While stumbling the other day I came across a really neat site that allows you to recreate an artists sketch, digitally.  You simply upload a digital photo, set a few parameters and the site will reproduce a sketch-like abstraction of your image.  You can check out the site here. 

Here is the before and after result using the photo from my About page.

Before

After

Check it out!

chris@clawblog.com

Starbucks, or “Four-bucks”, a reference to their high prices I first heard from my Dad, has exploded on the scene in the last 10 years in the U.S. and internationally.  One of the elements they’ve employed as part of their “experience” is the drive-thru, an element about which I am passionate!

Photography by: hyku

It is a very sad commentary on our society when people cannot get out of their cars and walk 50 feet to get their coffee, and instead find it necessary to sit in their cars and wait in a line with others to drop $4 bucks on a mocha.   ???

Are they faster?  I don’t think so.  Though drive-thrus are intended to expedite the ordering process, I regularly walk in and out with my wife’s latte well before a vehicle that pulled in the same time as me has exited with their beverage.

Another issue is the potential impact on the environment.  While I’m not an environmental freak, I am concerned about the environment, as we all are.  I wonder what the aggregate impact is on the environment when you consider all of the vehicles that regularly sit at idle in drive-thrus?

Before the parents with 10 kids come after me on this subject with regard to how convenient they are, how they make things so much easier with the kids, etc., etc., I ask, what did we all do 10-15 years ago before the advent of the coffee drive-thru?  Some may argue we have progressed…..I strongly disagree and, in fact, believe quite the opposite is true. 

Further, the greater majority of the vehicles I’ve witnessed sitting in line at the drive-thru are solo drivers, and not a mini-van full of kids.  Sadly, it seems to me that the majority of these folks are the ones that could benefit the most from getting out of their cars and doing a little walking.

I wish we could shut them down.

chris@clawblog.com

Prior to the birth of our daughter 14 months ago, my wife and I committed to doing everything possible to limit / prevent her exposure to television.  Babies are extremely impressionable.  Even the highly touted Baby Einstein series of DVD’s were not a consideration.  A research study from Time magazine includes the following:

…with every hour per day spent watching baby DVDs and videos, infants learned six to eight fewer new vocabulary words than babies who never watched the videos. These products had the strongest detrimental effect on babies 8 to 16 months old, the age at which language skills are starting to form.

Our reading suggested, and logically so, that the human interaction would be far more beneficial.    In addition, at around 4 months of age, we introduced her to playtime.  Playtime would be time that she would spend alone, with a few toys, allowing her to explore her environment, which studies have suggested is critical to her cognitive development.

If you read my article on high definition television you might be thinking I’m quite the hypocrite right now.  After all, how can one prevent a baby from being distracted by a monster TV.  Fair enough….but, who said TV and baby have to be mutually inclusive?  My wife and I still enjoy some programming together, primarily after our daughter is down for the night.  If she is awake and the TV is on, she is simply positioned away from the TV and provided other means with which to distract herself.  The point referenced above from Time is specific to placing a baby in front of the television for the purpose of watching the TV, and this is what we avoid.

Something else we’ve done since the day we brought her home is read to her.  Not only her books, but we read everything out loud to her.  Newspapers, magazines, our books.  If she is in the vicinity when we are reading, we read out loud….every day.

Our baby is now 14 months old and will entertain herself for hours with nothing more than just a few books.  She will sit down, grab a blanket, and start turning pages. While her vocabulary is limited to a few words at this point, we expect her to begin rattling off several words in the very near future.  Where relevant, I plan on posting updates as they occur.

As always, I would enjoy hearing from others on this topic, which I understand can be somewhat controversial.

chris@clawblog.com

1. Consistency of the grind!
2. Does not heat up the grounds
3. Greater capacity for grinding more beans for larger pots / multiple espresso drinks

While burr grinders allow one to select the coarseness or fineness of the grind, blade grinders require one to stand watch and “eyeball” the process - the longer you grind, the finer it will be.  While blade grinders can be fussed with for drip coffee, burr grinders are not recommended for espresso of other beverages that require a specific grind.  However, blade grinders are significantly less expensive than burr grinders.

chris@clawblog.com

Salmon is fantastic when grilled, and I can’t think of many things that are simpler to prepare.  All you need is kosher salt, ground pepper and olive oil.

