homemade keyfob flashlight

I decided to try to make a keyfob flashlight from everyday stuff around the house.
I took a keyfob battery, an LED, duct tape, plastic clip, ball bearing, leather and thread and KAA-BOOM...

A leather covered keychain flashlight. Only stabbed myself in the finger twice with the needle.
And yes when the battery runs out I'll have to take it apart and rebuild with a new battery.

Resolutions

It's almost the traditional time to make resolutions though one ought to really be seeking to improve themselves all year. If you don't make resolutions or goals, you will never fail to meet them.

A few of mine that I hope to keep in constant mind:

Learn patience.

Don't give advice.

Let everyone live their own life.

Stop thinking I'm always right. Even if I am. ; )

Don't argue.

Don't feel the need to be in control of everything.

Change yourself.

Reduce the desire for material objects. Except for the Subaru BRZ / Scion FR-S.

Reduce ego.

Well...it's a work in progress...

Misc. Thoughts

Trying something new. A compilation of random thoughts each week, perhaps not warranting an individual post and not guaranteed to be of any significance.

- leather jackets are not just for motorcycles. They work great for giving your cats a bath. Scratchproof.

- TV has started to get really boring to me. Except maybe for Big Bang Theory.

- I am the only one at work that wears Vibram Five Fingers.

- I would like to own fewer and more functional things. Clothes, tools.

- the Hallmark Channel is the complete opposite of reality TV. And that's a great thing.

- I'd like to make myself a paracord key fob.

- Lego. Darth Vader. Flashlight. Keychain.

- don't wish for something you haven't set the foundation for. You are wasting your time.

- consumers only want to save money immediately, not in the future.

- the stock market is a fickle beast waiting to devour the romantic.

Thanks For the Gravy.

Ahh, the second annual list of things I'm thankful for...It's pretty much the same but worth thinking about and mentioning again. And worth repeating an old joke.

1) Loved Ones. yes, you still make me crazy. also we lost our dog this year and it hurts.

2) Health. don't underestimate the importance of your health and how hard it is to regain it once you've lost it.

3) Food. another year of not being hungry.

4) Having a home sweet home.

5) In the United States of America. though I wonder how Canada is.

6) Having corrected vision. Without it I'd be naturally selected, out.

Really, everything else is gravy.

7) GRAVY!

UPDATE. Gear Review: Klean Kanteen 12oz Wide Mouth Bottle

So I've been using my 12oz wide mouth Klean Kanteen daily for about 4-1/2 months now and I am mostly happy with it. The wide mouth makes it very easy to fill, drink, and (theoretically) clean. The size is very convenient. I can put this in a jacket pocket or even in the back pocket of my jeans for quick transport. You really do not need a larger size unless there are no water sources available throughout your day.

My one gripe is the wide mouth cap. It is mostly well designed to ensure your water does not touch plastic. I have a feeling the tight seal can retain water and encourage mold. Also you have to make sure the cap is on very tightly or else some
water will leak out. One last gripe about the cap. No matter how careful you are, water will drip from the cap, often on you, your wood floor, or important papers. I think it is due to the flat stainless steel inside surface of the cap. I am now used to tapping the cap over the bottle to shed excess water before I move the cap away from the bottle. It's annoying.

What's next for this bottle?
I will probably order the Cafe cap (with my REI dividend!) so I can drink from the bottle in the Hummer without having to remove the top. This Cafe cap is not leakproof.

I also am very tempted to plaster the bottle with stickers, but they will get burned off when I hopefully am forced to boil water in the bottle.


BONUS PRO TIP FOR THEEVILDRSIN READERS!

If you have this 12oz wide mouth Klean Kanteen you know it is not insulated. If you drink hot liquids you will burn your hand and hot or cold liquids will cool or warm quickly without the insulation. Well, this bottle is sized like a Coke (call me) can and fits those can Koozies (gives phone hand sign next to head and silently mouths "call me"). Taadaaa! now you have a makeshift insulated bottle! As an additional bonus it protects your bottle from dents if you drop it. Bam. You are welcome.

Gear Review: TAD Gear Shag Master Hoodie. Part One

After three years of deliberation and missed opportunities I finally purchased a TAD Gear Shag Master Hoodie (www.tripleaughtdesign.com) $199. Quite honestly what attracted me to this jacket was the shaggy, animal fur-like appearance of the fleece. Heck, if the fleece was even longer I'd be even happier. And make matching pants!

Also, this jacket is made in USA* and TAD Gear has a reputation for well-designed and quality made products. My personal goal is to invest in a versatile jacket for long term ownership rather than need a variety of clothing for specific uses.

FEATURES
This jacket has a two way full length zipper. On my jacket it is a little stubborn to start, probably due to the fat bartack next to the zipper. This is the only "defect" I've found on my jacket. I just have to angle the left side of the zipper away from the fabric to get it going.

There are two chest pockets which can still be used as hand warmer pockets, albeit a little high. The pockets have a vented panel so can unzip the pocket for extra ventilation. Each chest pocket has a slot for small items like a flashlight or knife. All pockets on this jacket also feature 1) a D-ring to keep items attached to the jacket 2) a media port to thread earphone cords through the jacket.

There are two upper arm pockets with vents and the aforementioned features. Next to these pockets are loop patches to attach patches to personalize your jacket. These patches are a little stiff and I'd either prefer them deleted or would like a pen pouch to attach to this area.

There are three more little loop patches. One on the lower right front with a glow in the dark TAD logo and two on the back of the hood. You can purchase glow in the dark patches to place there so your "team" can follow you in the dark.

