Round 44 - There's No Way To Know aka Science Magic

This week the girls take aim at there is no way to know aka science magic... 


This week the girls decided to take aim at how things work which were created and operate using "science magic". This is how the girls describe how things work when they believe there is no way to really know how they work...

But first, what were we drinking?

Sarah was drinking Brown Brother Dolcetto & Syrah


Available from Dan Murphy's

Amy was drinking Feet on the ground Merlot  


Available from Naked wines

Bianca was drinking Taylor's - One Small Step Cab Merlot


Available from Liquorland

Sarah opens with the topic intro and what we mean by science magic. She then jumps into her topic she was never able to understand being planes and how they fly. However, before she gets to it she goes back through some history of man's early attempts of flight.
Eilmer, who should have added a tail.


Da Vinci's Ornithopter


Montgolfier Brothers Hot Air Balloon

 George Cayley's Glider 

Le Bris, Artificial Albatross


                                            Alexandre  Goupil's Sesquiplane, New Cross Fit

Otto Lilienthal's Glider

Wright Brothers plane



After that, she explains how she thought planes worked, and also found some of Amy's artwork
How Sarah thought planes worked

Amy's Artwork


Then she finally gets to her explanation (basically the kid's version) of how planes fly using science magic.

Bianca chose cryptocurrency. She chose this because despite owning crypto, she legit has no idea how it works.

Before you continue reading we need to say; The following is in no part financial advice. All we wish to do is better educate ourselves.

Thank you to nerdwallet.com, cryptocurrencyfacts.com, investpedia.com, iconicholding.com, milnsbridge.com.au, and coinmarketcap.com for the following information.

A cryptocurrency is a form of payment that can be exchanged online for goods and services. Many companies have issued their own currencies, often called tokens, and these can be traded specifically for the goods or services that the company provides. Think of them as you would arcade tokens or casino chips. You’ll need to exchange real currency for cryptocurrency to access the goods or services.

Cryptocurrencies work using a technology called a blockchain. Blockchain is a decentralized technology spread across many computers that manage and record transactions. Part of the appeal of this technology is its security.

Cryptocurrency is software. Every function, from how transactions are recorded to how data is stored, is dictated by code.

Especially for cryptocurrencies whose main function is to act as money, cryptocurrency transactions are typically stored in a type of database known as a blockchain (other cryptos use unique technology, but the gist is the same).

What we think of as cryptocurrency, for example, 1 Bitcoin, is just numbers recorded on a cryptocurrency’s blockchain. Another word for that stand-in for value is “token” (often also called a “coin”).

Cryptocurrencies are created by algorithms that rely on cryptography. That is why it is called “crypto” currency. Every transaction relates back to unique cryptographic codes that secure the network.

Cryptocurrency software is decentralized and distributed, meaning it is hosted on many peoples’ computers across the world instead of just on one server by one company.

The algorithms generally are written to award coins to computers that add transactions to the blockchain. The process of adding transactions to the blockchain is known as mining.

The code of the cryptocurrency defines things like maximum supply, mining rewards, etc.

Thus, for most cryptocurrencies, the main way new coins are created is by people all over the world running hardware that adds transactions to the blockchain. Otherwise, cryptocurrency tokens are created by other mechanisms contained in a cryptocurrency’s software.

There are more than 10,000 different cryptocurrencies traded publicly, according to CoinMarketCap.com, a market research website. And cryptocurrencies continue to proliferate, raising money through initial coin offerings, or ICOs. The total value of all cryptocurrencies on May 27, 2021, was more than $1.7 trillion — down from the April high of $2.2 trillion, according to CoinMarketCap. The total value of all bitcoins, the most popular digital currency, was pegged at about $735 billion — down from April's high of $1.2 trillion.

FACT: Because the supply and inflation of a given cryptocurrency are defined by code, it is known upfront whether a coin is inflationary or deflationary. The only way to change that is to change the software. To change the software, the majority of computers running the software have to agree on an upgrade. In most cases, something like a change to the rate of supply would result in a “fork” (a new version of the software). Given all of this, it is unlikely the supply or rate of issuance of a coin like Bitcoin would ever be changed. Thus, we can be confident the only coins that will ever be issued are the ones defined by the code.

