Eliot and I own two sets of silver plate silverware. Each set is for 12 people. Both sets are about 45 years old. Needless to say, they are not as shiny as they once were.
I don’t like to use them when we have company because they look slightly tarnished. It’s a shame because they are valuable, and in today’s market, it would be very costly to replace them.
Francis and Guy came to the rescue. That’s a couple we met on a tour in Ireland last summer. I don’t remember how or why, but I told them about my silverware situation during one of our many conversations. I wanted to know how I could clean the silverware without spending days polishing the many knives, forks, spoons, etc.
When they told me how they clean their silver, I couldn’t believe it. It seemed so simple. It’s been months since they told me what to do. I finally got the courage to try.
I filled a 1/3 of my sink with hot water. I lined the sink with aluminum foil, and then added a tablespoon of baking soda and a table spoon of salt. I then stirred the water so everything was evenly distributed.
I placed 12 utensils in the sink at a time and let them soak for 15 minutes. After, I rinsed them off, I put them in the dishwasher for a good cleaning. The results? Spotless and shiny silverware. It was that simple.
If you want to learn this trick, and not spend hours polishing your silverware, watch the video for specific instructions.
I always wondered why my friend, Doug Garr, had the guts every month to jump out of an airplane. I sometimes would stare at him, and wonder, what makes him tick? He looks pretty normal, and never exhibits any daredevil tendencies. Why is he so different? Surprise, surprise! A blog for the company, 23andMe, a genetic service company, explained that Doug may have the right type of genetics that gives him the ability to take high risks.
The blog said that scientists, from the Social Science Genetic Association Consortium (SSGAC), conducted a study that “identified 124 genetic variants associated with a person’s willingness to take risks.”
They were able to capture “the combined effect of a million genetic variants to reach an estimate showing that genetics accounts for about 1.6 percent of the variation in risk tolerance across individuals.”
The blog also pointed out that the role of genes that regulate neurotransmitters such as glutamate and GABA — are chemical messengers that both stimulate and calm the brain.
Are you a risk taker? The study examined “whether having a risk tolerance in one area, say a willingness to bungee jump, corresponds with taking a risk in another realm, like taking a risk financially.” The researchers found evidence of shared genetic influences across risk tolerance and risky behaviors.
I wonder if this information is going to influence your future behavior?
For years I have heard people complain that smartphones were killing the social skills of their children. Now the complaints are that technology is ruining the sex life of people of all ages.
The Washington Post discovered that Americans are not having sex. Of course, who do we blame that on? Once again, technology.
I blame Trump. I assume most people can’t concentrate long enough to achieve a happy ending. They are constantly being reminded about the world we live in. Our president is a continuous source of aggravation.
The Washington Post also claims that technology is affecting the sexual habits at all ages. “There are a lot more things to do at 10 o’clock at night now than there were 20 years ago. Streaming video, social media, console games, everything else.”
People are just not as sexually active as they used to be. Statistics show that the percentage of Americans having relations once a week, or more, is now at 39 percent. It used to be 51 percent in 1996.
Here comes a startling realization. The number of U.S. adults reporting that they have had no sex in the past year reached an all-time high in 2018. Researchers claim that these results came from an aging population and the higher numbers of unattached people.
All I can say is “Oy Vey!”
If you want to read more about this subject, click below.
We have been living in our Miami condo for 17 years. It’s time for a refresh. While we are going to go slow on our upgrade journey, there are a few things I was thinking about to add that ever sensational “wow” factor.
One accessory is the Spin, a spinning flame in a glass tube. It’s a gadget that can add a very special mood factor indoors and out. Powered with bioethanol, SPIN creates a controlled (safe) tornado of dancing flames within its glass tube.
I first saw Spin on Kickstarter. The company says SPIN uses a thermal lift technology to accelerate air within its tube. “This chimney effect, created by SPIN’s unique shape, boosts flame flow and power up to 500% without any extra energy … it’s simply amazing to see!
SPIN is available in three different configurations and adds a perfect touch of ambiance indoors or outdoors.” Spin starts a $99 and works its way up to $1000 for more complicated designs.
I’ll let you know when the product goes on sale. Please watch the video to see what the Spin can do for you.
The following was written by Jefferson Graham of USA Today. He is a media machine creating daily stories for USA Today, as well as podcasts, newsletters, and videos. When I read about Trader Joe’s podcast in Jefferson’s recent newsletter, I knew I wanted to share it with you. Here it is.
I didn’t know this until I pulled up Tuesday morning to pick lunch for Michelle and I, and there was that crazy sign in front of the Westchester TJ’s. Check it out.