Whenever possible, I prefer to buy wild salmon from Alaska.  King salmon, Copper River salmon, and Coho salmon are all excellent when you can find them.  I try to stay away from farmed fish, as it tends to be higher in mercury, though there are some responsible salmon farmers out there.  I also like to buy it with the skin remaining on one side.

The first step in preparing the perfect grilled salmon is pre-heating your grill.  I use my gas grill when cooking fish in this manner.  Though I appreciate the merits charcoal grilling offers, it’s simply not worth it to spend the additional time preparing the coals, etc.  Pre-heat the grill with all burners turned to medium - we’re looking for a temp in the grill box ~500 degrees.

While the grill is pre-heating, unpackage your salmon and lay it on a suitable work surface, skin side down.  Generously season with kosher salt and freshly ground pepper, then drizzle some olive oil over the top, brushing lightly to distribute (a silicone basting brush works great for this purpose). 

Place the salmon on the grill, skin side UP.  Set your timer for 6 minutes for fish that is no more than 1 inch thick at its thickest point, a minute or two longer for thicker fish.  Do NOT touch the salmon until the timer ends.  So doing will result in the salmon tearing, or otherwise breaking apart, as it has not yet properly caramelized and released from the grill grates. 

After 6 minutes, carefully place your spatula under the fish.  It should release easily.  If not, leave for another minute.  Flip the fish onto its skin, close the grill, and leave for no more than one minute.  Now, slide your spatula between the skin and the fish and carefully lift the fish and set on a platter.  I suggest removing the skin as well and discarding to avoid a mess on the grill later.  That’s it!

I like to squeeze some fresh lemon juice over the salmon, and serve with couscous and steamed broccoli.

chris@clawblog.com

I consider myself to be a good driver, not perfect.  I’m the type that gets too easily agitated by the less competent driver on the road (something I’m perpetually working to improve).  Driving is a privilege, not a right, and too many drivers don’t recognize the fact that our cars can be, and often are, weapons.  The short time on the freeway reminded me of the simple things of which all drivers should be cognizant.

Photography by: Chris Kisela

Proper driving, or driving etiquette, is something we all owe to each other on the road.  After all, it’s the safety of our occupants that is potentially at stake.  Driving etiquette point number 1 - Blinker.

The Test

I recall taking my driving test very seriously.  I was always disappointed to score anything less than 100% on a test of any kind (though it happened more than I would have liked), and my driving exam was no different.  I aced both the written piece and the driving part of the test.  That was nearly 20 years ago, but the specifics of what I learned through the course of preparing for the test have remained with me to this day.  This, I believe, is why I get so annoyed by drivers who, seemingly, put no effort into obtaining their license whatsoever.

Blinker

If I were a betting man, I’d safely wager a months salary that more than 50% of drivers do not use their blinker, or turn signal, properly, if at all.  I believe the number of offenders has increased dramatically over the last 10 years with the infusion of cellular phones into our lives.  After all, how can one use their signal when they’re holding the wheel with one hand and the phone with the other?  That’s a topic all in itself.

It’s quite simple, really.  Prior to changing lanes: signal.  Ahead of an upcoming turn: signal. Entering or exiting the freeway: signal. 

Over the years I’ve held a regular debate with a good friend on this subject.  He contends that if he’s in a dedicated turn lane, or, there’s otherwise no one else around, there’s no need to signal.  While these may be valid arguments, it still doesn’t address the fact that properly signaling is the law.  In addition, this practice invariably leads to regular neglect of this important responsibility, which I’ve witnessed.

My position is clear: please do not avoid one of the fundamental responsibilities of good driving.  Signal.

chris@clawblog.com

Black beans, including black soybeans, are excellent sources of both protein and fiber.  Additionally, they are great sources of  iron, folate, and magnesium. They also help to regulate blood sugars and control cholesterol in the body.

Photography by: Father Jack

While rice is the staple food of more than half of the world’s population, black rice is an especially healthy choice. Also known as Forbidden Rice, it is believed that black rice was originally grown for the emperors of China.  Black rice is well-regarded for its purple-black color, nutty taste and fragrant aroma.  More importantly, black rice is loaded with pigments and iron which act as a blood builders in the body.

Black sesame seeds are high in both protein and fiber.  In addition,  they are beneficial in supplying the body with iron and Vitamin E for the skin.

