bonds, and some close alliances with the powers that be. He has separated himself from his Amazing Race partner, Jackie, and he has been actually playing the game, rather than just being a waste of space in the house, like she has become. I think Jeff could do very well in the game, but he has to win an HoH soon so he can gain the trust of some of the houseguests that may be teetering on whether or not they can fully trust him.

  1. John

    (Photo Credit: thebbinsider.com)

    (Photo Credit: thebbinsider.com)

  • Likability 2/15
  • Game Play / Alliances 13/15
  • Under the Radar Potential 5/15
  • Mental Competition 6/15
  • Physical Competition 5/15
  • The ability to not be annoying 12/15

Total – 42 Points

John is one of the most bizarre houseguests that has ever played the game, but I love him. He is such a space shot that I think it is going to work out in his favor. Shelli and Clay have already used him to not only go on the block as a pawn, but to also throw the BoB challenge so Da’Vonne would remain on the block. That is someone that you will do anything in your power to keep in the house. If John can form another side alliance, and stay firm with his alliance with Clay and Shelli, this guy could be paying off his medical school loans by the end of the summer.

  1. Vanessa

    (Photo Credit: thebbinsider.com)

    (Photo Credit: thebbinsider.com)

  • Likability 3/15
  • Game Play / Alliances 9/15
  • Under the Radar Potential 4/15
  • Mental Competition 5/15
  • Physical Competition 12/15
  • The ability to not be annoying 4/15

Total – 37 Points

Vanessa is playing a terrific game so far. She is not anyone’s target, she has found a few close allies, and she is responsible for the Audrey/Da’Vonne collapse that made them both huge targets. If Vanessa can stay emotionally stable, she can get to the end with little effort. However, it will be important for her to do poorly in challenges, and not become a mental challenge threat. She should be prepared to be a pawn a few times before reaching the jury, but as long as she keeps her cool, she should be able to survive the block for quite a while. Her alliance with Austin could play a huge role in what happens the next few weeks, and if they are co-HoH’s they will be forced to choose a side of the house, which will either kill their game, or catapult them both to the end. The key is going to be to keep their alliance under wraps, so they will not be targeted together.

 

  1. Becky

    (Photo Credit: thebbinsider.com)

    (Photo Credit: thebbinsider.com)

  • Likability 4/15
  • Game Play / Alliances 14/15
  • Under the Radar Potential 7/15
  • Mental Competition 3/ 15
  • Physical Competition 7/15
  • The ability to not be annoying 2/15

Total – 37 Points

I think Becky is sitting very pretty right now. She is not on anyone’s hit list, and does not have any super close allies, with the possible exception of Jackie, which is basically the same thing as not having any close allies. She can win challenges, and is extremely likable. Her biggest issue may not be getting to the end of the game, it will likely be winning the game. At this point she could sail to the end of the game, but she would have a nearly impossible task of getting the jury to vote for her to win. Her best bet would be to approach Clay and Shelli and ask to be in an alliance with them (and Jackie and Jeff.) This way she could hopefully get to the end game with the four of them, and be the swing vote, which would secure her a spot in the final 3. If she turns on Clay/Shelli and ends up in the final with Jeff and Jackie, she would be one HoH win away from a million dollars, and a unanimous vote against Jackie in the final 2.

Whatever Becky decides to do, she needs to be sure that Jackie is right by her side, as she may be her only chance of winning.

 

  1. Shelli

    (Photo Credit: thebbinsider.com)

    (Photo Credit: thebbinsider.com)

  • Likability 5/15
  • Game Play / Alliances 2/15
  • Under the Radar Potential 11/15
  • Mental Competition 2/15
  • Physical Competition 6/15
  • The ability to not be annoying 3/15

Total – 29 Points

Shelli has become the queen of the house. And not just because she is the current HoH, but more importantly because her and Clay have control of the majority of the house. They are aligned with most of the house guests and anyone that goes after Shelli right now, will have Clay (and Audrey) coming after them with a vengeance. After just 2 weeks Shelli has shown she is a physical competitor, and a great game player. She is likable, entertaining, and not afraid to make big moves. She could easily beat any girl in the house right now in a final 2 vote, and as of now, can beat any of the guys as well.

 

  1. Clay

    (Photo Credit: thebbinsider.com)

    (Photo Credit: thebbinsider.com)

  • Likability 1/15
  • Game Play / Alliances 1/15
  • Under the Radar Potential 9/15
  • Mental Competition 14/15
  • Physical Competition 1/15
  • The ability to not be annoying 1/15

Total – 27 Points

Of all the houseguests, I am most surprised and impressed by Clay. I thought he was simply going to be the “eye-candy” for the ladies of the house. I also thought he was going to be clueless as to how to play the game, make alliances, and make big moves, and I could not have been any more wrong.

