Grab Bag Internet Bubble:

You can find ANYTHING on the internet, right?

MMMMMmmmmaybe not. What I can find and what you can find is quickly becoming very different, and that’s dangerous. Eli Pariser has a very valid point, and one we need to understand. The folks at TED had this to say:

As web companies strive to tailor their services (including news and search results) to our personal tastes, there’s a dangerous unintended consequence: We get trapped in a “filter bubble” and don’t get exposed to information that could challenge or broaden our worldview. Eli Pariser argues powerfully that this will ultimately prove to be bad for us and bad for democracy.

Vodpod videos no longer available.

Many thanks to Pat M. for sending this in.

Grab Bag What We Don’t Know:

….. probably WILL hurt us at this point in our toxic evolution. 

Eating well, eating healthfully and eating sustainably are all important, and can be as difficult to navigate as LA freeways at 5:30PM.

The GRACE Foundation has amalgamated some very good resources to educate, assist and enlighten, all on one website. 

There’s a lot there, so take it a bite at a time.

GRACE Communications Foundation highlights the interconnections of food, water and energy, educating consumers, advocates and policy makers through our web-based initiatives:  Sustainable Table, Eat Well Guide, The Meatrix, Network for New Energy Choices, H₂O Conserve and the Ecocentric blog.

And remember…. once we know… we can’t “not know”.… and thank goodness for that. Our future, and our health, could depend on it.

Grab Bag Heatin’ it Up:

DISCLAIMER: I don’t really cook much….

…except for a few things…. and one of those is eggs. So why am I telling you this? Because I have something pretty hot to share, and it might just be of value to you. And it has to do with heat… high heat.

I eat eggs or egg whites probably 6 mornings a week. Breakfast is truly my favorite meal. I eat an egg or a couple of egg whites with a cup of grilled or sauteed vegetables or a cup of sauteed spinach nearly every morning.

But….. I will not use non-stick pans. My thyroid is important to me, and I have become concerned about the chemicals in non-stick coatings transferring into food. So… eggs on stainless steel is like…. bubblegum on velcro…. it sticks.

But I have discovered something magical about eggs…. they cook up the best, and release from the pan the easiest, when the pan is very hot. But timing is everything… so here’s the low-down on the heat-up:

Place a frying pan on just-under-high heat. Heat until a drop of water beads up and dances on the pan surface. Drizzle some olive oil in the pan… just enough to coat the pan plus a touch more. When the oil is heated to the point where it thins and runs easily around the pan (this happens very quickly), it’s time for the goods. 

I sauté my spinach or mixed veggies first, and when I’m ready to add the scrambled eggs or egg whites, I pour them in, then immediately REMOVE THE PAN FROM THE HEAT and move the eggs with a spatula continuously until they are ready… about 20-30 seconds. Transfer to a plate. Done. 

The eggs are cooked thoroughly but remain fluffy, tender and soft, as they haven’t lost their moisture in such a short period of time. 

BONUS: Just as good… place the HOT pan in the sink, run HOT water over it and a small amount of soap and a sponge immediately lifts all traces of egg from the pan. Now your pan is clean so quickly that your eggs are still HOT…. and ready to eat. 

OMG Alert!!… When I went to search for photos to go with this post, I found my EXACT egg secret described on this website, quoting the Frugal Gourmet on this! Someone was clearly peeking in my kitchen window. 

In a post to come… 

We’ll take advantage of the same heat-release phenomenon to clean a barbecue grill... you’ll be amazed. Now I just need to bug my brother-in-law for a video. You’ll see it when I do…

Grab Bag Key to the Future:

Love the flexibility of this… you can lock people out, let people in, let yourself in, maybe even lock yourself out if you’re a real dufuss… all from your phone or computer, even half a world away.

Just use your wireless home network to talk to your Lockitron sentinel… a piece of hardware you can install in 15 minutes with a screwdriver.

Comes in Deadbolt, Lever Handle, Knob, Apartment Buzzer and Mortice versions, all in four different finishes.

And…. if you can’t get to your phone or a computer, there are actual KEYS to back you up 🙂

LOCKITRON

Grab Bag OMG:

OK… you’ve probably seen ads for these fun “helmet cams” that can record whatever you see as you’re… doing whatever it is that you’re doing. 

This Frenchman decided to document his little snowmobile ride. When you watch it, it looks as if he is cruising along on a fairly flat surface ….. until….. well, you’ll see:

The title translates to “Snowmobile 0 – Mountain 1″

Thanks to BD for sending this to me.

Grab Bag Brain Game:

Practice, practice, and practice some more…. then play your spouse for $1 a point.

GIN RUMMY

Grab Bag Funny Stuff:

A senior care company called Home Instead asked friend Mary Maxwell to deliver an invocation at their 2009 corporate convention.

With the proper invocation prayer complete, Mary decided to add a bit extra…. Enjoy 🙂