January 31, 2008

Share some Good Stuff

Sometimes we get so overwhelmed with the bad news that we forget that there are good things going on around us all the time. We can’t change the headlines, but we can seek out that which is good, that which is uplifting, that which shines with a positive radiance - the good stuff. Here are some recent feel-great stories:

Val wants us to know about a special athlete who sounds like a real winner!

Corrin had some great personal news this week that could lead to more good news in the future. Congrats, Corrin!

JenX found a wonderful story about an amaziing teen who built a school. Shame on all of us who think we can’t make a difference!

My own contribution this week is about a flag with an amazing history.

Is something wonderful going on in your own life? Give us all a lift by sharing your news. Have you checked the back pages of your local paper lately? Do yourself a favor and make it a point to find the good news that never makes the front page. Those little tidbits are a great antidote for the depression the “big stories” seem to leave in their wake. Make sure you send me a link when you’re moved to blog about something good going on, whether it’s in your personal life, your community or anywhere else. I’ll hook you up the next time we Share Some Good Stuff and then we can all feel a little better about what this world is coming to!

[tags]good news, current events, local stories, meme[/tags]

Four Foods on Friday #15

It’s that time again, folks! Val over at Fun, Crafts and Recipes runs a fun weekly meme that you’re invited you join. It’s really easy. Just answer the quesitons below in a post on your blog, then post your link in a comment to Val’s Four Foods on Friday post. She’ll comment on your answers and give you some link love in her roundup post on Friday.

Here are my answers:

#1. What is your favorite kind of cheese for snacking?

Cheddar is my standby and always on hand. It makes a good snack. I usually try to keep either gouda, edam or muenster purely for snacking pleasure, but I’m out of those right now.

#2. What is your favorite kind of jelly?

My favorite fruit spread is apple butter, but that’s not really jelly, so I’ll go with Welch’s Concord Grape Jam, which also isn’t a jelly. Live with it!

#3. Yogurt. Regular or custard style?

I’m not a big yogurt fan. Every now and then I feel like I should eat it, though. My choice is a bit of a compromise - Chocolate Mousse Yogurt. Yeah, I know - serious yogurt-eaters don’t think it counts as real yogurt.

#4. Share a recipe for a stew or soup.

Hmmmm! You already know I don’t have “real” recipes for a lot of the stuff I cook. I’m a pinch-of-this, dab-of-that kind of cook. With things I’ve made numerous times I just toss in what I think is the right amount of the right ingredients and cook in whatever way I think I should cook. That being said, one of my favorite comfort foods, especially when I’m sick, is potato soup. Peel three or four medium-sized potatoes and chop them into smallish chunks. Cover with water, add a pinch of salt and boil until done. Pour off any excess water (a little in the bottom of the pan is fine) and mash some of the potatoes to serve as a thickener. Add milk - probably about a quart to a quart and a half, additional salt (if needed) and pepper (white pepper works well if you don’t want the black specks.) Stir and cook gently until the soup is hot, thickened and flavorful. Possible variations that have worked well for me: a pinch of cumin can really shake up the taste. Bacon, ham, sausage or any smoky pork product gives a nice “country” flavor. A handful of your favorite cheese, shredded and tossed atop the soup in its bowl, makes it rich and creamy. You can use the same recipe to make leek soup: I use half potatoes and half leeks and cook as above. The same variations all work well with leeks. If you want a really rich, savory dish, cook up a pot with all of the above-listed ingredients. Yum!

[tags]food, memes, recipes, potato soup[/tags]

Happy Birthday Son!

On January 31, 1971 my world changed forever.

Mahalo for rocking my world. Mom loves you!

[tags]birthdays, family, photos, sons[/tags]

Venerable flag returns to battle

The tattered American flag was probably crisply new when Allen Hoe purchased it in 1967 outside a U.S. military base in Chu Lai, Vietnam. He held onto it after his tour of duty, having pledged to give it to the family of a fallen comrade once his remains were recovered. Lt. Frederick Ransbottom’s remains were not returned until 2006, when his familly refused to accept the flag that had been held in his memory. The flag had chalked up a remarkable history over the years and they wanted it to continue its service. I think they made a good decision.

