Written by: Jon M. Stout
Is the Plucking Time Important When Choosing White Licorice Tea?
White tea is the rarest tea in the world. Long praised in Asia, it is just beginning to gain popularity in the Western world. People everywhere are clamoring to get their hands on this raretreat. White tea is used in many blends, and none is morerefreshing than White Licorice Tea.
White Licorice tea is a delicious blend of fine white tea and star anise to provide the licorice flavor. The best White Licorice tea should be made from the finest blend of loose white tea combined with high quality whole pieces of star anise. To ensure that you buy only the best quality white licorice tea, it’s important that you understand the important elements in selecting white tea. This includes understanding the most popular cultivars for white tea, the grades of white tea and how and when the tea is harvested.
There is no international standard for grading tea, so beyond understanding this basic information, it’s difficult to tell which tea is best.
First, it’s important to choose the best cultivars of the tea and how white tea is classified. The most popular cultivars for white tea include Da Bai, Xiao Bai, Narcissus and Chaicha bushes. Within these cultivars the teas are classified into different grades, primarily based on whether the plucking consists of only the bud and top two leaves of the tea plant or whether more tea leaves are included. In addition, the stringency with which the tea pluckers ensure that the leaves and buds are not damaged during harvest affects the quality and grade of the tea.
Harvesting white tea properly is very difficult and requires skill and experience. Using skilled and experienced tea pluckers ensures that only the tea buds that are ready are harvested and that the buds are kept intact to prevent the start of oxidation. When choosing White licorice tea, you should choose tea that is labeled Silver Needles or White Peony to ensure that you get the very best white tea. Both of these white teas are produced in China and are considered the highest grades of white tea.
Another important feature in choosing a white licorice tea is to determine the type of flavoring used to infuse the white tea with licorice flavor. White licorice tea flavored with star anise will have a milder and sweeter taste than white licorice tea made using licorice root. One of the most common ways of evaluating the quality of black and green teas is to know when the tea was plucked. First plucked black and green teas are those plucked in the spring, when the tea plants are plucked for the first time during the growingseason. The first plucked, or first flush, black and green teas are considered to be better because the weather is cooler.
Blackand green teas produced from leaves plucked later in the season will not have the same quality because the tea leaves have been exposed to hot weather and lots of sun. So, it’s common for connoisseurs of black and green tea to look for tea that is labeled “first plucking” or “first flush”. However, this standard does not apply to white teas. White teas should have just one plucking each year, because the best tea is plucked during the spring.
This is one of the reasons that white tea is so rare. Therefore, you can’t judge the quality of the white tea based on the plucking the way you can with green and black teas - all white tea is first flush tea. In fact, the very best white teas, Silver Needles and White Peony, are only plucked between March 15 and April 10.
Your best chance of choosing really good white licorice tea is to buy from a reputable tea purveyor and to buy a white licorice tea with a base of white tea that you already enjoy. For example, if your favorite plain white tea is Silver Needles, then you can’t go wrong buying White Licorice tea made from the Silver Needles variety of white tea. But, if you’re looking for a new taste treat, you might want to try something entirely new, like a Ceylon white licorice.
Find a good tea shop, whether local or online and see which white licorice teas they offer. If they’re known for only selling the best in loose white teas, you should be able to trust that their white licorice tea will be tasty and fresh. A good tea vendor is a must when you’re buying tea, particularly white tea. White tea is an investment and you’ll want to ensure that you purchase only the best when you buy. In addition, you want to know that you have access to new flavors and tastes as they’re introduced to the market, but only when they’re available in really good quality teas.
White licorice tea is a great way to wind down at the end of al ong day. White tea is low in caffeine and licorice has long been revered for its ability to aid digestion and soothe the stomach.
In addition, the wonderful aroma of sweetness and licorice can soothe you after even the most stressful of days.
About the author: Jon Stout is Chairman of the Golden Moon Tea Company. For more information about green tea, oolong tea and chai tea (http://www.goldenmo ontea.com/ Green_Tea_ W318.cfm) (http://www.goldenmo ontea.com/ Oolong_Tea_ W319.cfm) (http://www.goldenmo ontea.com/ Chai_Tea_ W341.cfm) go to goldenmoontea. com
Review: The Dark Night
'The Dark Knight' Movie Review
A Totally Spoiler-Free Review of One of the Best Films of 2008
Rating 5 stars
Author: Rebecca Murray
Starring:Christian Bale as Batman and Heath Ledger as The Joker.
