Monday, August 31, 2015

Kitchen Pots And Pans

     Some people never cook. If they do cook it means putting something into the microwave oven. Of one of those frozen dinners in the oven. As most of the time they eat out. Perhaps they get take out or even delivery.
     There are the folks that cook at home. Nothing fancy but do their best with food that is within the budget. It requires a stove, oven and refrigerator.  As almost any place of residence has these appliances it works. Basic and useful. There are little things as well. I have lived here for 13 years and have just recently realized that when the light goes out on the oven it is at the set temp. Duh!
     When setting up a decent home kitchen you need pots, pans and bowls. Knives and utensils. My take on frying pans are get at least a 12 inch pan. You can put less in a large pan but not more in a small one. Same way with sauce pans. One or two for recipes. That's all you need. 
     Most hook up with a cheap department store package that comes with a stock pot, frying pan and two sauce pans. That is all you really need. But you should really think about getting a pan or pot one at a time. Get a nice one that will last. Maybe get a 12 inch Lodge iron skillet, the best in class. Available at Walmart. Less than $30. I also have a Tranmontina tri-clad stainless pan with lid in the 12 inch size. It can be a pain to clean and a lot of food will stick if you do not know how to use it properly. I have recently bought a T-fal stainless steel bottom non stick 12 inch pan. The box says you can use metal utensiles with it. By when you open up the box is states otherwise. So I do not. And do not forget yard sales and relatives. Mom hooked me up with a 10 Revevre Ware frying pan and a couple of sauce pans. Stainless steel with copper bottoms. The standard in the USA in the 1940's to 1960's homes.
     Sauce pans can be used for many things. Making sauce. Heating canned vegetables. I have had cheap department store pans for years and they do work. Just not that fancy. If you can snag a couple of nice ones fine. But get one or nice ones and you will mostly be done. Yard sales may be a good place to go. But try to get a lid with it as it is very useful. 
     Now we will talk about Dutch ovens and roasters. I bought two to make a test. A Granite Ware (you know the blue thing your mother and grandmother used) a 5 quart Lodge cast iron Dutch oven. I was suprised as the Granite Ware roasted a whole chicken just as well or better then the Lodge which was much more expensive and a pain to clean. The Dutch oven in the cheap set will not likely take the oven heat. The Lodge will take any heat you throw at it and I think the Granite Ware will as well. 
     Then we come to a stock pot. I got the Tranmontina 8 quart stock pot with a pasta cooker, steamer and lid. You can make some kicking soup with this one. Even if you are not making 8 quarts! And you can use the other accoutrement's in the event you need them. 
      The thing of it is that you have enough instruments to get the job done. In the event that you will even use them or need them . 


Kitchen Pots And Pans

     Some people never cook. If they do cook it means putting something into the microwave oven. Of one of those frozen dinners in the oven. As most of the time they eat out. Perhaps they get take out or even delivery.
     There are the folks that cook at home. Nothing fancy but do their best with food that is within the budget. It requires a stove, oven and refrigerator.  As almost any place of residence has these appliances it works. Basic and useful. There are little things as well. I have lived here for 13 years and have just recently realized that when the light goes out on the oven it is at the set temp. Duh!
     When setting up a decent home kitchen you need pots, pans and bowls. Knives and utensils. My take on frying pans are get at least a 12 inch pan. You can put less in a large pan but not more in a small one. Same way with sauce pans. One or two for recipes. That's all you need. 
     Most hook up with a cheap department store package that comes with a stock pot, frying pan and two sauce pans. That is all you really need. But you should really think about getting a pan or pot one at a time. Get a nice one that will last. Maybe get a 12 inch Lodge iron skillet, the best in class. Available at Walmart. Less than $30. I also have a Tranmontina tri-clad stainless pan with lid in the 12 inch size. It can be a pain to clean and a lot of food will stick if you do not know how to use it properly. I have recently bought a T-fal stainless steel bottom non stick 12 inch pan. The box says you can use metal utensiles with it. By when you open up the box is states otherwise. So I do not. And do not forget yard sales and relatives. Mom hooked me up with a 10 Revevre Ware frying pan and a couple of sauce pans. Stainless steel with copper bottoms. The standard in the USA in the 1940's to 1960's homes.
     Sauce pans can be used for many things. Making sauce. Heating canned vegetables. I have had cheap department store pans for years and they do work. Just not that fancy. If you can snag a couple of nice ones fine. But get one or nice ones and you will mostly be done. Yard sales may be a good place to go. But try to get a lid with it as it is very useful. 
     Now we will talk about Dutch ovens and roasters. I bought two to make a test. A Granite Ware (you know the blue thing your mother and grandmother used) a 5 quart Lodge cast iron Dutch oven. I was suprised as the Granite Ware roasted a whole chicken just as well or better then the Lodge which was much more expensive and a pain to clean. The Dutch oven in the cheap set will not likely take the oven heat. The Lodge will take any heat you throw at it and I think the Granite Ware will as well. 
     Then we come to a stock pot. I got the Tranmontina 8 quart stock pot with a pasta cooker, steamer and lid. You can make some kicking soup with this one. Even if you are not making 8 quarts! And you can use the other accoutrement's in the event you need them. 
      The thing of it is that you have enough instruments to get the job done. In the event that you will even use them or need them . 


