Swirly Brickwork

We recently encountered this building on a downtown corner in Walnut Creek, CA (1700 N. Main St.). The building, which currently houses a Realty office, was converted from a drive-in bank. The small building in back is apparently used for storage.

The architecture (and brickwork!) are really interesting: ...
       Continue reading "Swirly Brickwork"

DROID

Four days ago, I traded in my aged Palm OS 4-based Kyocera smart phone for a new Motorola DROID (through Verizon.) I really like it so far.

It's more net-savvy and connected than my Palm phone was. I don’t have to “turn on the phone” to use an Internetworked app. It’s always on, always connected (although I can turn it completely off if I wish).

It’s got a modern web browser, far better email capability and a MUCH nicer screen. Plus, its actually going to be cheaper to operate. I’ll save $15/month on my data plan with Verizon. That was a nice surprise! ...
       Continue reading "DROID"

Budget Calendar

I just discovered a great little piece of software: Budget Calendar from MiShell Software Systems. It's available for Mac, Linux, and Windows. It's inexpensive but not cheap!

Rich and I have been talking about tracking our expenses more closely. I already make notes in a notebook. We were thinking of adding a spreadsheet to calculate types and totals.

I decided to look for a simple calendar application that I could mark with the days we go out for meals, to get an overview of what we do and how often. I found a couple of options (see Mom's Calendar for Mac OS if you want something like that.) But I also found Budget Calendar. It turns out this is what I was really looking for; I just didn't know it! ...
       Continue reading "Budget Calendar"

Yacker Tracker

My new cubicle at the Job is in a noisy area. How noisy? Yacker Tracker can tell me.

We were looking for just this thing. And we found it. ...
       Continue reading "Yacker Tracker"

A Signal Accomplishment

Harry Homeowner Does 'Lectric

We have a rather decrepit electric stovetop (four spiral burners, circa early-60's) with one small red "signal" lamp to let us know that a burner is on. Unfortunately, said lamp isn't all that noticeable.

It's dim, small, and hidden by a ridge of metal that surrounds the controls, protecting them from spills, etc. So, under the best of circumstances, it's only visible to someone standing immediately in front of the stovetop.

If something gets put on top of the lamp and/or the cook is rushed or distracted, the dim glow may not be noticed until MUCH later. As a result, we've left burners on (albeit at very low settings) for hours after we were done cooking. This is not good; it's dangerous, wastes power, etc.

We knew that we really needed to solve this problem, so we discussed some possible solutions. First, Rich and I would brainstorm. Then Rich would talk the idea through with assorted friends and relatives who (conveniently enough) are electrical engineers. Rinse, repeat... ...
       Continue reading "A Signal Accomplishment"

Building a Twitter Reader

One of the features of Twitter is that it runs 24/7/365. (Un)fortunately, I don't. So, I miss things. I especially miss tweets from people in the "other" hemispheres! I didn't want to miss things, so I looked for a solution.

Being a programmer myself, I wanted a solution I could control and tweak if necessary. However, I didn't want to write something from scratch if I didn't have to!

Twitter has a popular, published API, so I figured someone would have written what I wanted. Someone did. I found pyTwerp (written in Python). ...
       Continue reading "Building a Twitter Reader"

Sorting Lists in TWiki

Where I work, we have started a TWiki page for "new people" in the department. People are added to the page as they join the group. Each person has a section for a mini-bio and other information. There is a table of contents (TOC) at the top.

The problem: as the page gets larger, it's more difficult to find the entry for a given person. The TOC is ordered by when the person joined. It would be convenient to be able to sort the TOC alphabetically (it's just a list, after all)

I started looking for ways to sort a list in TWiki. As long as I was at it, I figured I might as well look for a generalizable solution that can sort any bullet list. ...
       Continue reading "Sorting Lists in TWiki"

What Did You Want To Do When You Grew Up?

Recently, Crystal Clayton asked this question in her blog: "What Did You Want To Do When You Grew Up?". This is my response. What's yours? ...
       Continue reading "What Did You Want To Do When You Grew Up?"

Artichoke Nails

I cook artichokes in a pressure cooker. It takes about 15 minutes for the 6" diameter ones. But even then, the outer leaves may be a bit waterlogged while the heart is still a bit, shall we say, crunchy.

