May 31, 2008

Mystery Cookbook - new hidden object game

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I was really excited about Mystery Cookbook when I first opened the game and started playing. I think hidden object games are a great activity for parents to share with their children online, but many of them are too sophisticated for the little ones to play. This one looked perfect - cute animals looking for everyday objects that kids would recognize, a cute storyline, nothing scary or adult going on. Alas, my first assessment was wrong.

I’ve ranted before about games that I feel don’t honor the spirit of fair play. Here I go again! In the first screenshot above you see spices on the list of items to find. There are no bottles or jars of spice visible, so perhaps it’s one of the little bunches of leafy greens? Nope - it’s the condiment tray with oil, vinegar, salt and pepper. Not exactly something that most folks would call “spices.” If that were an isolated sanfu it wouldn’t be so bad, but such confusion occurs throughout the game. The pot on the list for the second screen shot is not one of the pots on the stove. It’s the little black jar next to the fan. See can on the list? There’s some kind of canned goods on the counter over to the left - obviously a can. That’s not what’s wanted, though - try clicking on the clear glass jar at lower right instead. It’s a canning jar, so somewhat acceptable, but certainly not in the spirit of fair play. This could reflect cultural differences. I’m not sure where the game’s creators live. Maybe a jar is a can to them and condiments are spices? Whatever - this just doesn’t work for U.S. players.

Several modes of play are presented throughout the game, including find-the-differences, locate X-number of similar items and rearrange the puzzle pieces. The hidden object menu can be either a list of words or a series of silhouettes. The silhouettes are frequently just blobs which are too indistinct to tell the player what to look for - a pet peeve of mine.

I’m still a huge fan of Big Fish Games. They’ve got the best selection of games at the best prices of all of the game sites I visit. I’m giving Mystery Cookbook a thumbs down, though. It’s just not up to my standards. Why take my word for it, though? You can download the demo for a free hour of play and make up your own mind. Big Fish has released several new hidden object games recently and I’m playing catch-up this weekend so I can check them all out. I’m pretty sure I’ll like the next one better than the last one!

Browse through all of my hidden object game reviews and find yourself a fun time-suck for this weekend. Each review has a link that will allow you to test-drive the game for an hour before you decide whether or not to buy.

Technorati Tags: Big Fish Games, games, hidden object games, Mystery Cookbook

May 30, 2008

Sharing the 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. I really appreciate it when my readers share the things that make them smile! Here are some things that I’m appreciating today:

Anne has a new family member this week and you know she’s smiling ear-to-ear. Her new grandson arrived on Tuesday. I’m not jealous - not me! Congrats Anne and family! Good health and a happy life to the littlest member of the zoo!

New reader John Tighe is feeling pretty good about a new family member, too:

We rescued a stray cat last week and it was so traumatised that she hasn’t really moved since.

She is sitting on my lap as I type, purring. What a great feeling.

Way to go, John! Why breed new pets when there are so many that need a loving home?

Regular contributor Val shared some news about a corporate giant giving back. Okay, I’m going back to Milkbones instead of the generic doggie biscuits I’ve been buying!

I’m happy about a corporate giant giving back this week, too. They didn’t have to sell a valuable parcel of land for $1.00, but they’re part of our community, too, and chose to do the right thing.

What’s making you smile today? 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 gets the bold headlines. Pick a news source anywhere in the world or something great you’ve found on the web. Better yet, share a heart-warming first-person moment that made you smile. 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. Make sure you send me a link when you’re moved to blog about something good going on. 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!

Technorati Tags: good news, current events, local stories, meme

Four Foods on Friday #31

I wanted to post my Four Food on Friday questions and answers yesterday. I couldn’t. We’re dealing with a very serious subject this week, and that requires some groundwork on my behalf. I haven’t finished my preparations, but I’m far enough along to do what needs to be done. I hope to add a couple of extra pictures after I finish preparing my dinner tonight. Today we’re talking about barbecue. I hope that the subject will encourage some men to join in on the fun, because we all know that men love to grill!

