Hundreds of mourners Friday marked the death of a teenage bottlenose dolphin that won hearts and sometimes annoyed New Zealand swimmers and surfers with his boisterous antics.

Moko’s body, placed in a blue coffin bedecked with flowers, was carried through a seaside town.

After a ceremony that drew more than 400 admirers, his casket was loaded on a charter boat that toured his favorite bays. He was given a private burial on Matakana Island, where his carcass was found one week ago.

For three years, Moko was a familiar sight around the beaches of New Zealand’s eastern coastal city of Gisborne, where he swam among beach-goers and stole balls and surf boards. He received worldwide fame in 2008, when he guided two stranded pygmy sperm whales back to deep waters.

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I never meant to fall for you.

I thought I knew what I wanted! I know my “type!”

A 2005 Napa Cab for $20-$25.

And yet I couldn’t help but notice you. You quietly whispered “Hawke’s Bay.” I knew of your reputation. I thought you were out of my league. And yet you beckoned to me. I kept checking you out even as I scanned the shelves for Mr. Napa.

I don’t know why I took you home. I’m so used to disappointment. You all promise one thing – Lovely nose! Firm tannins! Everlasting finish! Yet so often I’m disappointed, sick of the same old blandness. You told me you were different and I believed you. Read the full story

If it seems as if we tend to frequent the same tastings, you’re right. It’s hard to resist a tasting that advertises the best of the best or pouring more than 45 wines. But I think there’s a whole lot of greatness going on at smaller tastings. There’s less pressure to taste everything, there are fewer people to fight for the wine and you can actually talk (and learn) from the person holding the bottle behind the table.

Last Friday night, I had the pleasure to attend a New Zealand wine tasting at Café Boulud. Dry and I are huge fans of Café Boulud in general, so when I saw via Twitter a wine tasting (and munchies!) I immediately jumped and paid for it online. It cost $20 in advance. I was planning on bringing someone, but the event sold out before I could convince my noncommittal friends. Read the full story

Bret and Jemaine finally have a conflict.

This is the one we’ve been waiting for.

During the first season of “Flight of the Conchords”, the show crossed into greatness territory a few times, with the best example being the episode where Jemaine imitated David Bowie. (“The funky, funky eye patch”)

While there’s no imitations this time — and really, you can’t top the Bowie — that same great level was finally hit when Jemaine decided to start dating an Australian girl.

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