Thursday, August 27, 2015

Low Cost Beef Choices

     As the price of beef and all meat is on the rise, not again but still we have to look into our choices. 
     Let us start with beef. With the best cuts running anywhere from about $15 to $29 it is out of most folks budget. Standing rib roasts, T bones, Porterhouse, rib eye, all very high priced. Even the bargain cuts we eat as kids at home are high. Round steak, chuck steak, chuck roast, round roast, ground beef are high. Also cuts that were really cheap like flank steak, stew meat and back ribs are up there now. There are many other cuts out there now as well. 
     Tenderness is the big thing with price. Anyone can take a rib eye, throw it on the grill or a hot pan and make a delicious steak. The less expensive cuts require a little more time and finesse. Marinating is generally the key. As well as how you cook it. So if you are going to cook a flank steak or other similar cut plan on marinating it for at least a day. There are dry and wet marinates. Wet in a stainless or glass bowl for 24 hours will usually do the trick. Then cook it low and slow. Or a quick braise in a hot pan getting the outside browned and the inside rare. This is usually done best with a dry salt and garlic power marinate. Whether you go slow and low or pan seared the meat should be cut across the grain. As the meat is mostly muscle. Cut it into thin strips and it will also not be as tough. London broil is also a good cut to be creative with. Get a two pound London broil and cut it into four eight ounce servings. To be used all at once or freeze the other three. Ground beef is another thing. Ground chuck usually has the best lean to fat ratio of 80/20. 
     Chicken is really a mystery now. You can buy a whole box of eight piece chicken for $6 or a whole roasted on for about $7. But a whole raw chicken is $7 on up. Pieces in packages are out of this world. Why. Because that cheap cooked chicken is a drawing card to get you into the store. Chicken can be baked, fried, boiled or grilled. The whole chicken can be roasted at home with leftovers. The bones be boiled down to make chicken stock for other recipes. If not going to be used within a day or two the stock should be frozen. You can also make stock out of the whole chicken that you buy and cut up yourself. If you do not plan on using the whole cut up chicken at one time put it in freezer bags and use it later. Also think about buying chicken livers, gizzards and hearts. They can be great. Check the search area on this blog for ways to do them. 
     Let's talk about pork a bit. Do you like pork chops, spare ribs, country style ribs, roast, bacon, sausage? Pork makes it all. So people even make a whole pigs by roasting it in a pit. But most buy it at the market in the serving we want. Oddly enough bacon used to be the cheapest but is pretty high priced now. Your cooked and smoked sausages make for about the least expensive meats you can bring to the table. 
     As I do not know that much about lamb I will not discuss it. 

Low Cost Beef Choices

     As the price of beef and all meat is on the rise, not again but still we have to look into our choices. 
     Let us start with beef. With the best cuts running anywhere from about $15 to $29 it is out of most folks budget. Standing rib roasts, T bones, Porterhouse, rib eye, all very high priced. Even the bargain cuts we eat as kids at home are high. Round steak, chuck steak, chuck roast, round roast, ground beef are high. Also cuts that were really cheap like flank steak, stew meat and back ribs are up there now. There are many other cuts out there now as well. 
     Tenderness is the big thing with price. Anyone can take a rib eye, throw it on the grill or a hot pan and make a delicious steak. The less expensive cuts require a little more time and finesse. Marinating is generally the key. As well as how you cook it. So if you are going to cook a flank steak or other similar cut plan on marinating it for at least a day. There are dry and wet marinates. Wet in a stainless or glass bowl for 24 hours will usually do the trick. Then cook it low and slow. Or a quick braise in a hot pan getting the outside browned and the inside rare. This is usually done best with a dry salt and garlic power marinate. Whether you go slow and low or pan seared the meat should be cut across the grain. As the meat is mostly muscle. Cut it into thin strips and it will also not be as tough. London broil is also a good cut to be creative with. Get a two pound London broil and cut it into four eight ounce servings. To be used all at once or freeze the other three. Ground beef is another thing. Ground chuck usually has the best lean to fat ratio of 80/20. 
     Chicken is really a mystery now. You can buy a whole box of eight piece chicken for $6 or a whole roasted on for about $7. But a whole raw chicken is $7 on up. Pieces in packages are out of this world. Why. Because that cheap cooked chicken is a drawing card to get you into the store. Chicken can be baked, fried, boiled or grilled. The whole chicken can be roasted at home with leftovers. The bones be boiled down to make chicken stock for other recipes. If not going to be used within a day or two the stock should be frozen. You can also make stock out of the whole chicken that you buy and cut up yourself. If you do not plan on using the whole cut up chicken at one time put it in freezer bags and use it later. Also think about buying chicken livers, gizzards and hearts. They can be great. Check the search area on this blog for ways to do them. 
     Let's talk about pork a bit. Do you like pork chops, spare ribs, country style ribs, roast, bacon, sausage? Pork makes it all. So people even make a whole pigs by roasting it in a pit. But most buy it at the market in the serving we want. Oddly enough bacon used to be the cheapest but is pretty high priced now. Your cooked and smoked sausages make for about the least expensive meats you can bring to the table. 
     As I do not know that much about lamb I will not discuss it. 

Green Beans, Potatos And Bacon

     A nice little simple dish that can be a meal or hearty side. All you need is a medium to large saucepan. Five small red potatoes, a can of green beans, and about a quarter pound of bacon. 
     Put enough water in the saucepan to halfway cover the potatoes. Put in the green beans. Cut the bacon into small pieces. Salt and pepper. Heat on high for about fifteen minutes. Turn down to low heat. Cook for about thirty or forty minutes All done. 

