tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76835597071593054412012-01-26T15:47:31.848-08:00given enough random entries, a pattern may emerge given enough random entriesJayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.comBlogger4181100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-86981519273745666842011-12-19T11:44:00.000-08:002011-12-19T11:50:23.487-08:00

Microsoft's Snipping Tool is part of the more complete Windows 7 packages. I have been using Lightscreen at work and it meets my needs quite nicely. Just though I'd blog this for the day I am on a machine without my standard testing tools thumb drive.

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-82184866683790515042011-12-04T14:39:00.000-08:002011-12-05T14:38:35.998-08:00

Learned this recipe from ATK, Season 11 Chewy Brownies. First made it for Sharon to take to Lark Camp 2011 to hand out (I wanted to have a couple of brownies but didn't want to have eaten the whole thing.) They were a big hit so I'm making them again to hand out as Christmas gifts to friends and coworkers. Chewy Brownies Yield: 24 brownies (4 - 6 servings) Calories: 254 per square 1/3

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-10469004746225458392011-11-23T10:23:00.000-08:002011-11-23T11:28:50.973-08:00

The benefits of naming conventions in software code are generally recognized while specific "conventions" are debatable. Personally I'm looking for the implied intent and meaning of the source code, code that reads as a narrative. Here are the heuristics that I use (when not given a coding standard.) Compound identifiers, containing more that one word CamelCase the compound identifiers Start with

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-71020263266776631542011-10-30T14:27:00.000-07:002011-10-30T15:30:00.381-07:00

Sharon bought me two pairs of zills (Turkish for the Arabic sagat) for my Halloween costume this year. Now in addition to the doumbek I need to learn to play the finger cymbals. Below are the YouTube videos I found that seem most instructive. Ring, Clap, Tick. And now for some real music. Aslahan's series seems like a good way to learn to play the zills. Aslahan recommends that you

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-70735153423945708382011-09-17T16:19:00.001-07:002011-09-23T21:55:13.100-07:00

The Get-It-Done Guy's recent podcasts on visualization sounded like good advice so I'm posting my take on his ideas (so I can find them when I need them.) The right visualization techniques, plural, will move you towards your goals. Tip #1: Visualize The Process, Not The OutcomeVisualize your efforts/actions as opposed to the end result.Watch yourself working out or walking around the park. Tip

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-79732867336745539352011-09-10T14:46:00.000-07:002011-09-10T15:04:27.976-07:00

Three months since the left hip was replace and all continues forward as expected. Healing seems a bit farther along compared to last year's right hip replacement. Didn't have the swelling and bruising issues this time. Physically I have regressed over the last 2 weeks because I have been going to work and not having the energy to exercise at the gym. Walking in 15 minute sessions during the

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-62662767767452575412011-09-08T13:29:00.000-07:002011-09-08T14:04:12.838-07:00

There is no better or insightful instruction on software testing then this black box system testing course. Skip the course introduction and start at 6:30 minutes into the video were the lecture gets going. The second part of the lecture is a great introduction to software testing. If you are not particularly interested the the course mechanics, skip forward to 2:24 minutes into the video.

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-24008049427804928312011-08-25T14:05:00.000-07:002011-08-25T14:08:25.273-07:00

This video blog captures the multitude of Lark Camp's music and dance experiences. If you have been to Lark (aka Band Camp) then watching this video will seem like a home movie. I was amazed at how many of these people it know. :)

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-71165412469713294882011-07-23T23:04:00.000-07:002011-07-23T23:38:57.541-07:00

Dario's Tango Guide is a video blog that I have found to be very helpful. He describes and shows a move then shows the leader alone followed by the follower alone. Finally, the move is seen "in action" as the couple moves around the floor dancing (not demonstrating steps, actually connected in dance.) I recommend using the lesson index from Dario's website to access the YouTube videos. You

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-72187214580238802932011-07-21T17:05:00.000-07:002011-07-21T17:45:09.406-07:00

After you have been treated for foot nail fungus it is your responsibility to take steps, pun in-10-did, to minimize the chance of reinfection. Don't wear the same pair of shoes two days in a row. Your feet sweat and create moisture that can contribute to the growth for fungus and other organisms. Make sure the shoes dry out before wearing them again. Desiccate your shoes if they are

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-30457091422274008922011-07-21T10:34:00.000-07:002011-07-21T12:48:01.473-07:00

My position statement is, Expanding Reliability. Guy Kawasaki's book Enchantment: The Art of Changing Hearts, Minds, and Actions suggests that your position statement be ShortClearDifferentHumbleSince I work on software that is already "good enough", my position statement communicates that I intend to ever expand the amount of code/functions/stories/edge-cases that work as expected (reliability).

