My husband, Jim, a native Baltimorean, brought me home to visit his family before we married in 1982. The first meal I had with this delightful, multigenerational tribe was a Maryland-style crab cake dinner. Since I was a New Englander (and clearly knew nothing about proper crab cakes), I was invited into the kitchen to observe the ritual by Jim’s 90-year old grandmother, Violet.
I learned several rules about making Maryland crab cakes. First, always use backfin crab—it is the sweetest—and pick through it carefully for cartilage and shell. Next, fold crab cake ingredients very gently and, ideally, make them small enough to fit on a cracker. Finally, cook them gently, until golden brown, and always serve them with summer corn, tomatoes, and melon. We ate these sweet gems greedily, on crackers, topped with cocktail sauce and lemon.
Since then, I have made crab cakes just the way she taught me with great success and created some of my own memories with the summer’s bounty.
Crab Cakes
½ cup breadcrumbs (divide into two quarters)
½ Tbsp. Old Bay seasoning
¼ cup mayonnaise
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 lb. backfin crab meat
2-3 Tbsp. oil or butter
1 lemon, quartered
½ cup cocktail or tartar sauce
In a bowl, mix one quarter-cup of breadcrumbs, Old Bay, mayonnaise, and egg well. Pour in crab meat mixture and gently fold sauce and crab meat together, careful to not shred the crab meat and to ensure the ingredients are well-blended. Cover mixture and store in the refrigerator at least 30 minutes.
Portion cakes into 12 crab balls. Roll each ball in the remaining quarter-cup of breadcrumbs.
To cook, sauté on medium in a skillet with oil for 2-3 minutes per side or until crab cakes are golden brown. Serve with crackers, quartered lemon, and cocktail or tartar sauce.
Summer Succotash
1 lb. fresh or frozen shelled lima beans
¼ cup olive oil
1 cup fresh or frozen corn kernels
2 cups bell pepper, cored, seeded, diced
1 cup red onion, diced
¼ cup jalapeño, seeded, and diced (optional)
2 cups tomatoes, diced
1 Tbsp. chopped fresh marjoram or oregano or basil (or pinch of dried)
1 Tbsp. vinegar (optional)
½ tsp. each salt and pepper
Cook lima beans for 5-10 minutes in water until tender and drain. Heat the olive oil in a skillet. Add the corn, bell pepper, and onion. Cook and stir over medium heat about 3 minutes, until the vegetables are just tender. Add the lima beans and jalapeño and cook 5 minutes longer, stirring occasionally. Turn off heat, add the tomatoes, herbs, and vinegar. Season with salt and pepper and serve warm or room temperature.
Boozy Melon
2/3 cup sugar
½ cup tequila
¼ cup orange liqueur, such as Cointreau
½ cup water
8-10 cups cubed seedless watermelon
½ cup fresh mint leaves or pinch of dried
¼ tsp. coarse salt
1 lime, quartered
Place sugar, tequila, orange liqueur, and water in a small saucepan and bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Let cool slightly. Arrange watermelon in a single layer on a platter. Pour syrup over fruit. Cover and refrigerate at least 3 hours or up to one day. Serve with mint, sprinkle with flaky salt, and a squeezed lime.
After a thankfully brief teaser campaign, Triumph revealed its new Speed Triple 1200 RR, a modern café racer based on the naked Speed Triple 1200 RS.
Triumph did a lot more than just slap a partial fairing on the RS. While it’s still not a fully-faired sportbike (hence why it’s still a Speed Triple and not a Daytona), the RR is a much more track-focused machine than the RS. And that’s saying something.
For the RR, Triumph added clip-on handlebars that are five inches lower and two inches further forward than on the RS. The footpegs were also moved up and slightly back, creating a more aggressive riding position than the fully-naked model. The seat is 32.5 inches from the ground, which is 0.2 inches lower than the Speed Triple RR’s saddle.
Triumph also upgraded the suspension to an Öhlins Smart EC 2.0 electronically-adjustable semi-active suspension system. Both the front and rear suspension are fully adjustable, even while riding, and the semi-autonomous feature continuously adjusts compression and rebound damping to match riding style, speed and acceleration.