It was carried by soldiers from Schofield Barracks in Afghanistan in 2005. It was with Allen Hoe’s son, Nainoa Kealiihokuhelelani Hoe, when he died under sniper fire near Mosul in Iraq in 2005. Since then it has been to South Korea, to Iwo Jima and twice more to Iraq. On January 22, the third anniversary of Nainoa’s death, the flag and his memory were honored in Iraq, where it had once again been carried by Hawai’i’s Stryker brigade.

“It’s really about legacy and honoring the memories of soldiers like Nainoa and those who have gone before,” said Lt. Col. Thomas Mackey, the 2nd Squadron commander, who also was one of the Hawai’i soldier’s commanders on the 2004 deployment to Mosul.

Read the entire story about Nainoa and this remakable flag in The Honolulu Advertiser. Whatever our political stance on the current war, it’s a reminder that we all owe a tremendous debt to those who have served and those who serve today. Today I salute the memory of Nainoa Kealiihokuhelelani Hoe, who gave his all. I also salute that ragged flag. In the words of one who said it better than I ever could:

” ’Tis the star-spangled banner! O long may it wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.”
~Francis Scott Key~

Source and photo credit: The Honolulu Advertiser

[tags]American flag, American soldiers, honor, Iraq[/tags]

January 30, 2008

The Postie Carnival is coming!

The first edition of the Postie Carnival for 2008 will appear on Lisa’s blog, My Thoughts, Ideas and Ramblings, on February 1st. Not sure what the Postie Carnival is? Let me explain:

A blog carnival is an aggregation of posts on a similar theme from different blogs . It’s the online equivalent of an anthology of essays or short stories which connect on a single subject. Links to each of the posts are provided in a post on the host’s blog so that readers can visit each contributor’s blog and read their entry.

A postie is a blogger who does sponsored posts IZEA. If you aren’t a postie yet you can check out what we do by clicking on the purple PayPerPost badge in my right sidebar. Any postie is elegible to submit a post to the Postie Carnival.

To enter the current edition, submit your best post of 2007. Lisa gives full instructions in this post. Make an announcement post (like this one) on your blog to help publicize the carnival and recruit submissions. On the day of the carnival you will also need to publish a post directing people to the carnival.

That’s it! Wasn’t that easy? Whether you submit a post or not, make sure you come back on Friday so you can enjoy some great reading!

[tags]blog carnivals, Postie Carnival[/tags]

January 29, 2008

Revamping The Good Stuff

Don’t you hate it when you have a great idea and no one else is impressed? I’ve been running Share the Good Stuff on my blog for a couple of months now. Your support has been underwhelming. Nope - not blaming you. I think the idea is solid and has some appeal to my readers, but that I’ve executed it poorly. I’ve expected you to wade through all of the nasty front-page news to dig out uplifting stories from your own communities. It has sometimes taken me hours of research to find my own contributions to the project, so it’s not surprising that many of you have had better things to do with your time. That’s why I put Good Stuff on hold for a few weeks and am now re-introducing it in a more user-friendly format that I hope you’ll enjoy.

Here’s the new deal:
Write a post on your blog about some Good Stuff. Send it to me. I’ll do a roundup post every Thursday and give each contributor a mention and a linkback.

Wait a minute! Isn’t that exactly how the failed project worked?

Patience, Grasshopper! An explanation is coming!