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-198340600016251632011-07-11T11:19:00.000-07:002011-07-11T11:33:50.781-07:00

Bruce Payette, one of the original PowerShell team members and author of the Windows PowerShell scripting language here discusses the design goals and origins of the PowerShell language. His tech history is interesting. Sounds like the kind of guy I use to work with back in the day (before .com world). Talks about how PowerShell came into existance. Why > wasn't used for greater then, how the

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-38647888363045058482011-07-09T17:32:00.001-07:002011-07-09T18:29:10.779-07:00

This was the first of my recipes to test from season 11 of America's Test Kitchen. We served the No-Fuss Creamy Polenta with Pan-Seared Scallops. Serves 4 as a main course with a topping or 6 to 8 as a side dish. We used the recommended brand of coarse-ground degerminated cornmeal, Bob's Red Mill Corn Grits a.k.a. Polenta. ATK recommends the avoidance of instant and quick-cooking products as

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-71794549988908730252011-07-07T16:42:00.000-07:002011-07-07T17:49:43.413-07:00

Season 11 of America's Test Kitchen just came out. After watching half of the episodes these are the new recipes I want to test for myself. Chicken Pot Pie with Savory Crumble Topping. Candidate for a pot luck dinner where we can do the final 15-30 minutes of cooking on site.Spicy Mexican Shredded Pork Tostadas (Tinga). Make a batch and use through out the week. This should be good for my

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-37050275803643113912011-07-06T20:59:00.000-07:002011-07-07T08:02:35.855-07:00

Seventeen months after getting my right hip replace the left hip was replaced. Surgery went well and the recovery seems easier the second time around. I believe both recoveries are clinically similar but my mind is much more at ease with the whole "cutting off my leg and installing Terminator parts" thing. The Tri-Lock® bone preservation stem that is in the right leg was again used for the left

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-16741338941214044112011-06-02T17:13:00.000-07:002011-06-02T17:29:31.240-07:00

The W.E.B. Griffin series The Presidential Agent is one of my favorite reads. Set in present day they are about honorable military men working for our counter in the fight against terrorism. The are all long books, around 15 hours, with complex plots and none trivial characters. I have rated all six of these books 5 stars, my highest rating, because I often forget where I am driving to and

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-10047804673402082742011-04-22T21:02:00.000-07:002011-04-22T21:23:16.757-07:00

Always agree and say "YES!" And not only say "YES!" but say "YES, and ..." The first rule, always agree. Say yes. Say, “yes, and” to things. For example, if I enter a scene and say, “I have a gun.’ And you say, “No, you don’t. That’s your finger.’ That’s terrible. Now we’re done. Saying “yes” means you’re basically agreeing to honor what the other person is creating. The next part is “yes, AND …”

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-54827124052602741332011-04-10T18:48:00.000-07:002011-04-10T19:53:51.943-07:00

This recipe if from Season 10 of American's Test Kitchen (ATK). I used a 24oz can of beer so the 6 pound chicken set all the way up and didn't have to squat on the roasting pan. Do not brine the bird this time; it will prevent the skin from becoming crisp before the chicken is burned to a crisp. The glaze recipe is not included, there are so many you need to find your own. Serves 2 to 3

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-73751990921170777242011-04-06T11:19:00.000-07:002011-04-06T11:25:32.319-07:00

These slogans came to me today while struggling with the transition from 20th century software development methodologies into an agile mindset. Never do today what can be put off until tomorrow. Good Enough, so far. (User stories will change but remember the above slogan.)

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-13881839911612189972011-02-25T11:29:00.000-08:002011-02-25T11:34:55.009-08:00

Stumbed across a nice tool for doing screen captures on a Windows machine, Lightscreen. You can grab the full screen or a window or a selected rectangle. Then the image is saved in the format you configured in the folder you configured with a filename prefix you configred. Download it from the Lighscreen site, part of the SourceForge.net project.

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-67319718651668371242011-02-14T10:27:00.000-08:002011-02-14T10:31:38.543-08:00

Checking a steak’s doneness by texture is an inexact science and usually takes some practice to get right. To do so, pick up the steak and compare its texture with that of your hand. Feel the fleshy part of your palm, between the thumb and forefinger, to approximate the soft, squishy feel of rare meat. Make a fist and do the same to approximate the springy, slightly resistant feel of medium.

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-36741822082069900292011-01-13T13:05:00.000-08:002011-01-14T10:53:45.909-08:00

I'm reading Mike Cohn's book User Stories Applied: For Agile Software Development in order to switch my mind set into the Agile Development mode for the coming year(s). I recommend this book for people doing agile development. Extreme Characters is a concept the book introduces. Mike correctly states that it will not be useful for most project but it is worth knowing about. I agree. But it got

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-76003637430610082342011-01-01T12:43:00.000-08:002011-01-01T12:55:06.394-08:00

Saw a flyer for the cave tours in California at the coffee shop this morning. The Sacramento Magazine said that if you are going to die in Sacramento the Sutter Gold Mine tour is one of fifty things you must do before you die. We decided that next time the Simpkins are in town we'll make this a day trip. Looks like there are a few caves for tourist in California. I challenge Crawford to a zip

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-72341805339040211932010-12-31T22:56:00.000-08:002011-01-01T12:59:24.645-08:00

This recipe for mashed potatoes is to die for. Really, if you eat them every day you'd have heart failure from all the butter fat. But of the special meal where rich wonderful food is required this is what you want. Note that Yukon Gold potatoes are use because they have a low starch content (its part of the ultra-creamy secret.)4 pounds of Yukon Gold potatoes12 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-15843727309251641512010-12-28T11:28:00.000-08:002010-12-28T11:34:04.199-08:00

In order to resolve the iPhone Audible app issues one has to completely close the app to be sure it’s still not running on the back end with an error. Double click on the home button, this will bring up the multitask screen, the audible icon should be listed. Press and hold the audible icon. This will give the option to end the task. A minus sign will appear on the screen and you need to tap