The lightweight 17-inch cast aluminum wheels are the same as on the RS, but instead of Metzeler Racetec RR K3 tires, the double-R’s wheels come clad in Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP V3 tires. The V3s use a new racing compound developed in the World Superbike Championship for the tire’s shoulder, and feature a new tread design to improve response to lateral forces and improve wear regularity. For even stronger performance, Triumph offers track use-only Diablo Supercorsa SC2 V3 tires.
The fairing is angled slightly downward, contributing to the more aggressive silhouette. The fairing incorporates the RR’s single round headlight, which reminds us of when the Speed Triple had twin circular lights instead of the angled bug eye lights on recent models.
The engine remains the same liquid-cooled 1160cc Inline-Three as the Speed Triple 1200 RS, with Triumph claiming a peak output of 177 hp at 10,750 rpm and 92 lb-ft. at 9000 rpm. The exhaust system is similar, but with a brushed stainless steel silencer and black end cap.
The engine is paired with a stacked six-speed transmission and a slip-and-assist clutch. A quick shifter derived from Triumph’s involvement in the Moto2 championship comes standard. On upshifts, the Triumph Shift Assist adjusts ignition, fuel and throttle angle to relieve pressure on the gears. For downshifts, the system controls throttle blips for smoother gear changes.
The Speed Triple RR comes with five ride modes, an IMU, cornering ABS, switchable cornering traction control, advanced front wheel lift control, and fully adjustable cruise control. Other technological features include a five-inch full-color TFT display, illuminated switch cubes and a full keyless system.
The 2022 Speed Triple RR will be offered in two paint schemes, a Red Hopper and Storm Grey or a Crystal White and Storm Grey, with gold striping. Both color options come with color-coded belly pan and pillion seat cowl. A carbon fiber front fender, side panels, and carbon infill panels around the fairing, tank and cockpit add a premium touch.
Naturally, Triumph offers a selection of accessories for customizing the Speed Triple 1200 RR, including machined brake reservoirs, scrolling turn signals, heated grips and luggage options.
The 2022 Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RR is priced at $20,950, a $2,450 increase over the suddenly pedestrian RS model. The RR comes with a two-year unlimited mileage warranty, with service intervals set at 10,000 miles or 12 months, whichever comes first. Expect the RR to arrive in dealerships in January.
2022 Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RR Specifications
Engine Type
Liquid-cooled, 12 valve, DOHC, inline 3-cylinder
Capacity
1160 cc
Bore x Stroke
90.0 mm x 60.8 mm
Compression
13.2:1
Maximum Power
177 hp @ 10,750 rpm (claimed)
Maximum Torque
92 lb-ft. @ 9,000 rpm (claimed)
Fuel System
Multipoint sequential electronic fuel injection with electronic throttle control
Exhaust
Stainless steel 3 into 1 header system with underslung primary silencer and side mounted secondary silencer
Third “Retro Sport” model after Z900RS and Z900RS Cafe
Same engine and frame as Z650
412.3 lb. claimed curb weight
After a brief teaser campaign, Kawasakihas revealed the new Z650RS, its third “retro sport” model following the Z900RS and Z900RS Cafe. The 2022 Z650RS is based on the Z650 model but is styled to resemble the 1977 Z650-B1, a.k.a. the “Son of Z1”. At the moment, the Z650RS has not been confirmed for the U.S. market, but we expect it will be part of a larger launch event planned by Kawasaki Motor Corp. U.S.A. for Oct. 5.
The Z650RS makes use of Kawasaki’s tried and tested 650 Parallel-Twin engine that has powered a diverse range of models including the Z650, Ninja 650, Versys 650 and Vulcan S. Its claimed maximum output of 67.3 hp at 8000 rpm and 47.2 lb-ft. at 6700 rpm are identical to the Z650, as are the assist and slipper clutch and six-speed transmission.
The steel trellis frame and swingarm are also similar to the Z650’s, but the RS has a less upswept rear subframe, which translates to a flatter seat and more horizontal profile, especially with the new, smaller fuel tank (3.2 gallons compared to 4.0 gallons on the Z650). The tail is shorter than on the Z900RS but offers a similar duck bill cowl. Despite the differences in styling and the smaller tank, Kawasaki claims the Z650RS has a curb weight of 412.3 pounds, the same as the regular Z650.
The Z650RS’ tail has a similar look as the Z900RS but it uses a new oval LED taillight design.