Recently, we had an idea. What if we jammed an aluminum potato nail up through the stem before cooking? ...
       Continue reading "Artichoke Nails"

Now Using Twitterific

I have started following Twitter using Twitterific from The Icon Factory (Mac OS X only). I'm not 100% in love with Twitterific, but I like it well enough to pay the (optional) registration fee. I figure registering gives me a better chance of success when filing feature requests. :-) (Registration also makes the ads disappear.) ...
       Continue reading "Now Using Twitterific"

GIANTmicrobes

I knew about GIANTmicrobes (plushy replicas of the "bugs" that cause flu, the "common" cold, strep throat, and the like). They're available from ThinkGeek and a previous co-worker had a few in his cubicle. What I hadn't realized is how many there are now! ...
       Continue reading "GIANTmicrobes"

White Pelicans

I didn't even know about white pelicans!

This afternoon, I was talking to a co-worker who had stopped by my cubicle. Over her shoulder, out the window, I saw a small flock of birds high up in the air. Gulls? No... larger than gulls and somehow more streamlined. My co-worker said "White Pelicans" .

Wow. Like the Blue Angels but birds. ...
       Continue reading "White Pelicans"

My Annual Paean to TurboTax

TurboTax is even more awesome this year. I think it took me two hours, maybe less, to put my tax return together. (Of course, I still put off starting but once I start, it's just so easy.)

If you're still doing your taxes by hand, get a copy of TurboTax. You'll wonder why you waited so long!

XO Connected

Rich and I had our monthly "Beer and Scripting" dinner last night - our monthly occasion to get out of the house, eat good food, and chat with fellow Bay Area techies. Last night, we took our new XO laptop along.

One of the other attendees had just picked his XO up at the Post Office that very day, so there were two at the table. ...
       Continue reading "XO Connected"

XO Laptop - First Impressions

Educational. Fun. Technically Cool. Charitable. Deductible. What's not to like?

My XO Laptop arrived on Thursday. I ordered through the OLPC (One Laptop Per Child) "Give One, Get One" program. (Hurry! Current program ends Dec 31).

We opened the box when we got home on Thursday evening, popped in the battery, and fired it up. Here are my early impressions. ...
       Continue reading "XO Laptop - First Impressions"

Take Your Pleo to Work

My Pleo went with me to Work on Wednesday and Thursday. He met several of my co-workers — including one who is impatiently awaiting his own Pleo's arrival ("First-hatch" Pleos, like the one I have, arrived in their homes first. The next batch should be shipped starting next week.) ...
       Continue reading "Take Your Pleo to Work"

Pleo: Out of the Box

I am now the proud owner of one of the first Pleos - the little robotic dinosaur from Ugobe. I first learned of Pleo nearly a year ago when I read an article by Clive Thompson in Wired magazine.

Say hello to Pleo. From the guy who brought you Furby, it's a snuffling, stretching, oddly convincing robotic dinosaur. You are so going to want one.

Clive was right; I wanted one. As soon as it was possible, I pre-ordered my Pleo. Then I waited while Ugobe changed the schedule, each time making improvements and adjustments. More sensors. An externally rechargeable (and replaceable) battery. And finally, in mid-November. the announcement I had been waiting for.

BLT: 1, 2, 3

What's better than a fresh, crispy, juicy, BLT on toast?? A BLT without the fuss.

Enter Hormel Microwave Ready Bacon. 16 strips in a package. 4 strips in each sealed, ready-to-cook plastic "baggie'. ...
       Continue reading "BLT: 1, 2, 3"

Triple Antibiotic Ointment

We keep a tube of triple antibiotic ointment on hand for minor cuts and scratches. I find it works very well. We usually use Longs Drugs' house-brand Triple Antibiotic Ointment.

One day, when we were out of ointment, I was in another store. I bought a tube of Neosporin. As it happened, I had a sore spot in my nose at the time. I applied the Neosporin and ... ICK (nose to throat to tongue to blech!.) What's in this stuff?

I carefully read the label. Then I drove to Longs and bought a tube of Triple Antibiotic Ointment. ...
       Continue reading "Triple Antibiotic Ointment"

Now If They Could Only Handle the Paperwork

It's time for my annual paean to Turbo Tax.

Like many people (not you, of course, surely not you) I put off doing my taxes. I don't wait until the last minute anymore; now I do them sometime between March 15 and April 5. But still, it's not like I'm anxious to get to this annual chore.