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-81544571952488632372010-12-10T16:59:00.000-08:002010-12-13T15:04:47.379-08:00

The Scientific American podcasts feature the research of Dr. Brian Wansink on eating (see my Thanksgiving blog post). I've borrowed a copy of his book Mindless Eating and obtained the audio book as well. After reading the book for general knowledge I wanted to capture the tips Dr. Wansink suggests that I think I will find useful at some point. What follows is my interpretation of the ideas

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-34937133429613399792010-11-26T17:02:00.000-08:002010-11-26T17:19:28.394-08:00

Cleaning up the desk and found some notes from Lark Camp 2008? Thanks to Mark Bell for these thoughts about practicing. He is talking about practicing the doumbek but it applies to just about any mind/body activity that requires learning. in front of a mirror relaxwhen you get tense stop and do something elserepeat the same stroke continuously; e.g. fill a measure with the stoke and play 40

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-46344103459761473582010-11-25T11:31:00.000-08:002010-12-12T12:32:45.525-08:00

Thanksgiving 2010 and all the podcast are talking about food, over eating and turkeys. We cooked our turkey last weekend and finished it off last night, gooood. The SciAm podcast turned me on to Dr. Brian Wansink's work, research into why and how we eat (watch the videos.) His research shows that serving food at the table, family style, boosts overeating, while folks who fill their plates at

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-18400103800351767112010-11-24T10:12:00.000-08:002010-11-25T11:55:47.935-08:00

Title Fight by Matt "Mad Dog" Wallace and Scott "The FDO" Sigler is one exciting ride. Mixed martial arts / gladiator / boxing / honorable warrior / Samaria audio novella. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys "guy's night out", grip you crouch in sympathy, want to look away pussy-boy fiction. [Click to view poster.] The book is much better than this video promo. Set in the

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-58320831755495233082010-11-13T11:05:00.000-08:002010-11-13T11:33:10.504-08:00

You will want to watch this lecture/animation in HD in full screen mode. Many people see this and say "When is someone going fix this?" I say do it yourself, change yourself, be the change you wish the see in the world. How? If you need to ask or want some help my friend James Bach has a great book that you can use as a catalyst. I blogged about this subject after James published The Secrets

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-46915968888154582012010-11-09T14:06:00.000-08:002010-11-09T14:25:15.167-08:00

Testing for the "absence of something" could be as simple as looking to see if that something is there. However, just because you do not see/find something doesn't mean that it is not there. Furthermore, just because it is not there does not mean that the proceedure to remove something, or prevent something from being there, is working. Test Case Design I just got burned by a test case that gave

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-24901230007184388852010-11-03T10:28:00.000-07:002010-11-03T10:54:30.207-07:00

There are five legal documents that will make a difficult situation manageable when you are not dead yet but your loved ones might be better off if you were. Power of Attorney (POA)Health Care ProxyLiving WillLast Will and TestamentHIPAA ReleaseIf you have all of these documents up to day in a safe place and copies in an accessible place then relax and smile, you are a very very good and

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-7531183251761395302010-10-09T19:39:00.000-07:002010-10-10T11:00:16.205-07:00

“As a [type of user], I want [some goal] so that [some reason].” As a [role], I can [feature] so that [reason]. As a [role], I want [feature] because [reason]. As a [role], I can [feature]. Advantages of this approach. Don't forget to make use of Acceptance Stories as well. The Testing Geek has a good explanation of User Stories.

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-29994175795379404472010-09-19T11:45:00.000-07:002010-09-19T12:06:48.989-07:00

I needed ouzo for the Greek-Style Shrimp and Feta recipe so I used a vodka tincture substitute. (From the Cooks Illustrated magazine for September & October 2010, page 13.) Ouzo, the popular anise-flavored spirit of Greece, lends shrimp saganaki a nuanced flavor that we like. But since ouzo is not in everyone's liquor cabinet, here are two alternative. Pernod—Though slightly sweeter than ouzo,

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-16488405348214780452010-09-19T09:05:00.000-07:002011-12-04T19:34:27.974-08:00

This easy weeknight Greek dish defies the old saw that seafood and cheese don't work together—if, that is, you get every element just right. From the Cooks Illustrated magazine for September & October 2010. I made this recipe when I first got this month's Cooks Illustrated magazine and we really really liked it. They wanted to simplify and improve on the classic Greek dish, shrimp saganaki.

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-84235478906041453232010-08-28T09:13:00.000-07:002010-09-19T09:05:10.141-07:00

My professional goal for 2010 is to start using PowerShell. The developers back in Chicago use it for everything and it seems to be the new scripting language of choice for the Window world. (Pash is a cross platform open source version was started but no news for a couple of years.) Lots of resources on the net; blogs, script repositories, books, podcasts and such. I have been reading a

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-2024845336264323962010-08-27T17:13:00.000-07:002010-08-30T13:20:59.554-07:00

I am listening to a class from East Tennessee Status University (ETSU) taught by David Frazier, Ethical Hacking CSCI 4957 (iTunes U). This wiki page defines to term Penetration Testing, an active analysis of a system's security primarily by utilizing common ways of compromising the system. One of these days I would like to go through the class exercises and homework myself. A lot of tools and

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-3668651411728438172010-08-24T14:42:00.000-07:002010-08-24T14:50:20.433-07:00

Going contra dancing again this weekend. Two weeks ago I dance for 90 minute over a 3 hour period with NO side effects; no pain, no stress on hips, fair workout and good time. The fact that I have had an artificial hip installed is primarily an intellectual exercise now. By that I mean that my body doesn't seem to notice any more.