The flat saddle results in a 31.5 inch seat height, which is slightly higher than the Z650’s 31.1 inches, but it also means the Z650RS offers more leg room as the footpegs are in the same location for both models. For European markets, the Z650RS comes with the high seat which is 32.3 inches from the ground. Kawasaki will also offer other seat heights as optional accessories, but the selection and thickness may vary by market.
The Z650RS’ flat handlebar is 2.0 inches higher and 1.2 inches farther back compared to the Z650, producing a more relaxed, upright riding position. The fuel tank has a slim shape for a better ergonomic fit when gripping it with your knees, but it does comes at the expense of fuel capacity, with the Z650RS’ 3.2-gallon tank holding less gas than the Z650’s 4.0 gallons.
Suspension duties are handled by a non-adjustable 41mm telescopic fork and a preload-adjustable horizontal back-link rear shock, which are similar to the Z650. The brakes are likewise similar, with dual two-piston calipers and a 300mm disc up front and a single-piston caliper with a 320mm disc for the back wheel. ABS comes standard on European models.
The 17-inch cast wheels are in the same flat spoke design as the Z900RS. The wheels are designed to offer a balance of light weight and retro styling, and provide the illusion of wire spokes when viewed from the side.
The circular LED headlight offers a blend of modern and retro designs. The outer ring is a position lamp while the inner lamp has two chambers for low and high beams. Above the headlight is an instrument panel with a small LCD screen bracketed by bullet-shaped analog speedometer and tachometer dials
The 2022 Kawasaki Z650RS will be offered in three color options, a standard Metallic Sparkle Black paint scheme and two special edition paint jobs: the Candy Emerald Green with gold-colored wheels in most of the supplied images, and a Metallic Moondust Gray with copper highlights and blacked-out parts.
Metallic Sparkle Black
Special edition Metallic Moondust Gray.
We expect Kawasaki will announce the Z650RS for the U.S. next week. In the U.K., the 2022 Kawasaki Z650RS is priced at £7,549 for the standard color and £7,699 for either special edition paint options. By comparison, British pricing for the Z650 is £6,949 for the base color and £7,049 for the premium paint schemes. That means we can expect U.S. pricing for the Z650RS to come in higher than the Z650’s MSRP of $7,349 ($7,849 with ABS).
There comes a time in an ambitious cook’s life when they want a KitchenAid stand mixer. And once you’ve taken the leap and dedicated a section of your counter or cupboard to this sizable multitasker, you have a whole world to explore, thanks to KitchenAid’s catalog of proprietary attachments. They work with the mixer’s sturdy motor to automate tasks — such as shredding, grinding, slicing, peeling, coring, and sifting — that you might otherwise do manually or with a separate machine. Some attachments also open the door to culinary hobbies, like making sausage or pasta from scratch.
But not all of KitchenAid’s three dozen or so attachments are worth the cupboard space. And with prices ranging from $50 to $250, they’re not always the cheapest way to achieve your goal.
We’ve tested nine of the most promising-looking attachments and found a few we’d recommend. These attachments equip you with new ways to use your stand mixer, make it easy to fearlessly level up your skill set and conquer new recipes, and may save you space by allowing you to rely on the same powerful motor for a diverse set of tasks, rather than having to find room for several appliances.
The dream of finding buried treasure is compelling, but the reality of metal detecting is that you mostly find worthless scraps—and even that takes time and dedication.
It may be the sort of unhurried, solitary activity you enjoy. As with birdwatching, even if you don’t come across a rarity, you will have spent some time in the great outdoors.
Or it may bore you to tears.
Ideally you’ll figure that out before dropping a not-insignificant sum on a metal detector of your own, so we recommend first trying to find a local club or store that will help you go on a trial hunt or two. If you catch the bug, you’ll know it. And at that point, we can say that the Nokta Simplex Ultra is the best metal detector for a newcomer to the sport.
Your website is your digital home, a reassuring constant in a world of ephemeral social networks. Building that home with a great website builder is just as simple as putting together a new social media profile — typically, you can get from bare template to published site in 15 minutes or less.
Since we began testing website builders in 2018, we’ve found that Wix remains our favorite tool to build professional sites, fast. Its well-designed templates, drag-and-drop editor, and thoughtful guides and checklists make website design a cinch. And it comes with optional tools to grow your website into a store or blog over time.