The thumb holes in the sleeve cuff help keep the sleeves in place when active and also warm your hands a little. All zippers pulls have 'garages", little folds of fabric to hold the zipper pull in place when zipped up. This is useful in high wind conditions so the pulls don't whip around, possibly in your face. Also the underside of the sleeves to the elbow are reinforced.

One last detail impressed me. On each side of the upper interior of the jacket, just inside of the zipper teeth is a small plastic slit tube to function as a guide for your earphone wires.

WEARING THE SHAG MASTER HOODIE.

So this jacket has tons of features but really how is it? I put the jacket on, zipped it up and flipped the hood...




HOW DO I LOOK?

A rancher promptly walked up to me and shot a tag into my ear. Ouch!

This is a warm snuggly cozy jacket! Um, I mean this jacket is a highly functional piece of equipment that enables me to accomplish all my covert missions.

Seriously though, this jacket is very comfortable and fits me well. Not too snug but no excess fabric bulk to get in the way of activities.

That's it for my initial review. More to come as it gets colder and I'm able to use the jacket more frequently.


*If Made in USA is important to you, pay attention when buying TAD gear products. Some are not made in USA. I tweeted TAD gear to ask why but they did not respond. If I had to guess, I'd say the products in question were clothing with waterproof/ breathable membranes and perhaps the equipment and labor required to assemble this in USA were cost prohibitive. TAD if you read this please let us know!

I've never seen a cat so fascinated with fire.

Gear Review: Wacom Bamboo Stylus

When it comes to sketching a design (ideating), I'm rather Old Testament. I'm most comfortable with a sheet of regular typing paper (wait, I guess they call it printer paper now!) and a Bic pen from a hotel. If I needed to edit the drawing I would use White Out or the ol' Xerox and Post-It note trick (wow that's a lot of brands name dropped. Call me!). This allows quick editing to your design - almost as fast as you can sketch. Another technique is using a lightbox to do overlays over a previous sketch. However effective, it definitely uses a lot of paper.

My girlfriend just gave me a Wacom Bamboo Stylus for use with Apple touchscreen products like the iPad. I've played with drawing apps before, mostly editing photos for amusement. See my Anne Geddes photo! While using your finger is ok for touching up photos, it kind of sucks for drawing or writing on a touchscreen.

For about $30 one can purchase a Wacom Bamboo Stylus. It is about the length of an uncapped Sharpie and about the same diameter of a Bic pen (seriously, brand managers, call me to advertise your products!). Except for the rubber tip, it is an all metal construction. The pocket clip is removable if you want it out of your way while you draw.

How does it draw/write? While I am still getting used to drawing and writing with the Bamboo, it works rather well. The tip is rather blunt so it is a little tough to know exactly where your line will be. If you write fast or are laying down some sweeping lines, there is a little lag time, which is more likely due to the touchscreen sensors than the pen.

Overall I think this is a great drawing and writing tool. To get the best use out of it I need to get used to the lag time and the specific drawing application. Warning, you will see a lot more sketches and modified photos on this blog!

If you would like one, consider purchasing through this link. I do get a commission if you buy through this link.
Wacom Bamboo Stylus - Other Tablet Accessories 

Municipal Geographic: Blue Ridge Parkway Edition

So my girlfriend tells me we're getting out of the house and gonna go to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Cool, I like the driving and the views up there. Then she tells me we are waking up at 5am and leaving as soon as coffee is consumed. Not cool. I need my sleep.

The alarm goes off at 5am as promised. By the time coffee is consumed we are out the door at a still ludicrous for Saturday 7:30 am. But, my girlfriend was right. At that time on the Blue Ridge Parkway, you are the only soul there. No slow rubberneckers to get in your way. We proceeded at a legal, sporting pace.

"We need to say what we want to see because recently when we've said them, they come true."
I agreed and asked her what she wanted to see.
"Deer."
"Ok, I'm wishing for pirate treasure."

Bam. Around the next corner in a flash of movement on the side of the road was Blackbeard's gold, I mean a petite deer doing an about face and with a flash of white tail disappeared into the woods. Another benefit of waking up so early is seeing deer out to feed. We would proceed to see many more deer as we drove along.

Later as we crested a hill I saw a creature walking across the road. An OSTRICH! No, it was wild turkeys! We slowly drove by and my girlfriend desperately attempted to get some photos. We parked the car and quickly walked back to the fleeing turkeys. While my girlfriend peered into the mountain laurel for the turkeys, I saw a turkey take flight behind her, imitating a 747 and soar right past her as I tried to get her to turn around and capture the flight on camera. No luck.

a wild turkey runs for it.

Next, we park the car again and go check out some shaggy cows.This calf is so cute! I'd say a bovine version of my kitten Oliver!

The Municipal Geographic adventure continues with a trip to an alpaca farm! I wish we could raise one in the city. Shear its fur once a year and knit a sweater!

chewpaca.

Tupaca

Overall, a long successful day for Municipal Geographic at the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Lightning Quick Movie Review: Fast Five

In an act of serendipity, my girlfriend and I viewed this movie on our Fifth anniversary (Happy Fifth! Here's to five more!). Guys, remember, you are not enjoying the movie if she is not enjoying the movie. And to skip to the punchline, she thought it was a good movie. "There's actually a lot of action right from the beginning!" Quite the car fan in her own right, she oohed and ahhed at the Honda NSX, DeTomaso Pantera, the Corvette Grand Sport, Koenigsegg CCX, and the Lexus LF-A.

"Ooh...what is that?"
"It's a Lexus LF-A."
"How much does it cost?"
"About 4oo grand."
"Is it reliable?"

It also didn't hurt that the driver of the LF-A is her current crush, Sung Kang, who plays Han, who died in part 3. Die again already! And may I add your wig was askew in a few scenes. So there.