Good Stuff has been redefined. Your post may be about a good news story from local media sources as in the past, but there’s more good news than that waiting to be shared. Pick a news source anywhere in the world, or, better yet, share a heart-warming first-person moment that made you smile. Did your youngest just bake a cake without parental interference? Did the smelly guy on the bus finally get a clue and clean up his act? Maybe your neighbor’s nut tree is hanging over your back fence and giving you all the free pecans you could ever want. Those little day-to-day moments that make us smile are the stuff of a happy life and worthy of sharing. Here’s your chance to recognize them for what they are and spread a little sunshine in the process.

The New and Improved Share the Good Stuff will kick off this Thursday. You’ve been meaning to liven up your blog with a few extra smiles anyway, haven’t you? Write ‘em up and email the link(s) to me. Let’s make it work!

[tags]good news, current events, local stories, meme[/tags]

Be eco-friendly!

Do you “shop green?” I think most of us do these days. We’ve learned, much too late, how fragile our world is and just how badly we’ve abused it. Much of the harm we’ve done can’t be repaired, but we all have an obligation to mend our ways and minimize the footprint we leave behind in our environment. It’s a concept I incorporate into my life and shopping practices. I look for eco products that minimize packaging, do no harm to our environment in their creation and that are offered by companies that support a healthier environment. That’s why I’ve bookmarked greenandmore.com and why you should take a look and consider using their services. First and foremost, they’ve got a great line of eco-friendly products, including energy saving appliances, solar power products, home improvement, water conservation products, eco furniture, lighting, eco garden, outdoor living, home decor, accessories and more. I love their gadget department (I’m all about gadgets, you know!) After that horrible marathon power outage in December I had a dozen or so batteries to dispose of, having used my flahlights, lantern and portable radio for so many days in a row. I’ve been meaning ever since then to shop for a crank-powered radio and more eco-efficient emergency lighting and I’ve found my choices today at Green and More.

I’m not terribly impressed by companies that make their money off of eco-products and don’t “walk the walk,” so I checked out the other features at greenandmore.com to see how they perform as environmentalists. I have to say I like what I found! Their brick-and-mortar operation incorporates eco-friendly practices into their everyday operation: no plasticware, recycled office supplies and kitchen goods, 100% recycled cardboard boxes, etc. They buy their operating supplies from companies that use recycled components and practice energy efficiency in their power-usage. Make sure you check out their information on charitable causes, too. They suppoort Oceana, Healthy Child Healthy World and a number of other worthy causes and environmental efforts that are helping make our world a better place. Their staff and community blog Green Musings gives a lot of detail bout how they’re working to enact their motto: Caring for tomorrow’s world. Make sure you check out the Learning Center on your first visit. I’ve already bookmarked it as a resource for all things environmental. Part of their mission statement says: “We hope to educate and inspire everyone to minimize our impact on the planet.” Their own input is solid and inspiring, but they also back it up with expert advice from respected sources like the EPA and US Department of Energy. Greenandgo.com is a one-stop source for eco-education and hundreds of environmentally-friendly products. Check them out and see what you think!

[tags]eco-products, eco-friendly shopping, environment, going green[/tags]

Tuesday Teaser photo verification

Well, folks, maybe it’s time to retire Tuesday Teasers. I seem to have totally lost my ability to stump you! I’ve been submitting the chosen puzzle to a couple of friends for a test-drive before posting the last few weeks and they’ve assured me that the puzzles are challenging. Hmmmm! Maybe I just need to get smarter friends?

Congratulations to Jennifer, who shut the contest down as soon as it was posted by guessing that the puzzler this week was a picture of a water fountain. Jennifer will get a linky love post here on skeet’s stuff and will be entered in the monthly drawing for a gift card. The drawing will be in a few days since today is the last Tuesday of the month. Weekly winners this month are Tammie Beagle (X2,) Lori (X2) and Jennifer. Mahalo to all who played Tuesday Teasers this month. See you next week - if I can convince myself that I’m actually still able to create photo puzzles!

