Defined By Your Cookie

From The Huffington Post - Silly fun.

What Your Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookie Says About You

It's more revealing than you might realize.

Julie R. ThomsonHuffPost food editor

Posted: 08/04/2015 07:01 AM EDT

The world of cookies is vast. Chocolate chip cookies alone present a plethora of options, from chips to chunks, crisp to chewy, nutty to gluten free. Those of us who love this classic cookie have our go-tos. Some are so loyal to their favorite that any other kind isn't worth the effort of chewing.

Unbeknownst to most, your favorite chocolate chip cookie is incredibly revealing. That's right, the kind of cookie you bake, buy and/or devour says a lot about the type of person you are. Curious? Read on.

• 9
  Soft and chewy.
  
  If soft and chewy cookies are your go-to, you're the kind of person who always picks up a cup of coffee for your co-worker when you're out getting yourself one. You're warm and kind, and everyone loves you. 
• 8
  Crisp till the end.
  
  If you love crispy cookies, you know what you want and aren't afraid to say it. You're firm yet sweet, and have all the skills necessary to make an A+ parent. Or at least a really great godparent.
• 7
  Cakey.
  
  If you love cakey cookies, you're probably epically indecisive. You see the virtue in everything, so picking between two (like cake or cookies) feels absolutely impossible. That's OK, just be you.
• 6
  Salted.
  
  If you love salty chocolate chip cookies, you're a complex individual. You are both the ying and the yang, positive and negative, light and dark. In other words, you're interesting. 
• 5
  Extra chocolately.
  
  You're decadent and don't care who knows it. You live life by your own rules, and you live it proudly.
• 4
  A little nutty.
  
  Whether you like walnuts, almonds, peanuts or any other kind of nut in your cookie, you're daring -- sometimes to a fault. But don't let that calm your adventurous spirit, it's part of what makes you so fun to be around.  
• 3
  Sans gluten.
  
  If you're on a gluten-free diet and you're eating a chocolate chip cookie, you're determined. You don't let life's little hiccups stand in the way of you and what you want. You're crafty, clever and persistant.
• 2
  Chunky.
  
  Chocolate chunk cookie fans, you're not the type to color within the lines. When you do something, you do it all the way. And that's why you succeed at everything you do. Bravo.
• 1
  Raw.
  
  Those of you who don't even bake your chocolate chip cookies? Well, you're bad to the bone. You're also impatient, demand instant gratification and are the very definition of cool.

  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/what-your-favorite-chocolate-chip-cookie-says-about-you_55bb6f94e4b06363d5a1ade7?kvcommref=mostpopular

Cuban cigar makers eye the U.S. market

From Sunday Morning -

Cigars were sold in the airport in Havana, and we were so tempted to buy some, but we figured the custom officers would have been the only ones enjoying them after they confiscated ours, so we decided against it.

The door to the country is cracked open, as soon as it's opened further, more opportunities (like purchasing their famous cigars for export) will be made available.

Neither Forrest or I smoke, so the temptation to try them while we were there didn't come up.

Check out the potential US market in the clip below.

Airfare Sale

Check out Google Flights to find some pretty extraordinary savings on flights beginning the last week of August.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/airfare-drop_55bb6d4ae4b06363d5a1ad83

Fart Filtering Underwear Said To Neutralize Stink Of Passing Gas

The company now has added jeans to their fart filtering line.  Follow the link below for details.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/these-jeans-will-conceal-your-farts_55b78397e4b0224d8833c5f9?cps=gravity_5118_8170262844471996301