Sure, Clay is going to be a huge target moving forward, and I foresee him having to win multiple POV’s in order to stay in the game, but I feel as though he has made enough alliances to help him survive until at least jury. At that point he may need to solidify a few more alliances if he wants to get to the end game. It may sound crazy, but his best bet may be for Shelli to get evicted in early jury, so he will not be seen as a couple, and help reduce the size of the target on his back.

If he keeps tight with Audrey and Jeff/Jackie, and maybe makes some sort of alliance with Austin/Vanessa, Clay could have this game in the palm of his hand.

Pop Star Angers Locals as She Moves Into Town

A little over two years ago, mega pop star, Taylor Swift purchased a mansion in Westerly, Rhode Island for nearly eighteen million dollars. At the time, Westerly residents were thrilled that their new neighbor was going to be one of the biggest celebrities of the century, and welcomed her with open arms.

 

The home Taylor purchased, located in the Watch Hill village of Westerly, sits on a popular public beach that Westerly residents have been enjoying for generations. Swift’s new residence was previously known as the Holiday House, or simply, the Harkness House by locals. Named after the previous owner, Rebekah Harkness, heir of Standard Oil, the house has been cherished by the citizens of Westerly since it was built in 1931.

 

After less than 6 months of being a Westerly resident, however, rumors among Westerly residents began swirling that their beloved new neighbor, Swift, was planning on changing the beloved landscape of their cherished Watch Hill beach.

 

Swift ordered construction of a seal wall around her estate, which prevents locals from fishing, swimming, and surfing in the place that has been their favorite area for such activities.

 

Taylor Swift's house, in Westerly, RI, and the new sea wall she built. (photo credit: Ryan Jacobson)

Taylor Swift’s house, in Westerly, RI, and the new sea wall she built. (photo credit: Ryan Jacobson)

 

DSC00515

The new sea wall, and fence is an “eye sore” for locals. (photo credit: Ryan Jacobson)

The neighbors of the Swift mansion, and the protected fence. (photo credit: Ryan Jacobson)

The neighbors of the Swift mansion, and the protected fence. (photo credit: Ryan Jacobson)

The sea wall and fence sitting at the end of the public beach, and at the bottom of the Swift residence. (photo credit: Ryan Jacobson)

The sea wall and fence sitting at the end of the public beach, and at the bottom of the Swift residence. (photo credit: Ryan Jacobson)

The beach is not inaccessible to the public due to the sea wall build by Swift. (photo credit: Ryan Jacobson)

The beach is not inaccessible to the public due to the sea wall build by Swift. (photo credit: Ryan Jacobson)

The "No Trespassing" sign at the foot of the Swift residence hill, is a turn off for many locals that grew up on that very beach. (photo credit: Ryan Jacobson)

The “No Trespassing” sign at the foot of the Swift residence hill, is a turn off for many locals that grew up on that very beach. (photo credit: Ryan Jacobson)

No one was more upset than Watch Hill resident Shane Daly. Daly, along with many other residents, was outraged that a celebrity could move in to town, and change the landscape that has been a part of his town for generations.

 

“The majority of my summer days were spent in that area of the beach that is no longer assessable to us now that Ms. Swift has built her sea wall”, says Daly. “Since I was a little boy, I have been visiting that beach to enjoy quality time with family and friends. My father taught me to swim there, I learned to surf there, and I taught my boy how to fish there.”

 

Daly is certainly not alone with his anger towards the 25-year-old pop star. In addition to the beach area being inaccessible to the public now, neighbors in the Watch Hill area are irate about the sea wall, and accompanying fence being an eye sore.

 

“The entire landscape has changed, and will never be the same, my father would roll over in his grave if he could see this new addition to his backyard”, says a neighbor of Swift, who preferred to not be mentioned by name in this article.

 

When asked about whether or not Swift has the required permits to build the sea wall, Laura Dwyer, spokesperson from RI Coastal Resources Management Control said, “Swift did not need a permit to build the wall. Everything is on level, and they haven’t done anything wrong.”

 

Despite the sea wall, Daly admits that Swift is not all bad for his hometown.

“She seems to be a wonderful young lady, and has been perfectly gracious with us locals. She brings in tourists who drive in for the day just to catch a glimpse of her house, and she is always shopping in the area’s stores, and supporting local businesses. All us residents want are answers as to what the exact regulations are for beachfront owners. We have heard many times that Swift has followed all necessary measures to be allowed to build the wall, but we just do not have any proof that she did not receive any special treatment because she is a celebrity. We just want to all have the same rights, and the same guidelines, celebrity or not.”

 

If you are in the Westerly, RI area, and want to check out the Swift mansion, or head to the public beach to check out the sea wall for yourself, head to 16 Bluff Avenue, Watch Hill, RI.

Watch Hill Mansion