DECEMBER 2018
Sunday 2018.12.30
Reflecting on 2018
2018 was a good year for me. Some highlights:
In April I purchased a compact apartment-sized washing machine. No more doing laundry by hand (necessary because the only option was using the trailer park laundry room and clothes would sometimes come home dirtier than before they were washed). My machine, a Haier HPL21N, is still working perfectly. No leaks, no problems. The video of the unboxing and assembly is still the most popular on My Kitchen Vlog YouTube channel, currently with nearly 13,000 views.
In January I purchased a Thule T2 Pro XT bike carrier for my SUV. It allows me to transport my Pedego e-bike (purchased in late 2017) to other locations to ride. That video is the second most popular, at more than 10,000 views.
Other purchases included a Weber grill, a Vitamix A2300 blender, a replacement FoodSaver vacuum sealer, and new pots and pans to use in my videos, all of which I vlogged about on My Kitchen Vlog channel on YouTube. I plan to use my Instant Pot more in 2019; so I ordered a new inner pot with a nonstick coating.
Not everything went well this year. I attempted to start a YouTube channel to encourage people like myself (similar age) to get outside and ride a bicycle more often. Using a GoPro camera attached to my helmet, I recorded some local rides. The response was tepid at best. After a few months the number of views declined to fewer than 70 per video.
Nonetheless, I remain optimistic about YouTube. I started a new channel in November, SmoothieTube. According to YouTube advisors, the channels that do well are those that have many videos that are uploaded often. Smoothies are easy. Put stuff in a jar, blend, drink. I can shoot the video, edit it, and upload it in a matter of minutes. The videos are short too — 5 to 6 minutes. Short videos are not necessarily better. The Haier washing machine video is 16 minutes. However, my analytics page says most videos are watched, on average, 5 to 6 minutes before abandoning. Got it. Some YouTube viewers have a short attention span.
Even though the channel is well below the requirements for monetization, I monetized it and linked it to my Adsense account. The qualifications are 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 hours of views over a 12-month period. If and when the channel reaches those stats I'll be notified by YouTube and I can monetize all the videos.
Books I Read This Past Year
Not to brag, but I read quite a few books in 2018. In no particular order:
American Pravda by James O'Keefe
Media Madness by Howard Kurtz
Russian Roulette by Michael Isikoff and David Corn
Fire and Fury by Michael Wolff
A Higher Loyalty by James Comey
Fascism: A Warning by Madeline Albright
The Plot to Destroy Democracy by Malcom Nance
Facts and Fears by James Clapper and Trey Brown
Fear: Trump in the White House by Bob Woodward
The Soul of America by Jon Meacham
Everything Trump Touches Dies by Rick Wilson
There might have been others:
The Truth about Trump by Michael D'Antonio
Devil's Bargain by Joshua Green
Those latter books are in my e-book library as having been read, but I might have read them in 2017.
And there were a couple others that tried to define what went wrong leading to Hillary Clinton's failure to win the 2016 election. (Her advisors focused on the popular vote, thinking that would assure a win. Trump's people, mostly Steve Bannon, targeted the Electoral College.)
You might notice a pattern: They're all about politics, mostly Donald Trump. I did the same when George W. Bush was president. I wanted to learn all I could, to filter out the lies from Trump and media bias. I trust the authors listed above. I did not read books by Glenn Beck, Bill O'Reilley, Tucker Carlson, Newt Gingrich, Rush Limbaugh, etc.
Like many people these days, I trust the media less than I did in the past. There are too many statements by "an anonymous source close to the president" or some similar non-attribution. How do I know the source was telling the truth? With their identity protected, they can say anything. Now when I see "anonymous source" I try to ignore it. If a source cannot be named, it might be some sensationalism used by the media to improve their ratings. For that matter, how do I know there was any source at all? A journalist could have created some total fabrication and attributed it to an anonymous source.
Do you need an example? I was born in Webster, Massachusetts. We lived there until I was four years old. As I was growing up in Mystic, Connecticut we visited relatives in Webster often. Webster Lake is famous for its ridiculously long name:
Lake Chargoggagoggmanchaoggagoggchaubunaguhgamaugg. Seriously.