Warner Bros Pictures
Batman Begins made a believer out of me. The blinders were lifted from my eyes, and I not only understood why a billionaire would transform himself into a bat-inspired superhero, but felt compassion toward both the man inside the costume and the Batman. What other Batman films had failed to do, Christopher Nolan and Christian Blake achieved in 140 minutes. But after delivering one of, if not the best, comic book-inspired movies of all time, could the team top it with The Dark Knight? The answer is a resounding yes.
The Dark Knight is a brilliant follow-up to Batman Begins and the definitive Batman movie to date, which makes you wonder what Nolan will accomplish if he decides to do a 3rd Batman film. The Dark Knight takes place in a world where the line between good and evil is drawn in pencil. The screenwriting duo of brothers Christopher and Jonathan Nolan turned to the dark side for their 2nd Batman movie (although Batman Begins wasn't exactly light fare), with The Joker's lunatic smile and gleefully malicious manner setting the tone for a wild romp through a world gone mad. Batman's universe is teetering on the edge and the conflicted superhero is trying to unravel the puzzle of how best to protect Gotham City while believing he's not the savior his city deserves.
The Story
Gotham City's falling to pieces and Batman is both the problem and the solution. The caped crusader has taken down a king-sized helping of bad guys, although he's not working on his own. Ordinary citizens have taken up his cause, donning their own Batman costumes and patrolling the streets. And now the mobsters left in town have joined forces in order to keep the real Batman at bay.
Fortunately for Gotham City, the newly elected district attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) is a real hard-ass on crime. Even Batman approves of this steely-jawed White Knight, and getting the superhero's stamp of approval wasn't easy since Harvey is spending lots of time with Batman's ex, Rachel (Maggie Gyllenhaal) Rachel couldn't handle Bruce's covert nighttime activities and now keeps company with a man unafraid of the spotlight.
However, the local mob and Rachel's preference for a non-costumed boyfriend aren't Batman's biggest problems. A new villain has emerged on the scene and he's not playing by any rules. Sporting smeary clown makeup that emphasizes a smile carved into his flesh like a pumpkin on Halloween, the maniacal character known as The Joker (Heath Leedger) is ready to take over as the leader of Gotham's underworld. The Joker's single-minded in his desire to inflict pain and unmask Batman. The formidable though strictly unofficial team of Lieutenant Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman), Harvey Dent and Batman must take down this sick clown before Gotham City turns into Slaughter City.
The Cast
2005's Batman Begins introduced Christian Bale in the dual roles of Bruce Wayne and Batman, and The Dark Knight serves to cement the fact he is the perfect casting choice to shoulder the lead in the Batman film franchise. At this point Bale has to be included toward the top of the list of actors who've taken on the task of playing a superhero in a feature film.
We don't see as much of Bruce the man as we do his costumed alter-ego, which means Bale has an even more difficult task of bringing out the human behind the superhero this time around. Even though the redesigned batsuit allows him a little more freedom of movement, Bale's expressive face is covered beneath a bat mask. Yet he's able to convey everything he needs to with just the lower portion of his face, piercing eyes, and menacing voice. Bale is Batman. Period.
No disrespect meant to Jack Nicholson but this is the performance of The Joker everyone will remember. Nicholson's Joker in Tim Burton's 1989 Batman fit perfectly with the tone of that movie.
In The Dark Knight, it's Ledger's Joker the rest of the cast needs to keep step with. This Joker is nasty-scary, a greasy, grotesque creature lifted straight from the nightmares of coulrophobics. Even those not given to fearing clowns are going to recoil in fright from Ledger's mesmerizing performance.
Ledger came up with a series of tics - licking his lips, sucking on his cheeks, carrying his entire body in an off-kilter way - to define the character of The Joker. He also created a voice and manner of speaking that's inimitable and perfect for a homicidal maniac who gets off terrorizing his victims. Ledger will long be remembered for bringing to life one of the best villains ever in a comic book-inspired movie. With his last completed performance before his untimely death, Ledger left behind a Joker who's one of the most disturbing villains on film.
Aaron Eckhart's movie star good looks fit snugly with his character DA Harvey Dent. Eckhart nails the part of a knight in shining armor come to slay the dragon and save his city and his fair princess. Although his performance isn't garnering the attention of Ledger's, it is nearly as impressive. Dent's a major player in The Dark Knight, and if Eckhart weren't believable, then The Dark Knight would suffer greatly. Eckhart knows how to wrestle his way through playing morally conflicted characters and does so again with gusto as Harvey Dent.