Green Beans, Potatos And Bacon

     A nice little simple dish that can be a meal or hearty side. All you need is a medium to large saucepan. Five small red potatoes, a can of green beans, and about a quarter pound of bacon. 
     Put enough water in the saucepan to halfway cover the potatoes. Put in the green beans. Cut the bacon into small pieces. Salt and pepper. Heat on high for about fifteen minutes. Turn down to low heat. Cook for about thirty or forty minutes All done. 

Stock Market

     Well my prediction from 2014 is coming true. The stock market is going to rectify itself again. With the economy as bad as it is there is no way the stock market should have been as high as it was. 
    So who loses. You folks with 401Ks to start. My 401K dropped 60% in 2001. Not that big of a deal for me as I did not have that much in it. But many people I know lost hundreds of thousands of dollars. As their entire retirement was tied to the stock market. 
     In days of old when Knights were bold the individual companies managed the retirement plans. Being responsible for them as an individual company. Now most are on a 401K deal the responsibility of being a company is out of the picture. 
     The Dow Jones Industrial Average has been the benchmark of the Stock Exchange for years. Now it is going down again. It has to. 
     Seventy-five percent of Americans are living check to check. Miss a weeks of work and are done. Toast. Doesn't matter if you drive a Mercedes or ride the bus. You are living check to check. So much for the great economy. 
     At least fifty percent of the sales my grocery store does is on food stamps. I would consider that a good economy. Wouldn't you. Most people work within 2 or 3 dollars of minimum wage. There are still a lot of people out of work.
     The real season the Market is so high is that the dollar doesn't buy what it used to. Just look at the prices at the store. If you consider a nice neighborhood in any city, the prices of those homes have went up considerably even though it is the same house. Same thing just more dollars to buy. 
      Why has the Federal Reserve printed up so much cash money? Most people seem to be using a card whether debit or credit. Where is all that cash going? Why do we need it. Is is possible we are going to move back to a more cash economy. Wouldn't that be interesting. 
     It appears that the stock market is rebounding. The media has had its fun with the markets movement.  

Stock Market

     Well my prediction from 2014 is coming true. The stock market is going to rectify itself again. With the economy as bad as it is there is no way the stock market should have been as high as it was. 
    So who loses. You folks with 401Ks to start. My 401K dropped 60% in 2001. Not that big of a deal for me as I did not have that much in it. But many people I know lost hundreds of thousands of dollars. As their entire retirement was tied to the stock market. 
     In days of old when Knights were bold the individual companies managed the retirement plans. Being responsible for them as an individual company. Now most are on a 401K deal the responsibility of being a company is out of the picture. 
     The Dow Jones Industrial Average has been the benchmark of the Stock Exchange for years. Now it is going down again. It has to. 
     Seventy-five percent of Americans are living check to check. Miss a weeks of work and are done. Toast. Doesn't matter if you drive a Mercedes or ride the bus. You are living check to check. So much for the great economy. 
     At least fifty percent of the sales my grocery store does is on food stamps. I would consider that a good economy. Wouldn't you. Most people work within 2 or 3 dollars of minimum wage. There are still a lot of people out of work.
     The real season the Market is so high is that the dollar doesn't buy what it used to. Just look at the prices at the store. If you consider a nice neighborhood in any city, the prices of those homes have went up considerably even though it is the same house. Same thing just more dollars to buy. 
      Why has the Federal Reserve printed up so much cash money? Most people seem to be using a card whether debit or credit. Where is all that cash going? Why do we need it. Is is possible we are going to move back to a more cash economy. Wouldn't that be interesting. 
     It appears that the stock market is rebounding. The media has had its fun with the markets movement.  

Cook's Illustrated Magazine

     I am on my third issue of Cook's Illustrated Magazine. I have really enjoyed the publication. First it has no advertising. All the pictures are black and white. Or just drawings. Makes for a unique publication. 
    Everything is however for sale. As I thought that I had access to cooksIllusstrated.com. I did not however, just the magazine. But I could pay extra for it. Every cook book is for sale. Which is why they are in business. 
     The content is good. With tips and recipes. Product testing. Both kitchen tools and consumers products. 
     My weakness is kitchen tools. I already had iron skillets. So I could blow off that article. So far their test have sold me a Danish dough whisk, a knife sharpener and a non stick skillet which I said I would not buy again. This last issue has an article on carbon steel skillets. Did I mention they already sold me on a tri-ply stainless steel skillet? Does anyone read this stuff. The best recommended carbon steel skillet is now on back order at Amazon. Guess so. 
     I have not tried a lot of the recipes. Although many of them look good and they give an in depth reason for doing things the way they do and explains haw they done it another way which a worse result. Very strong. Each issue has a lot of recipes. Every one specific. 
     The magazine is also part of the PBS shows Cook's Country and America's Test Kitchen. 
      Both shows that I enjoy. As many do. Cook's Country focuses more on updating old recipes. Where America's Test Kitchen does perfected recipes and tests on food products and kitchen equipement.

