Have a mosquito problem???

At your next outdoor gathering try this SAFE and EFFECTIVE method of keeping mosquitoes at bay! Simply slice a lime in half and press in a good amount of cloves for an ALL NATURAL mosquito repellent.

Thanks Grace H

When my boyfriend was offered a short-term job in Australia and asked if I wanted to come along, I knew the opportunity was in the 'once in a lifetime' category. So I sold my car, scrimped and saved, and braved the epically long flight from Boston down to Sydney.

I've been working in food for the last eight years and was incredibly excited about discovering the food scene in Oz, but nailing down the definition of Australian cuisine turned out to be a task almost as enormous as the country itself. I've been eating like an Aussie down in Sydney for about five months now, and I still can't tell you in a word. Australian cuisine is truly an intersection of influences, drawing from indigenous, European, and Asian flavors.

Here's a look at the different kinds of ingredients, dishes, and drinks you might find on a typical day in the Lucky Country.

To start: coffee. One of the most pleasant surprises I found when I first arrived was how great the quality of brew is down here. I could be in the heart of the city or a small town in the bush, and finding good espresso is (almost) easy as finding the nearest cafe.

[Photographs: Rebecca Morris]

Two coffee drinks that I can't get enough of are the long black and the flat white. The long black can be called the distant cousin of the Americano, but it's no weak sauce. The defining feature of the long black is the perfectly preserved crema on top. In terms of flavor, the few ounces of hot water that is added tempers the harshness, but doesn't dilute the taste. What I love the most about a long black is its staying power: it has almost the same amount of richness and intensity as an espresso, but I get to draw it out over a dozen or so sips.

The flat white is more sophisticated and harder to get right than the cafe au lait, and I recommend it for those that can't decide between intense coffee and creamy dairy, because this has a bit of both.

Wattlseed

Australia is home to the oldest living culture on earth, the Aboriginal Australians. Being around for 50,000 years (give or take), you could say they know a thing or two about living off the land, which is why it would be a disgrace to not mention bush tucker. Any food that is native to Australia is considered bush tucker, and now more than ever you can find chefs adding their spin on these indigenous plants, seeds, and berries.

Take wattleseed, for instance. Wattleseed comes from the Acacia species of plant, and while it can be eaten raw, it is mostly purchased already ground and roasted. I tasted it in pancakes at The Gardeners Lodge, a cafe in Sydney that specializes in bush tucker fusion cuisine. The seed tastes like a combination of cocoa nibs, coffee beans, and hazelnuts, and it imparted a complexity to the pancakes that only something like toasted nut flour could rival.

You say banh mi, Aussies say pork roll.

We have the Australian burger covered, so I won't go into too much detail on that front, but I will discuss another sandwich that the Australians have embraced as their own: banh mis, or, as they're known to locals, the Pork Roll.

The pork roll is just one of many examples of the heavy Asian influence in Australian cuisine. It's gone through so many channels of interpretation that some cafes have no idea what I'm talking about when I order a "banh mi." Sydney has pork rolls both low and high, including a coconut-braised pork rendition topped with watercress and toasted pepitas at Great Aunty Three, and pig-skin stuffed version at the appropriately-named Mr. Crackles.

Another hand-held meal worth a mention is the meat pie. I look at the meat pie like Australia's answer to the English pastie and the American pot pie, but I am sure that purists will say it got its start in England, as did many old-school Australian dishes. Inside the flaky, tender crust is a saucy stew that fills the belly of many hard working Australians during break time. Beef Burgundy and chicken and mushroom are the two most popular pies on offer, but my favorite so far has been kangaroo and stout pie.

Kangaroo meat is a byproduct of population control; the 'roo are culled in the wild by skilled hunters, so they don't come with the kind of environmental consequences that feedlot animals do. Australians don't typically eat a lot of kangaroo, probably because they prefer fattier meats like beef and pork, though 'roo consumption does vary regionally. When I was in the Outback, I saw a lot more 'roo on the menu than I did in Sydney, where I had to seek it out at the more touristy areas of the city.

Half kangaroo and half emu, it's a (morbid) take on the official Australian coat of arms.