Supporting players Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine are a joy to watch in their limited time onscreen. The same goes for Maggie Gyllenhaal who takes over the part of Bruce Wayne's ex from Katie Holmes. Gyllenhaal's a wise choice to step into the role which seemed a little above Holmes' level of maturity in Batman Begins. Gyllenhaal plays her tough yet vulnerable, and her one scene with Ledger as The Joker shows exactly why director Nolan sought her out to be Rachel.
The Bottom Line
The Dark Knight's action sequences are controlled chaos with cars and motorcycles and Mack trucks careening down city streets, and the film's quieter moments are equally as engaging. There's just so much to say about The Dark Knight, so much I want to analyze and discuss, but expanding on a review of the plot would lay out potential spoilers and it's best to go into the film without any knowledge of the storyline other than the bare minimum. Nolan and company have surpassed what they accomplished the first time out, and The Dark Knight is everything you'd want from a superhero movie and much, much more.
Borrowing a line from Jerry Maguire, The Joker tells Batman, "You complete me!" Let's hope writer/director Nolan doesn't share the same sentiment about The Dark Knight in terms of the Batman franchise. Nolan needs to return at least once more to revisit the characters he's reinvigorated on film. Batman #3 is set up to feature an even darker and more disturbing world, and Nolan must be the director to take the franchise there.
GRADE: A
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and some menace.
About the Author: A movie trivia buff and critic, Rebecca Murray has been reviewing movies and interviewing actors, writers, directors, and producers for almost a decade. Rebecca Murray is a member of the San Diego Film Critics Society, an Approved Tomatometer Critic, and belongs to the Society of Professional Journalists. In addition, Rebecca is a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association, a group of professional movie critics whose votes decide the winners of the annual Critics' Choice Awards (broadcast on VH1). Rebecca covers the Academy Awards for About.com, countless movie premieres and other Hollywood special events, interviewing (on video) over 500 celebrities on red carpets, as well as conducting hundreds more print interviews.
A Totally Spoiler-Free Review of One of the Best Films of 2008
Rating 5 stars
Author: Rebecca Murray
Starring:Christian Bale as Batman and Heath Ledger as The Joker.
Warner Bros Pictures
Batman Begins made a believer out of me. The blinders were lifted from my eyes, and I not only understood why a billionaire would transform himself into a bat-inspired superhero, but felt compassion toward both the man inside the costume and the Batman. What other Batman films had failed to do, Christopher Nolan and Christian Blake achieved in 140 minutes. But after delivering one of, if not the best, comic book-inspired movies of all time, could the team top it with The Dark Knight? The answer is a resounding yes.
The Dark Knight is a brilliant follow-up to Batman Begins and the definitive Batman movie to date, which makes you wonder what Nolan will accomplish if he decides to do a 3rd Batman film. The Dark Knight takes place in a world where the line between good and evil is drawn in pencil. The screenwriting duo of brothers Christopher and Jonathan Nolan turned to the dark side for their 2nd Batman movie (although Batman Begins wasn't exactly light fare), with The Joker's lunatic smile and gleefully malicious manner setting the tone for a wild romp through a world gone mad. Batman's universe is teetering on the edge and the conflicted superhero is trying to unravel the puzzle of how best to protect Gotham City while believing he's not the savior his city deserves.
The Story
Gotham City's falling to pieces and Batman is both the problem and the solution. The caped crusader has taken down a king-sized helping of bad guys, although he's not working on his own. Ordinary citizens have taken up his cause, donning their own Batman costumes and patrolling the streets. And now the mobsters left in town have joined forces in order to keep the real Batman at bay.
Fortunately for Gotham City, the newly elected district attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) is a real hard-ass on crime. Even Batman approves of this steely-jawed White Knight, and getting the superhero's stamp of approval wasn't easy since Harvey is spending lots of time with Batman's ex, Rachel (Maggie Gyllenhaal) Rachel couldn't handle Bruce's covert nighttime activities and now keeps company with a man unafraid of the spotlight.
