Mar 4, 2016
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Fried Chicken Tips
Vodka is much more volatile than water, which is the main component of buttermilk, pickle juice, or pretty much any other fried chicken marinade. As such, it evaporates much more rapidly and violently. This helps drive moisture off the crust of the chicken faster, while also creating bigger vapor bubbles, adding surface area to the crust. Both of these mean crisper, lighter fried chicken. Only about two tablespoons of vodka is needed.
Brine helps chicken retain moisture. As chicken sits in a brine, the salt dissolves proteins in the meat's muscle structure, loosening it and allowing it to retain more moisture as it cooks. Brined chickens lose 30 to 40% less moisture than un-brined chickens. Add half an ounce of salt for every cup of marinade.
For each cup of dredging flour called for in the recipe, drizzle about two tablespoons of marinade/liquid into it. After drizzling, work it into the flour with fingers or a whisk then add the chicken pieces to coat. This process makes little chunks, which make chicken crispier.
Brine helps chicken retain moisture. As chicken sits in a brine, the salt dissolves proteins in the meat's muscle structure, loosening it and allowing it to retain more moisture as it cooks. Brined chickens lose 30 to 40% less moisture than un-brined chickens. Add half an ounce of salt for every cup of marinade.
For each cup of dredging flour called for in the recipe, drizzle about two tablespoons of marinade/liquid into it. After drizzling, work it into the flour with fingers or a whisk then add the chicken pieces to coat. This process makes little chunks, which make chicken crispier.
Thought for the Voting Season
"Politics is not the art of the possible. It consists in choosing between the disastrous and the unpalatable." ~ J. K. Galbraith, Letter to Kennedy, 1962
Hoverboards and Batteries
Lithium-ion batteries serve as the power source for everything from smartphones, laptops, hover boards, to electric cars such as the Tesla. They are rechargeable and have four to six times the energy of standard nickel-cadmium batteries.
Lithium-ion batteries in those technologies are made by experienced and highly reliable manufacturers. They know how to construct them in a way that balances the amount of power produced with the amount of power consumed by the device during operation.
This type of battery has three primary parts: Two electrodes, an anode made of graphite, and a cathode made of lithium cobalt oxide or a similar metal oxide. Between is a thin, but porous polyethylene separator that keeps the two apart.
The electric current flows between the anode and the cathode via a liquid, called the electrolyte. If the anode and cathode are not engineered correctly for the power draw or the separator is imperfect, a short circuit can result. When that happens, the electrolyte heats up, the cathode and anode become unstable, and the two react violently with the electrolyte. The temperature may cause the battery to eject its hot internal contents, which catch fire or explode when they come in contact with oxygen in the atmosphere.
Hoverboard manufacturers had many less-than-expert battery suppliers using possible defective materials or improper engineering of parts. Hoverboards pose additional risks. They draw energy from batteries much faster than cellphones and laptops do, which strains the electrodes and raises the internal heat. They are also subject to more mechanical abuse. When they fix the battery problem, I still want/need one.
Lithium-ion batteries in those technologies are made by experienced and highly reliable manufacturers. They know how to construct them in a way that balances the amount of power produced with the amount of power consumed by the device during operation.
This type of battery has three primary parts: Two electrodes, an anode made of graphite, and a cathode made of lithium cobalt oxide or a similar metal oxide. Between is a thin, but porous polyethylene separator that keeps the two apart.
The electric current flows between the anode and the cathode via a liquid, called the electrolyte. If the anode and cathode are not engineered correctly for the power draw or the separator is imperfect, a short circuit can result. When that happens, the electrolyte heats up, the cathode and anode become unstable, and the two react violently with the electrolyte. The temperature may cause the battery to eject its hot internal contents, which catch fire or explode when they come in contact with oxygen in the atmosphere.
Hoverboard manufacturers had many less-than-expert battery suppliers using possible defective materials or improper engineering of parts. Hoverboards pose additional risks. They draw energy from batteries much faster than cellphones and laptops do, which strains the electrodes and raises the internal heat. They are also subject to more mechanical abuse. When they fix the battery problem, I still want/need one.
Font Types and Buying
The type font used by marketers to convey a price promotion affects our perception of the product and purchase behavior.
