Levi and Jane

The Pacific

Levi — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 20:22:19 +0000

I am totally stoked that HBO is producing another miniseries based on World War II. This one is called The Pacific. I looked at some of the photos and other information posted at the HBO website. It looks just as cool as their last one Band of Brothers.

I love the fact that the producers capture the camaraderie of the era as well as some of the pure horror that those soldiers must have gone through. By studying and learning from history like this, maybe we can help keep ourselves from repeating it.

The sad part about this whole ordeal is that we dropped HBO about a year ago. We used to watch it religiously when they were running awesome series like The Sopranos, Deadwood and Rome. Those shows were all downright addicting. We would be glued to the television every Sunday night.

I am going to have to talk a friend into taping it for me so that I can watch it. It sucks having to wait for this stuff to come out on DVD. I don’t think this one series is reason enough to sign back up for HBO. If they were still producing great series like the ones I mentioned, we would never have dropped it.

I got really mad at them after they produced that absolutely horrible show called John from Cincinnati. We got totally sucked into the show only to realize that the writers had not really developed the story line. It seemed like the writers were building us up to some giant event only to realize that the writers themselves had no idea what that event was really going to be.

Pricks.

Ever since then I have been mad at HBO for wasting so much of my time building up an interesting story without ever finishing it. It is like when a friend tells you that he has a crazy secret to share but then he never tells you what the secret is.

USA had another great showing at the Olympics

Levi — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:29:45 +0000

I thought the United States Olympic teams represented us pretty darn well at the Vancouver Olympics this year. I was surprised to see some of the outstanding performances in sports that are normally dominated by snow covered mountainous countries in Europe.

I was especially proud of the great job that the USA hockey team did. It would have been nice to beat Canada for the gold medal. But, I think that the American team ended up right where they should have.

I also learned a lot about some of these other sports as well. I think those ski jumpers are friggin nuts. So are the freestyle skiers who do flips without breaking their necks. You have got to have a screw loose to do some of those tricks. Who thinks this stuff up?

Canada was a great host for the Olympics also. I wish the weather had been a little more cooperative. It is disappointing that some of the outcomes were affected by the weather. I wonder how many Olympic records of the past were influenced to a great extent by the weather. That is a shame. It injects a variable of luck. Luck should not be involved in whether you are recorded in history as being the greatest athlete in your time frame.

All in all though the whole thing was a lot of fun to watch and very entertaining.

Surprise Ending For The Superbowl

Levi — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 13:37:21 +0000

I was one of those people who were convinced that Indianapolis was going to win this game. I thought the precision of Peyton Manning would make the Colts unstoppable against a suspect New Orleans defense. Guess I was wrong.

I still think it would have been a much more exciting game if the Vikings had been in there instead of New Orleans. In the end it must have been fate for New Orleans to go all the way. At least it was a new team winning the ring for once. I guess that is better than having the same teams in there every year. Eventually people are going to get sick of seeing Indianapolis in the playoffs every year.

Hopefully next year we will see two different teams in there again.

Not Real Impressed With The State Of The Union

Levi — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 15:02:05 +0000

I thought the state of the union speech delivered by President Barack Obama was a little weak in substance. It still seems like the people in power don’t understand that us regular ordinary people need jobs. They talk about the economy and mention jobs a lot, but what are they really doing to create an environment for job growth.

Obviously I am no economist. I do have some idea of what is going to create jobs. First, you have to convince, not tell but convince, small business owners that things are going to continue to improve over the next couple years and the next decade. Also, you have to remove any uncertainty about the economic environment over the next few years.

This is one major failure of the Obama administration. He is promising short term tax cuts. Business owners aren’t stupid. They aren’t going to increase their overhead if they think that things are only going to be better temporarily. Instead, they will just continue to sit on their hands and remain frugal.

It is the same reason why people are slow to make major big ticket purchases right now. They don’t do it because there is a high level of uncertainty about the economy in the short run. Smart people will not overburden themselves with debt that will be difficult to payback.

Stupid people who are still willing to overspend cannot borrow the money to do so. Therefore, you have an environment where people either don’t want to or simply cannot spend more money. This will remain the case until consumer confidence gets back to near where it was prior to the housing bubble collapse.

I see nothing coming out of the Obama speech that addresses any of this. I think this team of advisors is relatively clueless. I don’t know what they spend all their time working on. I am sure they are all brilliant people. But, if some regular Joe Schmoe can grasp this, then why can’t they?

If this guy doesn’t get his head out of the sand, he is going to get a bunch of Democrats removed from office in the upcoming elections. Remember what Bill Clinton used to say. “It’s the economy supid!”