#1. What is your favorite food that is cooked on the barbeque?

Meat. Any kind of meat.

#2. What veggies, if any, do you cook on the barbeque?

I love to roast corn on the cob over a fire. I’ve been known to do kabobs with potatoes, onions and mushrooms sandwiched in between chunks of meat. Oh, and pimentos! I’m not a big tomato fan. The pimentos add color and flavor.

#3. Tell us a little about your barbeque habits. Who grills, how often, what months, etc.

Who? Me, of course! How often? As often as possible! What months? Year-round. Don’t you wish you were me?

#4. Share a barbeque recipe.

I quit using bottled sauces and commercialy-prepared rubs a while back. It’s easy to make your own and you can control the flavor better when you pick and choose the ingredients. I’ll be having spare ribs tonight (with lots of leftovers to get me through the weekend.) Here’s how:

Skeet’s Special Ribs

Put meat in a shallow dish and cover with balsamic vinegar. Turn the over and around a few times to coat evenly. Cover tightly and put in the fridge. You can marinate for a few hours or even a couple of days. Turn every couple of hours.

When you’re ready to cook, mix up a rub. Mine is slightly different each time, depending on what I see when I open the pantry and what mood my stomach is in. I’ve already made my rub for tonight:

Measure out enough brown sugar to coat all of your meat. This time I’m using about a cup. Add your favorite seasonings. Above you see: one tablespoon each of garlic powder, minced onion and onion powder, a half-teaspoon of dry mustard, three or four tablespoons of chili powder and a half teaspoon of hot red pepper. Amounts are approximate because I don’t actually measure. Work it gently with your finger to break up the brown sugar lumps and mix thoroughly. You’ll end up with a grainy rub.

While the fire is getting ready or the grill is pre-heating, rub your seasoning mix all over every surface of the meat. Place the meat on the grill over a medium flame. I try to keep my meat slightly to the side of the fire to avoid flares when juices start dripping. How long the meat needs to cook depends on the temperature of your grill and the type and thickness of the meat. I’ll try to remember to watch the time tonight so I can tell you how long my spare ribs take. Ooops! Forgot, but it was about twenty to thirty minutes, I think. Felt like a few hours because I was really hungry.

Cheat: if the weather is not cooperative and you want to have barbecue flavor year-round like I do, you can use the same preparations to cook in the oven. Drizzle a few drops of liquid smoke in the bottom of your pan, put the ribs in it and cover tightly with foil. Cook at 350 degrees for about an hour or until done. This method will give you very moist meat with lots of sauce.

While my ribs were cooking I picked a few fresh herbs to toss in some pasta for a side dish.

I added a couple of small pieces of garlic bread and my dinner was good to go. It was pretty good, even if I do say so myself!

There’s still time for you to play Four Food on Friday if you hurry. Answer the questions in a post on your blog, then give Val your link in a comment on her post. She’ll do a round-up later and you’ll get some good linky-lovin out of the deal. Join us?

Technorati Tags: barbecue, barbecue recipe, food, grilling, meme, recipe, spare ribs