It is widely accepted that non-serif fonts, such as Helvetica or Arial, are easy to process and should create a positive effect that consumers generally mis-attribute to the quality of the related product. As a result, many companies including Target, Mattel, Staples, and The North Face use Helvetica in their brand logos. Helvetica was also used in the posters for the television show Mad Men. From this, some could assume that when fonts are easier to read, they are more liked by consumers, who would increase purchases.
However, in a new paper, coming in the Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, a team of researchers took a closer look at how consumers' buying decisions are influenced by fonts. They argue that when product and price information appears in difficult to read fonts, customers take more time to read and process the information, which should induce greater recall of that information and may lead to a perception that the product in question is a better value for their money. "Simply stated, we suggest that marketers might think that simplifying a consumer promotion might help increase sale. However we show that, in fact, a harder-to-read font makes them more likely to purchase a product, hence the paradox."
The researchers found that if a marketer wants consumers to notice the value communicated by a lower price, a difficult to read font might be beneficial and more effective. Even though consumers say they do not prefer difficult to read fonts or advertisements, the research shows they are actually more likely to purchase the related promoted offers.
Bottom line, when offers are monetarily similar, consumers prefer fluent fonts. However, even though consumers find prices in fluent fonts easier to grasp, prices promoted in harder-to-read fonts increase sales.
It is widely accepted that non-serif fonts, such as Helvetica or Arial, are easy to process and should create a positive effect that consumers generally mis-attribute to the quality of the related product. As a result, many companies including Target, Mattel, Staples, and The North Face use Helvetica in their brand logos. Helvetica was also used in the posters for the television show Mad Men. From this, some could assume that when fonts are easier to read, they are more liked by consumers, who would increase purchases.
However, in a new paper, coming in the Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, a team of researchers took a closer look at how consumers' buying decisions are influenced by fonts. They argue that when product and price information appears in difficult to read fonts, customers take more time to read and process the information, which should induce greater recall of that information and may lead to a perception that the product in question is a better value for their money. "Simply stated, we suggest that marketers might think that simplifying a consumer promotion might help increase sale. However we show that, in fact, a harder-to-read font makes them more likely to purchase a product, hence the paradox."
The researchers found that if a marketer wants consumers to notice the value communicated by a lower price, a difficult to read font might be beneficial and more effective. Even though consumers say they do not prefer difficult to read fonts or advertisements, the research shows they are actually more likely to purchase the related promoted offers.
Bottom line, when offers are monetarily similar, consumers prefer fluent fonts. However, even though consumers find prices in fluent fonts easier to grasp, prices promoted in harder-to-read fonts increase sales.
Feb 26, 2016
Happy Friday
Happiness is the last defense of old age.
Happiness is also a great offense for enjoying a Happy Friday!
Happiness is also a great offense for enjoying a Happy Friday!
Texas Independence Day
March 2 is the celebration of the adoption of the Texas Declaration of Independence on March 2, 1836. With this document signed by 59 people, settlers in Mexican Texas officially declared independence from Mexico and created the Republic of Texas.
Still More Yogi Berra Quotes
Here are my last bunch of his many famous quotes:
- Slump? I ain’t in no slump… I just ain’t hitting.
- The future ain’t what it used to be.
- We have deep depth.
- Pair up in threes.
- Why buy good luggage, you only use it when you travel.
- Even Napoleon had his Watergate.
- It was impossible to get a conversation going, everybody was talking too much.
- I never blame myself when I’m not hitting. I just blame the bat and if it keeps up, I change bats. After all, if I know it isn’t my fault that I’m not hitting, how can I get mad at myself?
- So I’m ugly. I never saw anyone hit with his face.
- The towels were so thick there I could hardly close my suitcase.
- Little League baseball is a very good thing because it keeps the parents off the streets.
Wordology, Escalumps
People who stand on the left while riding escalators, hindering others from passing.
Mourning Colors
Many colors are used around the world to signify mourning. Important information to know when traveling to avoid a potential faux pas.
In South Africa, red is the color of mourning.
In Iran, blue is the color of mourning.
In Egypt and Burma, yellow signifies mourning.
The ancient Egyptians and Romans used black for mourning, as do most Europeans and Americans today.
Filipino people wear black or white for mourning.
Japanese wear black traditional Japanese clothing at funerals and Buddhist memorial services. Other colors, particularly reds and bright shades, are considered inappropriate for mourning dress.
