Google Fi: The Mobile Operator for Travelers

I originally wrote and posted this over on the Xceptional blog. In thinking about it, I decided that the VoIPWatch audience should see it to. After having GoogleFi on my Google Pixel for a few months, I finally got to use the service outside the United States on an extended three-week trip to the UK, … Read more

Out with The Old

It's time for new faces and voices in wine. For many years we have all been following the writing, commentary and views of pretty much the same critics, reviewers and voices when it comes to wine. This isn't just a US phenomena, it's global.  The wine world follows the same people, and in turn their … Read more

The 2016 Roses Are Even Better than The 15’s

During my stay in France's Rhone Valley, Languedoc and Roussillion in early April (2017) I had the good fortune taste through many, but not all of my favorite Rose wines. Top of the heap has wines from Chateau de Roquefort's Corail, a blend of Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, Carignan and Vermentino showing its usual stuff right out of … Read more

Customer Service Needs to Be Local

Maybe Donald Trump is right about bringing jobs back home. Let me compare two experiences I recently had with British Air under the exact same scenario. My flight to Marseille from LAX was on two separate record locators. In the past all that took to correct was a call to BA’s executive club desk and … Read more

These Carignans Are No Puchovers

Michel Smith started his career as a journalist in Paris and began to write about wine. His well storied career has led to his being one of the leading proponents of wines from both the Languedoc and Roussillion regions, and unquestionably is one of the most well informed and witty wine and food writer/critics around. … Read more