For whatever reasons — some books I've read recently suggest the primary reason is "fear" — I procrastinate. I find other, higher priority tasks to do instead. I have to wash my hair... do the laundry... read a book... feed the cats. Something, (anything!) else. ...
       Continue reading "Now If They Could Only Handle the Paperwork"

No Outfit is Complete...

While it's true that no outfit is complete without pet hair, a little goes a long way (especially on brushed cotton slacks...) If tape, tape rollers, and lint brushes aren't quite up to the task, try the "Pet Hair Pic-Up Mitt" from Evercare.

Failing the "Output" Test

Dear Pounce

I have a complaint about your New! and Improved! Caribbean Catch (tartar control) kitty treats. In changing the recipe, you substantially increased the amount of blue dye. There is now a lot of yellow and blue and not much red.

Normally, I probably wouldn't notice... or care... ...
       Continue reading "Failing the "Output" Test"

Styli with Style, Service with Panache

Nearly ten years ago, I purchased my first Palm-OS-based PDA. Almost immediately, I searched for a new and better stylus. I found what I sought at PDA Panache and I've been a loyal, repeat customer ever since. ...
       Continue reading "Styli with Style, Service with Panache"

Hello, I'm a Mac...

We don't watch television (we don't even subscribe to cable; gasp!) But we have seen all of the Apple "Get a Mac" ads. We watch them on the web.

Did you know that there are ads targeted for the UKand Japan as well? It's fun to see the differences, especially in the Japanese versions. I especially like "Trust" (aka "Security") in which PC is concerned about Spyware. ...
       Continue reading "Hello, I'm a Mac..."

It's an Inside Joke

I enjoy "sight gags" and inside jokes.. Examples may be subtle and you can miss the joke entirely if you're not paying attention, or don't have the right context. Some excellent examples can be found in in comic strips and books.

The Foxtrot strip includes frequent sight gags (watch closely!) as well as references to cartoons and cartoonist. ...
       Continue reading "It's an Inside Joke"

It Pays to Read the Label

We stopped into Walgreens for Chlorpheniramine Maleate, an antihistamine. Walgreens stocks their own house-brand (Wal-Finate) as well as the Brand Name Version, Chlor-Trimeton. The latter is available in blister packs; the 24-pill box costs $6.99.

In contrast, a 50-pill bottle of Wal-Finate costs $4.99. That was a pretty good reason to buy the house brand, but there were other considerations. I like to compare the ingredients as well. In this case, the medication is for a kitty. I pay even more attention to what I give the kitties than for myself. ...
       Continue reading "It Pays to Read the Label"

I Just Love This Font

Clipboard Sharing

I have two users on my Mac: my "regular" personality and my "Work" personality. I often want to share files, URLs, and more between the two.

Sharing files is relatively easy. Sharing URLs isn't too bad — I just drag the URL into a .webloc file. Sharing clipboard contents, however, was difficult.

Then I discovered ClipboardSharing ...
       Continue reading "Clipboard Sharing"

Almost Birch Beer

We recently tried Henry Weinhard Draught-style Root Beer and Oh My, is it Good! Unless you grew up in Pennsylvania Dutch county like I did, you probably won't understand what I'm talking about, but I was pleased and surprised to discover that the taste is reminiscent, (to me, anyway), of Birch Beer!

Enjoy a truly great American Root Beer recipe, originally crafted by our master brewers during prohibition. This gourmet elixir, brewed with sassafras, vanilla and honey, proved to be a popular alternative for our beer-drinking loyalists both during, and after, the "great dry spell." Our tradition of providing only the highest quality beverages continues today in each bottle that bears our founder's name, Brewmaster Henry Weinhard.

Opening Pill Bottles

Do you have trouble opening foil-sealed pill bottles? I used to try to unpeel it, try to pierce it with the thumb nail, grab a knife or scissors. Then a friend of ours shared a trick that really works.

1. Unscrew and remove the bottle cap.
2. Holding the bottle firmly in one hand, smack the foil-covered opening into the corner of the nearest cabinet, poking a good-sized hole in the foil covering.
3. Remove the rest of the foil with your fingers.

   You're most likely in the bathroom or kitchen when you're opening a bottle of this sort, surrounded by cabinets with nice, square, pointed metal or wood corners.Pick one and use it.