May 29, 2008

Helping displaced farm workers

Hawaii’s agricultural sector has fallen on hard times over the last few decades. Big growers have pulled out, one by one, and taken their business elsewhere. Sugar cane was once a major Hawaii crop. I don’t think it’s being grown anywhere in the islands now. Each closure brings heartache. Ag workers make a decent living, but most will never accumulate enough money to own a home or even to rent in our ridiculously high-priced housing market. Some of them live in plantation villages, owned by the growers. Many families have lived in the same plantation housing for several generations. When the job goes, so does the home. That’s how it usually works. Someone owns the land, maybe someone else buys it when the company moves on. That someone has a bottom line to be satisfied, a profit to be made. I’m not knocking that. I understand how business works. Sometimes, though, businesses recognize that they hold something precious in their hands and they do their best to protect it. The James Campbell Company is HUGE business in Hawaii. One of their assets is a plantation village in Kunia, not too far from me. The folks who live there either retired from Del Monte after long-term employment, or they were still working for the company when Fresh Del Monte Produce closed down in 2006. They were allowed to stay on while disposition of the land was decided. Now their fate has been determined, and the decision is a good one. Campbell has agreed to sell Kunia Plantation Village to nonprofit Hawaii Agriculture Research Center for $1. Yep, you read that right - one dollar. The village will be preserved as part of Hawaii’s historic agricultural heritage and most of the residents who live there will be able to stay in their homes. They pay rent, but at rates applied under an affordable housing agreement. Many of them would most likely have ended up homeless but for this arrangement.

I’m sick of seeing the homeless families on the beach every time I drive along the coast. I don’t mean that the folks who live on the beach make me sick. I mean that their situation makes me heartsick. Our homelsss population continues to grow and the programs that are supposed to be helping them are inadequate and slow, most of them hopelessly tangled up in red tape. All of us working together - government, charities, citizens and businesses - can solve these problems if we put our hearts, our minds and our money to the task. Mahalo, James Campbell Company, for doing your part. You could have sold that land for millions. You could have done that and turned a hundred or so families into the next wave of homeless. Oh, I’m sure it was a sound business decision on your behalf, but it’s probably not the most profitable thing you could have done. You made the right choice. Mahalo nui loa.

Technorati Tags: Hawaii, housing, James Campbell Company, Kunia Plantation Village

Getting ready for Friday!

It’s been a beautiful day in the neighborhood. The skies were brilliant blue, with enough clouds to keep things from getting too hot. There’s a little vog in the atmosphere, but not so much as we’ve had on a few days recently. So, what was I doing when the sun went down? Here’s a clue:

Okay, that’s your hint. Did you make a guess?

Ha! You got it wrong!

Okay, okay - you got it half right.

I’m cleaning my grill but I’m also getting ready for tomorrow. I’ll be doing a post for Four Foods on Friday some time tomorrow and this one is going to be really special. Val has been doing FFoF with a different theme each week lately. This week the theme is … go ahead and guess. You’ll get this one right, I just know. Yep, this week we’re talking about barbecue! I’m getting hyped up just thinking about all the new recipes I’ll be adding to my collection, because most of the participants will tell us exactly how they prepare their favorite barbecued dishes. One can never have too many good barbecue recipes, can one? I think not!

Why am I posting today to say I’ll be posting about barbecue tomorrow? I have an ulterior motive! See, Four Foods on Friday has become wildly popular, but there’s something missing. There are no men joining the fun. I know it’s hard for most of you guys to admit that you ever do anything in the kitchen, so I’m making it easy for you to join in without feeling like your manhood is in question. Even a guy who wouldn’t be caught dead making cookies likes to talk about his skills on the grill. I know you’re out there. You contribute your comments to other posts on my blog, but you never have a thing to say when I talk about my amazing kitchen skills. Now it’s time for you to step up to the plate. A zesty plate of ribs or a smoky plate of chops and sausage would do nicely for your intoduction to talking in public about cooking. Come on - you can do it! Go to Four Foods on Friday and copy the four questions for this week, then answer them on a post on your blog. Link your post in the comments on Val’s post and she’ll talk about you tomorrow and give you some linky love. I know what she’s going to say. First she’s going to celebrate having a man on board. Then she’s going to comment about how sexy you look in an apron. Yeah, we gals like that! And who knows: once you get your foot in the door you might decide to stick around and tell us about your awesome pancakes next time.

Hee! The sun has finished going down and the termites are swarming! I wouldn’t want my neighbors to need my services, you understand, but swarmers always bring in a few worried calls. I might get a few inspections out of it. I’m probably one of the few people you know who think there’s a postive aspect to a termite swarm, though I’d rather they didn’t get attracted to my desk lamp and end up on my keyboard. Just sayin!