Speaking of touristy, here's the 'Coat of Arms' pizza with kangaroo and emu, basically in this post to show that Australian's will put pretty much anything on a pie. While I can't name another country that consumes both of the animals that appear on their coat of arms, I can tell you that emu is incredibly high in protein and has virtually no fat, so it is considered a healthy alternative. I prefer it in a sausage, because you get to reap all of the benefits of game meat (berries, grassiness) with some added fat to balance out the more potent flavors of 'eau de emu.' And no, it doesn't taste like chicken, it's more like really lean beef.

To wash all this pie and pizza down, I skip the Fosters and order up some of Australia's craft beers, an industry that is starting to thrive in Australia. My go-to is the pale ale from Little Creatures, a brewery based in Western Australia.

The darling of Modern Australian cuisine (with a nod towards Asia) is salt and pepper squid. In terms of coating, salt and pepper squid is practically naked when compared to the heavily breaded and deep fried calamari I was used to getting in the States. The squid comes to the table after being lightly coated in flour and then wok-fried. The result is salty squid with crispy edges and a satisfying chew. At a Vietnamese restaurant, the dish can come adorned with hot chilis and sweet chili sauce on the side. But at a modern Australian cafe, salt and pepper squid can could be served with a lemon myrtle aioli for dipping, and a simple arugula salad on the side.

Barramundi and Balmain bug

Now that we're on the subject, Aussies happen to love their seafood, including native fish like barramundi. Barramundi is an aboriginal word for 'large scaled river fish', and it has a mild taste and flaky texture. This fish has gotten so popular in Australia that fisheries are struggling to keep up with demand, and are turning to Asia to help bear some of the load. The Balmain bug is a species of slippery lobster. It has a strong flavor and firm texture, like a more concentrated lobster. The first time I saw one I wasn't sure what I was looking at, since their heads resemble tails.

A nice finish to a meal (and an article) is something sweet. I'm not crazy about processed foods, but I know I'll get skewered by my Australian friends if I don't give their favorite cookie a mention, the Tim Tam. I gave it a try and I can see why they stock the shelves with the lot. It has every (good) texture you could want in a candy bar: flaky, creamy, and crunchy, without tasting too sweet, either.

I won't pretend I've covered everything in this one article; from Anzac biscuits to quondong, there is still so much food to be discovered and enjoyed. But with my time in Sydney nearly over, I am already wistful for the flat whites, endless barbecues, and the Aussie lifestyle that makes everyone who lives down here so darn lucky.

About the author: Rebecca Morris left her job as a test cook at America's Test Kitchen in order to lay on the warm beaches of Sydney, Australia for a few months. She got bored after about an hour, so she has been eating, travelling, and writing her way through most of Australia instead. You can follow her on her blog or tweet her @thehungryram.

Artist Adrien Noterdaem has a knack for turning any character into a Simpsons character and he’s applied his talents to Game of Thrones. The result is a fantastic mash-up that includes even George R.R. Martin in his Simpsonized form.

See close-ups of the characters after the break…

(Uproxx via Neatorama)

It’s more appropriate than ever to mix Star Wars into your Disney experience! The theme parks have been selling some themed mouse ears for a little while; they have a fabulous R2-D2 pair. However, their offerings don’t compare to these designs by Etsy seller And The Thread Goes On.

Bo-Katan and Captain Rex are in attendance at #StarWars Day @Disneyland! pic.twitter.com/G67N07UOKX

— Star Wars (@starwars) June 30, 2013

This couple attending Unofficial Star Wars Day at Disneyland wore custom Clone Trooper and Mandalorian designs, but the Etsy shop also offers some ready made options. You can be Darth Maul, Yoda, Leia, Boba Fett, or a character of your choosing. They’re perfect for Star Wars Weekends at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, wearing to Disney parks any day, or taking to conventions.

Check out more styles after the break.

Product Page ($35 and up)

[incidentalcomics]

The critical buzz and anticipation seem to have done favors for The Last of Us, as Sony has announced that global sales are downright infectious. It reached 3.4 million after only three weeks on the market, according to estimates as of July 3, making it the fastest selling PlayStation 3 game of this year and exceeding Sony's sales expectations.

The third-person action-adventure has reviewed well, earning praise from our own Andrew Yoon and currently sitting at a score of 95 on Metacritic.

"These sales figures are a testament to the blockbuster quality of The Last of Us," Worldwide Studios head Shuhei Yoshida said in the announcement. "The teams at Naughty Dog are true visionaries and their storytelling capabilities are second to none, this title is an undisputed demonstration of that. SCE continues to be committed to delivering unique gameplay experiences that redefine the interactive entertainment industry and The Last of Us is a perfect example."

