>Mass-Produced Cheap Crap

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This is a bit of a rant, but first I have to say that at times I feel I am a bit of an oxymoron…or at least a paradox. I say this because I attempt to espouse a simpler way of living in the city through this blog but at the same time I record it on a computer via the Internet…to live truly simply would be to get rid of my computer, kindle, and netbook and just write and read books instead (which I sometimes fantasize about doing). Ahh…but living in the times that we do I–like many–have come to rely on electronics for day-to-day tasks and entertainment (one can only wonder what some of the great writers would have produced if they had access to a computer with spell-check and the internet…maybe they would have ended up simply surfing the net and not writing at all…a little self-analysis I suppose). Anyhow, I’m getting off topic and am jumping ahead of myself…I’ll continue with the rant.

About a year-and-a-half ago I purchased a netbook that was on sale…only paid a couple hundred dollars for it…and it is a “quality” name brand. I use it occasionally, but not that often. I had the day off today (which is unusual for me on a weekday) and had an article to write so I thought I’d take my netbook to a local coffee shop to work. But when I turned it on I got the above message. That in itself isn’t that odd…one sees these messages on occasion. But no matter how many times I did a disk check or scanned it it would simply repeat itself…never fully booting up, not allowing any sort of safe mode or other over ride.. After doing some of my own research, via Google (on my desktop), I found that it may be that the hard drive has malfunctioned. I phoned a tech person who I trust and he agreed it may be the hard drive. I’ll take it to him tomorrow to find out for sure. He also said that he’ll be honest with me and say that if it is the hard drive it may not be worth it to have the work done…that with the parts and labor it would cost almost the same amount just to replace the entire machine.

What? It’s only 18 months old. Sad but true, he added. He’ll take my money (to repair it) if I want him to, he also added, but he’s just being honest.

This is the story of our “modern” society I suppose…rather than fix it, throw it in the trash and replace it. But what most of us (including myself) have never seen are one of the countless electronic dumps that dot our precious earth. So I’ll find out the prognosis in a day or two and then have a moral and financial dilemma to contend with…do I, being a single dad living week-to-week, spend the extra cash to repair this or just discard it? But I am jumping ahead again…if it is expensive to fix I do know that I will not replace it, probably donate it to someone who wants to repair it. But geeze ‘o man does this get my goat…it’s almost brand new. Thankfully I do not have any data on it that is not backed up on my desktop (and yes, Sean, this taught me a lesson…I’m getting an external hard drive to back up my desktop). Whatever happened to producing things that are built to last…but then again if things lasted we wouldn’t be able to be a consumeristic society (and yes, my tongue is firmly planted in my cheek).

If you want to read about the problem with cheaply made electronic trash and how it is filling our landfills, click here. If you are still interested here’s a good video (20 minutes) called The Story of Stuff.

Photo found here.

Not-So-Lost Bread with Caramelized Apple and Carrot Syrup

For those that have visited this blog before–and have taken interest in the food/recipes potion of it–you know that my son’s favorite breakfast is homemade French toast. In archaic Louisiana French patois this dish is of course referred to as pain purdue, or “lost bread,” making reference to the fact that it is often made with stale (or lost) bread. Well with the frequency which I bake bread in my house there is nothing lost about it this bread…this dish was made with fresh 100% whole wheat bread (click here to learn how to make it). The other thing that makes this dish truely delicious, yet still simple to produce, is it’s inclusion of homemade syrup…and this is made by simply reducing any fruit juice (or in this case vegetable juice) to a syrupy consistency, sometimes with the aid of a little extra sugar (as was the case of this recipe).

I also sprinkled a bit of sugar in the pan as the bread and apples were cooking, giving it a nice caramelization. Anyhow, this is a restaurant-quality brunch dish that is very easy to replicate at home (at a fraction of the cost). The flavoring ingredients are really up to your taste or what you have on hand. To see a couple other variations on this same recipe, click here and here.

>Not-So-Lost Bread with Caramelized Apple and Carrot Syrup

>

For those that have visited this blog before–and have taken interest in the food/recipes potion of it–you know that my son’s favorite breakfast is homemade French toast. In archaic Louisiana French patois this dish is of course referred to as pain purdue, or “lost bread,” making reference to the fact that it is often made with stale (or lost) bread. Well with the frequency which I bake bread in my house there is nothing lost about it this bread…this dish was made with fresh 100% whole wheat bread (click here to learn how to make it). The other thing that makes this dish truely delicious, yet still simple to produce, is it’s inclusion of homemade syrup…and this is made by simply reducing any fruit juice (or in this case vegetable juice) to a syrupy consistency, sometimes with the aid of a little extra sugar (as was the case of this recipe).