Turns out TJ’s Inside Trader Joe’s pod is up to episode 12, with professionally produced tales of new flavor discoveries, recipes and a little TJ history. Fans of the store, and they are legion (who doesn’t like lower prices?) would no doubt find this pretty entertaining.
Especially since TJ’s rarely, if ever, speaks to the press. (Go ahead, do a search, and find me a Trader Joe’s article that isn’t about a store opening.) There’s way more info in these podcasts than you’d ever find in print.
Checking out the podcast made me wonder—are there other brands out there doing something similar?
I couldn’t find a Kroger, Safeway, Ralph’s, Von’s or Piggy Wiggly podcast, ditto for McDonald’s, Burger King and Wendy’s, but I did discover a Walmart podcast, where two Walmarters interview associates from within the store. I also found a short General Mills podcast talking cereal and yogurt.
As many of you no doubt know, I’m 2,000 episodes plus in on my daily podcast, Talking Tech, which has been running for over four years. Welcome to the club TJ’s. See you at episode 1000!
My favorite podcast is Slow Burn, the episodic look back at Watergate and the Clinton scandals. In Inside Trader Joe’s, I admire the effort put in and the polished approach to what is basically an infomercial without sounding like one. It’s worth a listen.
What’s your favorite podcast? Hit reply and let me know your choices. My friend Alex is always looking for something new to listen to on his morning bike ride. Help me recommend him something he doesn’t know!
Several weeks ago I told you about the houseboat we spotted off the MacArthur Causeway on Star Island in Miami Beach. Today we actually got to see what was inside.
As luck would have it, we have a TV producer friend who was doing a story about the floating mansion. She needed some help with on camera reactions to the houseboat, so Eliot and I, and Ruth and Howard, were recruited. It was so much fun. We all took turns playing on-air personalities.
The inside of the 4,300 square foot structure is just spectacular. You feel like you are floating on the sea from every angle. You are completely free and relaxed. The water, which is just inches away, mesmerizes you with its constant movement,
The three bedroom houseboat, built by a company called Arkup, is selling for over $6 million. Arkup is a manufacturer of fully solar-electric, mobile and self-elevating livable yachts. They should be congratulated. This over-the-top houseboat is a total fantasy trip. Every modern convenience was included, so living on the water is a dream come true. It never tires.
Katelyn just debuted a whole new floor routine at the PAC-12 women’s gymnastics championship in West Valley City, Utah. This gal is awesome. Watch the video below. You will be seeing a lot more of her.
If Samsung paid “The Tonight Show” millions of dollars to be a single sponsor, they really got ripped off. The brand name of Samsung got mentioned only a few times during the show, but nothing special. There was no discussion of what the Samsung Galaxy S10 does and why someone should buy it.
Truth be told, Fallon could have used any smartphone to record parts of the show. Samsung didn’t even do the entire job. They had lighting, audio, and recording help from other professional companies. There was nothing extraordinary about the segment.
Variety made a big deal about the show. They said, “Samsung wants to change the way viewers look at Jimmy Fallon.” I certainly didn’t see that.
Variety said, “Monday night’s broadcast of NBC’s “Tonight Show” will feature no opening monologue and no traditional sit-downs with guests. Instead, Fallon will open the program by telling viewers that the entire episode has been shot with the Samsung Galaxy S10+ smartphone, which features an ultra-wide camera lens, and explain that it will showcase some of his favorite New York spots. The collaboration is part of a broad ad deal Samsung has struck with NBCUniversal.
“Samsung’s smartphone connection to “Tonight” adds a new dimension to one of Madison Avenue’s most-sought formats. For the past few years, certain categories of advertisers have placed new emphasis on late-night TV, eager to get their products in front of younger viewers in unique ways that simply aren’t available in scripted programming (and are cheaper than advertising in primetime).”
Yesterday was Apple’s day. This was a waste of money. Here is the Variety story. Click here.
I’m curious about your thoughts on whether police officers should be allowed to check the cellphone of a person who was driving during a car accident. The state of Nevada wants to change their laws so police can check to see if the driver was texting while driving.
While this questions privacy concerns, many people feel this will help prevent drivers from taking their eyes off the road. Life matters vs citizen rights?
The new possible legislation is called “textalyzers.” There are other cities examining distracted driving laws including New York, New Jersey, Tennessee and Chicago.
The U.S. Department of Transportation said distracted drivers contributed to 3,450 auto fatalities in 2016. Fourteen percent were linked to cellphone use.
An Israeli company called Cellebrite has developed a text tester that would only identify the type of cell phone activity that was taking place during the accident. No personal data would be revealed. What do you think of that?
DigiDame 