The Science of Good Cookies

From Stumbleupon - 

The Best Tips for the Best Cookies

1. Ooey-gooey: Add 2 cups more flour.
2. Crispy with a soft center: Use 1/4 teaspoon baking powder and 1/4 teaspoon baking soda.
3. A nice tan: Set the oven higher than 350 degrees (maybe 360). Caramelization, which gives cookies their nice brown tops, occurs above 356 degrees, says the Ted video.
4. Chewy: Substitute bread flour for all-purpose flour.
5. Just like store-bought: Trade the butter for shortening. Arias notes that this ups the texture but reduces some flavor; her suggestion is to use half butter and half shortening.
6. Thick (and less crispy): Freeze the batter for 30 to 60 minutes before baking. This solidifies the butter, which will spread less while baking.
7. Cakey: Use more baking soda because, according to Nyberg, it “releases carbon dioxide when heated, which makes cookies puff up.”
8. Butterscotch flavored: Use 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar (instead of the same amount of combined granulated sugar and light brown sugar).
9. Uniformity: If looks count, add one ounce corn syrup and one ounce granulated sugar.
10. More. Just, more: Chilling the dough for at least 24 hours before baking deepens all the flavors, Arias found.

Bonus Tip: Use your nose, instructs the Ted Talk. That delicious cookie smell signifies cookie doneness as effectively as a timer.

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/2m72OY/:4bfYOf-m:mQkvi3ha/www.ozy.com/good-sht/the-science-behind-baking-the-most-delicious-cookie-ever/6613

Read more: The Science Behind Baking the Most Delicious Cookie Ever | Good Sh*t | OZY 

My Guys & Girls - Summer 2015

Theia Jean & I - 6 weeks old

Theia Jean - 7 weeks old

Frankie & Theia Jean - 7 weeks old

Zadie Faye @ Coney Island- 4.5 years old

Zadie Faye @ Coney Island- 4.5 years old

Ben & Milu - 2.5 years old

Faye, Milu & Ben 

An Obituary

I love this lady.

~~~~~~~~~

STOCKS, Mary Patricia (nee Morris) —

Pat Stocks, 94, passed away peacefully at her home in bed July 1, 2015. It is believed it was caused from carrying her oxygen tank up the long flight of stairs to her bedroom that made her heart give out. She left behind a hell of a lot of stuff to her daughter and sons who have no idea what to do with it. So if you're looking for 2 extremely large TV's from the 90s, a large ceramic stork (we think) umbrella/cane stand, a toaster oven (slightly used) or even a 2001 Oldsmobile with a spoiler (she loved putting the pedal to the metal), with only 71,000 kilometers and 1,000 tools that we aren't sure what they're used for. You should wait the appropriate amount of time and get in touch. Tomorrow would be fine. This is not an ad for a pawn shop, but an obituary for a great Woman, Mother, Grandmother and Great-Grandmother born on May 12, 1921 in Toronto, the daughter of the late Pop (Alexander C.) and Granny (Annie Nigh) Morris. She leaves behind a very dysfunctional family that she was very proud of. Pat was world-renowned for her lack of patience, not holding back her opinion and a knack for telling it like it is. She always told you the truth even if it wasn't what you wanted to hear. It was the school of hard knocks and yes we were told many times how she had to walk for miles in a blizzard to get to school, so suck it up. With that said she was genuine to a fault, a pussy cat at heart (or lion) and yet she sugar coated nothing. Her extensive vocabulary was more than highly proficient at knowing more curse words than most people learned in a lifetime. She liked four letter words as much as she loved her rock garden and trust us she LOVED to weed that garden with us as her helpers, when child labour was legal or so we were told. These words of encouragement, wisdom, and sometimes comfort, kept us in line, taught us the "school of hard knocks" and gave us something to pass down to our children. Everyone always knew where you stood with her. She liked you or she didn't, it was black or white. As her children we are still trying to figure out which one it was for us (we know she loved us). She was a master cook in the kitchen. She believed in overcooking everything until it chewed like rubber so you would never get sick because all germs would be nuked. Freezing germs also worked, so by Friday our school sandwiches were hard and chewy, but totally germ free. All four of us learned to use a napkin. You would pretend to cough, spit the food into it and thus was born the Stocks diet. If anyone would like a copy of her homemade gravy, we would suggest you don't. She will be sorely missed and survived by her brother George Morris, children: Shauna (Stocks) Perreault, Paul/Sandy (Debbie) Stocks and Kirk Stocks, son-in-law Ian Milnes and son from another mother, John McCleery, grandchildren: Lesley (Sean), Lindsay (Lucas), Ashley (James), David (Tia), Brett, Erin (Brian), Sean, Alex, Courtney and Taylor and great-grandchildren: Connor, Emily, Ainsley, Tyler and Jack. She was preceded in death by her loving husband Paul (Moo) Stocks and eldest daughter Shelley (Stocks) Milnes and beloved pets Tag, Tag, Tag and Tag. All whom loved her dearly and will never forget her tenacity, wit, charm, grace (when pertinent) and undying love and caring for them. Please give generously to covenanthousetoronto.ca "in memory". A private family 'Celebration of Life' will be held, in lieu of a service, due to her friends not being able to attend, because they decided to beat her to the Pearly Gates. Please note her change of address to her new place of residence, St John's York Mills Anglican Church, 19 Don Ridge Drive, 12 doors away from Shelley's place. - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thestar/obituary.aspx?pid=175314461#sthash.pS9xMj6L.dpuf

Pee-Proof Paint

Reparations

This article by Ta-Nehisi Coates is long, but outstanding.  It is the best argument yet on reparations.

http://www.theatlantic.com/features/archive/2014/05/the-case-for-reparations/361631/

Preach!

More CUBA!

1. One thing that was really interesting about Cuba is that it's a poor country that doesn't know it's poor.  They have made a living out of making do with what they have, and finding a way to make something out of nothing, or little to nothing.  "Ingenuity" is their middle name.
   ~~~~~~~~~~
   From Google - 
   Since 1994 Cuba has had two currencies, one pegged to the US dollar and the other worth only a fraction of that. The more valuable convertible peso (CUC) was reserved for use in the tourism sector and foreign trade.Oct 22, 2013
   
