It's been way too long since I've posted anything here, but I was so psyched by a new product I purchased that I just had to share. I have a Weber Genesis Gold B natural gas grill, circa 2005. This was the closest I got to finding it for you to see, so here goes. The grill does everything I need it to do, which goes well beyond the scope of this post, but let's just say, I really have this grill down, using a variety of cooking techniques.
On Friday, I was checking out a fairly local grill store, and came across the Weber Grill Out Handle Light. I purchased mine for $25--though it can be found online for $20.
I have to say, it assembled quite easily, and it provides a pretty solid light. I may consider adding a second, but that may be overkill, and it may crowd the handle which would make opening and closing the grill unnecessarily cumbersome.
The grill has a simple push button on/off control, and it can be moved and redirected with minimal effort. It also has a powersave feature. The light goes into a standby mode when the cover is closed. Apparently, there is some kind of level mechanism in the light so that it comes on when the lid is open, and dims when the lid is shut. The light does remain on slightly in standby mode, so the batteries (3 AAA) would drain if left on overnight. However, it does make using the light easier during an evening of cooking, without having to turn it on/off and not having to worry about draining the battery. Just remember that the last step in cleaning the grill at the end of the evening is to make sure that light is off. Problem solved.
The light seems to work so well, that I'll have very little need for my older grill light, which was solid, but had to be taken out and set up each time. With this new light, it's simply there whenever I need it.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Monday, January 3, 2011
Thoughts on the NFL
I have been reading about the NFL and the desire of ownership to move from a 16 to an 18 game season. Aside from the obvious risk to player safety and career longevity, which are in obvious contrast to the leagues public stand on making the game "safer," what Roger Goodell doesn't seem to realize is that fans aren't complaining about the 4 game preseason. We are complaining about being charged regular season prices for exhibition football.
I can only speak for myself, but I don't want to commit to more NFL games before Labor Day. One thing that's great about football is that it brings an excitement to the end of summer/beginning of fall and that carries us into winter. I don't want to cut short my summer BBQs or vacation plans because of the NFL.
Additionally, it's not the starters that benefit from the preseason. Teams need time to round out their rosters with 2nd and 3rd string players, and to establish special teams. The preseason is crucial for this. An 18 game season does not help with anything other than helping the owners justify lining their pockets with cash.
I can't fight the feeling that we're moving to our first NFL work stoppage in a very long time, as billionaires fight with millionaires over how to carve the golden goose.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
A Simple Cashier Tip
When handing out change, always hand over the coins first. This way, they can fall into the palm of the recipient's hand. If you hand over the paper money or receipt first, and then try to hand the coins, they always slide off of the paper onto the ground.
This may sound silly, but it's just a helpful tip.
This may sound silly, but it's just a helpful tip.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Thought of the day
If masturbating makes people go blind, does this explain why there are so many terrible drivers on the road?
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Thursday, March 11, 2010
A Complete Waste
I'm sure that most of you, like me, recently received a letter from the United States Government, telling you about the upcoming 2010 Census. This letter more or less tells us about the importance of the census and how it is used in part to determine the appropriation of government funding to various areas of our country.
Why is the letter at all necessary? Why do millions of dollars in postage, paper, man power, etc. have to be wasted to inform us that this census is arriving in about a week? Couldn't they just mail the census and attach an explanatory cover letter? Couldn't this be done in all one mailing without wasting millions of dollars in taxpayer money?
All of this revenue could have been so much better utilized. In fact they could have justified the letter if they included some kind of a link that allowed the general public to sign up for an electronic version of the census. Just by "going green" we could have saved an exorbitant amount of money in postage and paper by not mailing the census to those of us who'd be willing to do this online.
Unfortunately, this is yet another example of the shortsightedness of our democratically elected leaders and government employees at large. A mailing to notify us to expect a future mailing... Please!
Why is the letter at all necessary? Why do millions of dollars in postage, paper, man power, etc. have to be wasted to inform us that this census is arriving in about a week? Couldn't they just mail the census and attach an explanatory cover letter? Couldn't this be done in all one mailing without wasting millions of dollars in taxpayer money?
All of this revenue could have been so much better utilized. In fact they could have justified the letter if they included some kind of a link that allowed the general public to sign up for an electronic version of the census. Just by "going green" we could have saved an exorbitant amount of money in postage and paper by not mailing the census to those of us who'd be willing to do this online.
Unfortunately, this is yet another example of the shortsightedness of our democratically elected leaders and government employees at large. A mailing to notify us to expect a future mailing... Please!
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Always Recognize Your Dope
It's important to realize that when you're checking out at a grocery store, it's not always the shortest line or the emptiest cart that should determine which line you choose. Always try to recognize your dope, if possible, and avoid him or her accordingly.
There is not always a rhyme or reason for accomplishing this. It is an acquired art that comes with time and experience, though there are certain things you can look out for in trying to help yourself.
Things to avoid:
1. The Coupon Queen: If you are on line and see that the person ahead of you has a stack of coupons thicker than a George Costanza wallet, choose a different line. This person will inevitably have coupons for items that aren't even being checked out or that have expired. This person will argue the validity of said coupons to the point that you'd almost pay the alleged difference just so you can get on with your life. Trust me, this is almost always a losing battle.
2. Non English Speaking: This person will always have some kind of question for the cashier, but will be unable to communicate effectively, thus making what should be a quick transaction into the time equivalent of a 5 year old trying to solve a Rubik's Cube.
3. The Cell Phone Bandit: This person feels that his/her nonsensical conversation is more important that paying any attention to checking out his/her groceries. This is quite often the same person that offers no help in bagging anything and cops an attitude in blaming the cashier and just about anyone other than themselves for the transaction taking so long. This person can be found huffing and puffing, not recognizing that they are in fact the dope that caused this situation.