For frequent flyers or commuters on public transit, reducing the noise around you is the difference between enduring a trip and enjoying it. Immersing yourself in the hush created by a great pair of noise-cancelling headphones, combined with the opening chords of your favorite song, can make your muscles relax faster than slipping under a weighted blanket. And they’re easier to pack, too.
The Sony WH-1000XM6 is our favorite pair of noise-cancelling headphones, but we also have recommendations for people who prefer earbuds or who want to spend less.
In the event of a wildfire, a hurricane, a flood, or any number of other emergencies, it’s essential to have a fully stocked go bag (also called a “ready bag,” or “bug-out bag”) of emergency gear. This way, you and your family can quickly evacuate to a shelter or other secure location armed with basic survival supplies and tools.
For this guide we focused on gear that could be easily carried in a backpack, emphasizing lightness and portability wherever possible. For sheltering in place, we have a separate guide to the best emergency-preparedness supplies, to help you manage at home for a period of time following a disaster that knocks out utility services or cuts off outside resources to your area. We hope both of these guides will help you be prepared with reliable and versatile tools that can assist you in managing whatever emergency you may face.
Great speeches transcend time and place, offering wisdom that speaks to every era and stirring souls long after their speakers' tongues have been silenced.
During a debt crisis, the trillion dollar platinum coin invariably turns up like a bad penny. And, predictably, Paul Krugman pushed the idea in the New York Times. I flagged this possibility on September 17. And I pondered it the Biden Administration would endorse this proposal. According to the Washington Post, the White House considered, but rejected the idea.
As part of their internal review, White House officials have circulated internal memos with a range of untested theories should Congress fail to resolve the debt ceiling standoff, including the creation of a $1 trillion "coin" idea that has been popular among some liberals for years, the people said. But these options have been set aside as unworkable, the people said. . . .
A senior official familiar with the matter said it was the administration's responsibility to review all possible options. Still, White House officials have reached the conclusion that unilateral action is not viable and the only way to avoid economic devastation is for Congress to act to maintain the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, according to the officials and Michael Gwin, a White House spokesman.
The White House has also considered the Section 4 option:
One legal theory that was reviewed is based on the idea that Congress in the event of a debt ceiling breach will have passed essentially irreconcilable laws. That is because the debt ceiling sets the maximum amount the Treasury can borrow to pay its obligations. But Congress has also simultaneously approved legislation requiring the federal government to spend more than the amount authorized by the debt ceiling.
According to some legal experts, the administration might then say the laws are in conflict, forcing the administration to pick between them. In that case, the administration would maintain that continuing payments is the best of two options — either of which would put them in defiance of congressional statute. . . .
Some legal scholars have pointed to the Constitution's 14th Amendment, which states that the "validity of the public debt of the United States … shall not be questioned." The Obama administration also extensively reviewed this option during the debt ceiling standoff of 2013. But some legal experts say the 14th Amendment would not have to be cited for the administration to say it has to fulfill its spending obligations under congressional mandate
Mike Dorf, a leading proponent of this view, was interviewed by the Post:
"In my view, all the options under these circumstances are illegal if the administration is told to do something and also not do that very same thing," said Michael Dorf, a constitutional law expert at Cornell University, who said he has not been in communication with lawmakers about the matter.
"The view is often misattributed to me that it would be no big deal for the president to issue debt [after a debt ceiling breach]. It would be a big deal. It would be quite terrible and very likely would spook the markets. But the question is what to do if the spending and borrowing laws are inconsistent. I've expressed the view that the least bad thing to do under those circumstances would be to issue debt."
This option was considered by the Administration, but was ruled out--at least so far:
This theoretical possibility has been discussed by at least two high-ranking Biden aides in conversations in recent days, but ruled out because they believed it would be devastating for the country, said the people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive internal deliberations.
The people involved in discussing this theory stress that they are not saying the White House would have the authority to unilaterally ignore the debt ceiling. They are also adamant that such a measure is not constitutional, and say it could still lead to enormous financial and economic damage. But, they say, should the administration reach the "X Date" — after which Treasury can no longer meet all its payment obligations — continuing to spend in defiance of the debt ceiling may be plausible if not necessary.
"They would have two choices — each of which is unconstitutional," one of the people aware of the discussions said. "This is the theory of the 'less constitutional choice': If the president did this it would violate the constitution, but to not do it would violate the constitution even more seriously."