Best cryptocurrencies by market capitalization
These are the 10 largest trading cryptocurrencies by market capitalization as tracked by CoinMarketCap, a cryptocurrency data, and analytics provider.

Cryptocurrency

Market Capitalization

Bitcoin

$735.3 billion

Ethereum

$324.2 billion

Tether

$61 billion

Binance Coin

$57.5 billion

Cardano

$54.6 billion

XRP

$46.5 billion

Dogecoin

$44 billion

Polkadot

$22.1 billion

USD Coin

$21.9 billion

Internet Computer

$16.7 billion



Like I said in the beginning, I own some crypto and am a proud Dogecoin holder. I have seen this coin and bitcoin for that matter rise and fall under the word of Elon Musk. I personally think it's disgusting that one man can have so much influence. He is no part a creator of these coins. He just tweets his thoughts out there and people hang on to every word. 

In true narcissism, he tweeted he is the Dogefather. He also professed that he is going to put a literal dogecoin on the literal moon. The sad thing is I’m crossing my fingers and hoping that he does so the coin's value goes up.

Now, let's debunk some myths...

Digital Currencies Are Bad for the Environment.

There is a reason for concern about the impact of digital currencies on the environment. As cryptocurrencies like bitcoin and ether have taken off, so too has the number of mining operations around the world. Each of the individual mining rigs requires massive amounts of computational power, and this, in turn, requires large amounts of electricity.
What's worth remembering, however, is that the value of mining for a cryptocurrency nearly always outweighs the real-world cost that is required in order to complete that mining operation. What's more, many cryptocurrencies, including bitcoin, have set hard caps on the total number of tokens that can be mined. After this point, individuals will no longer be able to mine for new tokens or coins, and the costs of the computational power required for mining that currency will be dramatically reduced. And don't forget that the modern financial and banking system also requires a ton of electricity to operate on a daily basis, from office lights to computer servers to electronic payments networks and asset exchanges.

Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are mostly used for illegal transactions.

The anonymity of Bitcoin makes it appear to be an attractive alternative for illegal transactions. However, this anonymity is really an illusion. Bitcoin is one of the most transparent currency systems to have ever existed, every Bitcoin transaction is recorded on a public ledger called the ‘Blockchain’. The Blockchain is essentially a data record that is decentralized meaning the data cannot be amended or tampered with. A report by the UK Treasury in late 2017 found a lack of evidence supporting illegal transactions used with Bitcoin. In fact, over a four-year study, only 0.61% of money entering conversion services were from verifiably illicit sources. Whilst other alt-coins such as Monero could be used in illicit transactions, front-runners like Bitcoin and Ethereum are virtually transparent making it harder to use them in unlawful transactions. Therefore the assumption that criminals predominantly use Crypto is a myth.

Bitcoin is a ‘bubble’ waiting to burst.

A financial bubble is an asset that’s price deviates from its intrinsic value. Bitcoin has been commonly compared to the ‘tulip mania’ boom in 17th century Europe. 

In a nutshell, the ‘tulip bubble’ burst because tulips were a terrible store of value due to their lifespan and fungibility. Bitcoins, however, are immutable and they can be sent anywhere in the world within minutes without the need of an intermediary. Furthermore, there are a finite number of Bitcoins that will ever exist, making them high in demand. It is hardly fair to compare the ‘tulip mania’ bubble to the Bitcoin bubble as it is only in the early stages and it could very well last another 20 years.

Bitcoin is too expensive and I do not have enough to buy one

I know this sounds silly to those who are familiar with crypto, but I am asked this many times by no-coiners who simply just don’t know better because nobody has explained it to them.