However, the local mob and Rachel's preference for a non-costumed boyfriend aren't Batman's biggest problems. A new villain has emerged on the scene and he's not playing by any rules. Sporting smeary clown makeup that emphasizes a smile carved into his flesh like a pumpkin on Halloween, the maniacal character known as The Joker (Heath Leedger) is ready to take over as the leader of Gotham's underworld. The Joker's single-minded in his desire to inflict pain and unmask Batman. The formidable though strictly unofficial team of Lieutenant Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman), Harvey Dent and Batman must take down this sick clown before Gotham City turns into Slaughter City.
The Cast
2005's Batman Begins introduced Christian Bale in the dual roles of Bruce Wayne and Batman, and The Dark Knight serves to cement the fact he is the perfect casting choice to shoulder the lead in the Batman film franchise. At this point Bale has to be included toward the top of the list of actors who've taken on the task of playing a superhero in a feature film.
We don't see as much of Bruce the man as we do his costumed alter-ego, which means Bale has an even more difficult task of bringing out the human behind the superhero this time around. Even though the redesigned batsuit allows him a little more freedom of movement, Bale's expressive face is covered beneath a bat mask. Yet he's able to convey everything he needs to with just the lower portion of his face, piercing eyes, and menacing voice. Bale is Batman. Period.
No disrespect meant to Jack Nicholson but this is the performance of The Joker everyone will remember. Nicholson's Joker in Tim Burton's 1989 Batman fit perfectly with the tone of that movie.
In The Dark Knight, it's Ledger's Joker the rest of the cast needs to keep step with. This Joker is nasty-scary, a greasy, grotesque creature lifted straight from the nightmares of coulrophobics. Even those not given to fearing clowns are going to recoil in fright from Ledger's mesmerizing performance.
Ledger came up with a series of tics - licking his lips, sucking on his cheeks, carrying his entire body in an off-kilter way - to define the character of The Joker. He also created a voice and manner of speaking that's inimitable and perfect for a homicidal maniac who gets off terrorizing his victims. Ledger will long be remembered for bringing to life one of the best villains ever in a comic book-inspired movie. With his last completed performance before his untimely death, Ledger left behind a Joker who's one of the most disturbing villains on film.
Aaron Eckhart's movie star good looks fit snugly with his character DA Harvey Dent. Eckhart nails the part of a knight in shining armor come to slay the dragon and save his city and his fair princess. Although his performance isn't garnering the attention of Ledger's, it is nearly as impressive. Dent's a major player in The Dark Knight, and if Eckhart weren't believable, then The Dark Knight would suffer greatly. Eckhart knows how to wrestle his way through playing morally conflicted characters and does so again with gusto as Harvey Dent.
Supporting players Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine are a joy to watch in their limited time onscreen. The same goes for Maggie Gyllenhaal who takes over the part of Bruce Wayne's ex from Katie Holmes. Gyllenhaal's a wise choice to step into the role which seemed a little above Holmes' level of maturity in Batman Begins. Gyllenhaal plays her tough yet vulnerable, and her one scene with Ledger as The Joker shows exactly why director Nolan sought her out to be Rachel.
The Bottom Line
The Dark Knight's action sequences are controlled chaos with cars and motorcycles and Mack trucks careening down city streets, and the film's quieter moments are equally as engaging. There's just so much to say about The Dark Knight, so much I want to analyze and discuss, but expanding on a review of the plot would lay out potential spoilers and it's best to go into the film without any knowledge of the storyline other than the bare minimum. Nolan and company have surpassed what they accomplished the first time out, and The Dark Knight is everything you'd want from a superhero movie and much, much more.
Borrowing a line from Jerry Maguire, The Joker tells Batman, "You complete me!" Let's hope writer/director Nolan doesn't share the same sentiment about The Dark Knight in terms of the Batman franchise. Nolan needs to return at least once more to revisit the characters he's reinvigorated on film. Batman #3 is set up to feature an even darker and more disturbing world, and Nolan must be the director to take the franchise there.
GRADE: A
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and some menace.
About the Author: A movie trivia buff and critic, Rebecca Murray has been reviewing movies and interviewing actors, writers, directors, and producers for almost a decade. Rebecca Murray is a member of the San Diego Film Critics Society, an Approved Tomatometer Critic, and belongs to the Society of Professional Journalists. In addition, Rebecca is a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association, a group of professional movie critics whose votes decide the winners of the annual Critics' Choice Awards (broadcast on VH1). Rebecca covers the Academy Awards for About.com, countless movie premieres and other Hollywood special events, interviewing (on video) over 500 celebrities on red carpets, as well as conducting hundreds more print interviews.