In Thailand, black is the traditional mourning color. Purple is worn by widows mourning their husband’s death.
In continental Europe and the UK, black is the mourning color. The color of deepest mourning among medieval European queens was white.
In Asia many people dress in different colors such as indigo, ruby-red and many more. In China, during the period of mourning family members of the deceased wear a piece of cloth on their arm for 100 days. A color of the cloth tells the relationship to the deceased. The children of the deceased will wear a black cloth, blue by the grandchildren, and green by the great grandchildren.
In the Middle East it is the norm that white symbolizes time of mourning and funerals.
In India the members of the mourning family and the people who come to participate in mourning all wear white clothes.
Violet and purple became the color of demi-mourning, worn after a widow or widower had worn black for a certain time, before he or she returned to wearing ordinary colors.
In South Africa, red is the color of mourning.
In Iran, blue is the color of mourning.
In Egypt and Burma, yellow signifies mourning.
The ancient Egyptians and Romans used black for mourning, as do most Europeans and Americans today.
Filipino people wear black or white for mourning.
Japanese wear black traditional Japanese clothing at funerals and Buddhist memorial services. Other colors, particularly reds and bright shades, are considered inappropriate for mourning dress.
In Thailand, black is the traditional mourning color. Purple is worn by widows mourning their husband’s death.
In continental Europe and the UK, black is the mourning color. The color of deepest mourning among medieval European queens was white.
In Asia many people dress in different colors such as indigo, ruby-red and many more. In China, during the period of mourning family members of the deceased wear a piece of cloth on their arm for 100 days. A color of the cloth tells the relationship to the deceased. The children of the deceased will wear a black cloth, blue by the grandchildren, and green by the great grandchildren.
In the Middle East it is the norm that white symbolizes time of mourning and funerals.
In India the members of the mourning family and the people who come to participate in mourning all wear white clothes.
Violet and purple became the color of demi-mourning, worn after a widow or widower had worn black for a certain time, before he or she returned to wearing ordinary colors.
Greatest Love Letter
A heartfelt birthday message from Johnny Cash to his wife June has been voted the greatest love letter of all time. It was hand written and the text is below.
We get old and get used to each other. We think alike. We read each other's minds. We know what the other wants without asking. Sometimes we irritate each other a little bit. Maybe sometimes take each other for granted.
But once in awhile, like today, I meditate on it and realize how lucky I am to share my life with the greatest woman I ever met. You still fascinate and inspire me. You influence me for the better. You’re the object of my desire, the #1 Earthly reason for my existence. I love you very much.
Happy Birthday Princess.
John
We get old and get used to each other. We think alike. We read each other's minds. We know what the other wants without asking. Sometimes we irritate each other a little bit. Maybe sometimes take each other for granted.
But once in awhile, like today, I meditate on it and realize how lucky I am to share my life with the greatest woman I ever met. You still fascinate and inspire me. You influence me for the better. You’re the object of my desire, the #1 Earthly reason for my existence. I love you very much.
Happy Birthday Princess.
John
TV Set Top Box Changes
On February 18, this year, the FCC voted to propose formally an open standard for set-top boxes. Proponents say that could mean one box bringing you cable channels, premium TV channels and streaming TV. The process could lead to TV viewers being able to own their cable TV set-top boxes.
It still will be several months before any final action is taken. Debate is expected regarding how the new devices would collect and handle viewers' data and what kind of access the new competitors would get to video content, for which cable companies and their existing competitors have to negotiate contracts.
It still will be several months before any final action is taken. Debate is expected regarding how the new devices would collect and handle viewers' data and what kind of access the new competitors would get to video content, for which cable companies and their existing competitors have to negotiate contracts.
Nine Plants to Clean Stale Air
We all know indoor plants are good to have for a variety of reasons. Some are better than others to help clean stale air.
Many of these plants remove toluene, which is a raw material used in the manufacture of polyurethane foam and TNT. Toluene is also a common solvent for paints, paint thinners, silicone sealants, many chemical reactants, rubber, printing ink, adhesives, lacquers, leather tanners, and disinfectants. Inhalation of toluene in low to moderate levels can cause tiredness, confusion, weakness, drunken-type actions, memory loss, nausea, loss of appetite, and hearing and color vision loss.
Areca Palm - Helps to remove toluene and xylene from the air and can help to increase overall air purification. Great for those who may have asthma or require effective air purification.