   Opening Pill Bottles - posted at Tue, 25 Jul, 15:05 Pacific | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Pepperball

Rich and I really like freshly-ground black pepper. We have quite a few pepper grinders, including a very small one that fits in a purse or beltpack! Recently, we found (and bought) a nifty new pepper grinder design. It's called a Pepperball. The Pepperball has a pair of vertical handles you squeeze together to grind the pepper. It also adjusts to 5 different degrees of coarseness. You can buy either a large or small size Pepperball. There's a Saltball too if salt is your thing. We got ours at Target.

Avatar

Candybar Doll Maker

I tripped over this cute web toy on Laume's weblog. You can build and save your own "e-paper doll" for your website. Choose background details, body (standing, sitting, ...), clothing, hair color and style, face... Add accessories such as scarves, jewelry, glasses, and pets.

Sweeter Than Wine

Rich brought home a bottle of Firestone Vineyard 2004 Late Harvest Riesling. Mmmmmmm. It's a desert wine (residual sugars, 15.5 g/100ml; alcohol 11% by volume). It's very nice. We're neither of us big wine drinkers, me even less so than Rich. I find most reds to be musty and most whites to be sour. But I do like many desert wines - Muscats, Rieslings, and Japanese plum wine top my list. This one is absolutely delightful, like a light liqueur. It wasn't cheap (but we won't go through it very fast). If you happen to be in the Santa Ynez Valley, CA, Firestone Vineyard is outside of Los Olivos, north of Santa Barbara.

Tastes Like... Maple Syrup

I've been using Walden Farms carb-free sugar-free pancake syrup. It tastes like... maple syrup. Slightly thin, to be honest, but not watery. No chemical aftertaste that I could detect. Quite nice actually.

If you're used to pure Vermont 100% maple syrup, this isn't it. But it's better than the "other" carb-free brand I tried, and as good or better than most store brands. ...
       Continue reading "Tastes Like... Maple Syrup"

Shower Soothers

Mentholated Steam

Have you tried SudaCare Shower Soothers? They look like a giant AlkaSeltzer (or maybe a Ty-D-Bowl pellet. :-) The idea is that you drop it on the floor of the shower, run hot water over it, and breathe in the mentholated steam. Results vary based on who tries them, but it's an interesting idea.

I could smell the menthol when it first started to fizz. I didn't notice any particular decongestant sensation; the effect was more of an aromatherapy kind of thing. Still, kinda nice, if slightly odd when mixed with the aroma of my green tea and lime shampoo. :-) Strangely enough, the menthol scent came back when I ran the blow dryer after stepping out of the shower.

Look for them in your drugstore's cough & cold products aisle.

Big Mouth Jar

We've been buying another brand of mayonnaise, but we may switch to Kraft for the convenience of the Big Mouth jar.**

We love this new packaging. It's easy to hold, lightweight, and easy to use. Kraft even put a flat spot inside the opening for scraping extra mayo off the knife when you're ready to close up. Ingenious!

Tools for Harry Homeowner

Have you ever stopped to consider the wonderful additions we have been able to add to our household toolboxes? ...
       Continue reading "Tools for Harry Homeowner"

May We Recommend...

We have a few kitchen appliances and gadgets that really improve our domestic lives. We thought we'd share. ...
       Continue reading "May We Recommend..."

Curiously Ginger

I'm not a fan of Altoids Peppermint candies (they're too strong, if you ask me!). But I really like their ginger flavor. You may have to look around some to find these; they aren't available in every store that carries Altoids. If you like ginger, however, they're worth hunting for! If you can't find them, you can buy them online (mmmm, licorice too!)

If you're a ginger fan, you might also want to try St Claire's Organic Ginger Snaps. They're made with all natural ingredients, including organic molasses granules for that true ginger snap taste. Sweet and spicy, like a tiny bite of cookie.

Wild Pepper

We had dinner last night at Wild Pepper in San Francisco. Wild Pepper is the new and improved incarnation of the "Long Island Chinese Restaurant" (formerly near 29th on Church) — same owners, different name and location.

The food is still tasty, the service is still pleasant and efficient, and the prices are still economical. However, the menu is larger, the venue is larger and prettier, and parking is quite a bit easier. What's not to like? ...
       Continue reading "Wild Pepper"

Scharffen Berger

There were no Oompa Loompas, but...