Ew! Need to clean my keyboard, don’t I?!

Technorati Tags: barbecue, blogs, food, memes, termites

Polishing my image as a small business

As the owner of a small business I know just how frustrating it can be to try to find affordable vendors and services. Many companies are not interested in working within our small budgets to help us out. While our businesses are small, we are entitled to the same courtesy and quality as the mega-corporations when we shop for our business needs. That’s especially true when we’re promoting our businesses. Shoddy marketing and cheap giveaways can do us more harm than good, tarnishing the image we’ve worked hard to build. We need quality promotions that will help us form a good first impression, and that will reassure our existing clients that they’re dealing with a professional organization. I don’t have a brick and mortar shop that my clients will ever see. My office is in my home and I do my inspections out of my car. While I don’t need a sign to plant out front, a tasteful sign on my car could help promote my image. Most of my realtor/clients never meet me before I pull up to the curb outside a home they want me to inspect. My car is my first impression, and signs for the two front doors have a lot of potential for helping shape my image. They could also convert some casual passers-by into clients. Have you ever copied down the name and phone number of a business because you saw the signage on their car in a parking lot or at a stop sign? I have! Without those signs I’m missing opportunities to recruit new clients every time I take my car out. BuildASign.com will let me design my own sign or custom banners right on their website, so I won’t have to waste time running around town looking at proofs or play phone tag with a sales rep when the color is not quite what I wanted. They’re priced right, too, and BuildASign is small business-friendly. I can order one sign or a dozen from them and be treated with the same respect as a larger business placing a huge order. They work with high-quality materials and every purchase comes with a satisfaction guarantee. If my sign is not exactly what I ordered, they’ll make it right. That’s the kind of service I want and the kind of business I want to deal with. You probably do, too. Check them out and see what they can do to help you promote your business. Don’t have a business of your very own? What about a banner to help folks find your next family reunion or to advertise that huge garage sale you’ve been planning? Did I mention that they’re affordable, even for small fry like you and me? Yep! They’re all that!

Technorati Tags: banners, business, business promotions, signs

Share a smile!

This old world is not a bad place, despite what you hear on the news. Have you checked the back pages of your local paper lately? Do me (and yourself!) a favor and make it a point to find the good news that never gets the bold headlines. Pick a news source anywhere in the world or something great you’ve found on the web. Better yet, share a heart-warming, first-person moment that gladdened your heart. Has an old friend been in touch? Did you finally conquer all of the challenges in your favorite game? What about that oh-so-cute thing your kid did the other day? 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. Post a link to your good news below. It can be a post on your own blog or to the source that made you grin. If you have a blog, invite your readers to share their happy moments, too. I’ll do a round-up later today (might be early tomorrow in your part of the world) when we SHARE THE GOOD STUFF!

Technorati Tags: good news, current events, local stories, meme

Aloha friends - remember me?

It’s been a rough week. A situation that I have been involved in for a very long time took an unexpected turn last week. I’ve never blogged about it because it concerns the personal life of someone else, a very private person, and has never been my story to tell. My involvement has ended abruptly and very badly after a very stressful year and several monthls of twenty-four/seven high anxiety. I’ve had a couple of the worst days in my life and I’ve been decompressing from the stress since then. Some good things have come from it, for me and hopefully for the other person as well. I’m clinging to that thought as I reorganize my own life and move on. It’s really hard to blog about anything when there is one thing occupying your thoughts and you can’t share it. I find now, though, that my focus is becoming more diverse again and I’m seeing stories I want to tell and thinking about other things worth sharing. We have no assurance where life will take us, so I’m not sure what I’ll be blogging about in the coming days, but I will be blogging and I invite you along for the ride.