Computers Field Is For Young People

Levi — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 12:57:51 +0000

I am beginning to realize something about the computer field that has not really occurred to me before. I am starting to realize that as I get older, I am losing my desire to stay on top of this field and stay cutting edge so to speak. Maybe this is why you see so many disgruntled older guys in this profession.

When you first get out of college, you are really on top of the industry. Well, maybe not right away, but soon thereafter. You have been studying it thoroughly and learning everything you can about it. For a young man, it is very interesting and exciting.

I am at a point in my life now where I want to settle down. My priorities are beginning to shift towards raising a family and building a life outside of my professional career. As a result, it seems that my interest in staying cutting edge with technology is beginning to wane.

In fact, I find myself starting to scoff at new gadgets when they are coming out instead of looking forward to them with a keen eye. I see this happening more and more as I get older. All of this technological gadgetry that I once thought was cool is starting to get under my skin and affect me in negative ways.

I guess a lot of it is because I have gotten pretty darn good at certain technologies over the last decade. Now that I have mastered them, I can produce high volumes of quality work in very little time. When the technology changes though, you have to relearn everything. You make mistakes and beat your head off the wall like you did when you were first learning the last technology. It seems that this is going to be a never ending cycle.

Maybe some people think that is fun, challenging and exciting. I will agree with the challenging part. But, fun and excitement for these new technologies are two characteristics that I would attach less and less. Maybe I was misguided in choosing this career path. I certainly didn’t think so at the time. At the time it was a natural fit for a curious kid who loved computers and anything with an LCD attached to it.

It seems inevitable that I am going to become one of those grouchy old men in this field that has allowed the technology of the day to surpass him. One day I will be stuck fighting hard to keep a job that no longer demands my outdated skills. Yay! What a bright future. I should have stuck with the electrical engineering program.

How Fish Can Be Made Into Fertilizer

Levi — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 11:49:08 +0000

Fish emulsion is a type of organic liquid fertilizer made from fish waste. While fish emulsion can be produced from many different types of fish (including wild caught salmon), a small fish called Menhaden is the most common source of this liquid fertilizer. An oily and bony fish with little edible meat, Menhaden, comes from the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea.

The first step is to cook the fish and to squeeze its juice and oils by pressing. The oil is removed while the leftover solids can be ground and baked into protein meals and fed to animals. The juice of the fish is brought to a boil until it becomes more concentrated and results in a fish emulsion.

To hinder fermentation and extend its shelf-life, phosphoric acid is added to the emulsion. The percentage of phosphoric acid in the solution should be under 1% to meet the USDA criteria for organic products.

Although formulations vary, fish emulsion liquid fertilizer typically contains approximately four to five percent nitrogen (N), two percent phosphorus (P), two percent potassium (K), and trace elements. Trace elements, also called micronutrients, are chemical elements that plants need in minute quantities in order to thrive.

Adventurous gardeners make their own liquid fertilizer from fish. It’s a smelly, messy process, but it could be economical for gardeners with a ready supply of fish waste.

Liquid organic fish emulsions are an exception to other organic fertilizers because they release nutrients to the plant immediately. Hence, liquid fish emulsions are used for transplanting seedlings because it makes them more viable. To use as fertilizer, the liquid fish emulsion is diluted in water and sprayed on plants or used to water the soil.

As with the use of all fertilizers, application instructions should be followed strictly. Remember to dilute it in the recommended percentage to prevent damaging seeds and young plants. Only mix the amount you are going to use that day because after it has been mixed with water its potency will be lost when stored. And keep the mixture away from heat to prevent deterioration. Since it’s made from fish, brace yourself for the pungent odor but this will disappear in a few days.

Production of liquid fish emulsions fertilizers is environmentally sound from start to finish. Only fish parts that are unused or are considered as waste by fish and feed processing companies are used. Thus, the use of fish emulsions organic fertilizers thus decrease toxins in our food and helps make zero waste possible.

A Word Or Two About Picking Out Plants For A Garden

Levi — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 13:13:25 +0000

Frequently we have bought plants on a whim only to discover that we do not have anywhere in the garden that is suitable for them. An examination of conditions in our garden should precede any purchases of plants. All plants have a preference for either shady or sunny sites, hot or cool, and dry or wet conditions. Another consideration is the exposure of the site to prevailing winds and their strength.

Hold on! A soil test can be a good idea to inform you what the pH is and if you should add specific nutrients. Most garden plants like a slightly acid ground, but some prefer alkaline soil. What is the reading for your soil? While it is possible to change the pH of the ground it is far simpler to choose plants that will like the soil you have already.

So you think you are ready to start planting. Should you plant each plant you like on its own or in groups? Single plants often look spotty. Groups often look better as the colors are harmonious and make a better impact.