And here is what is known about that name: The exaggerated name was apparently invented by Laurence J. Daly, editor of The Webster Times newspaper. According to Ives Goddard, Curator of Anthropology at the Smithsonian Institution, Daly created this "monstrosity" around 1921. One claim states it was an attempt by Daly to improve tourism in the area. Fake news isn't new.
The real Nipmuk name of the lake is supposedly Lake Chargoggagogg.
Other Things Maybe Worth Mentioning
In November of 2017, on camera as part of My Kitchen Vlog, I cauterized my own nose. It has been more than a year and I have not experienced any bleeding. Not even once. I can sniff, sneeze, blow my nose, rub my face when washing it, and no nosebleeds.
This year one computer's data hard disk drive failed. Thankfully it was under warranty and could be returned to Western Digital for a free replacement. However, it took several days to recover the files I'd lost. Not everything was backed up. My most important files, my e-book library, was backed up and to the best of my knowledge I did not lose any of my books.
Meanwhile, the replacement drive arrived on Thursday. I set up the Windows 10 backup system to keep a separate copy of my data files and during the afternoon I completed my first automated data backup. That feels good.
Looking Forward to 2019
What about the year to come? Well, I'm on the horns of a dilemma. Having taken an interest in smoothies, someone suggested I do some keto-friendly smoothies. I knew nothing about ketogenesis. But, I've been reading.
Without going into a lot of details (I'll probably start blogging about it in January), a low-carb diet might be the path to losing weight and enjoying better body health, such as a more normal blood pressure — if I can stick to the diet.
The challenge would be the elimination of most carbohydrates. I can think of dozens of foods that are high in carbs — pasta, pizza, rice, fruit drinks, fresh fruit, starchy vegetables like potatoes, peas, carrots etc. — all of which I love.
What is the dilemma? I would need to change how I cook, and that includes the foods I prepare for my Mobile Home Gourmet channel on YouTube. I'm willing to give it a try, but I imagine losing many subscribers who might get mighty tired of keto-friendly videos. However, I might pick up some new subscribers.
The debate is an easy one. Which is more important to me? The success of my YouTube channel or my health?
Of course, I could start a whole new YouTube channel devoted to keto recipes, but I'm already trying to maintain three active channels now. Adding a fourth would be too much work for me; especially because I do everything, including maintaining this web site, alone.
As I said above, I've been reading. I have several books on keto dieting. With a few modifications (like using my Instant Pot's pressure cooking setting rather than slow cooking), I think it might be worth a try. We'll see. 2019 might be the year I successfully get my weight back down again.
Wednesday 2018.12.26
The Day After Christmas, or Boxing Day
We don't have a Boxing Day here in the USA. I've looked it up a few times down through the years. If I understand, it is the day after Christmas, a day when servants, postal workers, etc. expect to receive a gift box as a "thank you" for services rendered during the year. Are there traditional gifts? Or could the box contain anything from cookies and candy to money?
My Christmas was quiet and relaxing. I needed to relax. I had spent several days recovering from a hard disk failure in one of my computers. I had backups, but they weren't complete.
Yesterday I finished updating the database of my movies. There were also several movies in the queue that I needed to move to permanent storage and record in the database. I worked on that, completing it by evening.
I also needed to find a little program I use to convert Blu-ray movies to MKVs, which is a popular format for movie files. My Yamaha Blu-ray player also plays MKVs. I found the program in the Utilities folder in the other computer.
As for the replacement hard disk drive (in case you're not tired of hearing about it), as of yesterday UPS had not picked it up yet. The label was printed, which was the only progress made. If they pick it up today I might have it by Friday. Then I can set up the automated backup facility in Windows 10.
What Did I Cook for Christmas?
I wasn't invited for Christmas dinner anywhere I wanted to go. Most good friends were out of town, out of state, and one was out of the USA. That left people I didn't want to see.
It isn't in harmony with Christmas spirit, I know, but I avoided one neighbor in particular who likes to pretend she's helpless to get others to work for her. It's the sly way she looks at me, like she's wondering, "Can I con him?"