Money Plant - Helps to reduce the toxins benzene, formaldehyde, toluene, and xylene from the air. It can also help to increase overall air quality and purification.
Moth Orchid - Ideal for helping to increase purification of the air within homes. They are suitable for removing xylene and toluene and can increase air quality.
Dwarf Date Palm - Helps to reduce common toxins xylene, toluene, and formaldehyde from the air. This plant can also help to promote increased oxygen levels, and is able to improve air quality in highly exposed areas.
Spider Plant - Promotes high air purification. It is suitable for helping to decrease exposure to formaldehyde, toluene, and xylene.
Lilyturf - Helps to remove ammonia, toluene, xylene, and formaldehyde from the air. This plant is capable of increasing oxygen levels and can help to improve air quality. Great for people who are exposed to cleaning products, paint fumes, city or factory smog, or vehicle fumes. This plant can help clean the air for those with common lung conditions including emphysema and asthma.
Boston Fern - Helps to remove formaldehyde from the air and is said to act as a natural type of air humidifier. This plant can also remove xylene and toluene. It is said to be one of the best houseplants for air purification. Great for those living or working in areas where exposure to gasoline exists. They are ideal for homes exposed to city smog, and are suitable for those who may have asthma or breathing conditions.
Purple Waffle Plant - Helps to remove formaldehyde from the air. It can help to increase overall air purification, and is suitable for increasing the quality of the air within any home. Great for city homes that are exposed to smog and car fumes. It may also help those who live near industrial factories.
Bamboo Palm - Helps to remove formaldehyde and is suitable for acting as a natural humidifier for most indoor areas. It can also help to remove xylene and toluene. Great for those who live in high air pollution areas and areas where car fume exposure exists. Suitable for placing in homes or shops which may be exposed to gasoline.
Many of these plants remove toluene, which is a raw material used in the manufacture of polyurethane foam and TNT. Toluene is also a common solvent for paints, paint thinners, silicone sealants, many chemical reactants, rubber, printing ink, adhesives, lacquers, leather tanners, and disinfectants. Inhalation of toluene in low to moderate levels can cause tiredness, confusion, weakness, drunken-type actions, memory loss, nausea, loss of appetite, and hearing and color vision loss.
Areca Palm - Helps to remove toluene and xylene from the air and can help to increase overall air purification. Great for those who may have asthma or require effective air purification.
Money Plant - Helps to reduce the toxins benzene, formaldehyde, toluene, and xylene from the air. It can also help to increase overall air quality and purification.
Moth Orchid - Ideal for helping to increase purification of the air within homes. They are suitable for removing xylene and toluene and can increase air quality.
Dwarf Date Palm - Helps to reduce common toxins xylene, toluene, and formaldehyde from the air. This plant can also help to promote increased oxygen levels, and is able to improve air quality in highly exposed areas.
Spider Plant - Promotes high air purification. It is suitable for helping to decrease exposure to formaldehyde, toluene, and xylene.
Lilyturf - Helps to remove ammonia, toluene, xylene, and formaldehyde from the air. This plant is capable of increasing oxygen levels and can help to improve air quality. Great for people who are exposed to cleaning products, paint fumes, city or factory smog, or vehicle fumes. This plant can help clean the air for those with common lung conditions including emphysema and asthma.
Boston Fern - Helps to remove formaldehyde from the air and is said to act as a natural type of air humidifier. This plant can also remove xylene and toluene. It is said to be one of the best houseplants for air purification. Great for those living or working in areas where exposure to gasoline exists. They are ideal for homes exposed to city smog, and are suitable for those who may have asthma or breathing conditions.
Purple Waffle Plant - Helps to remove formaldehyde from the air. It can help to increase overall air purification, and is suitable for increasing the quality of the air within any home. Great for city homes that are exposed to smog and car fumes. It may also help those who live near industrial factories.
Bamboo Palm - Helps to remove formaldehyde and is suitable for acting as a natural humidifier for most indoor areas. It can also help to remove xylene and toluene. Great for those who live in high air pollution areas and areas where car fume exposure exists. Suitable for placing in homes or shops which may be exposed to gasoline.
Feb 19, 2016
Happy Friday
Savor the happiness, because today will never happen again.
I always savor the happiness, especially on a Happy Friday!
I always savor the happiness, especially on a Happy Friday!
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