Cook's Illustrated Magazine

     I am on my third issue of Cook's Illustrated Magazine. I have really enjoyed the publication. First it has no advertising. All the pictures are black and white. Or just drawings. Makes for a unique publication. 
    Everything is however for sale. As I thought that I had access to cooksIllusstrated.com. I did not however, just the magazine. But I could pay extra for it. Every cook book is for sale. Which is why they are in business. 
     The content is good. With tips and recipes. Product testing. Both kitchen tools and consumers products. 
     My weakness is kitchen tools. I already had iron skillets. So I could blow off that article. So far their test have sold me a Danish dough whisk, a knife sharpener and a non stick skillet which I said I would not buy again. This last issue has an article on carbon steel skillets. Did I mention they already sold me on a tri-ply stainless steel skillet? Does anyone read this stuff. The best recommended carbon steel skillet is now on back order at Amazon. Guess so. 
     I have not tried a lot of the recipes. Although many of them look good and they give an in depth reason for doing things the way they do and explains haw they done it another way which a worse result. Very strong. Each issue has a lot of recipes. Every one specific. 
     The magazine is also part of the PBS shows Cook's Country and America's Test Kitchen. 
      Both shows that I enjoy. As many do. Cook's Country focuses more on updating old recipes. Where America's Test Kitchen does perfected recipes and tests on food products and kitchen equipement.

Saturday, August 22, 2015

Kitchen Bowls.

     When setting up your home kitchen do not forget about bowls. My take on bowls is that the more the merrier. But you need at least three. As many recipes require you to flour, egg wash and dip in bread crumbs. 
     Medium to large bowls are the best to start with. As you can put less in a large bowl, but not more in a small bowl. Think about it. 
     Now we have to think about the material. Glass, stainless steel, ceramic or plastic. All have their pluses and minus. Glass looks cool. It has no problem with leaching of ingredients. Although it will chip and break if dropped on a hard surface. It is also heavy.
      Stainless steel is light and does not leach as well. Although the store that I work for recommends marinating in glass. Stainless steel will not break if dropped. I have found however that it will get scratched if you use it with a hand mixer. Maybe not a problem with a stand mixer. As I have not been able to throw down $400 for a Kitchen Aid  mixer yet. 
     I have worked for years with a large ceramic bowl that one of my grandmothers gave me. It was so pretty. Probably from the 1930s. I dropped it and that was it. The bowl was gone forever. Should not of ever used it. Without any experience with modern ceramic. I cannot tell you correctly. I do see a need or want for a ceramic bowl unless it is to be used for used for holding fruit and display. Especially if it is antique. 
     As far a plastic bowls I have two. But would not get any more. They are what they are. Will not break, cannot take heat and will leach if you subject them to heat. Good for mixing batter etc. 
     The way I see it is that you just need to pick between glass and stainless steel. I have both and like both. 

      

Kitchen Bowls.

     When setting up your home kitchen do not forget about bowls. My take on bowls is that the more the merrier. But you need at least three. As many recipes require you to flour, egg wash and dip in bread crumbs. 
     Medium to large bowls are the best to start with. As you can put less in a large bowl, but not more in a small bowl. Think about it. 
     Now we have to think about the material. Glass, stainless steel, ceramic or plastic. All have their pluses and minus. Glass looks cool. It has no problem with leaching of ingredients. Although it will chip and break if dropped on a hard surface. It is also heavy.
      Stainless steel is light and does not leach as well. Although the store that I work for recommends marinating in glass. Stainless steel will not break if dropped. I have found however that it will get scratched if you use it with a hand mixer. Maybe not a problem with a stand mixer. As I have not been able to throw down $400 for a Kitchen Aid  mixer yet. 
     I have worked for years with a large ceramic bowl that one of my grandmothers gave me. It was so pretty. Probably from the 1930s. I dropped it and that was it. The bowl was gone forever. Should not of ever used it. Without any experience with modern ceramic. I cannot tell you correctly. I do see a need or want for a ceramic bowl unless it is to be used for used for holding fruit and display. Especially if it is antique. 
     As far a plastic bowls I have two. But would not get any more. They are what they are. Will not break, cannot take heat and will leach if you subject them to heat. Good for mixing batter etc. 
     The way I see it is that you just need to pick between glass and stainless steel. I have both and like both. 

      

Thursday, August 20, 2015

Seven Years Of Commuting With My Trek Hybrid 7100

     As usual when I walk into a place of business I do not seem like anyone that someone would wait on. I had a 1974 Schwinn Le Tour. It was and is a great bicycle. Still cooking after all these years. It is the only bike I would probably ever need. Pretty original. Rims and all. Just not so pretty anymore. So I decided that I need another bike. 
     The salesperson asked if I would be racing or mountain biking. I said I just want something that I can ride to commute around town and back and forth to work. With the pleura of categories of bicycles available now I told him I do not know. So we landed on a hybrid. By this time the salesperson decided that I was their to buy something right then and there. Right or wrong. But I was going to leave with something. 
     Without wasting much time I was between the FX series and the hybrid series. I was told that the FX series was for fitness. The hybrid series was for casual riders to go to the coffee shop and such. Well I wasn't thinking about fitness or the coffee shop. Just a way to get around. Even though there were no other customers around, I sensed that the salesperson was growing tired of me. 
     So should I get the basic one or the one with shocks? Which ever one you want was the answer. Did you want pedals? Well that would make it easier to ride I think. You need reflectors and a rack. I always like reflectors and a nice rack. Do you want bags to carry things on your rack. Well yes I suppose. So I got the detachable grocery bags. All set. Do you think that someone could help me get it into my truck. Well the porter is at lunch. Do not worry, I can manage. 
     After 8 years the Trek 7100 hybrid has turned out to be a wonderful bicycle. I have switched tires many times and am rolling on the original tires. One cable broke a couple of years ago. I took it to the shop. I was told that I should replace all the cables. Get a new crank and derailleurs. Replace the chain. Replace the handlebar grips. Get new rear sprockets and the bill would be about $600. 
     I said if I traded it in how much is it worth after I had all this done. I was told about $50. That sounded good to me. So I told them to fix the cable and have not been back since. Really.
     The bike itself has been wonderful. Sits out in rain and all weather. Still rolls good. So I am still using it. Since I have rehabed a Raleigh Record and got a Nashbar single speed. Good biking!