This time it was, "I don't have any way to heat my Christmas ham. Will you bake it for me?" She has a conventional oven, a counter top toaster oven, a microwave oven, and a counter top roaster (which she used to cook her Thanksgiving turkey). I told her I couldn't because I would be using my oven for my own Christmas dinner. I hadn't decided what I wanted to cook yet, but I knew I'd use the oven.
My plan, ultimately, was to bake one of my extra special deluxe Homemade Pizzas. I pull out all the stops.
Homemade pizza dough
Marinara sauce, cooked until slightly thickened
Italian sausage, sweet or mild, sautéed
Mozzarella cheese
Pepperoni slices placed on paper towels and microwaved to remove excess fat
Onion, chopped and sautéed until caramelized
Sliced mushrooms sautéed in butter and olive oil
Sliced olives
It's a heavy pizza that does not slide easily off the pizza peel onto the pizza stone in the oven, even when I dust the peel liberally with corn meal. So I have a trick. I bake the shaped pizza dough for a few minutes first, then transfer it to the counter where I add all the toppings, and then I return it to the oven for baking. That pre-baking helps the pizza slide off the peel easily.
And, Finally, Something Boring
I'm a little late this year. I usually do it in October or November. Here it is the day after Christmas and I am finally printing my calendars for 2019. You see one in my videos, on the wall of my kitchen. I used to buy them when Borders Bookstores existed. I like the size, but I haven't found them locally. So, I print my own.
It takes a while to create. I use the previous year's calendar as a template, changing the numbers, aligning holidays and milestones, and events, like the beginning of the Tour de France and each solstice and equinox. I'm ready for another year.
Speaking of which, I have a question: If the government isn't re-opened by the time the Democrats occupy the House of Representatives on January 3rd, can they pass a veto-proof extension to the spending bill?
Sunday 2018.12.23
No Feature Recipe This Week
Those who read this blog regularly probably won't be surprised. For most of the past week I've been dealing with Computer 1 (that's how I name them — Computer 1 and Computer 2). The failure of the hard disk drive (HDD) resulted in the loss of some data that wasn't backed up. Thankfully, my e-book library wasn't lost. However, there were many files that had to be replaced.
I mentioned in Sunday's blog that I had one data file to rebuild. It was a spreadsheet of my earnings from YouTube since I monetized my channel in 2014. The numbers aren't really important. I paid my taxes on those earnings. But they provide some history of my channel's growth. It took a while to collect that data from YouTube's analytics reports.
Data wasn't the only project. On Thursday I finished downloading the lost level sets I wanted for my Ricochet Infinity game. I explained the loss in last Sunday's blog. This time I not only collected all the level sets, I also burned them all onto a blank CD for safe keeping.
On Friday I wrote to Western Digital to make certain nothing went wrong with the HDD I returned for replacement under the warranty. The UPS tracking number said the parcel arrived at WD on Tuesday; however, WD's status report was still indicating they were waiting to receive it. They responded to my email and now the replacement has been shipped. I probably won't receive it until Wednesday. It's difficult to predict what might happen, this being Christmas week.
However, I Wasn't Done Yet
Yesterday I looked for a movie and it wasn't in my database. Just to explain: I have a lot of movies on DVDs, Blu-ray discs, and on a movie HDD (mostly MKVs). To keep track of them all, I have two FileMaker databases. I can search for a movie, The End with Burt Reynolds and Dom DeLuise, and the database will tell me which box and pocket it's in.
The databases weren't complete, having not been backed up in a while. Most of my movies were there, but the latest additions were not. So that was my project yesterday. The DVDs were easy — only 12 to add. It was the MKV hard disk that will be a chore.
Revisiting Keto
One of the e-books in my library has 30 keto recipes that can be cooked in an Instant Pot. I thought they might be worth trying. I think they might make good videos because Instant Pots might be given as gifts again this Christmas.
And, Finally, Happy Holidays!
Tuesday is Christmas. My next blog entry will be after the holiday. So, while I can, I wish you all a very merry holiday season.
And One Quick Addendum
I added another smoothie recipe to my SmoothieTube channel. I've been waiting to see the subscriptions go up, which they did, by one, yesterday.