I also sprinkled a bit of sugar in the pan as the bread and apples were cooking, giving it a nice caramelization. Anyhow, this is a restaurant-quality brunch dish that is very easy to replicate at home (at a fraction of the cost). The flavoring ingredients are really up to your taste or what you have on hand. To see a couple other variations on this same recipe, click here and here.

A Winter’s Eve

It’s unusually warm out tonight for this time of year (41F / 5C); tomorrow or the next day it’s supposed to be as warm as 50F / 10C. The temperatures seem a bit odd but I’m not complaining…after the past month-long cold snap this is a welcome relief. Anyhow, as I left my house this evening I was greeted with this view (click it for a larger view). Beautiful, isn’t it? It stopped me in my tracks…just thought I’d share it.

>A Winter’s Eve

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It’s unusually warm out tonight for this time of year (41F / 5C); tomorrow or the next day it’s supposed to be as warm as 50F / 10C. The temperatures seem a bit odd but I’m not complaining…after the past month-long cold snap this is a welcome relief. Anyhow, as I left my house this evening I was greeted with this view (click it for a larger view). Beautiful, isn’t it? It stopped me in my tracks…just thought I’d share it.

Age?

This is the second or third time that I’ve posted the above photo over the past few years (found it here); I don’t know who the person is on the bike but I just really like the photo and what it represents. Anyhow, it relates to a conversation I overheard in the locker room of the health club today, actually only a portion of the conversation–the second half–but it was truly inspiring. One guy, who seemed to be about my age, must have said something about getting old or feeling old (this is an assumption on my part). Then a senior fellow addresses him, sort of lectures him (this is the part I came in on)…and I’m totally paraphrasing here, “age doesn’t mean anything, fellow,” he even raised his finger at him, then went on. “I’ve been coming to this facility 4, 5, or 6 times a week since 1960 (a year before I was born); I won’t tell you how old I am but I’ll say that my children are about to retire.” By now every one was looking; he continued. “I go to work every day, and I just sent my 22nd book to the publisher…you have to enjoy life, age doesn’t mean anything.” Wow, I thought about this guy and his comments more than a few times today…I find it interesting when and where you’ll find inspiration. Today I found it via a conversation between two people I didn’t know in the locker room of a health club. All things are possible.

>Age?

>

This is the second or third time that I’ve posted the above photo over the past few years (found it here); I don’t know who the person is on the bike but I just really like the photo and what it represents. Anyhow, it relates to a conversation I overheard in the locker room of the health club today, actually only a portion of the conversation–the second half–but it was truly inspiring. One guy, who seemed to be about my age, must have said something about getting old or feeling old (this is an assumption on my part). Then a senior fellow addresses him, sort of lectures him (this is the part I came in on)…and I’m totally paraphrasing here, “age doesn’t mean anything, fellow,” he even raised his finger at him, then went on. “I’ve been coming to this facility 4, 5, or 6 times a week since 1960 (a year before I was born); I won’t tell you how old I am but I’ll say that my children are about to retire.” By now every one was looking; he continued. “I go to work every day, and I just sent my 22nd book to the publisher…you have to enjoy life, age doesn’t mean anything.” Wow, I thought about this guy and his comments more than a few times today…I find it interesting when and where you’ll find inspiration. Today I found it via a conversation between two people I didn’t know in the locker room of a health club. All things are possible.

Bicycle Workshop

This is a short video of a bicycle workshop my son attended earlier this month. I first posted about it here (showing the bike he built), but much to his embarassment–and being the proud papa that I am–I thought I’d share this video as well. He is actually only in it for a few seconds around the 2:38 mark (wearing a Culinary Institute of America hoodie…my Alma Mater). He told me they filmed him using a hand grinder but apparently they didn’t want to show a kid working on a bike with sparks flying. At any rate, it’s nice to see good things happening in the schools and community.

>Bicycle Workshop

>This is a short video of a bicycle workshop my son attended earlier this month. I first posted about it here (showing the bike he built), but much to his embarassment–and being the proud papa that I am–I thought I’d share this video as well. He is actually only in it for a few seconds around the 2:38 mark (wearing a Culinary Institute of America hoodie…my Alma Mater). He told me they filmed him using a hand grinder but apparently they didn’t want to show a kid working on a bike with sparks flying. At any rate, it’s nice to see good things happening in the schools and community.

James Allen Quote

As the flower opens its petals to receive the morning light, so open your soul more and more to the glorious light of Truth. Soar upward upon the wings of aspiration; be fearless, and believe in the loftiest possibilities.
—James Allen, from The Way of Peace

I first came across his little but powerful book, As a Man Thinketh, at a book store about 5 or 6 years ago; since then it has made quite an impression on me. This is a classic and if you are at all interested in New Thought I really recommend it. It is still in print but it and most of his other books can be read or downloaded for free. Click here to go to a site that has all of his works available for free.