Seven Years Of Commuting With My Trek Hybrid 7100

     As usual when I walk into a place of business I do not seem like anyone that someone would wait on. I had a 1974 Schwinn Le Tour. It was and is a great bicycle. Still cooking after all these years. It is the only bike I would probably ever need. Pretty original. Rims and all. Just not so pretty anymore. So I decided that I need another bike. 
     The salesperson asked if I would be racing or mountain biking. I said I just want something that I can ride to commute around town and back and forth to work. With the pleura of categories of bicycles available now I told him I do not know. So we landed on a hybrid. By this time the salesperson decided that I was their to buy something right then and there. Right or wrong. But I was going to leave with something. 
     Without wasting much time I was between the FX series and the hybrid series. I was told that the FX series was for fitness. The hybrid series was for casual riders to go to the coffee shop and such. Well I wasn't thinking about fitness or the coffee shop. Just a way to get around. Even though there were no other customers around, I sensed that the salesperson was growing tired of me. 
     So should I get the basic one or the one with shocks? Which ever one you want was the answer. Did you want pedals? Well that would make it easier to ride I think. You need reflectors and a rack. I always like reflectors and a nice rack. Do you want bags to carry things on your rack. Well yes I suppose. So I got the detachable grocery bags. All set. Do you think that someone could help me get it into my truck. Well the porter is at lunch. Do not worry, I can manage. 
     After 8 years the Trek 7100 hybrid has turned out to be a wonderful bicycle. I have switched tires many times and am rolling on the original tires. One cable broke a couple of years ago. I took it to the shop. I was told that I should replace all the cables. Get a new crank and derailleurs. Replace the chain. Replace the handlebar grips. Get new rear sprockets and the bill would be about $600. 
     I said if I traded it in how much is it worth after I had all this done. I was told about $50. That sounded good to me. So I told them to fix the cable and have not been back since. Really.
     The bike itself has been wonderful. Sits out in rain and all weather. Still rolls good. So I am still using it. Since I have rehabed a Raleigh Record and got a Nashbar single speed. Good biking!

Thursday, August 13, 2015

Robert Mitchum

       One of my favorite actors is Robert Mitchum. He was one of Hollywood's bad boys back in the day. He was big, tough and smart. 
     His films seemed to have started in the 1940s. A star signed to RKO studios and a major player in those great black and white detective and intrigue films. 
     Last night he was featured on Turner Classic Movies. In between movies they showed a Dick Cavet show from 1970 in which Robert Mitchum was the one and only guest. It was very good. Mitchum was 53 years old at the time and walked onto the stage with a cup and cigarette. Which was full of Scotch. He started to openly drink Scotch for the rest of the show. He was sharp and modern for the time. Dressed nicely and spoke well. He could obviously handle his booze. And continued to smoke incessantly through out the rest of the show. 
     He was only married once and remained married till his death. He apparently done his job without sucking up. He moved well to war movies. He played good detectives. He played wealthy playboys. He was all that. 
     Robert Michum died in 1997 at 79 years old. I hope that I have such a good life. He seemed like the best!
     

Robert Mitchum

       One of my favorite actors is Robert Mitchum. He was one of Hollywood's bad boys back in the day. He was big, tough and smart. 
     His films seemed to have started in the 1940s. A star signed to RKO studios and a major player in those great black and white detective and intrigue films. 
     Last night he was featured on Turner Classic Movies. In between movies they showed a Dick Cavet show from 1970 in which Robert Mitchum was the one and only guest. It was very good. Mitchum was 53 years old at the time and walked onto the stage with a cup and cigarette. Which was full of Scotch. He started to openly drink Scotch for the rest of the show. He was sharp and modern for the time. Dressed nicely and spoke well. He could obviously handle his booze. And continued to smoke incessantly through out the rest of the show. 
     He was only married once and remained married till his death. He apparently done his job without sucking up. He moved well to war movies. He played good detectives. He played wealthy playboys. He was all that. 
     Robert Michum died in 1997 at 79 years old. I hope that I have such a good life. He seemed like the best!
     