I don't quite understand this comment. Neither does Gerard Magliocca, who writes:
I also must say that I did not understand what the unnamed source in the article means by saying that the President cannot act unilaterally if Congress fails to act because that would be devastating to the country. It would be devastating to the country to stop the country from being devastated?
If we are about to crash into the debt ceiling, we may yet see the Trillion dollar coin, or the Section 4 option. The unitary executive, and departmentalism, are alive and well.
During a debt crisis, the trillion dollar platinum coin invariably turns up like a bad penny. And, predictably, Paul Krugman pushed the idea in the New York Times. I flagged this possibility on September 17. And I pondered it the Biden Administration would endorse this proposal. According to the Washington Post, the White House considered, but rejected the idea.
As part of their internal review, White House officials have circulated internal memos with a range of untested theories should Congress fail to resolve the debt ceiling standoff, including the creation of a $1 trillion "coin" idea that has been popular among some liberals for years, the people said. But these options have been set aside as unworkable, the people said. . . .
A senior official familiar with the matter said it was the administration's responsibility to review all possible options. Still, White House officials have reached the conclusion that unilateral action is not viable and the only way to avoid economic devastation is for Congress to act to maintain the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, according to the officials and Michael Gwin, a White House spokesman.
The White House has also considered the Section 4 option:
One legal theory that was reviewed is based on the idea that Congress in the event of a debt ceiling breach will have passed essentially irreconcilable laws. That is because the debt ceiling sets the maximum amount the Treasury can borrow to pay its obligations. But Congress has also simultaneously approved legislation requiring the federal government to spend more than the amount authorized by the debt ceiling.
According to some legal experts, the administration might then say the laws are in conflict, forcing the administration to pick between them. In that case, the administration would maintain that continuing payments is the best of two options — either of which would put them in defiance of congressional statute. . . .
Some legal scholars have pointed to the Constitution's 14th Amendment, which states that the "validity of the public debt of the United States … shall not be questioned." The Obama administration also extensively reviewed this option during the debt ceiling standoff of 2013. But some legal experts say the 14th Amendment would not have to be cited for the administration to say it has to fulfill its spending obligations under congressional mandate
Mike Dorf, a leading proponent of this view, was interviewed by the Post:
"In my view, all the options under these circumstances are illegal if the administration is told to do something and also not do that very same thing," said Michael Dorf, a constitutional law expert at Cornell University, who said he has not been in communication with lawmakers about the matter.
"The view is often misattributed to me that it would be no big deal for the president to issue debt [after a debt ceiling breach]. It would be a big deal. It would be quite terrible and very likely would spook the markets. But the question is what to do if the spending and borrowing laws are inconsistent. I've expressed the view that the least bad thing to do under those circumstances would be to issue debt."
This option was considered by the Administration, but was ruled out--at least so far:
This theoretical possibility has been discussed by at least two high-ranking Biden aides in conversations in recent days, but ruled out because they believed it would be devastating for the country, said the people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive internal deliberations.
The people involved in discussing this theory stress that they are not saying the White House would have the authority to unilaterally ignore the debt ceiling. They are also adamant that such a measure is not constitutional, and say it could still lead to enormous financial and economic damage. But, they say, should the administration reach the "X Date" — after which Treasury can no longer meet all its payment obligations — continuing to spend in defiance of the debt ceiling may be plausible if not necessary.
"They would have two choices — each of which is unconstitutional," one of the people aware of the discussions said. "This is the theory of the 'less constitutional choice': If the president did this it would violate the constitution, but to not do it would violate the constitution even more seriously."
I don't quite understand this comment. Neither does Gerard Magliocca, who writes:
I also must say that I did not understand what the unnamed source in the article means by saying that the President cannot act unilaterally if Congress fails to act because that would be devastating to the country. It would be devastating to the country to stop the country from being devastated?
If we are about to crash into the debt ceiling, we may yet see the Trillion dollar coin, or the Section 4 option. The unitary executive, and departmentalism, are alive and well.
The age of the camera is slowly coming to an end—especially the bulky DSLR and all its associated declinations. In a very short while, all that will be left will be those pesky in-object cameras, like the one in our cell phones and a query type box in our browser.