Interview: Pavlovs Dogs Orchestra
Tilly Rivers
Entertainment Editor &
Food Critic for IRM Magazine
Host; Features Radio Show.
http://immediatereleasemedia.blogspot.com/
Entertainment Editor &
Food Critic for IRM Magazine
Host; Features Radio Show.
http://immediatereleasemedia.blogspot.com/
Photo curtsy of PDO.
Recently, I had the pleasure to interview Pavlovs Dogs Orchestra member Matt Falkovich. You really need to listen to PDO. (myspace link below), to truly understand the statement “The songs are dynamic and versatile while presenting a solid root to their sound and style.”
Now calling Toronto home, PDO will be playing at Sneaky Dee's this Sunday (August 24 2008) What follows is that interview.
Recently PDO has won the TIMA 2008 AWARD for Best World Award. What exactly is "Best World Award?"
“The "Best World" (or as we jokingly call it "best in the world") is a category for bands that play ethnic music. We won that particular award because apparently we were the best band in that category - one of many awards presented at the 2008 Toronto Independent Music Awards.”
How would you describe your music style?
“Our style is wild, humorous, soulful and exotic.”
In a few words, describe each member of PDO, and their strength.
Dima (guitar/vocals) has tremendous leadership skills among his many other talents.
Toha (bass/vocals) shines when it comes to writing music and promoting the band.
Tsoy (guitar/vocals) is the biggest showman of the bunch and loves arranging the music.
Andrey (percussions) is in charge of all the visuals and keeps track of our finances.
Kirill (keys/vocals) adds melody and texture to the songs and helps write lyrics.
Ruslan (violin) bring a sense of style and finance - coming from a rich classical background.
Matt (drums/vocals) is the groove-mister of the band and is always working on getting the band exposure.
What was your favorite CD to produce and why?
“Our favorite CD to produce would have to be "to whom it may concern" (with the help of studio giants L. Stu Young and Ian McNally). A few days after the recording was finished, our singer at the time decided to leave the band. We had to put all mixing on hold and come up with new lyrics and vocal melodies - it turned out completely different but surprisingly good considering the circumstance.”
What makes PDO unique?
What makes PDO unique?
“What makes us unique is our musical background – the fusion of styles makes our sound very distinct.”
What is the biggest challenge for PDO?
“The biggest challenge is to promote ourselves without the support of a label.”
Where do you see yourself in ten years?
“Touring the world and probably recording our 10th album.”
What do you want to say to your fans?
“We'd like to tell them how much we cherish them and that their support keeps us going.”
What advice would give a new group about to embark upon the music path?
“The only advice we could give a young band is to be friends not just band mates.”
Where can readers purchase your CD's?
“Our CD's are available online at itunes, amazon, cdbaby, snocap and napster – and in Toronto stores like: Criminal Records, Sonic Boom, Soundscapes, Rotate This, Play de Record.”
Can readers find you on YouTube?
They can see some of Andrey's work at http://www.youtube.com/user/pavlovsdogsorchestra
With all members of the band hailing from different parts of the former USSR- how has this influenced your style?
"Growing up in the former USSR has influenced our style dramatically - not only as musicians but as people as well. One of the reasons our music appeals to people is probably due to the fact that it has a certain Easter European charm to it."
What's next?
"We plan to play shows and festival across North America (for now) to promote our music further, the next album is in the works and should be released sometime next year… We'll also be shooting a "real" video in September."
What upcoming gigs do you have?
What upcoming gigs do you have?
"We're opening for Run With The Kittens at the Horseshoe on the 12th of September and playing the M.E.A.N.Y. festival in New York on October 3rd."
Where does PDO call home?
"Toronto has been our home sweet home to us for the last 15years - we love it here!!"
Conclusion: Visit http://www.myspace.com/pavlovsdogsorchestra or
http://pavlovsdogsorchestra.com/, for more information. And discover for yourself if PDO is “one of a kind and incredibly enjoyable.”
~T~
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
About the author: Tilly Rivers is a best selling celebrity author, radio host for “Features,” & Entertainment Editor / Food Critic for IRM Magazine.
Conclusion: Visit http://www.myspace.com/pavlovsdogsorchestra or
http://pavlovsdogsorchestra.com/, for more information. And discover for yourself if PDO is “one of a kind and incredibly enjoyable.”
~T~
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
About the author: Tilly Rivers is a best selling celebrity author, radio host for “Features,” & Entertainment Editor / Food Critic for IRM Magazine.
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