>James Allen Quote

>

As the flower opens its petals to receive the morning light, so open your soul more and more to the glorious light of Truth. Soar upward upon the wings of aspiration; be fearless, and believe in the loftiest possibilities.
—James Allen, from The Way of Peace

I first came across his little but powerful book, As a Man Thinketh, at a book store about 5 or 6 years ago; since then it has made quite an impression on me. This is a classic and if you are at all interested in New Thought I really recommend it. It is still in print but it and most of his other books can be read or downloaded for free. Click here to go to a site that has all of his works available for free.

A Starry Night, a Minor Confession, and Bicycle Therapy

The past four days I’ve had off of work; today was my first day back. And being the holiday weekend I had family obligations and barely used my bike(s)…much to my chagrin I mostly drove these past four days. Come to think of it I was barely out in the open air in the past four days…and after a while this subconsciously starts to get to me. Mostly, the only time I was outside was to either walk from my truck to the house or vice-versa….I realize this is common to many but it’s not a lifestyle I enjoy. I need to be outside…even though I live in the city being out of doors is really good for my psyche (I did use my bike some this past weekend, but not nearly as much as I’d like…and I did ride the short distance to-and-from work today). Anyhow, it’s interesting how your actual mindset can change after using a car so frequently (it’s a slippery slope); I had to move my vehicle from one side of the street to the other tonight because of alternate parking, and I thought about driving to the health club (about 1.25 miles away) simply because I was feeling lazy. But after thinking about it briefly I locked the truck and hopped on my bike…and was so glad I did.

It was not particularly cold out tonight (about 25F, which nothing compared to recent temps), nor was it particularly starry (as the blog heading suggests); it was rather overcast. But the fresh air and wind on my face felt invigorating…especially on the way home being fresh from the steam room. And as I pedaled and coasted (slowly) the old 70’s song, Starry, Starry Night, by Don Mclean rang in my head. It was, without trying to sound too hokey, a therapeutic ride. Speaking solely for myself, being outside and getting physical exercise can really be mood altering. So the next time I’m feeling a bit sluggish, or have a bit of cabin fever, I think I’ll take my own advice and go for a bike ride (or walk if the snow is too deep).

>A Starry Night, a Minor Confession, and Bicycle Therapy

>

The past four days I’ve had off of work; today was my first day back. And being the holiday weekend I had family obligations and barely used my bike(s)…much to my chagrin I mostly drove these past four days. Come to think of it I was barely out in the open air in the past four days…and after a while this subconsciously starts to get to me. Mostly, the only time I was outside was to either walk from my truck to the house or vice-versa….I realize this is common to many but it’s not a lifestyle I enjoy. I need to be outside…even though I live in the city being out of doors is really good for my psyche (I did use my bike some this past weekend, but not nearly as much as I’d like…and I did ride the short distance to-and-from work today). Anyhow, it’s interesting how your actual mindset can change after using a car so frequently (it’s a slippery slope); I had to move my vehicle from one side of the street to the other tonight because of alternate parking, and I thought about driving to the health club (about 1.25 miles away) simply because I was feeling lazy. But after thinking about it briefly I locked the truck and hopped on my bike…and was so glad I did.

It was not particularly cold out tonight (about 25F, which nothing compared to recent temps), nor was it particularly starry (as the blog heading suggests); it was rather overcast. But the fresh air and wind on my face felt invigorating…especially on the way home being fresh from the steam room. And as I pedaled and coasted (slowly) the old 70’s song, Starry, Starry Night, by Don Mclean rang in my head. It was, without trying to sound too hokey, a therapeutic ride. Speaking solely for myself, being outside and getting physical exercise can really be mood altering. So the next time I’m feeling a bit sluggish, or have a bit of cabin fever, I think I’ll take my own advice and go for a bike ride (or walk if the snow is too deep).

Tomato and Spinach Swirly Two-Toned Sandwich Bread

 

This is a simple technique I’ve used for years to give bread a dramatic look when sliced. I made this for our Christmas eve dinner at my sisters house. The way to make it is quite simple: lay two different raw bread doughs on top of each other and roll them up. When it ferments and rises the dough fuses itself together but at the same time remains separate. But one key factor is that both doughs have to be of about the same consistency so they ferment and rise at the same rate…if one dough were wet and one dry they would rise differently and break apart as they baked (I can tell you this through personal experience). That said, you can use virtually any bread recipe you like so long as they are similar in consistency (if you need a recipe click here, here, here, here, or here). Anyhow, it goes something like this:

Place two bowls side-by-side, and first make a sponge, then the dough (for more explanation on this–with pics and recipes–click the above links).

After the doughs have risen once or twice cut them into appropriate sizes and weights to fit your pans, then cut each in half again. Lay one piece of each separate dough on top of each other and roll them up.

Place the dough into bread pans (or bake them free-form if you like) and allow them to rise; afterwords. bake them in a preheated oven. Simple and interesting…not to mention delicious.