[tags]contest, contest winner, photo contest, puzzle[/tags]

Tuesday Teaser for January 29, 2008

Can you identify the item depicted above? Just take your best guess and post it in the comments below. If your guess wins, you’ll get a nifty prize. Here’s how it works:

1. Write a comment giving your guess as to what the item is.
2. First person to identify the item wins.
3. The author of this blog will be the sole judge as to what constitutes a correct answer.

What will you win?

1. The author of this blog will write a LINKY LOVE POST (review) about the winner’s blog (commercial sites ineligible.) The LLP will contain the url for your blog plus at least two deep links and will be posted here on Skeet’s Stuff, a PR4 PR2 PR0 (bah google!) blog. Skeet writes good reviews.
2. The winner’s name will be entered into a drawing for a $10.00 gift card from Starbucks or Amazon.
3. Drawing for the gift card will be held on or about February 1, 2008, and will include all weekly winners for the month. There are five Tuesdays in January, thus the maximum number of people who will be eligble is five.

Other stuff -EDITED - PLEASE READ!

1. All comments to this blog are time and date stamped. The winner will be the first person (according to time and date stamp) to provide the correct answer. Guess as many times as you please, but please place each guess in a separate comment.
2. No hints will be given.
3. Answers must specifically identify the item. For instance, if the item depicted were to be a button on a remote control, the answer “something electronic” would not suffice.
4. Decisions of the judge are final. Don’t argue with me. I won’t answer.
5. I will attempt to post every few hours as to whether or not a winner has been declared, but I am not continuously at the keyboard so please be patient.
6. Entries must be posted before 1:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 31, Hawaii time (GMT -10, approximately forty-eight hours from now.)
7. This is intended to be an ongoing feature at Skeet’s Stuff. If you or I lose interest it will cease to exist, but all qualified winners will get their prizes.
8. Skeet’s Stuff is a do-follow blog, so you get some link value just for commenting.
9. You do not have to have a blog to enter. Your review can be donated to a charitable or non-profit site if you don’t have a blog or just want to share the love. Sites to be reviewed are subject to my approval. I’m not harsh, but I’m also not interested in donating space to a radical political non-profit site or a blog that is dedicated to porn. Commercial sites are ineligible and comments with commercial links will be deleted. If you would like to advertise on my site I’ll be happy to discuss your needs and my fees.

Additional Notes:

10. Let the fun begin!

[tags]contests, photos, photo contest, blog contest[/tags]

Val’s Views

Y’all know my friend Val. She’s over here all the time leaving witty comments and winning Tuesday Teasers. I’m glad she has a lot of blogs because she’s won several reviews in the last few months. Not that I’d ever get bored visiting and writing about her blogs, but variety is nice.

One of her newest endeavors is Val’s Views, where she does product reviews. Next time she visits I’m going to have to sit her down in the corner & get her to tell me all of her secrets about how she gets products to try out and evaluate. She buys some items, but some are given to her and I’d like to get some of that action.

Though the blog is only a month old, Val has already started to build up some impressive content. She’s reviewed everything from cookies to pull-ups to a nifty bacon cooker. I found her crock pot review very helpful. I haven’t had one since back in the dark ages when they weren’t good for much but scorching perfectly good food, but I’ve about decided it’s time to have one again. Val was impressed with the Stay or Go clow Cooker from Hamilton Beach and her review answered all of the questions I would have asked.

One of the more innovative products Val has reviewed is the Caboose Travel Potty, a portable device for children being potty trained. Her review is thorough and will probably answer any questions you might have if you’re potty training a child, but make sure you post a question to her comments if you need to know more. Val is a nice gal and I know she’ll make it a point to help you out if you ask.

The design at Val’s Views is crisp and clean. The blog is well-organized and easily navigable. Val will take review requests, so if there’s a product you’d like her to try out and write about, just ask. As a matter of fact, I think I’ll do that right now. I’m going to be needing a new set of cookware soon and am totally baffled by all of the choices out there. Maybe if I ask her real nice Val will do my research for me!

[tags]blogs, consumer reviews, product reviews[/tags]