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-38425246263648712262010-07-30T06:53:00.000-07:002010-07-30T08:03:50.635-07:00

I've been making pulled pork since fall of 2007. Trevor turned me on to it as a home BBQ staple. Here is some information from the July 2010 West Texas Bar-B-Que email newsletter (article re-posted below). We enjoy the West Texas food and I believe the BBQ tips are sound. Ask Mr. BBQ Question: I'm a beginning smoker. What would be my easiest cut of meat to start with? -John K. , Sacramento

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-16893408033440255272010-07-15T13:19:00.000-07:002010-07-15T13:43:58.194-07:00

I passed the six month mark with the new right hip and still not kicking. Start kicking on Saturday with the first Karate workout since surgery. The Doctor said wait six months before getting back on the mat and I am following his advise. Honestly at 3 months I felt like I could start working out again but now that I see what 6 months of healing is like I agree that half a year is sound advise.

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-7582291763511819882010-07-14T09:07:00.000-07:002010-07-14T09:11:05.622-07:00

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-85665898602949050252010-06-05T13:16:00.000-07:002010-06-05T13:45:19.736-07:00

Five months since the first hip was replaced and it went so well that I don't feel like the hip is holding me back. In fact, I am eager to get back into sweating. Two months back and work and I have gained 15 pounds; this has got to change. To early to go back to the dojo, 6 month hiatus recommended, and the daily walks aren't getting it done any more. Then during my checkup with the surgeon

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-76193406628444116712010-04-21T12:49:00.000-07:002010-04-21T13:08:52.394-07:00

In some organizations, not anywhere I have ever worked, testers feel they are undervalued and not respected. The vibe is felt when management sends them off to test a moving target knowing that they will be throwing their work out when the new release-candidate version is produced by the hard working software engineers who fixed so many bad bugs to get the product ready. (The programmers didn't

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-44998218841992144892010-04-20T16:55:00.000-07:002010-04-20T17:16:26.995-07:00

Three months post-op all continues to go well. Back to working my regular full time job in Benicia. 90 mile commute each way, five days a week. The first week was tiring but the end of the second week back to the normal work related fatigue. I realize that the 2-3 hour Friday commute home is exhausting because I have to pay close attention to the road the whole time, no day dreaming or down

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-40844613384831929182010-04-20T12:58:00.000-07:002010-04-20T13:01:21.424-07:00

Thank you [Jaya] for your sage advice about shredding. I am going to use your comment in advising all my clients that if you let it pile up on top of the shredder you are just conveniently locating sensitive material for thieves to steal more efficiently!—Marcia S.

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-57357346308378244652010-04-20T12:35:00.000-07:002010-04-20T12:55:13.763-07:00

A watched a Microsoft webinar today about a new test tool integrated into Visual Studio, Test Professional 2010. I like that they are attempting to make a tool for the way most of us work, not asking us to work the way an expensive tool requires. (You had us spend all that money you damn well better use the tool.) They had a slide in the introduction that listed attributes of a professional

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-84656749409138937502010-04-17T10:15:00.000-07:002010-04-17T10:46:45.248-07:00

Grilled vegetables have more complex flavor than steamed or sauteed. The charring adds depth in my opinion. The wood flavors are simply a bonus. Heat the gas grill on high for about 15 minutes until you have a 2 Mississippi heat five inches above the grate. Clean the grill and oil it. Coat the vegetables with the butter sauce and grill with the cover open. Anywhere from 2 to 5 minutes per side.

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-36897121378488727702010-04-16T09:05:00.000-07:002010-04-16T09:27:54.020-07:00

We are always hearing about password security and the need to create passwords for logins all across the internet and at work. But what is a good password? blah blah blah Password Meter was suggested to me by my insurance company. Read about it or just use it. ;) Click the image to see the analysis of Bodhr4n +ippEr as a password. I like it because it lists the requirements that make a strong

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-13524462872371273532010-04-14T15:30:00.000-07:002010-04-14T15:39:55.318-07:00

My buddy Ted just sent me an email about his visit to the City Museum in St. Louis Missouri. Looks like the kind of sculptures that fascinate me. Add this to my list of places to visit someday.

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-41029452958119649192010-04-14T08:18:00.000-07:002010-04-14T12:47:48.471-07:00

My favorite single malt whiskey is the Connemara 12-Year Peated Single Malt Irish Whiskey. The 12-Year is superior to the standard bottling IMHO. Distilled two times (2 column distillation) where others makers do more than two distillations. Bourbon barrels are use to age the whiskey. These barrels are used no more than three times before they are retired. The whiskey is chill filtered.