Speaking of Asian guys, she laughed at the Asian federal agent, with his mini mohawk and EXTREMELY tight, comically tight Underarmour t-shirt.

In a nutshell, Fast Five is action packed, entertaining, and absolutely ridiculous. It is Ocean's Eleven (the remake) without the style. The cars are probably cooler than in any of the other Fast and Furiouses. A lot of the action takes place in Rio de Janeiro's favelas. Yes, you've seen this before in a bunch of other movies, including the Incredible Hulk. Must be trendy to show Brazilian shanty towns in movies. The two Dodge sedans towing a massive vault is so absurd it belongs in, well, a Dodge commercial.

So yes, Fast Five is worth watching. We watched it on my anniversary weekend with no hard feelings as a result. Your results may vary.

*I'd like to mention this is the first movie we rented under Redbox raised prices from $1.00 to $1.20. Boo. I think it sucks of Redbox to raise prices. It is still about as cheap as it gets, however I'll select my rentals carefully and be watching for future raised prices.

Greta's last car car ride

Greta had her last car car ride today. I picked up her ashes from the vet. The box felt heavier than I expected. I briefly considered rolling down the window for her as usual. I was curious, so I unscrewed the lid to the wooden box and looked inside. Ashes in a double bag. I felt a little disappointed, expecting some flash of recognition of the dog I loved so much. I carefully screwed the lid back on. Part of me wants to keep the ashes in the house so Greta will stay close. Eventually we will bury her in the yard near the other dogs and cultivate a little site for her including flowers and a marker.

Greta was so intertwined with every aspect of our life that her absence is heart-wrenching. I open the front door and expect her to be there to greet me. I look over on the sofa to check on her but she is gone. Our meals now go unshared. We never went too far away for too long. We came back from vacations anxious to pick her up from doggie camp.

The daily walks are over. When I rattle the collar and leash there are no more sounds of toenails rapidly clicking down the stairs. The signs of her life here are now cherished artifacts. Dog hair, dog treats, raincoat, her beds, blankets, pillows, and even her doggy scent, savored and slowly fading.

In her last days as she declined, we continuously talked to her, touched her, kissed her, smelled her, desperate to cram every possible detail of her into our memory. Barely a few minutes were spent away from her. I close my eyes and imagine her weight as I carried her up and down the stairs. I imagine how her paws felt in my hands.

We still miss her terribly and try to get through each day. I am happy for all the memories and mementos we have of Greta and hope one day I will see her again.

Greta
1998- Oct. 31, 2011
A good dog.

there's this new thingy called ebay...

yeah, I'm a little slow to this but I finally posted a few things on sale on ebay. I've used Craigslist to decent success (selling a $3k turbo kit) but seems like CL sucks for selling books or little toys. My goal is to just get rid of stuff I'm not using anymore for a few bucks in return. It's not really to make a profit or anything. Yes it is more trouble than donating some of this stuff to Goodwill but I think it is worth a little trouble for a few bucks. A lot of this stuff is theoretically collectible toys so we will see what happens. I plan to be on the low side for a quick sale but not too low.

If someone is interested in Star Wars, Smurfs, Ninja Turtles, or HotWheels, hit me up in the comments and we'll talk...

The added benefit is I may give the USPS a little business. Benjamin Franklin would be proud.

Sunday

Sunday. Sleep in and wake up in a bed with pillows and a comforter SO fluffy it's called The Cloud. Make some coffee and perhaps a breakfast quiche and watch the Sunday Morning Show. Walk the dog and let her sniff EVERYTHING. No rush, just enjoy the heat of the sun on your face.

Time for a swim. Pick a lane there's no crowd. Warm up those muscles in the hot tub and then even though it's Sunday it's now time for Work! One mile later and we emerge with pleasantly tired muscles and step outside. The fall weather is still warm enough to sit on the outdoor pool deck and dry in the sun.

Hungry. Off to the grocers for a salad, heavy with onions, blue cheese, and green olives. Musty. An afternoon game of Scrabble. Some simple words, some complex words, always some dispute, always fun.

Heat up some pizza rolls in the oven and pour a glass of ginger ale. The TV goes on for an episode of The Good Wife. How does this show stay so good every time? Then CSI Miami in which the bad guy wears Vibram Five Fingers toe shoes! Don't profile! Toe shoe wearers ban CSI Miami! One last bathroom break and snack for the animals and then it's back to THE CLOUD.

Is it just me or are the Anne Geddes babies getting uglier?

Oh. It IS just me.

The Sense of a 2011 VW Golf

Through some unforeseen circumstances, I had an opportunity to drive a 2011 VW Golf for about a week. Having never owned a (running) German car, I've always been impressed with their solidity, refinement, and understated luxury and comfort. The base Golf allows one to access these German car attributes for a reasonable cost and with hatchback practicality. Here is my analysis through my senses.

Sight
Certainly the best looking Golf has to be the 1974 MKI designed by Giorgetto Guigiaro. And the MKV and MKVI certainly have a sporty muscular vibe. However, the base MKVI designed by Walter de'Silva has a very clean, understated look that I prefer. It is simple and seems to have a little more sharpness compared to a more rounded MKV. Like a typical base car, the Golf comes with steel wheels and wheel covers. I would probably take the covers off or find something classic to cover the steelies.

Hearing
The Golf has good sound isolation from road noise as appropriate for a solid, comfortable German car. It is quite peaceful to drive. I didn't hammer the engine so I didn't notice any intrusive intake, engine, or exhaust sounds. Yes there is a radio although I prefer my radios always off while driving.

Taste
Go ahead and order a Happy Meal from the drive through. The Golf is an automatic so you will have one hand available to eat while driving. The softer comfortable suspension insures that your drink goes in your mouth and not in your lap.