4. The Fumbler: This is the person who after everything is rung up is only then prepared to organize everything that the non-dope has done in advance. This person will rummage through bags and/or pockets for coupons, a shopper's price card, etc. This is also very often the same person who will take several minutes to find his/her checkbook after everything is rung up because they were too busy not bagging groceries and/or talking on a cell phone and/or just plain watching the world to go by to do so in advance. YOU KNEW YOU WERE CHECKING OUT YOUR GROCERIES, AND YOU KNEW YOU WERE GOING TO PAY BY CHECK--GET YOUR F*CKING CHECKBOOK OUT IN THE FIRST PLACE YOU DOPE!!! DON'T EXTEND THIS EVENT AN EXTRA 10 MINUTES!
5. The Wrangler: This person has kids who are either out of control and trying to ring up magazines, candy, and gum while the wrangler tries futilely to maintain control. This often leads to many of the events listed above. The advanced wrangler will arrive at the checkout counter falsely prepared. They will invariably have an item that they do not want, or have forgotten an item that they intended to purchase. It is only at the last possible moment that the wrangler will send the child back out into the store to pick up/exchange last minute items, without a care in the world that the process is holding up the entire line. This late hunt will not be performed during the early stages of checkout, but rather once all of the other items are near having been or have been checked out in entirety.
6. The Express Line Bandit: This person will have far too many items at the express lane, demonstrating a complete disregard for market decorum. I'm sorry, but it's 10 items or less, not 10 categories or less. A gallon of whole milk, a gallon of skim milk, and a pint of heavy cream are 3 items, not one! A little word to the wise, here. The cashiers at the local supermarket do not get paid nearly enough to handle these confrontations on their own. It is up to you to police this nonsense! It is completely acceptable, if you see an express line bandit, to call him/her on it. You do not have to take it! You are well within your right to tell that person that they have far too many items for the express line, and you are not going to acknowledge their presence in that particular line. You may do this with a brief verbal exchange, accompanied by simply going right in front of them and standing your ground. This particular person usually realizes that they are a dope, but are simply not used to being called on it. Have no fear, you will prevail!
While I'm sure there are other such situations and criteria, it is my hope that this will provide a basic introductory tutorial as to how to make your shopping experience less stressful, and more efficient.
There is not always a rhyme or reason for accomplishing this. It is an acquired art that comes with time and experience, though there are certain things you can look out for in trying to help yourself.
Things to avoid:
1. The Coupon Queen: If you are on line and see that the person ahead of you has a stack of coupons thicker than a George Costanza wallet, choose a different line. This person will inevitably have coupons for items that aren't even being checked out or that have expired. This person will argue the validity of said coupons to the point that you'd almost pay the alleged difference just so you can get on with your life. Trust me, this is almost always a losing battle.
2. Non English Speaking: This person will always have some kind of question for the cashier, but will be unable to communicate effectively, thus making what should be a quick transaction into the time equivalent of a 5 year old trying to solve a Rubik's Cube.
3. The Cell Phone Bandit: This person feels that his/her nonsensical conversation is more important that paying any attention to checking out his/her groceries. This is quite often the same person that offers no help in bagging anything and cops an attitude in blaming the cashier and just about anyone other than themselves for the transaction taking so long. This person can be found huffing and puffing, not recognizing that they are in fact the dope that caused this situation.
4. The Fumbler: This is the person who after everything is rung up is only then prepared to organize everything that the non-dope has done in advance. This person will rummage through bags and/or pockets for coupons, a shopper's price card, etc. This is also very often the same person who will take several minutes to find his/her checkbook after everything is rung up because they were too busy not bagging groceries and/or talking on a cell phone and/or just plain watching the world to go by to do so in advance. YOU KNEW YOU WERE CHECKING OUT YOUR GROCERIES, AND YOU KNEW YOU WERE GOING TO PAY BY CHECK--GET YOUR F*CKING CHECKBOOK OUT IN THE FIRST PLACE YOU DOPE!!! DON'T EXTEND THIS EVENT AN EXTRA 10 MINUTES!
5. The Wrangler: This person has kids who are either out of control and trying to ring up magazines, candy, and gum while the wrangler tries futilely to maintain control. This often leads to many of the events listed above. The advanced wrangler will arrive at the checkout counter falsely prepared. They will invariably have an item that they do not want, or have forgotten an item that they intended to purchase. It is only at the last possible moment that the wrangler will send the child back out into the store to pick up/exchange last minute items, without a care in the world that the process is holding up the entire line. This late hunt will not be performed during the early stages of checkout, but rather once all of the other items are near having been or have been checked out in entirety.
6. The Express Line Bandit: This person will have far too many items at the express lane, demonstrating a complete disregard for market decorum. I'm sorry, but it's 10 items or less, not 10 categories or less. A gallon of whole milk, a gallon of skim milk, and a pint of heavy cream are 3 items, not one! A little word to the wise, here. The cashiers at the local supermarket do not get paid nearly enough to handle these confrontations on their own. It is up to you to police this nonsense! It is completely acceptable, if you see an express line bandit, to call him/her on it. You do not have to take it! You are well within your right to tell that person that they have far too many items for the express line, and you are not going to acknowledge their presence in that particular line. You may do this with a brief verbal exchange, accompanied by simply going right in front of them and standing your ground. This particular person usually realizes that they are a dope, but are simply not used to being called on it. Have no fear, you will prevail!
While I'm sure there are other such situations and criteria, it is my hope that this will provide a basic introductory tutorial as to how to make your shopping experience less stressful, and more efficient.
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