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-14216303643945415492010-04-11T11:30:00.000-07:002010-04-11T13:03:12.049-07:00

[Click the pictures to view.] Forest Hill Divide Loop Trail Overlook is a nice hike sutable for out of town guests that are not trekkers. Some steep grades to get you breathing but not too challenging for people who walk regularly. The hike from Foresthill Road out to the Overlook and back is less than an hour. The Overlook is a nice picnic spot with a grand view. Today there were wild flowers

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-90696558655438586172010-04-10T09:23:00.000-07:002010-04-10T09:26:30.072-07:00

This 3:33 video illustrates what I do for a living. Thanks to James for making it.

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-74608318784450537162010-03-28T13:00:00.000-07:002010-03-28T13:20:07.549-07:00

As soon as I read this passage I knew my participation in groups was going to be different in the future. No longer will I sit quietly/politely at the table not knowing who EVERYONE at that table is and why they are there. No longer will I ask a group that I am leading to participate if I don't first ask them to introduce themselves; Who I Am, Why I Am Here. You know, this sounds a lot like an

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-34489175564424148812010-03-27T10:34:00.000-07:002010-03-27T10:40:50.892-07:00

Can a W. E. B. Griffin novel stop a bullet? Is it thick enough? Dense Book And Hollow Bullets attempts to answer this and other literary questions (see video below). I'll going to start reading W. E. B. Griffin's The Presidential Agent Series soon.

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-88259278340448783782010-03-19T13:58:00.000-07:002010-03-20T16:57:54.600-07:00

Found a treasure in the Netflix Steam, Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, 2008, 43 minutes. It's a one off opera (technically a musical because there is some dialog and monologues). I really enjoyed the love story and romance. The music and lyrics are clever and easy to follow. I'll watch this story again. Here's a quote from the movie. Dr. Horrible has a secret crush on Penny, a strong advocate

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-36706257686686614062010-03-19T09:10:00.000-07:002010-03-20T17:05:09.333-07:00

Just discovered the existence of IETester (Windows application) yesterday. Haven't tested it yet but it sounds like it will be very useful to Sharon at her work. IETester allows you to have the rendering and javascript engines of IE8, IE7 IE 6 and IE5.5 on Windows 7, Vista and XP, as well as the installed IE in the same window/machine. Just point it at the page you're working on and try your

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-509969878701153832010-03-18T12:30:00.000-07:002010-03-18T12:38:46.856-07:00

The 960 Grid System is a framework for web pages using CSS. On their homepage they mentioned floating system that appeals to me. So I decided to work with the Fluid 960 Grid System instead. However, goto 960.gs for the demos and documentation, it is excellent. I learned about this tool and others while listening to the video podcast The Art of Code by Ted Forbes.

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-39284924389423416622010-03-16T10:54:00.000-07:002010-03-16T11:38:15.892-07:00

We visited the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in D.C. this year. Seeing so many of the works one after the other inspired me to start quilting again. I took pictures of the pieces that interested me to save in my "Quilting Ideas" photo folder. Pictured above: Sol LeWitt, Wall Drawing #356 BB Isometric figure within which are 3" wide black lines in three directions. (Cube without a cube)

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-46061344835014657502010-03-15T14:02:00.000-07:002010-03-15T14:29:21.945-07:00

As I read The Buccaneer-Scholar I came to realize that the big vacation I have been thinking about most of my adult life could be describe as a buccaneer voyage. ...The beginning is a terrible time to plan. It's the moment of greatest ignorance....In buccaneer learning, wandering is a necessity, not a luxury. —James Marcus Bach, Secrets of a Buccaneer-Scholar I am collecting seed ideas for the

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-60407443671831496962010-03-04T12:36:00.000-08:002010-03-04T23:06:35.395-08:00

Kuler is a web app from Adobe that lets you see/save color pallets on the fly as you manipulate them. kuler.adobe.com Note, you need to create an Adobe account to use all the features. I learned about this tool and TypeTester while listening to the video podcast The Art of Code by Ted Forbes.

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-33492808717306926022010-03-02T05:00:00.000-08:002010-03-02T05:45:26.673-08:00

Just installed Vim on my Mac. I did it so that I can learn all the stuff that it does beyond vi. Vim should be useful as I extend my CSS and XHTML skills. I've been studying The Art of Code podcast by Ted Forbes and really like the tool he uses for editing because it uses color to denote XHTML syntax. He also introduced me to TextExpander and TypeTester. A Byte of Vim is a book recommended for

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-44837783810247730822010-02-27T21:34:00.000-08:002010-02-27T21:42:59.349-08:00

www.TypeTester.org is a very useful site for experimenting with the HTML characteristics used in your web pages. "The Typetester is an online application for comparison of the fonts for the screen. Its primary role is to make web designer’s life easier. As the new fonts are bundled into operating systems, the list of the common fonts will be updated." Go for a test drive to find out for yourself.