Smell
Having only 1000 miles on the odo, the new car smell pervades the cabin. I attempted to subvert this offgassing plastic scent with multiple meals of chili and swimming laps in chlorinated pools...to no avail.

At 31 mpg highway using 87 octane, you will also spend less time sniffing gas fumes at the pump and more time smelling the dollar bills sitting in your wallet (you know where they have been, right?). Golfs are typically the more reliable of VW's so hopefully you won't be smelling the burnt coffee at the dealership too often.

Touch
The seats are comfortable and highly adjustable for a good fit. I prefer the traditional manual VW seat angle adjustment using a rotary knob rather than this lever switch operating an electric motor. The bolsters are correctly sized to support lateral movement, feeling snug but not getting in the way. Sitting in the Golf seats felt like a perfect little hug.

The gear selector knob feels good in the hand, perhaps better shaped than the GTI? Unfortunately the steering wheel is a problem for me. It feels too plasticky hard. It could be softer and preferably leather / synthetic leather-wrapped.

Balance and Acceleration
The 2.5 L Five cylinder engine accelerates this car perfectly fine. And 170 hp and 177 torque SHOULD be adequate except for two things: 1) There is a small dead spot in the accelerator pedal which makes the car feel hesitant upon initial acceleration (drive by wire?). 2) If one has driven the 200hp GTI this seems rather tame. However, it is really enough.

The 15 in wheels and tires are more appropriately sized than the huge 18" with rubber band tires you get with the GTI. It allows more comfort and isolation from the road.

The steering is not high in feel but is pretty precise. The solidity of the chassis makes this car feel rather stable.

Well...
So overall the 2011 Golf gives me a sense of comfort, calm, stability, refinement and solidity. It's not a car that inspires you to drive it like it's on fire, but when you do it will still be fun.

My first car design: the pinewood derby

I can't remember anything about Cub Scouts except for the pinewood derby. For those unaware, this event involves scouts and/or their parents designing and creating a vehicle from a block of wood to compete with others on a sloped track, powered only by gravity. It was probably the most fun I had in Cub Scouts.

It was highly competitive then as well as now. There are many books and websites full of engineering strategies to get the most performance out of your car. I would say most often the fathers would take over the projects to have the coolest design or fastest car. I remember being stunned at the works of art that were produced while mine looked like a very fat doorstop.

Despite my present prodigious design and craftsmanship abilities, when I was 9 or 10, as you can tell by the photos I had zero design or engineering ideas and my only carpentry skill was the ability to keep my fingers attached to my hand. Believe it or not, I made this car mostly by myself. I think I had help sanding the mold lines off the wheels and drilling holes to help the car make weight at weigh ins.

There was no design. I copied the generic drawing that was in the included instructions. All the cuts were made with a coping saw which accounts for no cut being straight and no angle matching another. There are visible saw marks and gouges in the wood. I must have only had 60 grit sandpaper because the sanding marks are still visible. The inexplicable Tarheel blue painted body still has fingerprint marks where I handled the car wet. The silver stripe is painted freehand and the painted yellow headlights look like they are dripping. The wheels sport a heavy negative camber. Apparently I couldn't hammer a nail in straight either.

So how did I do? Half the time one of the wheels fell off, causing the entire car to fly off the track. But ages later I still have it. It sure is terrible, but at least I made it myself.

Where it all started

Maybe this is where it all started. Hotwheels Porsche 911 circa 1974.

X-Men are Groovy, Baby! A Lightning Quick Movie Review. X-Men: First Class

I dedicate this review to my girlfriend, whom I repeatedly force to watch movies based on kids' comic books...

My girlfriend turned to me and said "The guy who plays Jean Luc Picard is good."
I wholeheartedly agreed.

Apparently in his youth in the '60's, Professor X was a player, functional legs and all. Let me forewarn all you nerds: In reality, hitting on a girl by talking about her features as a genetic mutation is a low percentage game.

Professor X, and in fact the entire movie reminded me of a combination of Austin Powers and an old James Bond movie. Even the film quality had the graininess of a movie shot in the sixties. Unless that was our non-HD flat screen TV...

(quick warning, some spoilers ahead.)

Aside from the old looking film style the problem with this movie is that you really don't have much interest in most of the characters aside from Professor X and Magneto. The other characters just weren't particularly interesting. My girlfriend asked me who one of the mutants were and I couldn't tell her. I'm not an expert on X-Men, but I was pretty sure he was a made up character and definitely not one of the ORIGINAL ones. And lo and behold he was killed. The only other interesting character was Kevin Bacon, and only because it was Kevin Bacon pretending to be a mutant. Oh and Michael Ironside, looking a little chubs.

I want the real X-men! Where is Wolverine? Oh, there he is! oh...there he goes...
And where is the Stan Lee cameo? Did I miss it? My girlfriend even asked about it. Was he snubbed?

Special effects? Rather bad. Some, Crocosaurus bad.

So was X-Men: First Class worth a dollar? Well for a dollar a movie does have to suck pretty bad and I didn't regret seeing it. Actually we watched this movie for free because we had a promotional Redbox code.

For final comment I once again turned to my girlfriend.

"Well, it's for kids."

Groovy indeed.

Lightning Quick Movie Preview: In Time

Ok, this is a first. I'm writing about a movie that has not come out yet. It will come out in Oct. I'm doing this because I'm pretty interested in the concept of this movie. Of minor note one of the main stars is Justin Timberlake, who like me is bringing sexy back!

From watching the previews and doing some research online, In Time seems to be a movie where
1) people stop aging at 25
2) you have a countdown timer embedded on your arm. When your time runs out, you die. To live longer you have to find ways to get more time.
3) things cost time instead of money.

The last two concepts are very interesting to me.