Put your chosen plants in their pots in your planned places in the beds to see how they look. You can change the positions if they do not look right. Often uneven numbers of plants will look better than even numbers. Textures and colors should look interesting before a decision is made. Be aware of the final height of plants and where they are to be viewed from. Tall plants should not obscure short plants. Keep a distance from any trees as the roots can steal moisture and food from your plants.

To maintain the right harmony consider the color scheme. The flowers may bloom at different times. Even clashing colors may be planted side by side if the flowers bloom at different times. The leaf colors can also be important. Gray or purple foliage can be as much of a feature as the blossoms. So consider the value of the plant even after its flowering season is over in relation to its neighbors.

Dining in New York

Levi — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 22:33:03 +0000

Dining on the cheap in New York City isn’t nearly as hard as you may think it is. New York is a city of many nations in that there are in all probability more nations represented in the dining options of New York than any other city in the globe. You can find amazing food options that represent these many nations and won’t break your budget. What a great way to plainly enjoy the flavors of the world while on vacation!

There are so many good examples of the type of restaurants you can find in the great big city of New York. If you have a Krystal’s or a White Castle in your area then you’ll get the view of “Schnackies” which are very much like the burgers you’ll find in the joints I just mentioned. Be aware that you also have other choices if the cheap petty burgers aren’t your type. If you make it in ahead of 5 PM you can have eggs. If you have the time and the room you in actual fact ought to try Harry’s Famous Warm Coffee and Banana Bread Pudding. My mouth is watering from just thinking about it.

Rainbow Falafel is the first place I endorse. This may very well be the best falafel shop (if you can call it that) in New York City. If you’ve never tried falafel you are certainly in for a tasty treat. Falafel is in essence a ball of veggies and spices (chick peas, onions, garlic, and other goodies) that has been fried and placed into a pita along with tomato, hummus, lettuce, and yogurt. Getting hungry? We’ve only just begun.

For hoagies you actually must try Tony Luke’s. The décor is minimal and the crowd really moves through fast. . You won’t find a huge menu or gigantic mixture of breads or carb gracious diet options here. What you will get are colossal sandwiches with lots of meat. You’ll also get a side of cheese fries and a soda to wash it down with. The food is good and the price is right which makes this one of the best cheap locales to eat in the city.

Gray’s Papaya offers the best hot dogs in the city, especially when you deem the fact that it is hard to mess up hot dogs. The price in fact is what keeps bringing the regulars in by the droves. Where else in New York can you get two hot dogs and a drink for two dollars? Be warned that the décor and tone are about what you’d see in an eatery that charges two bucks for a meal. Don’t expect a grand steakhouse type of ambiance with fine wines and expensive linens.

Whether you refer to it as southern fare or soul food, the Soul Spot has it going on. They offer many of the accepted Sunday dinner types of foods such as fried catfish, fried chick, and vegetables soaked to the skin in ‘drippings’ for those willing to risk the on the horizon heart beat. This food is indubitably and extraordinary exemplar of the gastronomic delights one would face in the south while also being obtainable at a price that is akin to what you would pay on a Mississippi Sunday morning. They do offer a lunch menu that is a trivial bit less dear than the dinner menu and both offers a great value for the money.

The point to all of this, other than getting you good and thirsty was to let you know that if you know where to look you can not only find cheap entertainment but also cheap food. You can enjoy the best that New York City has to offer without blowing your budget. Saving a few bucks in the process isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Taking Youngsters to New York

Levi — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 21:12:25 +0000

If you’re vacationing in New York City with kids you may find that doing all outdoor activities can be quite tiresome for all involved. Museums are a good place for kids. Kids enjoy doing hands on actions that not all museums allow you to. You will also need to find some things that they can expend some energy on while visiting New York.

In addendum you may turn up a bent child has that you’d have never known about if not. Some of the most remarkable crafting types of opportunities in New York City will be mentioned here. I’m sure there are more that won’t make the list but there are only so many hours in any given day.

The first store to make my list is based upon a creative vent that has shown a rapid rise in popularity over the last few time, oil your own ceramics. The name of the store is The Tinted Pot and you are acceptable to exclusive and paint your own pottery. You can even take clay wheel course with your barely one if you are brave sufficient but it is quite likely that you will have a magnificent time and be able to bring your artwork home with you upon your revenue for vacation. Commit to memory that there is the boot time concerned so do this early for the duration of the week if it’s going to be on your list of effects to do. Or else you’ll need to arrange shipping to have your child’s creations sent home to you.

For those of you who have shows potential musical group, how about a day at Triple Z Music Record Workshops? This is a rather expensive tour but your child will gain real pied-à-terre knowledge and bring home a CD of their music at the end of the day. Kids will learn about life on both sides of the booth and this is a great idea for older family who has indicated a heartfelt awareness in composition. Rider you’d like to especially stir your youth take them to the Pergola, which is a stem of the City Museum that centers on the art and building of medieval Europe. Your kids will feel as nonetheless they’ve stepped into a fairy tale. It is also a good idea to check out the works of art at the Met as well as this is one of the more kid friendly museums that weren’t intended purposely for children.