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-5493145727306812682010-02-20T15:01:00.000-08:002010-02-20T15:43:42.448-08:00

So you have a new iPhone and have downloaded a bunch of free apps, now it is time to start some serious work with your phone. (See also my other iPhone blog entries.) You need to subscribe to some podcasts to expand your working knowledge of stuff. I recommend starting with any/all of the podcasts from Grammar Girl's site, QD Now, www.quickanddirtytips.com. Subscribe from this site or search for

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-24257154680338615832010-02-20T14:23:00.000-08:002010-02-20T15:00:26.393-08:00

Learn how sardines are caught, cooked and canned. Learn about "steam grilling". Learn that not everyone is fascinated with manufacturing films. Check out this recipe for Sicilian Sardine and Broccoli Rabe Pasta from the good folks at Vital Choice Wild Seafood & Organics and let me know how it tastes. I found out about Vital Choice from the Nutrition Diva (Jaya recommends her podcast). Use the

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-49322037428143899952010-02-17T17:25:00.000-08:002010-02-17T19:43:36.292-08:00

Five weeks post-op all continues to go well. I have been forgetting to take the cane when I go out sometimes. For brief periods I forget that I have had the surgery. Continuing the exercises I have been doing. Add exercise bike and weight training at PT. Continue with the walks. My normal hilly route took 30 minutes now it is shy of 25. I walked around the baseball diamond on Tuesday for a 45

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-4382814266935389262010-02-12T22:34:00.000-08:002010-02-18T09:23:56.983-08:00

Just finished listening to Jim Dale's reading of "Around the World in Eighty Days" by Jules Verne. Originally written and published in 1873 as a French magazine serial (French: Le tour du monde en quatre-vingts jours). In the story, Phileas Fogg of London and his newly employed French valet Passepartout attempt to circumnavigate the world in 80 days on a £20,000 wager set by his friends at the

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-44229391602799993772010-02-10T10:38:00.000-08:002010-02-10T11:12:21.263-08:00

I have been using the Lose It! iPhone app for one year. It is the key to my being able to change my behavior resulting in significant weight reduction (30 pounds). Mahalo Sharon for the "track the foods you eat" suggestion. OXOX Lose It! now has a website that provides additional resources over the initial version I started with. I have signed up and have connected it to my Facebook as well.

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-40687743045065883102010-02-09T21:43:00.000-08:002010-02-09T21:56:21.746-08:00

Upon first hearing this song years ago on KFJC I knew that some day I would sip tea across from these gardens. The Chester Nimitz Oriental Garden in the song is now known as the Japanese Garden of Peace, Fredricksburg Texas.

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-86153224906709266492010-02-09T20:53:00.000-08:002010-02-09T21:40:23.018-08:00

A friend on Facebook posted pointing to Logging: Exploratory Tester’s Friend on James Bach's blog. Got me thinking, arrr matey. GFI–Analyze application's logs for keys to extract high level user events that may be used to document the "actions testers did". This could serve as objective physical evidence that functional requirements were tested.Consider being able to process customer logs to

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-5717742330590462792010-02-08T14:56:00.000-08:002010-02-08T15:07:26.923-08:00

Dr. Bergeson performed an anterior approach hip replacement on me. My body is heavily muscled so the procedure was relatively difficult and lengthy. One month post op no complications or complaints. From what I gather Dr. Bergeson seems to a have an excellent reputation with the hospital staff. Another reviewer here had problems with an office visit. Not my experience, 3 visits and no waiting.

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-3973467813705413392010-02-03T08:54:00.000-08:002010-02-03T12:02:32.283-08:00

Three weeks post-op all continues to go well. Staples were removed last week. "No precautions" continues to be the directive. Started ascending and descending stairs unaided. Started serious physical therapy yesterday. First the therapist measured the range of motion of the right hip. We need to work on flexibility :) Continue the exercises I have been doing. Add abduction and adduction

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-31787483661940569912010-02-01T12:15:00.000-08:002010-02-13T15:03:07.695-08:00

American's Test Kitchen (ATK) Season 9 included a cherry tomato salad, I tried it and loved it. Here is their recipe (directions) but the herbs and cheeses are my formula (taken from the ATK website recipes). If in-season cherry tomatoes are unavailable, substitute vine-ripened cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes from the supermarket. Cut grape tomatoes in half along the equator (rather than

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-21747747598164548322010-01-18T15:09:00.000-08:002010-01-18T15:31:58.480-08:00

In the hospital they had a basic aluminum walker for me to use. I use to have one at the dojo just like it; four legs, place it in front of you and step forward, pick it up and more it forward again. Fred and John loaned me a really cool rolling walker, a Nova Cruiser DX model 4202 blue. The shuffle style is OK when you are putting a lot of weight on the device and moving slowly but by day 3 it

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-25131813736197675192010-01-15T10:18:00.000-08:002010-01-16T09:44:56.004-08:00

Settling in after surgery went well. Sharon was great as usual. She anticipated my needs and is always looking for ways to make me comfortable. Here are a some specifics that we did, hope others will find it helpful.Joined Facebook to keep friends and family informed. Unexpected benefit of support and love from everyone. Used the iPhone to listen to podcasts, Origin of Species, played Bejeweled,

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-5918277003239429802010-01-08T20:02:00.000-08:002010-01-08T20:17:09.246-08:00

I expect that the first couple of weeks after the surgery it will not be practical to sit at my computer for extended periods. However, I think I will be able to sit in the command chair just fine. In order to keep my friends and family updated on my progress I will be blogging the experience here under the keyword/label "hip". And this required me to buy a keyboard for the

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-36866699392019239952010-01-05T20:24:00.000-08:002010-01-05T20:58:06.060-08:00

This total hip replacement (THR) video (Rated PG-13) talks about the procedure I am having done; Metal-on-Metal Hip Replacement, Anterior Approach. If you want to watch an actual surgery I think this video by Dr. Stefan Kreuzer, MD might be for you (I don't want to watch this kind of thing myself ). Or this a live Internet web cast on November 20, 2008, Daniel Gannon, M.D., performed a direct