In this world, traditionally we work about 25% of our total lives for money to pay for everything. Hey maybe that's where the movie got the number 25. The movie skips the money factor and gets down to the point. Buying things essentially takes time from your life because you need to spend time working to pay for it.

So here are a bunch of thoughts based on this.

1) Most things cost money.
2) You have to work for money.
3) Work takes time from your life, which is limited.
4) Time buys money but money does not really buy time.
5) The less things you need, the less money you need, the less work you have to do for money, the more time you have for yourself.
6) The more you stretch your money, the more time you have for yourself
7) You better enjoy your work because even if you are efficient you still need to spend time working
8) Enjoy your time because aside from being limited, you do not know how much you have.

Update: PUR faucet filter

My initial January review can be seen here: http://tinyurl.com/433hrzf

8 months later and our faucet filter is leaking. It looks like the o-ring on the screw-down cover is worn out, which is ridiculous since one rarely has to remove the cover unless replacing the filter.

I'm fed up with faucet mounts and ready to switch back to a pitcher or drink city water. However we did buy an exact replacement faucet mount. We will see how long it lasts...

PuR Vertical Faucet Mount System - Water Treatment

Self Pity

I never saw a wild thing
sorry for itself.
A small bird will drop frozen dead from a bough
without ever having felt sorry for itself.

D.H. Lawrence

Transformers: Dark of the Moon. A Lighting Quick Movie Review

All you cheapskates can feel comfortable splurging a little to go rent Transformers: Dark of the Moon for $1.00 at Redbox. Except for all you moon landing conspiracy buffs. This will just make you more paranoid.

This is a good movie for being "based on toys from Hasbro". While you can't expect much from the dialogue or plot and the movie lasts a little long, it is bursting with visual spectacle:

Cool robots - though it's hard to distinguish one Decepticon from another.
Cool cars - I wonder how many DB yellow (the official Chevrolet color name) Camaros get sold due to this movie?

Action, fighting, explosions!

Lots of famous actors I didn't expect like Greensboro's finest Ken Jeong, Patrick Dempsey, John Malkovich, and Frances McDormand. I actually enjoyed all the goofiness these actors brought to the movie over all the robot action.

And yes, every Transformers 3 review has to include a mention of Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, our favorite robot in disguise and Megan Fox replacement. While she did fine in this movie, ol' wonky thumbs actually had more depth to her character in the first two Transformers movies.

How's that for more than meets the eye?

TAD Gear in Action

thank goodness for cargo pocket drain holes...

Seiko Black Monster

about 7 yrs old.

How to Make Dough and Get Baked

I may never buy bread again.
Making bread is so easy and fun! Try it at least one time! Our first loaf has been turned into: french toast, garlic bread, sandwiches, and cheese toast. We're still learning but it's a fun process.

I'll make it even easier by giving you ingredients and directions right here for one large loaf.

2 cups warm water
2 teaspoons active dry yeast
4 cups unbleached bread flour
2-3 tsp salt
2-3 tsp olive oil
2 tbs chopped fresh rosemary
1 tsp kosher or sea salt

oven
bowl
wooden spoon
plastic wrap
9 in oven proof skillet

Put water into a large bowl. Sprinkle the yeast over the water then stir until dissolved. Stir in 2 cups of flour and salt, stirring for about 2 mins till mixture is smooth. Use a wooden spoon to stir in the remaining 2 cups of flour for about two minutes until the flour is all mixed in and the dough starts pulling away from the sides of the bowl and forms a ball. If the ball is too sticky add more flour.

Cover the dough in plastic wrap and let it rise for 30 minutes in a warm place. Or you can let it rise slower in the fridge overnight so it will absorb more yeast flavor then take it out 2 hours before shaping the bread and let it stand in a warm place to rise again.

Knead the dough then section or shape it however you prefer. In this case easiest thing here is one big ball. We pinched a edge of the ball and worked it underneath, then pinched another edge and worked it under again until we just had a beautiful round ball of dough.

Brush the dough with olive oil then sprinkle with the rosemary and sea salt. Put the dough into the oiled skillet.



Preheat oven to 500 F. Place skillet in oven then reduce oven to 400 F. Bake for about 30 - 35 min until the bread is browned and sounds hollow when you tap it with your finger. Remove loaf from pan and cool on rack.

Be proud of yourself and eat your homemade bread!

Fuzzy towelie makes bathie worth it.

A Beginner's Thoughts on Swimming Laps

Last night I was cranking out some incredibly fast laps for a beginner and my mind wandered a bit.

Why are swimming pools designed so that one swims back and forth, having to do a flip turn (which i have yet to do correctly) or stop and turn around and swim in the other direction? Runners don't work out on a track where they run down then stop, kick off a wall and turn 180 degrees and run back where they came from. Right?

The goal is to keep it about actual swimming.

A flip turn is an artificial action dictated by swimming pool design. For that matter, so is the diving start.

Design #1 The Swimming pool track.
Swimming pools should be designed like running tracks with two parallel straights with two arcs connecting them and lanes in concentric fashion. The starting lanes would be in staggered fashion. The finish would be determined by an overhead camera. Need to resolve how to keep concentric lane lines in place. Maybe actual walls built to separate each lane.

Design #2 The Endless Swimming pool lap.
Ok this design would be a combination of an "endless" pool and an olympic pool. A current is generated so swimmers swim mostly in place with some room for swimmers that lag behind. The winner is the person that is ahead when the time elapses. The current could be kept constant during the race or actually get more forceful as more time elapses.

There. Keeping swimming as pure as possible in an artificial environment. Maybe I will feel differently when I learn the flip turn.