One of the primary benefits of crypto is near all the assets are fractionalized or divisible into many parts. 1 Bitcoin, for instance, is divisible up to 8 decimal places, meaning the smallest amount of Bitcoin one can own is 0.00000001 Bitcoin. We call this microscopic unit a “Satoshi” or “Sat” after Bitcoin’s founder, Satoshi Nakamoto. If/when Bitcoin hits a $100,000 price per Bitcoin, each Satoshi will be worth $0.001, or 1/10th of a penny. This unit is easily purchasable and usable on the Bitcoin network.


Amy is, as we know, hopeless with technology. Despite the internet being a common thing for the past twenty-five-plus years, Amy still doesn't really get how it works. 

After a few failed attempts at googling how it works (how does the internet work then how does the internet work simple) she found an explanation that was suited to her level - how does the internet work dummies. 

The internet has been around in some shape or form since the late 80s. Lots of people use the word "Internet" to mean going online. Actually, the "Internet" is nothing more than the basic computer network. Think of it like the telephone network or the network of highways that criss-cross the world. 

In simple terms, it's how computers talk to each other. Amy was amazed to find out that all content available on the internet lives on someone's computer or server. Not in a metaphorical place as she once thought.
Despite all her research Amy still doesn't have a full grasp of how the internet works but knows more now than she did previously.

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Round 43 - Interview with Jeff Deskovic

This week the girls take aim at the incredible story of Mr Jeffrey Deskovic... 



But first, what were we drinking?

At the time we were doing the interview it was 4am our time so forgive us, we did not have our standard beverages in hand. 

Bianca was drinking coffee but it could have been wine


In this very special episode of Friday Night Wine Fight Amy and Bianca interviewed Mr. Jeffrey Deskovic, a man who was wrongly convicted of a brutal rape and murder of a 15-year-old classmate. 

Jeff was convicted of this horrendous crime when he was only 17 years old in 1990. Here are some pictures kindly supplied by Jeff of his sentencing and time in prison.



After 16 years behind bars, Jeff managed to have his conviction overturned with the help of some dedicated supporters. After leaving prison Jeff struggled to re-integrate back into society and searched for a way to help others.


Jeff completed his law degree and started the Deskovic Foundation to help those wrongly incarcerated. 





We were so very honored to speak to Jeff and hear about his incredible journey so far. 

You can find out more about how you can support Jeff's work by visiting his foundation's webpage at the 
Deskovic Foundation.

Jeff also helped bring to life a card game that aims to help those who have been incarcerated talk to people closest to them about what they are going through after their release. Please check out the Beyond the Bars Recharge game at Recharge the Game



Jeff's story will astound you and will leave you thinking "it could have happened to me..."



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Round 42 - Travel Roulette

This week the girls take aim at Travel Roulette... 



So as the name implies this week we are going on an adventure like 3 hobbits from the shire.

We went to a random city generator website, hit shuffle, and delegated randomly.


But first, what were we drinking?

Bianca was drinking Elephant in the room Merlot



Available from Dan Murphy's


Sarah was drinking Somersby Cider



Available from Dan Murphy's

Amy was drinking Feet on the ground merlot


Available from Naked wines

Bianca opened up with her city Rio De Janeiro.

Golden beaches and lush mountains, samba-fueled nightlife, and spectacular football matches: welcome to the Cidade Maravilhosa

First some history:
Portuguese rulers were the first ones to rule Rio when they landed on the soil of Guanabara Bay on the 1st January 1502. The bay forms the opening of a river, hence the name ‘Rio de Janeiro’ which means ‘River of January’. The French wanted to make the best of Rio's strategic position in the Brazilian region and tried to achieve a foothold in the city but were debarred from the city after two years of intense war. To protect from further invasions, the city was moved to a safer position on a hill, which was later named ‘Castle Hill’.

Rio developed economically as it continued to cultivate sugarcane, its traditional crop. Subsequently, gold and diamonds were found in the Minas Gerais area. After this discovery, many other European countries tried to capture Rio and gain a foothold, and in 1763, the capital of the region was shifted from Salvador to Rio de Janeiro.

