2011 ECHOS

2011 ECHOS.

Billboard edited

Gas or Green?
I stumbled upon this billboard while surfing the web. At first, i didn’t get it or see the big deal, but then I noticed the fake spokes on the 76 logo and realized some vandals were sending a message. Not a bad rendering of a bike with what looks like black spray paint. As a designer, I would have elected to not paint the spokes on the front wheel of bike or logo, which i think would have made it even more believable. Whether you agree with using automobiles (oil & gas) or a bicycle (very green using exercise), this image is very clever and probably not the way the original creator or company planned. Which would you prefer, free gas for life from 76 or saving your world by riding your bike everywhere?

Orig Posting
Entry by Mark V published on August 12, 2010 10:14 AM.

Loving Homemade Pasta! Culinary: Part 1

Have you ever eaten in an Italian restaurant and loved the pasta? Why was it so good? It was probably homemade pasta. The difference between homemade and store bought (in a box) differs dramatically in freshness, flavor and texture. I like to say it frames the sauce and meatballs or whatever you prefer to pour on it. This particular blog is more about discovery and sharing with you a new culinary passion of mine.

I wasn’t raised on homemade pasta or even enjoyed it in restaurants as a child as far as I can remember. However, when I married a beautiful Italian girl named Leanne Trozzolillo, I discovered a whole new world of gastronomy. I asked and received a pasta maker for my birthday and love the idea of learning to make pasta in our home. You don’t have to use a machine, but its easier than rolling out the pasta dough with a rolling pin. It is hard work, but it is so worth the effort when you start twirling those fresh macaroni noodles on your fork in anticipation!

There are basic steps and some variations to make pasta, just Google “Making Homemade Pasta” for several recipes and videos like i did.

I used eggs, flour, pinch of salt and tsp of olive oil and of course the machine. First, I made the dough, then created the fettuccini with the machine and layed them out to dry. We boiled and tested some with some red sauce and it was perfecto! We are having some friends, Tim and Derek, over for dinner to test it on them. Leanne is cooking homemade sauce and meatballs, too! (for a future blog) I can’t wait to eat! I will update this blog and give some results after the feast.

I just love my new pasta machine.

Don’t buy a new Mac?

Okay, now that I have your attention, I agree, buying a new Mac is truly awesome! I would love to get the latest and greatest upgrade every year, not to mention a new iPad and a new iPhone 4, but I digress … what I have learned about purchasing a Mac is that for some, a refurbished Mac is the best solution. It is a great way to introduce someone to Apple computers without breaking the bank. As we all know, new Macs sell at a premium price with all the bells and whistles you may not want or need. Whether you are getting into Macs from the PC or have never used a computer before, a refurbished Mac model is a great option and Macs are always so easy to use. You pay less, therefore, your investment isn’t going to hurt you in this should I say down economy.

For example: My wife’s parents are well into their senior years and have never used, let alone own, a home computer. So they are out of touch via email with their kids and grand kids and the World Wide Web in general. That is mainly where their interests in owning a computer ends and where I come into the digital picture. Since their intent for a home computer is only email and search the web for whatever, they don’t need a brand spanking new MacPro 8-Core Two 2.26GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon “Nehalem” processors with the kitchen sink. Their solution is a refurbished Mac…more accurately, an older refurbished eMac (see inset picture). I ordered them a basic model for well under $200 w/keyboard & mouse including shipping. Nothing fancy because they don’t need all that. There are a lot a places that do this if you Google “Refurbished Macs”. I used and recommend “Wegener Media” out of Columbia, SC. Their web address is: http://www.wegenermedia.com/ and they have great personal service. Ask for Kevin! (I also just recommended this company to my pest control guy, who is looking into getting a Mac for the first time and ditching his virus prone PC : )

I hope this is helpful to you as it was for me. My wife’s parents can now communicate with the family via email and search the web till the cows come home!

Exciting iPhone “WordPress App” Blog Test (revisited)!

This is a test of the iPhone App WordPress! I can blog from anywhere now! So sweeet! There is even a map (GPS) to show where you blog from in the world! I downloaded a cute photo of a tired panda bear from my photos on my iPhone to show how you can use photography on your phone, or you could take a pic of whatever is going on when you’re mobile. See below for link and revisit …

I have since gone back to my iMac to revisit and add to this blog at WordPress.com on my iMac: the WordPress logo; and the link to access the WordPress app. To get the WordPress app for the iPhone, which is very easy to use, go to: http://iphone.wordpress.org/ You will need your url, user and password to access once you downloaded onto your iPhone. Future mobile blogs from my iPhone may be more limited to what the app is capable of. Until next time…

A Great New Adventure!

I am starting my first ever new blog today, on my birthday, about experiences of things lived, learned and loved. I hope you can come along for the ride (hold on to the bar) and just maybe we can learn some things together that we never thought about before or in a different way. This is a new adventure in itself for me as I learn to use WordPress and learn to blog about interesting topical and personal stories. My wife, Leanne, says I have a greatness on me (God given…), so I am excited to see just where this journey takes us. I look forward to it, just not sure where it’s going yet, but stay tuned! (I learned today that The Cheesecake Factory makes pretty good chocolate cake!). *A very special thanks to Scott Cone for his inspiration and wisdom to get this blog started.

All the Best,
Jeff