Sunday, August 9, 2015

A Key To Health Is Work And Exercise

     It seems like every one of those info shows on TV talk about what makes you healthy and live a long time. Of course they are endorsing a product or method. Some of them really make sense. If one had the time and money they could get a lot done. Unfortunately the vast majority do not have the time or money. 
   The only thing that we can do is work and exercise. For most of us work is not an option. Exercise is generally out of the question. For the most part you can get exercise performing normal household tasks. Why pay someone to clean your home and mow your yard and go to the gym? That is lifestyle and vanity. Nothing else. 
   You used to read stories about how long someone was working for a company or that they are still working at a certain age. You do not see too many stories about that anymore. Why? Because companies do not want to pay benefits. Their corporations make so much more money without all the liabilities of insurance and retirement. We are just hired soldiers. Mercenaries. But you have to do it to get paid. 
    I have mixed feelings about how the nation is going to retire. Some people will of course just die. Some have worked for one company for their entire life. Although this is becoming rare. Others have worked for many places. Some not at all. Very few companies have taken on the responsibility of providing in house retirement anymore. Although my company still does. The 401K programs are prevalent now. My company also provides that. With rising costs my Social Security may pay my rent when I reach seventy years old. 
     In that spirit I should plan on having to work in some fashion until I die. Unless I run into some kind of major windfall I will have to work. It work be nice if I could still take my Social Security at 62, but then you have to come up with your own health insurance. So if you get $1100 a month for Social Security and have to pay $1000 a month for health insurance, the numbers just don't add up. 
     I feel that there should just be a universal Medicaid. Everybody has the same insurance. Doctors deserve to be paid well. Nurses deserve to be paid well. Take out the malpractice insurance that they have to pay their net income should remain the same. That would take out the $1000 a month I would be forced to pay for health insurance. So I could somewhat "retire" from full time work at 62 years old. Granted that the amount that I would receive from Social Security would not get the job done. 
     If I could "retire" at 62 my cash out lay from the government is greatly reduced. I would have to work somewhere doing something. Nothing back breaking or disgusting. Just something. I am no longer in dire straits about health care. Bonus round. I free up the opportunity for a younger person to take a full time job. 
     So many people get along doing nothing. Why not expand that to the people that do something. Are you fat because you are disabled or are you disabled because you are fat? 
    There is a chef on Public TV that is from Vietnam.He said he looked for seven hours to find a fat person in Vietnam. He never found one. All you have to do in the United States is look out your window. You will find more overweight and lazy people than anywhere I suppose. When I watch those travel shows on PBS you do not see a bunch of fat people in other parts of the world. 
     In almost every culture you see people doing something. How many old movie stars endorsing some kind of product? They are in fact still working. So for the most part retirement is illusive. You can retire from your previous vocation hopefully with some pension. If you could figure out health insurance your retirement, Social Security and a pleasant part time job or skill could leave with a pretty good life. 
     Exercise is a big key. i have a buddy that is 73 years old. He still smokes. No longer drinks. An ex Marine. He is small. Rides a bicycle to work about ten miles round trip every day. Does physical work. In all the time I have known him I have never seen him drive a car. He lives in a nice subdivision and his wife has a car. He freaked out the first time he seen me in an automobile. My Old 1989 Blazer. As I was using it to take a bicycle to him. At his age he can get Medicare. As a fall back go to the VA. But besides a cold I have never seen him sick. Or at least never complain. 
     On PBS they have some of the Yoga shows. A lot of stretching etc. Ever notice that the first thing that your dog or cat does when they wake up is stretch. So I do see a lot of benefit in this action. Warming up if you would. 
     So here is my cure for the world. Make Medicade and/or VA type health care benefits universal. The big obstacle is the insurance company infrastructure. Insurance companies own most of the banks. So this would result in a major tightening up of consumer credit. As the pool of money to gamble with would decrease vastly. This would effect the store credit cards first. Then the major credit cards would have to take a closer look at their prospectives. So that $50,000 credit line good till 2050 may have to be reduced to $2000 in 2017. That car loan may not go through. No payment on that new furniture for five years. Forget it. 
     My plan would of course create havoc on the economy as we know it. But our economy right now is a facade. Not too much cash out there. Lots of credit. But why is the Federal Reserve Bank printing up so much cash? I will tell you why. Cash is a medium used for illicit trade. Plus flooding the economy with cash that is not backed up by a gold standard cheapens its value. Eventually resulting in a dollar being worth a penny.
      When you have a bunch of people doing the wrong thing is becomes fashionable. So if you are not fashionable, you are not is the groove. And if you are not fashionable or in the groove you are a flake. And a flake isn't cool.
      I know that it is not politically correct to say or face the facts. But it is what it is. 
     I think that I will run for the President of the United States. As a registered Democrat I will run on the Republican Ticket. Make Donald Trump my Vice President. I will not be able to rectify all our problems. But it will give me access to a lot of great golf courses. And before my arthritis completely stops me from moving about. 
     That old house is probably musty and full of bugs anyway. So I do not think I will.