However, this economic prominence did not last long. As Rio entered the 19th century, sugar cane production faced stiff competition from other South American countries, and the gold and diamond reserves also dwindled, leading Rio on the path of an economic crisis. To prevent this situation, it started exporting coffee and the Portuguese royal family resettled in Rio. Rio expanded economically during its thirteen-year ruly, and the city started spreading out to its edges, as new buildings started cropping up with modernized infrastructure. When the Portuguese left, Brazil finally achieved its independence.

When Brazil achieved independence in 1889, Rio was named the capital. With years passing by, Rio has changed, in terms of infrastructure and financially. Central Zone was demolished to expand the city. The land was being reclaimed to build the Central Business District. Hills were being wiped out and were used to fill the marsh areas. The city was divided into three zones. North zone became an industrial area along with being the residence of the working sector while the South Zone was limited for the wealthy people.

After World War II, Rio shifted from an agricultural economy to an industrial economy. Bridges were built between important cities, skyscrapers were constructed, and free-ways were developed. The population of the city increased in gigantic proportions, and this turned out to be a curse. Even if labor needed the industries to develop, laborers were in excess, and the number of poor and unskilled people increased. This situation exists even today and puts intense pressure on Rio’s resources. Rio is one of the most populated cities in the world.

In the 1960s the capital of Brazil was moved from Rio to Brasilia and later to Sao Paolo, to reduce the economic and financial pressure on Rio. Political power was moved to the interior of the country. Today along with its different ethnic groups, Rio is making its presence felt in the industrial, service, and tourism sectors. Major multinational companies have their headquarters in Rio, and the city influences the Brazilian economy, as a whole.

So with that awesome history out the way what are some fun things I found to do in Rio?

Beaches:
Rio's beaches have long seduced visitors. Copacabana Beach became a symbol of Rio during the 1940s when international starlets would jet in for the weekend. Hogging the spotlight these days is Ipanema Beach, its fame and beauty unabated. For Cariocas (residents of Rio), the beach is Rio's backyard – a playground that's free and open to all, offering endless enjoyment in the form of football, volleyball, surfing, snacking, drinking, or simply relaxing amid the passing parade of people.

Music:
Music is Rio's lifeblood, and the city's soundtrack comprises rock, old-school bossa nova, hip-hop, funk, and Brazil's many regional styles. Above all, there's samba, a rapid-fire style of music with African influences and an infectious beat that is synonymous with Rio. You can hear it all over town, but the soul of samba resides in Lapa, the red-light district that's home to dozens of live-music halls and an enormous weekend street party that draws revelers from all walks of life. Samba is also the integral sound during Carnaval, and the danceable backing music to street parties and all-night parades.

Speaking of Carnaval, Rio knows how to party. Whether you call it joie de vivre, Lebensfreude or lust for life, cariocas have it in spades. Carnaval, and the buildup to it, is the most obvious manifestation of this celebratory spirit. But Rio has many other occasions for revelry: celebrations after a big soccer match; weekend samba parties around town; baile funk parties in the favelas (slums, informal communities); and boat parties on the bay – not to mention major fests such as Réveillon (New Year's Eve) and the Festas Juninas.

And to finish off because a segment about Rio would not be complete without it. Let me talk about Cristo Redentor or English better known as Christ the Redeemer statue. 

Standing atop Corcovado (which means ‘hunchback’), Cristo Redentor gazes out over Rio, a placid expression on his well-crafted face. The mountain rises straight up from the city to 710m, and at night the brightly lit 38m-high open-armed statue – all 1145 tons of him – is visible from nearly every part of the city. It was constructed between 1922 and 1931.

Corcovado lies within the Parque Nacional da Tijuca. The most popular way to reach the statue is to take the red narrow-gauge train that departs every 30 minutes, and takes approximately 20 minutes to reach the top. 

Originally, Vincentian priest Pedro Maria Boss first suggested placing a Christian monument on Mount Corcovado in the mid-1850s to honor Princess Isabel, regent of Brazil and the daughter of Emperor Pedro II, but the project was not approved. In 1889, the country became a republic, and due to the separation of church and state, the proposed statute was dismissed.

