So, I lucked out last Friday after work and went home with a brand new iPad 2. Right now there aren't really any cases or stands available for it aside from Apple's Smart Covers. I think they're a cool idea, but I personally don't want one. To be honest, I really don't care for their appearance, and I prefer to have a full folio-style case (like this for example) than just a fold-up cover for the screen. I've seen pictures of all sorts of new iPad 2 cases, but they're not available to purchase yet. But I really want to have at least some sort of stand for it, now. So what do I do? I make one. Out of what? Why, Lego of course!
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
A Match Made in Heaven
For all you math lovers out there, let me start out with some simple algebra. If x=a and y=a, then x+y=2a, right? Where am I going with this? Well, let's see a real world example. Using this logic, it should be safe to say that if pizza=awesome and cheeseburger=awesome, then pizza+cheeseburger=double the awesomeness.
Yes, the cheeseburger pizza is indeed supremely awesome. Even more so, since technically what I made was a bacon cheeseburger pizza. After trying it once, I'm definitely going to make it again. And again. But how does one go about making a cheeseburger pizza? Well, I'm glad you asked!
First, get a regular 12" pizza shell. Second, spread on a mixture of about ⅓ cup pizza sauce and ½ cup ketchup. Then, get ½ lb of ground beef and a chopped onion and brown them on the stove. When that's done and you've drained any grease, spread it all around over the sauce.
Next, shred about 1 cup each of mozzarella and cheddar cheeses, mix them up nicely and add it to the pizza. On top of that, add a chopped up tomato, some sliced up pickles and a few slices of bacon that you've cooked and chopped up or crumbled.
Finally, cook it in the oven. For me, it was about 8 minutes at 425°F, but if your pizza shell includes suggested cooking directions it's probably best to go with them. You wouldn't want to burn the crust or have it get too crunchy.
I think I can say with absolute certainty that this is the best pizza I've ever made, although the “BBQ Chicken with Spicy Banana Peppers” one I made a few months back was very good too. But maybe next time I'll make something more traditional, like ham and pineapple. I'm sure as Easter draws near, ham will go on sale so that will be a great time to make one. But as long as it's a pizza, that's what really matters, no matter what kind it is. Remember, pizza=awesome, after all!
Yes, the cheeseburger pizza is indeed supremely awesome. Even more so, since technically what I made was a bacon cheeseburger pizza. After trying it once, I'm definitely going to make it again. And again. But how does one go about making a cheeseburger pizza? Well, I'm glad you asked!
First, get a regular 12" pizza shell. Second, spread on a mixture of about ⅓ cup pizza sauce and ½ cup ketchup. Then, get ½ lb of ground beef and a chopped onion and brown them on the stove. When that's done and you've drained any grease, spread it all around over the sauce.
Next, shred about 1 cup each of mozzarella and cheddar cheeses, mix them up nicely and add it to the pizza. On top of that, add a chopped up tomato, some sliced up pickles and a few slices of bacon that you've cooked and chopped up or crumbled.
Finally, cook it in the oven. For me, it was about 8 minutes at 425°F, but if your pizza shell includes suggested cooking directions it's probably best to go with them. You wouldn't want to burn the crust or have it get too crunchy.
I think I can say with absolute certainty that this is the best pizza I've ever made, although the “BBQ Chicken with Spicy Banana Peppers” one I made a few months back was very good too. But maybe next time I'll make something more traditional, like ham and pineapple. I'm sure as Easter draws near, ham will go on sale so that will be a great time to make one. But as long as it's a pizza, that's what really matters, no matter what kind it is. Remember, pizza=awesome, after all!
Monday, March 21, 2011
Tax Time!
Many people dread tax time, but I love it. Perhaps my opinion is affected by the fact that I've never had to pay anything, and have always received fairly sizeable refunds. Also, the popular opinion is that taxes are a pain to do and are so very time consuming, and many people resort to paying professionals or purchasing software to help them. But that has never been my experience.
I used to fill out the forms by hand, but several years ago found a service called CuteTax Online (now renamed to the much better, although less memorable, name of Tax Chopper) that really simplifies things. While I would never think of spending $50+ for a piece of tax software, this is only $10 which I think is well worth it, considering the time saved and that filing taxes electronically means I get my much anticipated refund quicker and I don't have to pay postage to mail anything. Plus since I've been using it every year I don't have to re-enter all my personal information each year.