   

   

   The two currency economy was in full display when we saw hundreds of people waiting
   in line to buy ice cream on our first day in the city.  It was cheaper to buy on this day,
   using the currency reserves for locals.
   

   
   

   

   Skyline view

   
   

   

   Skyline View 2

   
   

   

   Typical House

   
   

   

   Havana Libre Hotel - Where we stayed 2nd night

   
   

   

   Car in front of hotel

   
   

   

   Another view

   
   

   

   Interior shot

   
   

   

   From the rear

   
   

   

   Wow!

   
   

   

   Too cool!

   
   

   

   This is a French school.

   
   

   

   Me in front of a statue reveling in the day.

   
   

   

   More cars

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

   

   Nighttime in Havana

   
   

   

   Busy intersection

   
   

   

   I don't think the local folks have any idea how unique this is to see these amazing old cars.

   
   

   

   Busy intersection 2
   
   

   

   An open air market selling souvenirs

   
   

Normal?

From Salon - I encountered some technical issues trying to post this.  Here's hoping you can see the video.  If not, the link is below the article.

Video: Ta-Nehisi Coates on police brutality, “We accept this as a normal way of doing business” 

Coates discusses the relationship between police and black communities. 

ASHA PARKER

Ta-Nehisi Coates, who recently published “Between the World and Me,” a book about race and white privilege, spoke with PBS Newshour about the relationship between police and black communities, highlighting the cases of Eric Garner, Freddie Gray and Sandra Bland.

At one point The Atlantic writer powerfully stated, “You really can’t be an African American in this country and see, say, a Walter Scott video and be completely amazed.”

“You just don’t have the luxury of living that way.”

Watch Salon’s compilation of other key points from Coates’ interviews along with footage from some of the most violent cases of police brutality caught on tape. 

             

 

 

 

 http://www.salon.com/2015/07/31/video_ta_nehisi_coates_on_police_brutality_we_accept_this_as_a_normal_way_of_doing_business/?source=newsletter