Lastly, black vinegar (sorry, but balsamic vinegar does not fall into this category) is useful in controlling blood pressure by serving as a natural blood thinner.  It also contains important vitamins, amino acids and minerals that will  help raise your energy.  

Making an effort to incorporate these anti-inflammatory foods into your regular diet will aid us all in helping to protect against cancer, heart disease and aging.

chris@clawblog.com

I believe the majority of these parents are well-intended, just lacking proper guidance.  Following are some key do’s and don’ts to consider.

Photography by: Gracie and Viv

Do’s

1. Install the car seat properly:  The seat should not move more than one inch in either direction.  
2. Tighten harness:  If there is too much play in the harness the integrity of the safety system is greatly jeopardized. When fit properly, one finger should fit just snugly under the straps.  
3. Place chest clip at armpit level:  Any higher and the clip can choke the baby; too low will not secure baby in seat.
4. Have installation inspected! - Car seat inspections, in my opinion, should be the law.  Most hospitals, police and fire stations offer this service.

Don’ts

1. Too much clothing - Avoid over-bundling child during periods of cold weather, as this will not allow the straps to be properly snugged.  Instead, use blankets.
2. Leave straps loose - Don’t be afraid to really tighten the straps to secure the child.  This is critical.  People make the mistake of leaving the straps somewhat loose because they believe the child will be more comfortable.
3. Turn baby around too soon - Resist the temptation to turn child to a forward-facing position until he/she is at least 12 months old, or weighs more than 22 pounds.
4. Hang toys from seat handle while driving - The car seat toys are okay when the child is stationary, but represent a real hazard if an accident were to occur.
5. Use car seat inserts - There are a multitude of car seat inserts on the market, and they should be banned.  Inserts interrupt the integrity of the car seat safety system by introducing unnecessary padding/spacing. 

Note that these are tips from my experience of how to properly install car seats.  Always follow the car seat manufacturer’s instructions. 

Please submit any additional tips I may have missed.

chris@clawblog.com

Upon getting the unit (Jura Capresso F9 - fantastic!) set up and reading the documentation, I quickly came to realize that I would benefit from this new appliance as well.  I enjoy good quality coffee, and this machine has the ability to brew the best cup of coffee I have tasted.

The majority of us are accustomed to brewing coffee using a conventional drip coffee maker. While it is possible to produce a quality cup of coffee using a drip machine, in my opinion, the end result does not compare to that which can be produced under pressure.

Pressure brewed coffee, also referred to as “crema coffee”, is created via a similar process to brew expresso. The difference being that instead of a 2 oz. shot of espresso, additional water is forced through the finely ground coffee at high pressure to yield a 6-8 oz. portion.  When brewed properly, a rich, caramel-colored top layer, or “crema”, is created which serves to lock in the delicate flavors and aroma of the coffee.  The high pressure (9 bar) and shorter brewing time prevent the extraction of bitter oils, yielding an incredibly sweet cup of coffee.

European restaurants commonly serve coffee this way, as it’s the freshest possible cup, and can be made quickly on demand.  In my household, there’s no going back to drip.

chris@clawblog.com

All of these products are not uncommon in existing garages today, but I found that there are a lot of choices when it comes to quality, form factor, price and overall utility.

1. The first product is a conventional roll-away tool cabinet.  My collection of tools had grown considerably in recent years, so much so that they were being stored on the garage floor - hardly a convenient option.  The tool cabinet is a widely available Craftsman model from Sears.  It has ball-bearing drawer glides to allow easy, reliable access to the tools, and the sturdy wheels enable me to move the unit around the garage when necessary.

2. The second must have product for me is heavy duty shelves.  My interest was in getting some of my larger tools off the floor to free up additional space.  I decided on the product from HyLoft.  The shelves have a maximum capacity of 150 pounds each, and install via low profile brackets directly into the wall studs.  I moved my 12″ miter saw and pancake compressor to the shelves and they work great!

3.  The third product in my new system of organization is a peg board.  I’m not referring to a conventional wood pressed peg board, but a solid unit I acquired from Diamond Life.  They have a multitude of options depending on one’s particular application.  I selected one 2×4 panel and one 48″ strip.  Each unit holds 1/2 ton!  They are easy to install by screwing directly into the wall studs.  They are sturdy and they look great.

Additional ideas on garage storage, including overhead solutions, can be found here.

chris@clawblog.com