Wednesday 2018.12.19
And Now For Some Good News
On Sunday, with a forlorn heart, I wrote about the loss of Computer 1's D: data hard disk drive (HDD). One of the painful losses was my e-book library. I was sickened by the fact that I hadn't done a recent backup, even though I thought I had when I needed to reload that computer's operating system and programs several months ago.
After dealing with more than a little frustration (I was on the verge of tears) trying to rebuild the computer's files for my web site (which are actually stored on Computer 2 but uploaded from Computer 1 — it's how I keep Computer 2 safe, isolated from the Internet), I finally succeeded and uploaded the latest updates to my site. Then I decided to begin the restoration of the e-book library, as best I could.
Lo and behold! The e-book files are there! I hadn't lost anything — or maybe my most recent books, but certainly nothing prior to December 3rd. So, I really had done the backup — not everything, but the files I value most, my e-books.
Meanwhile, the new replacement HDD arrived late yesterday. I installed it during the evening and after making sure it was properly initialized and formatted, I copied the restored files onto it. So, despite the frustrations, all is well and back to normal again for that computer.
On Monday the failed HDD was sent back to Western Digital for a free replacement under the warranty. They're good about honoring their warranties. This will be the third HDD they've replaced since I started building my own computers a couple decades ago. The replacement will be my new backup HDD.
Now here's the best part: Probably most of you already know about this, but I didn't. Windows 10 has its own backup system. I'm just beginning to explore it, but from what I understand I can designate the second HDD as the backup disk and Windows will automatically maintain my backups for me.
More Good News
I watch the statistics for my YouTube channel more closely this time of year because the holiday season is when people are more likely to search for recipes. Activity peaks during November and especially December — Thanksgiving is observed in the USA, but Christmas is celebrated around the world.
Other anomalies occasionally appear in the analytics. For example, my Fish & Chips video suddenly became popular earlier this year. It has been my top grossing video for YouTube revenue. Last year it was Salmon Jerky. I don't earn a living from my channel, but at least it pays for the food and helps me to put a little something aside to pay for unexpected expenditures, such as replacing the computer hard disk drive that failed.
This month Bailey's Irish Cream caught the attention of people. That's important because my cooking channel is very seasonal. In Jaunary popularity (and therefore my earnings) will plummet and remain low, especially in the summer (a period I call "the doldrums") before beginning to shift upward again in late autumn. One or two popular videos help reduce the financial losses during periods of low activity.
And maybe one other point worth mentioning: The first thing I do when a video starts to become popular is I change the comments control to "approved" for that video, which means I get to see and approve comments before they go public. This allows me to weed out the trolls — and they really are there — before their insensitive comments might offend others.
And Finally
This morning I rebuilt the last data file I think I need — the earnings report spreadsheet for my YouTube channel, going back to 2014. Now I only need to wait for Western Digital to send me the hard disk replacement so that I can set up my backup program.
Sunday 2018.12.16
Today's blog entry won't be a long one because…
Some Bad News
Computer 1's data hard disk died suspiciously Friday evening. I say "suspiciously" because I had just downloaded and used a file utility that was supposed to delete a file directory that I couldn't delete normally. The utility didn't work.
The unwanted file folder was on a different hard disk, which I moved to Computer 2. Then it was easy to delete the folder (because that computer wasn't restricting access). But when I tried to restart Computer 1, the D: drive data hard disk was unreadable. I tried everything I know how to do to recover the drive, including using Western Digital's diagnostics tool, but to no avail.
Worse, I thought I had a recent backup of the data files. I had to reload the computer's operating system a few months ago and I was sure I did a complete backup then. However, the files on my backup disk were dated March 2017 or earlier. Ugh!
I didn't lose anything that cannot be replaced, but recovery will take a lot of my time. It will give me something to do while I wait for the replacement hard disk to arrive later this week. I've already started, spending most of yesterday rebuilding some important files.
On the bright side, when I ordered the new drive it was on sale, discounted 25%, ending today. I bought a $160 drive for $120 with free shipping, and there was more than enough funds in my PayPal account to pay for it.