A Key To Health Is Work And Exercise

     It seems like every one of those info shows on TV talk about what makes you healthy and live a long time. Of course they are endorsing a product or method. Some of them really make sense. If one had the time and money they could get a lot done. Unfortunately the vast majority do not have the time or money. 
   The only thing that we can do is work and exercise. For most of us work is not an option. Exercise is generally out of the question. For the most part you can get exercise performing normal household tasks. Why pay someone to clean your home and mow your yard and go to the gym? That is lifestyle and vanity. Nothing else. 
   You used to read stories about how long someone was working for a company or that they are still working at a certain age. You do not see too many stories about that anymore. Why? Because companies do not want to pay benefits. Their corporations make so much more money without all the liabilities of insurance and retirement. We are just hired soldiers. Mercenaries. But you have to do it to get paid. 
    I have mixed feelings about how the nation is going to retire. Some people will of course just die. Some have worked for one company for their entire life. Although this is becoming rare. Others have worked for many places. Some not at all. Very few companies have taken on the responsibility of providing in house retirement anymore. Although my company still does. The 401K programs are prevalent now. My company also provides that. With rising costs my Social Security may pay my rent when I reach seventy years old. 
     In that spirit I should plan on having to work in some fashion until I die. Unless I run into some kind of major windfall I will have to work. It work be nice if I could still take my Social Security at 62, but then you have to come up with your own health insurance. So if you get $1100 a month for Social Security and have to pay $1000 a month for health insurance, the numbers just don't add up. 
     I feel that there should just be a universal Medicaid. Everybody has the same insurance. Doctors deserve to be paid well. Nurses deserve to be paid well. Take out the malpractice insurance that they have to pay their net income should remain the same. That would take out the $1000 a month I would be forced to pay for health insurance. So I could somewhat "retire" from full time work at 62 years old. Granted that the amount that I would receive from Social Security would not get the job done. 
     If I could "retire" at 62 my cash out lay from the government is greatly reduced. I would have to work somewhere doing something. Nothing back breaking or disgusting. Just something. I am no longer in dire straits about health care. Bonus round. I free up the opportunity for a younger person to take a full time job. 
     So many people get along doing nothing. Why not expand that to the people that do something. Are you fat because you are disabled or are you disabled because you are fat? 
    There is a chef on Public TV that is from Vietnam.He said he looked for seven hours to find a fat person in Vietnam. He never found one. All you have to do in the United States is look out your window. You will find more overweight and lazy people than anywhere I suppose. When I watch those travel shows on PBS you do not see a bunch of fat people in other parts of the world. 
     In almost every culture you see people doing something. How many old movie stars endorsing some kind of product? They are in fact still working. So for the most part retirement is illusive. You can retire from your previous vocation hopefully with some pension. If you could figure out health insurance your retirement, Social Security and a pleasant part time job or skill could leave with a pretty good life. 
     Exercise is a big key. i have a buddy that is 73 years old. He still smokes. No longer drinks. An ex Marine. He is small. Rides a bicycle to work about ten miles round trip every day. Does physical work. In all the time I have known him I have never seen him drive a car. He lives in a nice subdivision and his wife has a car. He freaked out the first time he seen me in an automobile. My Old 1989 Blazer. As I was using it to take a bicycle to him. At his age he can get Medicare. As a fall back go to the VA. But besides a cold I have never seen him sick. Or at least never complain. 
     On PBS they have some of the Yoga shows. A lot of stretching etc. Ever notice that the first thing that your dog or cat does when they wake up is stretch. So I do see a lot of benefit in this action. Warming up if you would. 
     So here is my cure for the world. Make Medicade and/or VA type health care benefits universal. The big obstacle is the insurance company infrastructure. Insurance companies own most of the banks. So this would result in a major tightening up of consumer credit. As the pool of money to gamble with would decrease vastly. This would effect the store credit cards first. Then the major credit cards would have to take a closer look at their prospectives. So that $50,000 credit line good till 2050 may have to be reduced to $2000 in 2017. That car loan may not go through. No payment on that new furniture for five years. Forget it. 
     My plan would of course create havoc on the economy as we know it. But our economy right now is a facade. Not too much cash out there. Lots of credit. But why is the Federal Reserve Bank printing up so much cash? I will tell you why. Cash is a medium used for illicit trade. Plus flooding the economy with cash that is not backed up by a gold standard cheapens its value. Eventually resulting in a dollar being worth a penny.
      When you have a bunch of people doing the wrong thing is becomes fashionable. So if you are not fashionable, you are not is the groove. And if you are not fashionable or in the groove you are a flake. And a flake isn't cool.
      I know that it is not politically correct to say or face the facts. But it is what it is. 
     I think that I will run for the President of the United States. As a registered Democrat I will run on the Republican Ticket. Make Donald Trump my Vice President. I will not be able to rectify all our problems. But it will give me access to a lot of great golf courses. And before my arthritis completely stops me from moving about. 
     That old house is probably musty and full of bugs anyway. So I do not think I will.

Friday, August 7, 2015

A Great Experience At Mad Marks Stereo In Bradenton Florida!

     A few weeks ago I took a trip up north. Although it was allocated as vacation time it truly was not a vacation. It was for my father's memorial. It however turn out to be a fun trip as I got to see a lot of people I haven't since 1995. And time being short missed many. 
    On the trip the radio started making a terrible noise about Jacksonville. Ultimately resulting in no radio for about 3000 miles. 
     After returning I have been trying to figure out a way to fix the problem. I finally thought is was the problem with the radio (head unit) itself. Time to seek professional help!
     I went to our local establishment. Mad Marks Stereo on First Street in Bradenton , Florida. They took the time to look at my problem. Made some suggestions. I thanked them and left. 
     After debating for a week or so I decided to take action. It is not like I use my car every day. But it is the platform that I can really crank my music. As I live in an apartment complex that is not a reality at home. And I have tried with dire consequences.
     So I called Mad Marks. Made an appointment. An appointment is not mandatory but courteous I feel. They got me right in. And worked on the problem within the time frame I gave them as I had to go to work. They got me going and down the road and said to come back when I could. 
     I had the opportunity to return today. They got me right in again and rectified the problem. I am a happy camper now!. 
     As this blog has world wide readership it is not of much relevance everywhere. But if you live in the Tampa Bay area, you need to consider Mad Marks for assistance. They do autos, boats, ATVS, homes and everything I suppose. Call them in the USA at 941-748-5069.