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-51057006196512175272010-01-04T14:35:00.000-08:002010-01-04T14:51:04.876-08:00

OSI Pro-FX Surgical Table Makes Minimally Invasive Hip Surgery Possible Muscle-sparing hip replacement surgery designed to diminish post-operative pain and shorten recuperation time. The OSI Pro FX surgical table - an addition to the health system's surgical suite that makes possible the minimally invasive, muscle-sparing hip replacement surgery. The Pro Fx Hip and Knee Arthoplasty Table table

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-8451022296791293322010-01-04T09:48:00.000-08:002010-01-05T20:42:56.111-08:00

Some replacement hips are made of a Co-Cr-Mo (Cobalt-Chromium-Molybdenum) alloy. It is porous in all the right places which allows the bone to attach to it. [I don't think this is exactly what will be put into my body. I'll blog my specifics later.] A gravity sintering fabrication technique has been developed for producing Co-Cr-Mo alloy dental implants having a porous coating on the root

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-10820989455191357192010-01-02T09:48:00.000-08:002010-01-02T10:00:17.939-08:00

Last week's SciAm Psych Podcast was on Remembering That Person's Name. anomia—the inability to remember names. ...So they tested the memories of 117 healthy 60 to 91 year-olds. And they found that the ability to put a name to a photo of a famous person declines with age. But semantic memory, which includes biographical info, like knowing that George Bush was a U.S. President, remains

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-15638667716074994582009-12-31T13:08:00.000-08:002010-01-04T08:54:47.374-08:00

To date I have completed 45 jobs on the PlayStation 3. I understand that where a PS3 takes 6 hours to complete a job some PCs will take days. More power for gaming is good. The model uses color to denote the elements in the protein.Grey-carbon and hydrogenBlue-nitrogenRed-oxygenYellow-sulferThe yellow lights on the globe (background animation) represent the sites where PS3 machines are being

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-84086006446015205512009-12-29T09:43:00.000-08:002010-01-05T21:09:34.053-08:00

At our initial interview Dr. Bergeson said he was planning on using the DePuy ASR total hip. On the DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson company) website they list the DePuy ASR™ XL System, I confirmed that this is the specific hip replacement Dr. Bergeson was referring to. Tri-Lock® Bone Preservation Hip Stem is what Dr. Bergeson is going to put in my femur. Warnings and Precautions

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-35103880057918223582009-12-25T11:23:00.000-08:002009-12-28T13:53:30.001-08:00

Sarah made this for our family Christmas in Baltimore last week. Nice light sweet and colorful, just what you want after a large meal i.e., not heavy rich and filling. She used strawberry or raspberry JELL-O but I am using red (cherry) and green (lime) for more of a Christmas flair. In order to get both colors in the same cake layer I used the turkey baster to inject the jello into the cake

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-85540536601478634302009-12-24T07:47:00.000-08:002009-12-24T08:06:19.047-08:00

My buddy Ted visited last night and turned me on to this site that features short talks by smart people about their passions. Can you say YouTube for Illuminati? TED.com—Technology, Entertainment, Design I've added TED to my podcast feed. The buccaneer scholar sails on.

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-37586179467239789452009-12-23T13:57:00.001-08:002009-12-24T08:24:51.449-08:00

Episode #25 of Scott Sigler's book Nocturnal has a nice dialog on evolution and behavior. I'm not sure what I think about it, only that I need to study more and think about it. It folds into a discussion in On The Origin of Species, another book I am reading his month. The Buccaneer scholar sails on.

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-73567943294551443082009-12-22T10:32:00.000-08:002009-12-23T09:20:45.811-08:00

I recommend this new book, Secrets Of A buccaneer-Scholar by James Bach, to all my students and friends.

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-25630414536953096442009-12-17T15:04:00.000-08:002009-12-17T15:44:59.604-08:00

I never heard the term South Carolina Low Country before. (Here is a page about the food.) The google map indicates this is the Charleston South Carolina region of the country. Anyway, we had South Carolina Low Country Chicken at lunch today in the National Gallery of Art Garden Café. The recipes are available as PDF on the gallery's website. I decided to type in the chicken recipe here so I

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-66998820600054095982009-12-16T17:08:00.000-08:002009-12-16T17:22:26.674-08:00

Marcia made a great chili for dinner tonight. She and Fred got the recipe from Cliff Pence, the radio station manager at WCWM way back in the 70's. Ingredients 1 1/2 lb Hamburger1 large Onion2 cans Kidney Beans28 oz Crushed Tomatos8 oz Tomato Sauce1 Bay Leaf4 T Chili Powder2 T Red Wine1 T Sugar1 tsp Salt3 dashes Red Pepperdash Oreganodash PaprikaBrown the onion.Add hamburger, cook until

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-53381159707064029602009-12-13T13:02:00.000-08:002010-01-04T08:55:18.816-08:00

[Geek On] Folding@Home distributed computing. I'm running this protein folding simulation software on both the PS3 and Mac. Create a username for yourself. Download and install the software. You are welcome to join my team: Danzan Ryu (176303) [Geek Off]More info about my PS3.