I ordered a Western Digital Black "Performance" hard disk drive. I prefer those because they have a five year warranty — which brings up another advantage. The failed drive is dated May 6, 2015. It's still under warranty. I'll return it for a free replacement, which I will use as a new backup drive. Note to self: Do backups regularly.
Meanwhile, I'm not one to throw away an old hard disk drive (HDD) that might still have some life remaining in it. From a box on the shelf I recovered the D: data drive from my former Computer 1, which I replaced in 2015. The HDD is dated February 2010. I wouldn't use it as a primary drive, but it will serve as a temporary data drive until the new disk arrives. That will provide some storage space as I rebuild some of the files I need. When the new drive arrives, I'll transfer the files.
I think the worst of it was the loss of the levels for a game I like to play — Ricochet Infinity. The makers of the game shut down their web site and it appeared all the levels I hadn't played were gone. However, someone created a new web site, hosting all the levels. 459 pages of 10 levels per page. I had downloaded them, but I hadn't back them up. So, I began downloading again yesterday evening.
The other sense of loss is with my e-book library. I have an old (2016) backup. The books I read are still on my e-book readers (I have two). The books I wanted to read, but were not backed up, are lost until I find them, if I can.
Wednesday 2018.12.12
My Kitchen Vlog
I hadn't done a Kitchen Vlog in a while. Partly it was because I've been busy with smoothies, and partly it was because I didn't have much to talk about. I didn't want to ramble for eight minutes just to fill a void. That chanced on Monday.
I received a Costco sales booklet in the mail last week. I get one every month. One item caught my attention — a set of Calphalon Space-Saving Cookware.
I've been using the same pots and pans since graduating from college. They're good. I keep them clean and shiny for use in my cooking videos. I've seen sets of cookware at Costco for years, but I always ignore them. If anything, I might purchase a new skillet every few years and toss my old one into the recycling bin.
The Calphalon set attracted me because of the way the pieces stack, saving space in the cupboard. There isn't much storage space in a mobile home. Having a storage shed in the back yard helps, but the shelves out there are filling up.
After thinking about it for a few days, I finally decided to buy the set on Monday. During the later afternoon I did a video of the unboxing. Yesterday I uploaded the video to my Kitchen Vlog channel.
I'll keep my old pans for everyday use. The new ones will be set aside to use exclusively in my cooking videos.
Latest Smoothie
I continue to make smoothie videos for my YouTube SmoothieTube channel, hoping it might eventually be discovered. My first goal is 100 subscribers, which will qualify me for a custom URL on YouTube. I have 41 at the moment; so if you're popular on social media sites, I'd appreciate some exposure.
Earlier today I upload a smoothie video I made with some blackberries in the freezer. They were the last of those berries; so it was a good excuse to use them up.
According to YouTube guidance videos, one of the best ways to encourage a channel's growth is to upload often, at least three times a week. Thankfully, smoothie videos are quick and easy to make. Maybe someday the channel will be popular enough to monetize. I'm a very long way from that level of success. If I don't try, however, I'll never get there.
And, Finally, Keto
I've been exploring the keto thing. I found a cookbook of keto recipes made in an Instant Pot. They look easy. It might be a way to expand my Mobile Home Gourmet cooking channel. Keto seems to be popular. I will conclude with this thought: I suspect these recipes haven't been tested, merely someone's ideas about recipes that might make delicious meals. It's worth trying because the recipes look delicious.
Sunday 2018.12.9
Christmas Movies
It's the time of year to watch, and watch again, many of those beloved Christmas movies. Some are old, some are new.
I have a list of movies I try to watch each December. I occasionally add a new one, as I did with The Bishop's Wife, which I borrowed from the local library and copied. It was also my first time watching The 12 Dogs of Christmas and A Christmas Tale. The former is a family-friendly feel-good movie. The latter, filled with anger and hatred, might not be suitable for all audiences. It's a French film. Maybe that explains it.
One movie in particular caused me to laugh in an unexpected place. It was Scrooged with Bill Murray. As he is under the control of the Ghost of Christmas Present, he finds himself below a New York City sidewalk grate. The place is filthy and cold. He asks, "Where are we, Trump Tower?" I can't quite connect it with "drain the swamp," but I also can't help thinking the swamp ooze begins at Trump Tower in New York and flows into Washington DC.