A Great Experience At Mad Marks Stereo In Bradenton Florida!

     A few weeks ago I took a trip up north. Although it was allocated as vacation time it truly was not a vacation. It was for my father's memorial. It however turn out to be a fun trip as I got to see a lot of people I haven't since 1995. And time being short missed many. 
    On the trip the radio started making a terrible noise about Jacksonville. Ultimately resulting in no radio for about 3000 miles. 
     After returning I have been trying to figure out a way to fix the problem. I finally thought is was the problem with the radio (head unit) itself. Time to seek professional help!
     I went to our local establishment. Mad Marks Stereo on First Street in Bradenton , Florida. They took the time to look at my problem. Made some suggestions. I thanked them and left. 
     After debating for a week or so I decided to take action. It is not like I use my car every day. But it is the platform that I can really crank my music. As I live in an apartment complex that is not a reality at home. And I have tried with dire consequences.
     So I called Mad Marks. Made an appointment. An appointment is not mandatory but courteous I feel. They got me right in. And worked on the problem within the time frame I gave them as I had to go to work. They got me going and down the road and said to come back when I could. 
     I had the opportunity to return today. They got me right in again and rectified the problem. I am a happy camper now!. 
     As this blog has world wide readership it is not of much relevance everywhere. But if you live in the Tampa Bay area, you need to consider Mad Marks for assistance. They do autos, boats, ATVS, homes and everything I suppose. Call them in the USA at 941-748-5069.

Monday, August 3, 2015

Kitchen Knives

     Those of you who do not cook may have one or two knives that you use. Some of us bought the big block of knives at a department store. Usually full of cheap and pretty useless knives. 
     At this time I have a bunch of different knives. A collection built up over the years. Most of which are just middle of the road at best. 
     The highest priced knives come from Europe or Japan. Generally the highest rated in tests. Hardly any are made in the United States anymore. With Rada being an exception. The old American brands are now made offshore for the most part. Like Chicago Cutlery. The last one of those I bought was made in Taiwan. Although the listing on ebay said it was made in the US. 
     I got some knives years ago called Sabatier. They were made in France. I see where a lot of of these knives are now made in Asia. As well as some famous German brands. I have several of these knives made in Asia. Including some of the supermarket branded one. They sure look nice. But are just not that sharp. And I cannot seem to get them sharp. I guess the offshore process just doesn't put a good edge on them do to cost saving measures. But as I have a low threshold of excitement I will continue to try to make something of them. A good thing to do on one of your zero spending days. Check out my post on A Day Of Zero Spending. 
     If I had it to do over again. As we all wish we could do things over again. I would have a good pairing knife, a medium size chef's knife, and a bread knife. The more you have, the more you have to take care of and store. You can almost do anything with these. I have a Rada pairing, 6 inch chef and a 13 inch French chefs knife. The Rada knives have a very sharp blade. The pairing knife is one of the best I have used. They are made of the best steel. Also made in The United States, giving those who want to work a job. Downside is that they are thin. When you are cutting say potatoes they stick to the knife. Minor, but an inconvienience. 
     Cook's Illustrated magazine usually rates Wusthof knives the best. But a considerably less expensive option in second place is Victorinox. Made in Switzerland. I have a couple of these knives. They are great. Not so fancy, but lightweight and sharp. After use I agree with Cook's Illustrated. 
     So in reality you probably do not need over three knives. Five at best. Just get good ones. 

Kitchen Knives

     Those of you who do not cook may have one or two knives that you use. Some of us bought the big block of knives at a department store. Usually full of cheap and pretty useless knives. 
     At this time I have a bunch of different knives. A collection built up over the years. Most of which are just middle of the road at best. 
     The highest priced knives come from Europe or Japan. Generally the highest rated in tests. Hardly any are made in the United States anymore. With Rada being an exception. The old American brands are now made offshore for the most part. Like Chicago Cutlery. The last one of those I bought was made in Taiwan. Although the listing on ebay said it was made in the US. 
     I got some knives years ago called Sabatier. They were made in France. I see where a lot of of these knives are now made in Asia. As well as some famous German brands. I have several of these knives made in Asia. Including some of the supermarket branded one. They sure look nice. But are just not that sharp. And I cannot seem to get them sharp. I guess the offshore process just doesn't put a good edge on them do to cost saving measures. But as I have a low threshold of excitement I will continue to try to make something of them. A good thing to do on one of your zero spending days. Check out my post on A Day Of Zero Spending. 
     If I had it to do over again. As we all wish we could do things over again. I would have a good pairing knife, a medium size chef's knife, and a bread knife. The more you have, the more you have to take care of and store. You can almost do anything with these. I have a Rada pairing, 6 inch chef and a 13 inch French chefs knife. The Rada knives have a very sharp blade. The pairing knife is one of the best I have used. They are made of the best steel. Also made in The United States, giving those who want to work a job. Downside is that they are thin. When you are cutting say potatoes they stick to the knife. Minor, but an inconvienience. 
     Cook's Illustrated magazine usually rates Wusthof knives the best. But a considerably less expensive option in second place is Victorinox. Made in Switzerland. I have a couple of these knives. They are great. Not so fancy, but lightweight and sharp. After use I agree with Cook's Illustrated. 
     So in reality you probably do not need over three knives. Five at best. Just get good ones.