Design #3 The Steeplechase.
Ok I was about to end this post when I thought: how about a steeplechase design? A swimming obstacle course in which competitors have to swim on the surface and underwater through and over various barriers. This would be fun!

Sly Stone called homeless by New York Post because he lives in a van

I came across this article http://tinyurl.com/6c79szn by the New York Post stating that Sly Stone was "homeless and living in a van in L.A."

Now I don't know who the funk Sly Stone is but the NY Post is casting living in vans in a bad light. Sly is not homeless. He is houseless! His van is his home.

It seems a lot smarter than all the people who buy too much home and pay a mortgage for 30 yrs, or end up in foreclosure.

A Recovering Car Addict's and Failed Zen Minimalist's* Guide to Buying a New Car.

(The title of this post was going to be "Buying a Car" but I figured that would give everyone that knows me palpitations.)

A car is probably the second most expensive item purchase one will make aside from a home (I'm guessing the third most expensive single item purchase is a cubic zirconium ring). Anyhow, so a wrong car purchase can adversely affect your finances for a few years if you make a mistake.

Buying a new car:

DON'T

Don't argue with me. Do not buy a new car. I love cars. I love new cars. But I don't plan on ever buying a new one again unless I somehow end up with over $600K in cash. There is no reason for you to pay for that initial depreciation.

I have an answer to all you(r) but(t)s. Here they are in a Zen minimalist 575 haiku:

Febreze steam cleaner.
Carfax history report.
Mechanic's review.

Bam.
Papa.

*everything is about zen minimalism these days isn't it? As the blog says, I'm a failed minimalist but I'm trying.

Quick Praise of the Public Library

I just finished reading Clark Howard's brand new book "Living Large in Lean Times". I made a reservation online at the local library website, they gave me a call when it was in, I literally ran to the library (bonus points) and ended up being the first patron to check out this book.

Bam. Saving money by borrowing a book on saving money. and running to the library and back to boot. That was a good day.

So just a reminder, see what is available at the public library first before you buy a book or magazine. I'd rather buy one that I cannot borrow or read there. Go to Barnes and Noble and make your wishlist then see if it's out yet at your local. The next cool thing is soon the local library will lend out Kindle compatible e-books. You don't even have to buy a Kindle. Just download to your computer or mobile device.

RMR: THOR

Welcome to another edition of Redbox Movie Review. THOR.
For those that cannot afford to read the whole review, here is my twitter version:

Stop, Hammertime. The real star of Thor is the Pinzgauer. Natalie Portman is ok too. Worth $1

No, Pinzgauer is not the name of the blond actor who played Thor. We'll get to him in a minute. A Pinzgauer is an Austrian built utility vehicle, their version of the Humvee. And it is awesome.
I haven't had so much lust for a vehicle since, well, last week. Second place goes to the Airstream trailer in the movie, making me forget the quality control issues they are supposed to have. The Jar Jar Binks award goes to Acura for ham fisted product placement. I don't think SHIELD would drive something like that. Not when they have the government's money at their disposal.

Ok ladies. Now we can discuss your object of lust. When Thor, played by Chris Hemsworth is first seen with his shirt off, my girlfriend let out a loud involuntary gasp. Well, I'm pretty sure it was her. Hell it coulda been me. The damn guy is blond and built like a marble statue. I guess I should lift some weights.

Natalie Portman was also good in this movie. Since the Professional, I kinda wrote her off. She's one of these actresses who has a stellar reputation for being so smart and talented, but I don't think she started getting good till Black Swan and No Strings Attached.

Overall I enjoyed this movie and thought it was definitely worth a dollar. The computer graphics seemed heavy handed at times but I guess that's Asgard for you. It had a perfect balance of action, comedy, drama, and romance. I hope the Pinzgauer is in the sequel!

Lightning Quick Movie Review: Blitz

Been getting some complaints about my reviews being not lightning quick enough. I agree. After all, if Ernest Hemingway could write the greatest 6 word short story (For sale. baby shoes. never used.) the least I could do is make my review Twitterable, in 140 characters or less.

So from now on Lightning Quick Movie Reviews is LQMR. And redbox is now RDBX And dang, what do i do if the movie title is long? Abbreviate that too? Maybe start out reviewing movies with short titles!

Here goes!

LQMR: BLITZ. Jason Statham plays usual tough guy role. Subtitles a must to understand cockney accents. Worth $1 from rdbx.

bam.
papa.

The Grudge

"I won't buy GM cars anymore because they took bailout money".
I nodded politely to the person saying this, noting his preference for Volkswagens...
Wait! Didn't we fight the Germans in the Second World War? NAZIS! What are we doing buying their cars then? What is the statute of limitations on holding a grudge?

Well, if you hold a grudge indefinitely, consider the major producers of cars available in the US. Who are you going to buy from?

Ford - took bailout money too. Henry was an antisemite.
BMW, Audi, VW - we battled the Nazi Germans in WWII
Toyota, Honda, etc - remember Pearl Harbor?
Ferrari, Lambo - yeah, that pesky WWII again.
Britain - Revolutionary War. You teabaggers better not be driving a British car...

So where to plunk down your grudge-stained cash? Well here is my answer.
France would be ideal since they have been our greatest allies since the Revolutionary War. Hell, they gave us the Statue of Liberty. Unfortunately there are no current French cars sold in the States. So that leaves China owned Volvo (Swedish) or Hyundai and Kia from (South) Korea.

Whew. It's tough being so principled.

Made in the USA

I am adding a permanent list on the side of my blog for Made In USA items. If you have worn out something and need a new one, consider a product Made in USA. By my definition it is a product whose profits go to the most Americans. I'm guessing aside from a home the largest purchase and impact one can make is by buying a car made in USA.

The items with an asterisk are products I have had personal experience with and probably will have reviewed here. Remember not to substitute patriotism for quality!