If you're interested, here are the movies I'm watching this year (listed in the order of their IMDb.com rating):
The 12 Dogs of Christmas
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Jim Carrey)
Just Friends
A Very Harold and Kumar Christmas
The Night Before
The Polar Express
Scrooge (1935)
An American Christmas Carol
Elf
Scrooged (Bill Murray)
A Christmas Tale
Arthur Christmas
Christmas in Connecticut
A Christmas Carol (1938)
Home Alone
The Bishop's Wife
Meet Me in St. Louis
White Christmas
A Christmas Carol (1984) Walter C. Scott
Miracle on 34th Street
A Christmas Story
The Nightmare Before Christmas
A Christmas Carol (1951)
The Shop Around the Corner
A Charlie Brown Christmas
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (animation)
It's a Wonderful Life
I'm nearly halfway through that list. Yesterday evening I watched Christmas in Connecticut. Maybe it's because I'm getting old, but I prefer feel-good movies now. A former friend thinks everyone should like harsh dramas filled with painful truths about life, but I think he's crazy (if he's still alive — he wasn't doing well nearly ten years ago when I last saw him).
I am reminded of something I read many years ago, attributed to the author E.M. Forster. He said there was a time in England when young lovers could escape to the greenwood. Now England is all paved over and policed. People still escape, he said, but now they can be seen in the movie theaters. If movies are a place to escape, they should provide a satisfying and pleasant diversion from life's harsh realities. Those of us who are getting well up in years might not have much time left; so let's enjoy the few pleasures remaining to us — good friends, delicious food and a fun movie once in a while (or good books, which I enjoy too).
And Speaking of Trump Tower
I added a note to my calendar for Friday December 7 as the beginning of the end for Donald Trump. Of course, there is possibly a long way to go before the nation is finally rid of the worst president in USA history. But it seemed like the three court filings by Robert Mueller on Friday were the first three nails in the Trump presidential coffin. More to come.
One comment I appreciated this week: Someone said the discussion and analyses of the failed Trump presidency will far exceed those of Richard Nixon after Watergate. Historians will be writing about Trump for many decades.
SmoothieTube
For those who might be interested in smoothies, yesterday I uploaded another smoothie video.
Wednesday 2018.12.5
Remote Control Revisited
In Sunday's blog I mentioned having ordered a new remote control for my Sony video camera. It was scheduled to arrive today, but it arrived Priority Mail on Monday. Excellent!
I also mentioned the possibility of programming a "learning" remote control to perform the functions of the replacement remote, the idea being that I could put the new remote away to keep it safe for the future while I use the learning remote (Sony RM-AV3000, heretofore "3000") to run my camera. So, how did that go? Excellent again!
Many years ago I used the 3000 to control stereo components and a TV. If you're wondering how old it is, the user's guide was copyrighted 2002. If I remember correctly, I bought it on Ebay. And it came complete with manuals.
Not everything is perfect. I would have liked to program those arrow buttons, but they're off limits, as are the other buttons. Only the functions in the display can be programmed. However, other than that, the remote works well. I can start and stop recording. I can use the numbers 2, 4, 6, and 8 as if they were arrow keys with number 5 as the OK key.
There is one advantage I appreciate. The original remote uses a coin battery, a 3V CR2025, which I had difficulty finding when I thought the original problem might be the battery. The 3000 uses four AA batteries and I have many Ni-MH rechargeables.
I kept my original remote sealed in a plastic pouch to protect it from foods on my fingers. The 3000, though large, also fits in a plastic pouch and it works the same — the infrared beam projects through the transparent plastic.
A little aside: I learned to wrap remote controls in plastic from some Chinese friends. It works especially well when the remote is new. Keep it wrapped in sturdy plastic (I use plastic from ziplock freezer bags) and change the plastic once a year when you change the batteries. Make sure the end where the beam comes out is covered by one layer, without any seams there. Years later the remote will still look like new.
And so, with the battery removed from the replacement remote, I put it back in its plastic bag and box and stored it away for the future.