The End of Analog
Bulky big cameras have a legacy deeply entrenched in the physical world. They were made to mechanically create images for physical media. This analog world is vanishing. Already, not only are images all digital, but they all end up – the vast majority – in digital mediums. And like with anything in the digital world, its propensity is to diminish in size while increasing in power (Moore’s law).
Yes, the next cover of Vogue magazine will be shot with the latest Hasselblad, even if equipped with a digital back. And yes, there is so much better light quality entering the frame of a full-size Leitz lens than those three circles in the back of the latest iPhone. But for how long?
File sizes don’t really matter anymore. It is just a question of time before all surviving printed publications become a supplement to their online mothership, Vogue included. Billboards are all but becoming digital as well. The need for large, bulky files is now easily met with upscaling. Computational photography is now the norm, and the skills needed to operate a DSLR are now replaced by AI. An iPhone/Galaxy and successors can and will soon outperform any bulky DSLR.
Cameras, Everywhere
Alongside the proliferation of our handheld computerized cameras, almost every appliance in our lives will contribute to the creation of photographs. To monitor themselves and their surroundings, visual data acquisition interfaces are slowly creeping into our lives. Doorbells have cameras, cars and high-end fridges already have some, while others, like automated vacuum cleaners or lamps, will soon have some.
Pretty soon, our whole environment will be taking pictures of every moment of our lives. Instead of actually taking pictures at our next birthday party, we can ask the fridge or lamp to share some of the ones they took. Nothing will be missed.
With a simple voice command, anyone will create a perfect image. Photo by cottonbro / Pexels.
Introducing PaaS
As for professional content? Replaced by a simple query type box. Enter what kind of image you need and hit enter. An AI will produce the picture for you. A photo of a couple holding hands on a beach at sunset, no problem. A photo of Alexander the Great playing chess with Napoleon on the deck of the Mayflower. Piece of cake. And yes, the next cover of Vogue magazine as well. Introducing PaaS: Photography as a Service.
Because of the computational power and software engineering expertise needed, the first iterations of PaaS will be via a handful of companies offering this service via a web interface. But eventually, like everything in digital, it will be integrated into our cell phones or whatever device we will be carrying with us.
Need a photo of a butterfly on a red rose for your Instagram feed? No problem. Tell your Siri/Google, and there you go.
Pros? What Pros?
What about news or wedding photography? Those will certainly still need battle-tested professionals handling bulky DSLR? Yes and no. The proliferation of cameras everywhere combined with an accelerated news cycle and reduced budget make the future of photojournalism extremely precarious.
Even without these replacement technologies in full deployment, it is becoming extremely challenging for anyone to make a living as a news photographer. Already, the local with a cell phone trumps the pro with the heavy equipment. Not much of a future here.
As for wedding photographers, well, sure. They could survive on a few pre-ceremony portraits and outwitting guests with cell phones. But in the not-so-long run, providing a PaaS with two headshots of the couple and a command to create a beautiful wedding portrait will yield some much better photos than anything a pro could do. As for the ceremony, nothing a few cameras with an AI power best scene detection can deliver.
With PaaS, the creative process will no longer be controlled by those who have mastered the tools of the craft, like a camera or Photoshop, but rather by those who have the most creative minds. Imagination will best skills.
The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.
About the author: Paul Melcher is a photography and technology entrepreneur based in New York, and the founder of Kaptur, a news magazine about the visual tech space. You can find more of his writings on his blog, Thoughts of a Bohemian. Melcher offers his services as a consultant as well. This article was also published here.
Image credits: Header photo by Brett Sayles / Pexels
Compay Segundo, of the Buena Vista Social Club, in 2007.
He has played with the Rolling Stones, John Lee Hooker and Neil Young, won six Grammys and been voted the eighth best guitarist in history by Rolling Stone magazine, but perhaps the high point of Ry Cooder’s career came in 1996 in a wood-paneled studio in Havana. The Californian had been invited to Cuba by the British producer Nick Gold and introduced to some local music stars, many of them in their seventies and eighties, including the guitarist Compay Segundo, the pianist Rubén González and the feather-voiced singer Ibrahim Ferrer.
Like a crack team of superannuated superheroes, many of…
by stories@appalcast.com (Steve Gilly, Rod Mullins)
After the Civil War a group of English men and women traveled to the hills of Tennessee to set up a utopian colony. Today we tell that story. You can subscribe to the Stories podcast at Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Audible, IHeart Radio, Audacy, or on your favorite podcast app. Thanks for listening and for sharing our stories with your friends!