This evening I checked my mailbox and saw I had received the last thing I was waiting on before I could start, so I made myself a nice latte then proceeded with working on my 2010 taxes. And I kid you not, making the latte was the most time-consuming part. Maybe I'm just lucky in that I don't have very complicated taxes, due to things like not having education or medical expenses to claim, no dependents or spouse and not being a home owner. But with Tax Chopper, all I had to do is say what forms I had and type in what was on the forms, enter the totals for RRSP contributions and donations, pay them so I could download the forms and then upload them to the CRA. Because it's much faster for them to process electronically filed taxes plus I get my money direct deposited to my bank account, I usually see my refund sitting in my account in about a week. And the timing couldn't be better, because I already know the first thing I'm going to spend it on!
I used to fill out the forms by hand, but several years ago found a service called CuteTax Online (now renamed to the much better, although less memorable, name of Tax Chopper) that really simplifies things. While I would never think of spending $50+ for a piece of tax software, this is only $10 which I think is well worth it, considering the time saved and that filing taxes electronically means I get my much anticipated refund quicker and I don't have to pay postage to mail anything. Plus since I've been using it every year I don't have to re-enter all my personal information each year.
This evening I checked my mailbox and saw I had received the last thing I was waiting on before I could start, so I made myself a nice latte then proceeded with working on my 2010 taxes. And I kid you not, making the latte was the most time-consuming part. Maybe I'm just lucky in that I don't have very complicated taxes, due to things like not having education or medical expenses to claim, no dependents or spouse and not being a home owner. But with Tax Chopper, all I had to do is say what forms I had and type in what was on the forms, enter the totals for RRSP contributions and donations, pay them so I could download the forms and then upload them to the CRA. Because it's much faster for them to process electronically filed taxes plus I get my money direct deposited to my bank account, I usually see my refund sitting in my account in about a week. And the timing couldn't be better, because I already know the first thing I'm going to spend it on!
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Free Insurance
I've had the opportunity to call and activate a fair number of credit cards. I've been issued new cards due to the old one expiring, banks identifying a set of potentially compromised numbers so it reissues a whole batch, the time I misplaced my wallet (while on a trip in the US, no less...) and had to get everything reissued (only to have my wallet reappear a couple weeks later), and my least favourite, banks canceling a line of cards.
In recent years, whenever I've activated a credit card everyone seems to be pushing a “Payment Protector” insurance plan, where, for a small premium, if injury or death prevents you from being able to pay your bill, they have you covered. I do not need such insurance. To be blunt, I think buying something on a credit card that you could not afford to pay for in cash at that moment is just plain stupid, aside from unavoidable and unplanned emergencies. I have no sympathy whatsoever for all these people who rack up credit card debt because of their own unwise spending habits. I personally would never be in a position where if I couldn't work due to an injury I wouldn't have the money to pay off my bill. I actually only use a credit card for the convenience and the provided rewards, not because I can buy whatever I want now and worry about paying for it later.
In recent years, whenever I've activated a credit card everyone seems to be pushing a “Payment Protector” insurance plan, where, for a small premium, if injury or death prevents you from being able to pay your bill, they have you covered. I do not need such insurance. To be blunt, I think buying something on a credit card that you could not afford to pay for in cash at that moment is just plain stupid, aside from unavoidable and unplanned emergencies. I have no sympathy whatsoever for all these people who rack up credit card debt because of their own unwise spending habits. I personally would never be in a position where if I couldn't work due to an injury I wouldn't have the money to pay off my bill. I actually only use a credit card for the convenience and the provided rewards, not because I can buy whatever I want now and worry about paying for it later.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
My Bowl, the Movie Star
I never knew my bowl was in the movies, let alone a James Bond movie! And not only that, but it actually shared screen time with Bond's hand! That's him sneakily reaching in from the left to steal that tray of glasses. I have a set of six bowls plus one large serving bowl, like you might use for something like a big fruit salad. I don't know how old they are or where they originally came from, as they were old dishes of my Mom's that she gave me back when I moved out on my own. But I think now I'll have to try and sell them on eBay. “Bowl featured in Bond movie” is bound to get almost as much interest as a genuine Time Machine prop!
Saturday, March 5, 2011
iThink iWant an iPad
Well, it happened. Earlier this week, Apple unveiled the second-generation iPad. When I first watched the presentation of the original iPad a year ago, I thought I'd like to have one, but that the best move for me would be to hold off and wait for the next one. Although I love technology, I'm not always an early adopter when it comes to buying it. Most game consoles I've bought have been purchased a couple years after it was released. And yes, I did get my iPhone only a couple weeks after it was available, but that was technically the second model of the device (although to be fair, I think I would have bought the first one right away had it been made available in Canada. I've never been as blown away by any product presentation as when the iPhone was announced).
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