And Another Thing…
If you've watched enough of my SmoothieTube videos you know I have a Samsung tablet that I use with my Perfect Blend app and Vitamix scale. I got to thinking it might be fun to use the tablet in the kitchen while making a video. I could show that I'm following a recipe in Gordon Ramsay's Ultimate Cookery Course book. And therein lies another potential problem. How do I keep the tablet clean?
Once again: Plastic. It fits neatly inside a one-gallon ziplock bag. Tape the extra to the back. Using my finger to select apps and turn pages (I like the Nook ereader app best), it works perfectly.
One of the local grocery stores has chicken pieces on sale this week for 79¢ per pound. It's a good time to buy chicken thighs. I'll make Gordon Ramsay's "Sichuan Chicken Thighs" for a video, using both my tablet and my remote control wrapped in plastic.
And the Weather
It's a good day to stay home and cook. It's raining off and on outside, chilly and wet. We're a little behind where we should be for this time of year — currently 90%. It's supposed to rain more tomorrow; so maybe we'll catch up.
Sunday 2018.12.2
Revisiting Tomato and Basil Soup
I've been wanting to experiment with something. The blades in the bottom of a Vitamix blender jar are not sharp; they're blunt. The intent is that they should crash their way through foods, not cut through them, breaking the pieces into smaller and small particles. This makes things smooth.
The high speed of the blades, along with their blunt edges, creates friction. According to the documentation, recipes, and reviews, this heat can cook your food right in the blender jar. No need for pots and pans. I needed to try this.
This being the colder time of year, soup is on my mind. Naturally, smooth soups would be best, such as my recipe for Tomato and Basil Soup. And that is how this week's feature recipe and video for Vitamix Tomato and Basil Soup began.
The Vitamix does what it claims to do. It creates enough heat in the blender jar to actually cook the contents inside. The soup was hot at the end of the blending cycle. The flavor was good too. I chose to experiment a little more by blending some sun-dried tomatoes into the soup for a richer tomato flavor. That worked well too.
I don't know how often I'd use this feature. Other than my recipe for Butternut Squash Soup, I don't have any additional recipes for smooth soups. You can imagine what the blender would do to Clam Chowder or Pasta Fagioli. I imagine something like Marinara Sauce would come out of the blender too smooth to be enjoyable on pasta. So, the feature has its uses, but it also has its limitations.
Things Get Old; Things Wear Out
I've been fortunate, maybe. For the number of times I've used my remote control to operate my Sony video camera, it has held up for more than eight years. It has been getting a little fussy lately — difficult to start and stop each recording. On Friday it seemed to finally die.
I checked the battery in my tester and it appeared to be strong. That's not a good indicator, however. "Good" doesn't necessarily mean good enough. The best test is to transfer the battery to the remote for my Nikon camera. Place the Nikon across the room and try to take a picture with the remote. If the camera responds, the battery is good. It did; it is. So the problem must be in the Sony remote.
I opened up the remote. It looked like the connector thingies on the underside of the three buttons I use most had worn off, even though I keep the remote heat sealed in a plastic pouch. Wear and tear. It gets to us all.
Fortunately, I was able to find a new one (the seller claimed it was new) on Ebay. The remote is no longer available from other retailers and I couldn't find one that was compatible. The price on Ebay was good too. If you're not familiar with audio/video equipment, it's expensive! A microphone for my lavalier transmitter is more than $130. The remote, with shipping, was only about $16. I consider that a bargain.
Here's a thought: I have a few "learning" remotes in a drawer. I no longer use them, but with batteries installed they should function okay. Although they're supposed to learn how to operate components like DVD players and TVs, I wonder if they can be taught to operate my camera. It's worth experimenting. If all goes well, I can use an old remote and save the new one as a spare for the future. I might never find another one.
Good News Rain
The most recent storm wasn't a serious one. No catastrophic mud slides. But it gave us some much needed rain. At the top of the mountain pass nearly five inches fell. Where I live we received nearly two inches. Most importantly, we are at 101% rainfall for where we should be at this time of year. The local reservoir is still at only about 30% capacity, but we don't get our water from that lake anyway. We use well water here.
And starting on Wednesday there might be a few more days of rain. One can only hope this might be a propitious beginning.