Christmas is fast approaching and you may be looking for the ideal photography gift for a loved one in your life who already seems to have everything.
This is one of the reasons why I love photography prints so much, they make some of the easiest and cheapest photography gifts around.
The problem, of course, is that not all prints are made equally. If you aren’t a photographer, it can be really difficult to discern which printing companies are trustworthy and which aren’t, or which will even get you your product by the time you need it.
It’s why I recommend that you shop at CanvasHQ. In this article, I’ll give you a quick rundown of why a CanvasHQ print would make the ideal photography gift and how you can make that happen for a loved one in your life.
CanvasHQ Prints Are One-of-a-Kind
A gift card for a CanvasHQ print is an ideal photography gift because each CanvasHQ print is unique.
Obviously, the image on the print is going to be unique. But, CanvasHQ genuinely cares about the quality of the product that they put out. This means that their associates hand build each canvas frame, using only the best quality materials. They also hand stretch each individual canvas over the frames to ensure that there isn’t any chance of the ink cracking during the drying process.
CanvasHQ prints are also one of a kind because they come in a huge array of sizes. A lot of printing companies only offer pre-set sizing. But, since CanvasHQ hand cuts every canvas, this means that they can make prints in whatever size necessary.
CanvasHQ is Reliable
You can’t really recommend any product as an ideal photography gift if you don’t know when you’re going to receive it. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, this is a problem a lot of companies are facing right now.
CanvasHQ isn’t one of them. Throughout the pandemic, their supply chain was never interrupted and you can actually check their website to know exactly when your print would arrive to you if you sent it in today.
The best photography gift ideas are the ones that will be around for a long time, since they’ll constantly remind your loved one of the bond you share.
CanvasHQ prints make such an ideal photography gift because they are designed to last a lifetime. I briefly mentioned the fact that CanvasHQ uses high-quality materials when building their prints. But, allow me to go a little more in-depth.
Each CanvasHQ print is made with UV-resistant ink. This means that a canvas that is stored properly shouldn’t have any issues with fading, even over decades.
Each CanvasHQ print is also printed on canvas that is the optimal pH for photography. A lot of canvases have additives that will eventually harm your image. CanvasHQ prints don’t.
Buy a CanvasHQ Gift Card
An ideal photography gift for a photographer who already seems to have everything is a CanvasHQ gift card. Gift cards are one of the best gift ideas for photographers who already have enough other photography gear. And a CanvasHQ gift card, specifically, is so versatile.
CanvasHQ gift cards can be used either for the photographer in your life or for one of their clients. For photographers who haven’t been photographing for too many years, canvas prints of their work can help them recognize problem areas they need to keep working on. For photographers who have been photographing for years, canvas prints are a great way for them to show off their work, or perhaps bring in some extra income.
If your beloved photographer runs their own photography business, then they know how important repeat customers are and many of them will throw in a free canvas print for their largest clients. With a CanvasHQ gift card, you can help make that happen.
Importantly, you can buy a CanvasHQ gift card for as little as $10 and up to as much as you would like. This means it would make the ideal photography gift for your best friends and your lesser-known associates.
Ground turkey is one of the most versatile products at the meat counter. It plays well with assertive flavors from many of the world’s cuisines, and can be made into meatballs, meatloaf, kebabs, or our favorite—burgers.
Unfortunately, turkey burgers have a reputation (undeserved) for being both bland-tasting and insufferably dry. But not when handled and cooked properly.
Here are our tips for serving juicy, flavorful turkey burgers every time.
Tips for Serving Juicy and Flavorful Turkey Burgers
When buying ground turkey, look for meat that has at least some fat in it. Breasts yield very lean ground meat, so devoid of fat that burger patties tend to fall apart on the grill. A mix of white and dark meat (breasts and thighs or leg meat) is what you want, with a meat to fat ratio of at least 90 to 10 percent. If you have a good relationship with your butcher, he or she might custom-grind turkey for you.
There are several ways to add flavorful fats and/or moisture to ground turkey burgers. For example, you can add an egg, bread soaked in milk, grated butter, a handful of grated cheese (either add to the meat mixture or stuff the burgers), condiments like soy sauce or Worcestershire sauce, grated onion, or finely chopped mushrooms, which exude liquid as the burgers cook. (Or, you can stuff the burgers with sautéed mushrooms.)