Mahalo to the faithful readers who have continued to visit skeet’s stuff when there was not much reason to do so. I owe you an explanation. This is the best I can do right now, so it will have to suffice. I’m starting to live my own life again instead of being consumed with someone else’s. I hope you’ll stick around and share it with me.

Technorati Tags: blogging, friends, life, personal stuff, stress

May 28, 2008

Saying hello to family - with photos!

I take photos every day. My camera goes everywhere I go. Hey, it’s Hawaii! I always know there will be something I want to preserve or share as I go about my day. You, my kind readers, get some benefit from that, I hope. My photo-essays are my favorite posts, sharing little slices of everyday life in Hawaii. Living here is almost like being on mini-vacation every day, capturing photos of all the wonderful things you see and do. Today I’ll be inspecting a home near Diamond Head, which has picture-perfect views no matter which way you look. Maybe I’ll share some fabulous scenery with you next time I sit down to blog. I capture a lot of moments from my ho-hum daily life, too - pictures of the beagle and my neighbors and growing things in my garden. My son and two other family members read my blog, so the photos I publish are one way of letting them know what’s going on in my life. My blog is a big secret to most of my family, though. This is my space to vent and ramble and speculate. I can’t talk openly about family if I feel like they’re reading over my shoulder, so I haven’t shared my URL with them. It’s been nine years since I’ve seen most of my family. I still love and miss them all, but we’re a quirky family and some of them are downright weird. They make good fodder for my blog, but I would never embarrass them by sharing their real names or letting the entire family know that I talk about their craziness. I stay in touch with them via snail mail and phone calls instead. Most of my letters and cards have a few pictures inserted. How cool would it be to have some Photo Cards printed for my little quick notes to them? I could use one of my weekly self-portraits for that. Not the one last Sunday when I didn’t brush my hair, but maybe the one from last month where I was leaning against my car. That one makes me look pretty good, I think (you can’t see my roots, right?) I really like the borderless, full-color card I’ve shown you above. I could see my sister or one of my aunts cutting the front off of that one and and framing my picture after they’ve read whatever was inside. Mine wouldn’t say “Season’s Greetings,” though. The inside of the card can be whatever I want, because photo cards can be customized to say what you’d like them to say. I’m thinking mine should just say “Aloha from skeet,” because that would leave plenty of room for me to write a personal note catching the family up on my life. I have a drawer full of blank cards that say “Aloha” or “Mahalo” on the front. I never use them because they’re so impersonal. Maybe I should assign those to the pile of stuff for my garage sale and get some photo cards that I would actually use instead. Hey, two birds/one stone: I’d get rid of some more clutter and have a better way to stay in touch with family. That works for me!

Technorati Tags: family, greeting cards, photo cards

May 27, 2008

Tuesday Teaser photo verification

There was quite a crowd at the beach on Memorial Day. Families had arrived early to stake out their territory. Pokai Bay Beach Park is not on the tourist track, though, so there was enough room that no one had to intrude in anyone else’s space. Still, large patches of unpopulated sand were unusual. Yet, off to one side, there sat two green lawn chairs looking lonely, with no one around to sit in them. One was neatly mended with three cable ties. No one has much money out here on the coast, so we do our best to make things last. The repair was so sturdy that I’m predicting the chair has quite a few years left in it. I was happy to assign it the starring role in my Tueday Teaser this week.

I’m really excited today because I’ve never had a winner with a Hawaii connection before. Anele was the first to supply the correct answer to the photo puzzle. Her blog, True Aloha is all about the things that make Hawaii such a special place. You won’t find any diet pills reviews or Hollywood gossip at her place, but you’ll find some great local recipes and another source of reasons to be jealous of those of us who have Hawaii ties. It’s a great place to begin to grasp True Aloha. Congrats Anele! You’ve won a blog review and will be the final entry in the monthly drawing for a $10.00 gift card in a few days.

Mahalo to you all for playing. See you next Tuesday (but I hope you won’t wait until then to visit again!)

Technorati Tags: game, patio chair, photo puzzle, winner