Our friend Quinn decided that it would be fun to celebrate his birthday (today) by inviting a group of friends to join him for a tour of the Scharffen Berger chocolate factory in Berkeley. The "tour" is actually nearly an hour of talk (history of chocolate and history of Scharffen Berger), touching, smelling, and looking at cocoa beans in various states, and chocolate tasting. This is followed by a quick visit to the factory floor to see the machines.

The factory is house in a 27,000 sq. foot, not-quite-100-year-old brick building (retrofitted for earthquake safety) with arched ceilings and handsome architecture. The company moved to the present site in May, 2001. The entire building — gift shop, restrooms, tour presentation room — smells like chocolate. Wow. (I can still smell chocolate :-) ...
       Continue reading "Scharffen Berger"

Airtight

We have become converts to the Power of Saran™ Wrap.

Back in January, we went to a talk by Harold McGee, entitled "Three Centuries of Science in the Kitchen". McGee tests "well-known" kitchen lore, separating fact from wiverglava (old wives' tales). One of the myths he debunked was the one that states that putting the pit into the guacamole will keep it green. (It's true, actually, but only under the pit. The reason is that avocado turns brown on contact with oxygen in the air.)

McGee's tests not only showed the real reason that the pit keeps the avocado green (so did a light bulb. ;-) His experiments also showed that Saran™ Wrap has the lowest oxygen permeation of all the various plastic wraps.

We've been using Saran™ Wrap when we store cut fruit in the fridge. It really does work to keep the fruit from browning quickly. Be sure to stretch it tight and taut; Saran™ Wrap isn't very "sticky".

For ordinary wrapping and covering, however, we still use the giant economy sized box of generic Plastic Food Wrap from Smart & Final. 1000 feet of plastic wrap is at least a 5-year supply!

Laura's Wholesome Junk Food

Yummmmmmmmmm My favorite monster would approve. These are Good Cookies! I discovered Laura's Wholesome Junk Food cookies at a Whole Foods grocery store (a delight in itself!). I bought a package of Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bite-lettes. A bite-lette is a funny shape for a cookie — not quite round, sort of a squat cylinder, like three checkers piled on top of each other — a flattened ball. Ingredients: Rolled oats, chocolate chips, date paste, Canola oil, evaporated cane juice, fruit juice, unbleached enriched flour, unsweetened soy milk, unsweetened coconut, ...

Cookie!

Three Centuries of Science in the Kitchen

We went to a talk yesterday by Harold McGee, Author of The Curious Cook and the recently revised and updated, On Food and Cooking

The kitchen is a laboratory of applied science. Food preparation has played a role in the development of science, and scientists have influenced everyday cooking for better and for worse, from the invention of the pressure cooker to modern-day "molecular gastronomy." Harold McGee will recount some of this little-known history, and report on his own research into such questions as: Why do French cooks insist on whipping egg whites in copper bowls? How many liters of mayonnaise can you make with one egg yolk? Can thermocouples and computers help you cook a better hamburger? And why does the spatter from a frying pan end up on the inside of a cook's eyeglasses?

Surprisingly Tasty

They're frozen meals without the usual portion of starch — no potato, pasta, or rice. They're also surprisingly tasty and filling.

I recently discovered Life Choice Frozen Meals, a relatively new line from ConAgra Foods, one of North America's largest packaged food companies. ConAgra brands include Armour, Banquet, Brown 'N Serve, Butterball, Healthy Choice, Hebrew National, Hunt's, Libby's, Peter Pan, Reddi-wip, Swiss Miss, Wesson, and a whole lot more. They're obviously not new to the food business.

"Based on consumer needs, we've created a distinctive brand -- not merely an extension of an existing brand with some ingredient changes or reduced portion sizes -- to bring consumers the food they love to eat. The new Life Choice meals are devoted to meeting the needs of the carb-conscious consumer, without any compromises." (Robert Hopton, VP of marketing, ConAgra Foods Frozen Foods Group)

Victorian House Coffee

Speaking of Victorian House Coffee, I've been enjoying this product for a while now. I had tried VH before, but didn't really start drinking it regularly until last fall. ...
       Continue reading "Victorian House Coffee"

Great Grains, Great Cereal

We just tried Post Selects "Great Grains" cereal and it's yummy. We got the one with dried dates, raisins, and pecans. It also contains toasted oats, bran(?) flakes, and tasty unidentifiable crunchy lumps of goodness. Stays fairly crunchy in milk, not too sweet, went well with banana. Five varieties to choose from. We're going to try Blueberry Morning next.