Columns - February 2015

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    Pine Cone Floo Powder

    Even those who dread chemistry class have to admit that fire and colors are a delightfully "hot" combination. The flame test is a qualitative procedure used to detect metal ions. Different elements emit different amounts of energy when they are excited by heat, which can be seen by us as different colors.
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    The Village of Beer (and Painted Houses)

    When you think of German cuisine, you probably think beer. And it's true; beer is a staple part of Germans' diet. But there is one particular region of Germany that goes especially nuts for beer: Bavaria, the birthplace of the biergarten (beer garden).
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    The City of Spices

    Istanbul, the city where Europe meets the Middle East. Yet despite this melting pot of nationalities and religion, the food is distinctly Middle-Eastern. Spices, red lentils, and olives reign supreme, as do beef and lamb. It's a flavorful place that I simply must return to.
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