Selling Sticker Designs.

A quick update on one of my income streams - designing stickers and selling them on Cafepress. Despite having 9 stellar and thought provoking designs as linked on this blog, sales are slow. The top seller is "0.0 hate running" by a landslide. Man, you people must really hate running.

I know times are tough but I am amazed that more people are not picking up these stickers - for $4 it communicates to the world what is on your mind and in your heart, especially if it is TOFU, FUGU, Running, or Made in USA.

So give me some feedback, you accidental readers who stumbled onto this blog.
1) what do you think about my designs?
2) what would you like to see designed?

Leave me some comments. IF you want me to design something, let me know. I can make it happen. My Illustrator program is locked and loaded.

Money Saving Tip: Library

I enjoy books, magazines and movies but am tired of spending money on them. Solution? Go to the library and read all the magazines you want to! (then go to Barnes and Noble and read the rest). Borrow any books and dvd's available. The books and dvd's you actually buy should be the ones you will constantly re-read or re-watch.

- "Let's go to the library!"

"The dvd's are always scratched and there are buggars stuck to the book pages!" -

-"..."

-"you mean boogers."



Bonus Tip: Borrow dvd's and books from the library right when the library gets them in order to minimize book boogers and scratches in the dvd's! Also wash your hands after reading library material.

Ban the (Still) Racist Popcorn Factory

I am appealing to all popcorn fans out there to take their business elsewhere and not to support the Popcorn Factory. Almost a year ago I brought this issue to your attention. The Popcorn Factory is still using two racist Asian caricatures to depict their popcorn flavors. One is dressed as a sushi chef and the other wields chopsticks. The both have slanted eyes. (the cowboy next to the sushi chef is half Asian.)

This is not acceptable. It teaches people that racism is ok as long as it is directed towards Asians. If there were caricatures of other races this would be big news.

One year ago I wrote to the Popcorn Factory and got a response that they would bring it to the attention of their designers. Yet the images are still in their catalog and on their website. I guess they don't take it seriously. In fact, in popular culture it seems more acceptable to be racist to Asians than other races.

Let's stop this now. Let the Popcorn Factory know how you feel. Here is their contact information below.

And remember, everytime someone buys from the Popcorn Factory, a cute Asian kid cries.

1-888-216-0235
orders@thepopcornfactory.com
service@thepopcornfactory.com

Money Saving Tips: A/C

Introducing a new segment called Money Saving Tips. A quick tip followed by a true to life re-enactment based on executing these tips.

Turn off your a/c and let your body adjust to the heat.

-"It's hot as hell in here! Why is the A/C off?"

"I'm fine. I've adjusted to it." -

- "You're NAKED!"

"Yup." -

Before Irene: photos of Sunset Beach, NC before the hurricane struck.

Aflaack! Wait, that's not right...
Wild deer from the dunes.
Shellhenge. Perhaps an ancient structure built by crabs to track the tides.
Waterspout.
Damn I'm good.
These birds crack me up with their bald 'do.
seaweed salad.

Motorcycle Lust: Part II

When we last left the motorcycle discussion, I was stuck with a problem. The issue of carrying gear and pets if I owned a motorcycle as my only motorized transportation.

Behold! The Ural Gear Up! An American run Russian factory that produces motorcycles with sidecars! My favorite version is the GEAR UP. It comes with your choice of two camo paint schemes, a sidecar with bumpers, a spare tire, luggage rack, shovel, spare gas tank, and spot light. Oh and 2wd. You can engage the sidecar wheel for extra traction offroad and in snow. This bikes were apparently Russian copies of BMW motorcycles in the old days. With the sidecar and rack, this motorcycle can haul a lot of gear!

So, the sidecar solves many problems. Grocery runs, taking animals to the vet, and foul weather safety. Due to a seating more similar to a car, the sidecar may encourage people who are normally afraid of motorcycles.

At about $14K, I can't say this is the ideal solution yet. Typically running a motorcycle should have a mpg and insurance advantage over cars. Since it is based on an older motorcycle design, it's not that gas efficient (around 33mpg). A brand new base Nissan Versa (around 38mpg highway) starts at $11K and seats four with gear and covers you in foul weather. But I think I'm getting closer. This option has a very very high cool factor. Maybe I should just try it for the experience...

Current Motorcycle Lust: Part III rejected ideas; Can Am Spyder three wheeled motorcycle - expensive, low cargo capacity. Harley Davidson trike - very expensive, dorky looking, low cargo capacity. Scooter with sidecar - may be even cheaper to run than motorcycle, some highways maybe off limits, dork factor, low cargo capacity.

Lightning Quick Movie Review: Limitless

...in which Bradley Cooper takes a smart pill and realizes he needs a haircut...

...i feeling smart pill wear off, but i gotta write this lightning quick movie review...

Money is tight and more than ever, people need advice on how to spend (and save) that money. Well if you have a dollar, forget buying a lottery ticket on the very miniscule chance that you would win and instead go rent Limitless from Redbox. It's a better execution than any lottery fantasy you could come up with anyway.

Bradley Cooper is "writer" (he actually has a contract with a publisher - how's that for a Hollywood fantasy?) who is living off his girlfriend while he struggles to start writing his book. He is going nowhere. He gets his big break when he takes a smart pill that curiously resembles a clear silicone nub you put on your home decor knicknacks so they don't scratch your wood furniture. Bradley then proceeds to obtain and enjoy all the stereotypical trappings of success - fame and fortune, but first he cuts off his baby ponytail and gets a more successful looking haircut.