Chill the meat and other ingredients thoroughly before mixing. Run your hands under cold water, then handle the meat very gently. (It helps to form your hands into a claw-like shape.) Over-handling the meat will result in dense, compacted burgers that have no room for juice. Place the formed patties on a plate covered with plastic wrap, then cover with more plastic wrap before chilling for 30 minutes or so. (Briefly place the patties in the freezer for a few minutes if you’re short on time.)
Set up your grill for direct grilling and preheat to medium-high. Brush the grill grate clean and oil well.
Grill the burgers for about 5 minutes per side, or until the interior registers 165 degrees on an instant-read meat thermometer. Important: Do not overcook.
Serve the burgers with a creamy sauce or condiment.
Turkey, a bird native to South America, adapts well to the flavors many of the planet’s grilling cultures. Below are some suggested flavor combinations, along with a recipe for a Tex-Mex version of burgers published in Steven’s must-have book, Man Made Meals.
Combine ground turkey with finely chopped mint, a bit of oregano, grated lemon zest, and salt and pepper. Brush the patties with olive oil and grill as directed above. Serve in pita bread with Tzatziki (Yogurt Cucumber Sauce), sliced tomatoes and cucumbers, and crumbled feta.
Add grated fresh ginger, finely diced scallions, minced garlic, soy sauce, a teaspoon of sesame oil, and chopped cilantro leaves to chilled ground turkey. (We also like to add a bit of sriracha or Asian sweet chili sauce). Grill as directed above. Serve with peanut sauce or a simple sauce of mayonnaise and sriracha.
For the flavors of Thanksgiving in a burger, combine chilled ground turkey with bulk pork sausage, chopped fresh sage and parsley, diced onions, and a bit of fennel seed. Brush with butter before grilling as directed above. Serve on a bun with cranberry sauce.
I don’t know how I went so long without digital calipers, but I finally got them a few years ago. This cheap set of digital calipers can measure inside diameters, outside diameters, and depths of things up to 6 inches. The display is digital and you can choose between inches and millimeters.
This tool was recommended by John Park on the Cool Tools podcast. Listen to the full podcast here.
-- John Edgar Park
Electronix Express 0604CAL6++ LCD Digital Caliper with Extra Battery and Case, 6″
The United States needs ten times the amount of rare earth metals it currently has to meet President Biden’s ambitious EV goals, according to one CEO in the business.
If you're searching for the perfect BBQ and grilling appetizer then you're sure to love this tested recipe for grilled bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers. Known in certain BBQ circles as atomic buffalo turds, or ABTs, these cheese stuffed, bacon wrapped jalapenos are certain to disappear as soon as you serve them.
Albeit very simple, with few ingredients, this recipe comes from my mom and holds a special place in my heart. I grew up eating salsa picante with almost every meal. It was ever present as a table condiment, and topped everything, including eggs in breakfast tacos. It added a tomato-filled spicy kick to our picadillo [...]
Don’t look now, but the field of naked bikes slotting in just below the 1000cc mark is starting to rise – and we’re all the better for it. Maybe the OEMs have figured out that those big beasts in the upper echelons of naked bike performance are just too much for the more sensible among us. They’re too big, too fast, too powerful, with too much electronics, and too much of a price tag. For those of us still with a desire for naked bike fun, but at a slightly more moderate pace, we bring you the assembly of motorcycling you see before you.
What you get from the BMW F900R, Ducati Monster, Kawasaki Z900, KTM 890 Duke, Triumph Street Triple R, and Yamaha MT-09 are six of the hottest bikes in the sub-1000cc category today, and a nice step up from the middleweights we recently tested. And before any Suzuki fanboys (or girls) grill us, yes, we extended an invitation for the GSX-S750. Unfortunately, one couldn’t be provided for us in time. In all honesty, its inclusion wouldn’t have made an impact on the overall winner, but we’re getting a bit ahead of ourselves.
All that's left to do now is shake these bikes out to see where they stand!
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Ray-Ban teams with Facebook on a familiar line of camera-, microphone-, and speaker-laden eyewear.
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Aluminum folding chair integrates a soft cooler and backpack straps into its design.
L'Art De L'Autombile's custom 968 perfectly marries the '80s aesthetic with classic Porsche styling.