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-23666097205048524792009-12-02T13:33:00.001-08:002009-12-03T19:41:22.256-08:00

I am reading You Only Live Twice by Ian Fleming this week. Good fun. The password is: Freddy Uncle Charlie Katie Every dog needs a few fleas otherwise it will forget it is a dog. You only live twice, once when you are born and once when you look death in the face.—James Bond (a.k.a. Bondo-San and Agent 777 in the book) Really enjoying the book. A lot about Japan and Japanese culture. It

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-91560380489920337342009-11-29T12:35:00.000-08:002009-11-29T12:39:32.246-08:00

I bought some fabric with 1/4 inch strips. I will use this the practice sewing a 1/4 inch seam. The idea is to train the body to sew consistence accurate 1/4 inch seams. Each time you set down at the machine whip out the practice fabric and sew a couple of long straight stitches 1/4 inch from the last stitch.

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-37404897278413579062009-11-29T11:32:00.001-08:002009-11-29T12:41:30.135-08:00

As I plan for my hip replacement surgery I am once again thinking of quilting. It must be because I will have time available that is currently scheduled for work, commuting and karate. I want to do some complex creative project that require additional quilting skills. To the end of having a full set of tools I will be doing small project each focusing on developing my skills. Started by

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-2452253031089122852009-11-25T13:06:00.000-08:002009-11-25T13:21:31.344-08:00

This Thai dish feature a rare steak cut into thin slices served over lettuce with a wonderfully complex sweet and astringent sauce. I love the sauce and intend on testing it with both steaks and grilled chicken. Tiger Cry Beef SauceJuice of 1 lime (2 limes if you like)One fresh chili, seeded and finely sliced.Small handful of fresh coriander (cilantro), chopped1 teaspoon sugar (any sort, honey

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-13614203345906014102009-11-25T08:13:00.000-08:002009-11-25T08:37:13.578-08:00

I saw a deer in the neighborhood this morning on my way to work. My first sighting on our street although I have seen them in the woods and dead on I80. This photograph resembles what I saw, but I didn't take the picture. Initially I was going to title this Doe Spotting but she was to mature to have spots and the previous wildlife entry was Fox Sighting not Fox Spotting :) Now you too can have

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-49460373399343410462009-11-22T08:55:00.000-08:002009-11-22T09:24:19.148-08:00

Yesterday I blogged about Inspiring Quilts. This posting contains the technique stuff I learned from Michael James's book. Stretch the backing, good side down, tightly and pin down the sides.Lay the batting over the backing. No pinning.Cover with the top, show side up.Smooth out the top and adjust the seams. Pay particular attention to the seams that define the pattern. Pin these key seams to the

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-36324104260608218562009-11-21T08:58:00.000-08:002009-11-21T09:14:16.074-08:00

Michael James is an artist that works in the quilt medium. I check out his book Art & Inspirations from the library and fell in love with his images. I like the color play on the strips of fabric. The depth of the image as one changes yo's focus. Must learn how to do curved pieces. Struck with his earlier works. They are the kinds of thing I want to create now. The newer stuff he did 20 year

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-54551665248338980652009-11-20T14:14:00.000-08:002009-11-29T12:23:57.659-08:00

Here is Chef Paul Prudhomme's Andouille Sausage Dressing I intend to make for Thanksgiving this year. I've made it before and love it. It is going to go under the butterflied turkey along with some oyster dressing that Sharon like to make. I copied this recipe from his website. I first make it on 11/20/01 from his cook book, Chef Paul Prudhomme's Louisiana Kitchen (1984), page 226. Makes

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-6504151303424157412009-11-19T12:01:00.000-08:002009-11-19T12:36:42.278-08:00

At the Pre-Op Total Joint Replacement class yesterday the PT showed us a CPM commonly used after knee surgery. Some doctors prescribe the CPM after hip replacement as well. My surgeon does not use the CPM for either hip or knee replacement patients (in general). Recent studies do not find significant impact of using the device six weeks after surgery. However, as I am a trained therapist myself

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-21865138637760201892009-11-14T17:17:00.000-08:002009-11-14T18:00:02.776-08:00

To date all of my quilt tops have been sent out to be quilted by a professional on the large commercial quilting machines. I am very pleased with the results and enjoyed getting the tops done. I have little interest in the labor of quilting the top to the batting and backing. As I contemplate another life phase of quilting I am thinking of doing my own quilting, sewing the top batting and back

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-85105992898686098452009-11-13T20:06:00.000-08:002009-11-13T21:00:24.277-08:00

This week I am listening to Circle of Quilters by Jennifer Chiaverini. I am thoroughly enjoying it (currently half way through) and find that she effectively captures the pleasure and personal fulfillment of quilting. The chapter about the Russ hits home. I have personally experienced the social bias and sexism he encountered. However, the quilt shop where I got started was very inviting and

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7683559707159305441.post-71846646913983400392009-11-06T13:55:00.000-08:002010-12-26T08:43:17.316-08:00

This recipe is derived from the American's Test Kitchen (ATK) meatloaf recipes. One is for an all beef meatloaf (season 7) and the other is a bacon-wrapped meatloaf (season 1) that uses veal and pork. But my Safeway doesn't carry ground veal or meatloaf meat. So I combined the two substituting turkey for veal plus using the gelatin to keep my loaf moist. Traditional meatloaf may also include

Jayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00721561357198759449noreply@blogger.com1