As smart as that pill supposedly makes him, it takes Bradley awhile to figure out the first thing you do when you are granted a wish...you ask for more wishes, or in this case you figure out how to get more smart pills! For those expecting a "Flowers for Algernon" ending you will be disappointed. Otherwise this is a fun film and certainly worth a dollar*.

*Pro tip: watch it with someone else and it will only cost $0.50 each. I figured that out even without a smart pill.

New Sticker Tuesday

New stickers are out! $4.00 each! Click on image in my blog or follow link to the Cafepress.com store!



Bird Island, NC oval sticker. http://www.cafepress.com/BirdIslandNorthCarolina
Based on initial testing of this sticker I think it will be a great success! I'm getting a lot of cars honking, thumbs up, middle fingers, and phone numbers stuck under my windshield. I guess people wanting to know where they can buy a sticker. Whether good or bad, apparently everyone has an opinion about Bird Island, NC!


High Point, NC oval sticker http://www.cafepress.com/HighPointNorthCarolina
What can I say about this sticker. If you're from High Point, show your local pride and get a sticker! Convenient 3x5" size allows you to stick it to any surface with a minimum size of 3x5"!


TOFU oval sticker http://www.cafepress.com/_TOFU
Be the envy of Vegetarians and Chinese everywhere! But not Chinese vegetarians. Are there any? Maybe Buddhist Monks, but I don't really picture them buying my stickers. So...Namaste.

FUGU oval sticker. http://www.cafepress.com/_FUGU
Heck, if you are going to indulge in a potentially poisonous or deadly food like the pufferfish, aka blowfish, aka fugu, you absolutely need to brag about it with one of these stickers. Or maybe you really don't like GU energy supplements. Either way, I have you covered.

Time to take action

It is time to take action!

If you are worrying about something you have two choices.
1) Do something about what you are concerned about
2) Stop worrying about it if you cannot do anything about it

WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM?
If you feel overwhelmed by your worry you need to ask yourself - What are you really worried about? Be very specific and get to the root of the issue. Break it down to the specific, concrete problem.
Write down your problem and be as specific as possible. Don't cheat and just think about it, write it down!

WHAT IS THE SOLUTION?
It is time to get creative and think of solutions for your problem. Multiple solutions, not just one. At this point it's fine if some solutions are outlandish and unrealistic because it may inspire an answer that IS possible. Then narrow it down to a few possible solutions.
Write down your possible solutions. Sketch it, scribble, flow chart it, just get your ideas on paper.

MAKE A DECISION AND TAKE ACTION! AND DON'T STOP!
Worry without action is not productive. You must make a decision. You cannot be paralyzed by fear. You cannot be paralyzed by thought. You cannot be paralyzed with indecision. There is no 100% perfect solution. You cannot worry about making a wrong decision. Give it some thought and when the time for thought is over make a decision and take action.

When you do act, you must act decisively and with determination. Do not act tentatively. You have made a commitment to yourself. Do not stop until it is done.

I say this to myself. I say this to everyone who is worrying about something and not taking action.

Lightning Quick Movie Review: Source Code

Coulda Woulda Shoulda. Ever think what you would have done if you had a chance to do it over? Well stop thinking like that. It only happens in the movies. Like Back to the Future. Like Groundhog Day.

And Source Code.

If you have seen previews, you may know that Jake Gyllenhaal stars as some guy on a mission to prevent a disaster and he has 8 minutes to get it done. On a train. Jeffrey Wright and Vera Farmiga star as Doc Emmett Brown. I kept asking if Vera Farmiga was Maggie Gyllenhaal. Do they look alike at all?

When you have a limited time to get something done, it's always good to keep track of your time. And Jake does this with a rather fine looking watch that is prominently and frequently displayed. What a successful product placement! Well, enough for me to find out what watch it is (Swiss Army Chrono XLS MT), but not enough to buy one (proud owner of a Seiko Black Monster Automatic).

Keeping to LQMR policy, I will try not to give away too much of the movie. I know Jake is on a mission and has several opportunities to get it done, but he really should enjoy it a little more and try to have as much fun with it as Bill Murray does in Groundhog Day.

We enjoyed this movie and thought it was worth the $1.07 one night rental.

Just remember: In real life it doesn't matter what kind of watch you have. When your 8 minutes are up, they're up.

Thoughts on the Garden

This year's garden had mixed results. It was a wonderful experience to nurture something, watch it grow to maturity then eat it! Very rewarding. We had some amazing cucumber sandwiches and one wonderful squash. After growing your own produce one is reluctant to buy it from the grocery store or farmers' market.

There were a lot of negatives.
Our garden was not as productive as it should have been. For the second year in a row ALL of our tomatoes were stolen by animals. The basil from the start looked sickly and the cucumber and squash plants started looking rough from insects and maybe some kind of blight.

I proudly presented my parents with a couple of cucumbers and a crookneck squash...

"What kind of cucumber is this?" My mom held the fruit of my labors distastefully in her hands.
"It's a pickling cucumber."
"Pickling cucumbers don't look like this. I think it is overripe."

Well, THAT was worth it. I don't see why I bother sometimes.

And I guess that is the question. Should we even bother with a garden next year? If so, we will have to invest more in some kind of fencing to protect all the veggies. Maybe spray against insects. Well, those cucumber sandwiches and the squash WERE good.

Maybe I will try one more time...

the titanium drinking straw

I knew that a stainless steel drinking straw existed, but I just found out that there is a titanium drinking straw available for $14.99! I gotta get me one of these! I use disposable straws pretty often when I go out to eat or take out. Before you scoff and say this is such a frivolous consumer product, think about how many straws you may use and throw away when you eat or take out.

I could get two and keep them in the car. When we go to a restaurant or get some take out, we can pass on the straws and just use the titanium ones. The only problem is if I forget about my titanium straw and toss it in the trash...