You be supposed to also be aware of provisions like Toys R Us in Times Settle and FAO Schwarz, which each have single offerings planned to enthrall and consider brood. You’ll have a ball watching your offspring have fun in these neat provisions and you may find yourself having fun right along with them. Just make sure no one is watching of possibility. There are many other food that have incredible to offer offspring of all ages, be sure to check it out and see which provisions you find likable and which stores your children might find fascinating.

Keep in mind that New York City has many brilliant parks that present-day excellent opportunities for your adolescents to get out, in this area, and run off some pent up liveliness. I think it’s very key that you arrange some life-threatening park time for your children while you’re visiting New York in order to keep you all sane concluded the times that they are not fully entertained and prone to wondering minds.

It is also critical when roving with very small children that you arrange some sort of quiet time for them throughout the day. Offspring are so prone to sensory overwork if they aren’t provided with some sort of quiet place in which to loosen for a bit. Mid morning is a great time to go back to your room, repaint up, allow the diminutive kids a bit of a break and the parents and older kids a insufficiently break from the noise and the crowds as well. Everyone will be much better-off if you remember to list this extreme principal rest time when planning your day.

Seeing Coney Island

Levi — Sat, 30 May 2009 22:44:38 +0000

If you’ve never been to New York City, you can’t claim to have seen everything unless you trek on out to the iniquitous boardwalks of Coney Land mass. It is worthy to note first of all that Coney Atoll is only open seasonally so you have to plan your travel accordingly. The instant thing that is principal to realize about Coney Atoll is that it isn’t one centrally owned procedure.

The vast main attractions at Coney Desert Island close around or very soon after Labor Day. The beach and the authentic footpath are open to the unrestricted year round. Some times are modestly lonelier than others. Nathan’s Hot Dogs and the New York Aquarium stay open after the summer spice has ended and drive most days throughout the year. The Coney Island Museum is Open on the weekend from 12:00 PM until 5:00 PM year-round. All through the summer term when seeing the sights is high along the boardwalk the two major theme parks: Astroland and Deno’s Amazement Wheel Park back rocket shows on Fridays at 9:30.

The fun parks of Coney Atoll are only part of the pull but they work to bring many families to this very distinctive diversion venue each and every year. Astroland Laughter Park is the biggest fun park in New York City. The Tornado is the most renowned ride in this matter park and this is a ride that is well known by breaker coaster enthusiasts in the opposite direction the the human race. It is a inexpressive roller coaster that offers quite a gripping ride. Other great rides at this park include the Astroflume, The Break Comedian, the Astroland Carousel, The Swings, Top Spin, Dante’s Firestorm, Power Rush, and Astro Overlook. For the small ones there is a very nice assortment of kiddie rides that will keep them entertained while older children enjoy some of the more thrill-oriented rides. If you’re looking for a day of great food and great fun in the sun Astroland is a great place to be.

Deno’s Astonishment Wheel Park is most infamous for its Speculate Veer. The cars on this brilliant ride are red, white, and blue More exactly loyal of them wasn’t it?) with swinging red and blue cards and immobile white cars. The Spook-A-Rama is an added general if not fearsome ride that is obtainable at Deno’s Conjecture Wheel Park. If you need a shot of thrills and spills try the Super Shot but only if you’re 52″ or more or the Thunderbolt, which has a 48″ pinnacle condition. And what day at Coney Island wouldn’t be ample devoid of a taste of extra-large cars? There are also prosperity of rides for the slight ones to select from on their jaunt as well. Instead of amazing a trifling more serene than thrills and chills at the glee parks, Coney Island is also home to the New York Aquarium at Coney Land mass. This is a great way to learn about marine life and enjoy study your family surveillance attractive sea creatures they would be doubtful to see in other state of affairs. There are more than 8,000 animals represented at the New York aquarium. Not only is this an intriguing exciting activity of its own, you won’t have to give up your hairdo in order to enjoy it.

The Coney Land mass Museum is also well worth intriguing a peek. You will find what’s left of old rides and memorabilia of days gone by in the museum as well as mind-boggling views of the rides vacant at present. The permit price is more readily inexpensive at 99 cents and it’s a fun place to visit and get out of the sun for a bit. No trip to Coney Desert Island is truly perfect devoid of at least stopping into the Museum. Furthermore, these might be the cleanest restrooms on the islet. Coney Atoll is one of the record effects about a visit to New York. If you can to-do list your trip to New York when the Parks are open and the boardwalk is bustling I greatly recommend you spend a weekend night out on the boardwalk.