Why? I drink water out of plastic bottles all day long.

It's the acid in the wine that would worry me. Boxed wine is in a plastic bag inside a box. Then again, who cares. Soda has lots of acid to keep the sugar in suspension. Orange juice comes in plastic bottles.

The less expensive bottle caps in lieu of real cork for wines intended to be consumed young is an entirely reasonable compromise.

But there are limits!

If you are willing to drink the swill packaged in a plastic bag inside a cardboard box... I doubt the taste or quality or any other aesthetic feature of what is being passed off as wine is very high on your list of criteria.

There's actually been some recent research that cartons are better for a wine that is to be drunk young than bottles (to avoid oxidation problems).

If you can forgive the link elsewhere - it's for a good cause (science and alcohol!)

http://www.economist.com/sciencetechnology/displayStory.cfm?story_id=13813174&CFID=65194613&CFTOKEN=74428377

Wow,
What a day! The news of two 70s icons passing (Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jacksont) along with the news that wine is being sold in plastic bottles with screw tops?

Plus, its my sister and my fiancee are both celebrating their birthdays today?
(For the snarkers, no, they are not the same person)

Does anyone else remember the faux commercial on Saturday Night Live decades ago for A.M. Ale? As I recall it was offered in two liter plastic bottles with screw caps, and (in jest, I hope!) touted as the perfect breakfast beverage for parents stressed out by young children.

Give me an aseptic tetrapak over a plastic bottle any time!

I don't even like soda in those bottles, much less wine. If they have to use plastic, I wish they'd at least use a rigid plastic.

It boggles my mind that a container made from petroleum can be more "green" than one made from glass.

It boggles my mind that Farrah and Michael Jackson would expire on the same day. I wonder if Farrah would be miffed that Michael's death pushed hers to the number two news slot.

Dahlink - I was thinking the same thing, accept I don't think she would be miffed. Not that any death isn't tragic, but it is kind of sad that his passing overshadowed hers. Especially after her long and courages battle with cancer.

Dahlink and Trixie, I thought the same thing. I was glad that WBAL had a 2 hour special on Farrah. She deserved the attention, she'd fought long and hard and in front of the whole country to try to help others.

Joyce, are you referring to the Dateline tribute hosted by Anne Curry? If so that was very well done, and I was glad to see that they did not divert away from her.

By the way, in my earlier post I meant "except" not "accept". Was not completely functional yet. Hmm, why do I feel the need to explain my mistakes?? Ah yes, the desire to be excepted by everyone...

Trixie, you should remember that the same NBC that had the Dateline tribute to Farrah Fawcett with Ann Curry also broadcast the "Farrah's Story" quasi-documentary a few weeks ago, which was seen at the time as being of questionable taste at best. Exploitation seems not to be far from the mark for either NBC programming decision.

hmpstd - I was under the impression that "Farrah's Story" was shown with the encouragement of those in Farrah's camp.

The whole Farrah thing seems distasteful, airing intimate family moments for the masses, with advertising. Vulgar.

The Onion summed it up:
BREAKING: Farrah Fawcett Dies Alone On National Television

To continue the off-topic Farrah topic: my 12-year-old niece was in the midst of her three-year fight against cancer, and my brother's co-worker, who knew Farrah, mentioned my niece's plight to Farrah. This was in the middle of her own cancer struggle.

Farrah called my niece and talked to her for about a half hour. She gave my niece her cell phone number, told her to call anytime, and followed up with a handwritten note. She was the epitome of class, and she would continue to call my niece on occasion.

(Funny part about this: after the first call, my niece hung up the phone and didn't say a word to my brother or his wife. She just went back to watching television. My brother--who knew the call was coming--anxiously asked my niece, "Who was that?"

My niece--unplussed--said, "Some lady named Farrah. Apparently she has cancer, too. I hope I helped her deal with her situation."

My brother explained that Farrah was an actress who starred in "Charlie's Angels."

My niece asked if she played Cameron Diaz's mother.)

Rest In Peace, Farrah.

That is serious class.

That is serious class.

Absolutely. Thanks for sharing that, JackinEC.

Michael Jackson - still dead!

Wait for the third day, NBC.

Owl, I suppose it could be viewed that way. As the audience playing a voyeuristic role in a woman's dying moments but I think FF had a larger purpose.

I think she wanted as many people to see cancer in person. Many people have been lucky enough so far to have not had a loved one have cancer.

She put one of the most famous faces in her time on cancer and made it a reality for everyone.

BTW, the film was made by her best friend, and even when she turned the camera off because FF was very sick, FF entreated her to keep rolling so that it wasn't a prettied up film that we saw but her real experience.

The premiere of Farrah's Story, on May 15, was OK (even if it coincided with the May sweeps period), but its repeated rebroadcast following her death (each of the last two nights on NBC, plus today and tomorrow on Oxygen, so far) would smack of crass opportunism but for its having gotten lost in a deluge of instant MJ "documentaries".

The Safeway checker seemed to think Michael's not really dead (in jest). She added that he'll probably re-appear someplace, screaming "psych!" Considering some of the stunts he's pulled, I wouldn't be a bit surprised....

Dottie, I think Michael is truly gone this time. According to his ex, Lisa Marie Presley, he predicted that he would die the same way Elvis did, of an overdose.
So far it appears that he was right.