We have all looked at our i-Phone with a little more interest this week, with the announcement of Apple’s latest profit figures
US$18 Billion for the last quarter. An amazing figure. The jokes could be heard from the Drug dealers in the US that their product is selling like i-Phones
Well not quite!!!
This is a picture of $22 Billion dollars found at the house of a Mexican Drug dealer – Yes that was found in one house, hidden away in cupboards and yes, even under the bed.
(Like you I kind of thought it would be a bigger pile too!)
Authorities estimate there could be 27 such houses in Mexico, so I think we can still say that drugs are easier to sell than i-Phones
27 is a strange number, it almost makes you think they know where the houses are and who owns them. But then we have all seen Breaking Bad, and can understand why not much is done about it. (Who wants to see a severed head on a tortoise again)
Another amazing figure is the $178 Billion in Cash sitting on Apple’s balance sheet. Somehow I don’t think it will be at Tim Cook’s house, well maybe some of it!
This week I also read an article about how wines taste different when you are in a plane. The airlines make a big song and dance about their wine selection and the chefs who cook their food etc. Well let me tell you a little secret – the food and wine will taste different, but that is based on whether you are flying First / Business or Economy
On a serious note, the lower air pressure in planes does affect your sense of smell, as the aromas of wine and food are more diffuse. (You don’t smell as well) Fruiter wines taste better because they have stronger aromas and soft reds are better than tannic reds. Reds taste more tannic at altitude because there is a dry atmosphere in planes and we do not salivate as effectively. Saliva helps to soften the tannins. But if you just remember that First class is better than Business and so on, I don’t think you need to worry about this too much.
What I didn’t quite understand, until after I read this article, is that with this lower air pressure, you have less oxygen in your blood and conversely more Carbon Dioxide. This causes you to feel lethargic. I always wondered why on small flights (an hour or so) you still felt exhausted at the end. Well now I know.
Over the next few weeks I am working with Matt Dunne of Aria on the upcoming March Sommelier selection and I always enjoy this time. It is a tough job tasting lots of different wines in a fancy restaurant, but someone has to do it.
Matt