The Catholic Circle of Rio made a second proposal for a landmark statue on the mountain in 1920. The group organized an event called Semana do Monumento ("Monument Week") to attract donations and collect signatures to support the building of the statue. The organization was motivated by what they perceived as 'Godlessness' in society. The donations came mostly from Brazilian Catholics. The designs considered for the "Statue of the Christ" included a representation of the Christian cross, a statue of Jesus with a globe in his hands, and a pedestal symbolizing the world. The statue of Christ the Redeemer with open arms, a symbol of peace, was chosen.



Amy drew Nashville, Tennesse USA at the roulette table. This is a city that Amy had not been to and was interested to find out what Nashville was all about. Fate smiled kindly on Amy that day as Nashville is a major music hub! 

We all know Amy loves tunes. Whilst the most popular type of music in Nashville is Country music, the city is known for its wide variety of music and is home to many famous music museums and sites as well as a long list of celebrities. Amy is not a big fan of country music (actually she hates it) but has now added Nashville to her "must-see" list because it turns out that they have all the tunes there. 

                                                                         Nashville

Sarah's city was Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. This is a city that has a long and deep history dating back to 1493 when the Spanish settled on the island. Santo Domingo then went on and became the oldest European city in the Americas in August 1498.

Santo Domingo has also gone through a location change after a hurricane hit, it has changed hands of power several times in history, and even a name change or two. However, even after all that it remains a city that in my opinion is a must-see, from the 3 eyes national park with its beautiful interconnecting caves,

3 Eyes national park

the Zona colonial where you can feel like you are stepping back in time with the cobbled streets and buildings that date back to the 1500s, 
Zona Colonial

to the museums and Botanical Gardens and more, I feel like there is something of everyone in Santo Domingo.

Agora Mall

Botanical Gardens

Museo De Las Casas Reales

Basilica Cathedral of Santa Maria Las Menor
 
Monasterio De SanFrancisca


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Round 41 - 90's Fashion

This week the girls take aim at 90s fashion... 


The 90s is by far the girl's favorite decade tonight they took a look at some iconic 90s fashion trends which they loved, like so hard.

But first, what were we drinking?

Amy was drinking the Mechanic Cabernet Sauvignon 


Available from Naked wines

Bianca was drinking Brown Brothers Cienna


Available from Dan Murphy's
 
Sarah was drinking Tread Softly - Rose


Available from Dan Murphy's 

Amy kicked off this week's topic by chatting about some iconic 90s fashion trends. She then discussed one of the most famous fashion trends of the 90s being the grunge look. 

As promised, here are some pictures of a fashion icon of the 90s  - Friday Night Wine Fight's very own Sarah

Sarah and Amy at Amy's valedictory dinner


the 90s icon herself


Also here are Amy's Doc Martins, oh the places they have been...




Bianca discussed how in the early nineties, Indian-American club-goers introduced disco-bhangra (Punjabi folk music) and Indian fashion (bindis, brocade, nose rings) to the clubbing scene in the UK and North America. Despite earlier lukewarm attempts by the 60s counterculture movements and the hippie-trails across India and Nepal to inject textiles and bindi into the mainstream, this was Indian fashion's first big international moment. 

It was a matter of time before Gwen Stefani—who was dating her No Doubt bandmate Tony Kanal, who was London-born, of Indian origin, and flirting with Hinduism at the time—adapted the bindi as her "look." Both Kanal and Stefani appeared in massively hit music videos for "Just A Girl" and "Frozen" in bindis, subsequently taking it to the stage, red carpets, and award shows.

Crushed velvet was the shit! Fricken loved it!

Bianca and her sister had matching dresses as was the style at the time. Hers was dark blue and Dani's was baby pink. 

(could not find a pic in time for episode release)

Bianca's favorite though was her floor-length velvet skirt. 

1993

1997

Sarah ends with some of her favorite fashions of the 90s. These looks include the iconic look of the checked skirt and matching blazer as well as a style that Sarah hasn't given up on since to 90s, oversized clothing. Although, she has limited herself to only wearing oversized jumpers and t-shirts.





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Round 43 - Interview with Jeff Deskovic