As if you’re not already hurting to play some new Grand Theft Auto, the folks over at Rockstar Games released an almost 5-minute long gameplay video to the public. This is the first time that we’re seeing gameplay of Grand Theft Auto V, and Rockstar narrates us through an introduction of the game to get us prepared.

As we’ve known for sometime now, Grand Theft Auto V will feature three main characters instead of just one. There’s Michael, Franklin, and Trevor, all of which are quite unique in their own way. The game will let you switch between these three characters, almost like controlling your own team, where the players you aren’t actively controlling at the time are simply on autopilot until you take over.

The video also features different things that you can do besides run away from the cops and blow stuff up. Players can customize cars, such as picking a new paint job and choosing new wheels (a much better selection of features than the Pay ‘n’ Spray auto shop in previous GTA titles).

Players can also play golf and tennis, as well as go skydiving and cycling. You can even meditate while watching the sunset (a bit weird, yes). You can also go hunting for deer and other wildlife. Mechanics in the game have changed a bit as well in order to make a better gameplay experience. Switching guns is a lot quicker this time around, and driving cars looks to be a better experience than previous titles.

One of the biggest features of Grand Theft Auto V, however, is the number of heists that your three main characters have to pull off as a team. The best part is that the player gets to choose how to perform these heists, such as robbing a jewelry store quietly and stealthy, or breaking in and making a huge scene. In the end, GTA V looks to be one of the most immersive games in the series to date, and with a release date of September 17, we still have a ways to go before we can get our grubby hands on it.

Grand Theft Auto V official gameplay video debuts is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2013, SlashGear. All right reserved.

During her termination meeting with Valve founder Gabe Newell, former hardware head Jeri Ellsworth told Newell to either fund her latest augmented reality gaming project, or let her leave with it. Ellsworth had been with Valve for one year and seven months, and she believed in the potential behind her team's progress - even though Valve was firing many of the people involved.

"Give it to them," Newell said.

Ellsworth and fellow former Valve teammate Rick Johnson took their prototypes and started Technical Illusions, where they've been working on Cast AR, a set of 3D, augmented reality glasses. Four weeks after Ellsworth was fired from Valve, she and Johnson hit a breakthrough in the Cast AR project, and everything came together ahead of schedule, she said on The Grey Area Podcast.

Cast AR is a "projected augmented reality" system that throws graphics into the real world, allowing players - multiple players at one time, even - to interact with an artificial projection as if it were actually right in front of them, using a wand-like controller and special mat. Engadget got their hands on the Cast AR in May.

Early prototypes of the Cast AR are hardly bigger than standard glasses for a 3D movie, with spots on the corners from whence the projections, well, project. A camera on the bridge of the nose tracks the surface of the mat, so the glasses know where the player is looking. This set-up allows the wearer to see objects from different angles, and could apply to board and computer games alike. Technical Illusions intend the glasses, wand and surface to cost less than $200, with a Kickstarter planned for early 2014, Ellsworth said.

Best of all, Cast AR makes Wizard's Chess a reality. "You can imagine Star Wars Chess, as an example," Ellsworth said on the podcast. "There's little chess characters just walking around your table. If I'm sitting in front, facing forward at them, I see their faces. And I can stand up, walk around the table, and I can see the backside of the characters."

Continue reading Hardware hacker spills on Cast AR 'projected reality' glasses, Valve

Hardware hacker spills on Cast AR 'projected reality' glasses, Valve originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 08 Jul 2013 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

 

Have you considered buying one of these on Amazon?

Before you buy, read some of the reviews. This is one of those items, like the “girls-only pens,” that Amazon customers have a high old time with. There are 427 pages of comments, and, as you can imagine, some of them are a bit off-color.

A few reviews: 

x

h/t: Michael

Although Man of Steel was released in theaters just a few weeks ago, the folks at Warner Bros. are sincerely hoping you’re thinking about the future.

Since the studio has a certified hit on their hands, executives are wasting no time putting together the film’s inevitable home video release. In fact, artwork for the Blu-ray has already surfaced online.

The boys and girls at Comic Book Movie stumbled across the images you see below while browsing around Amazon France. According to the website, only 35,000 copies of the Man of Steel limited edition Blu-ray will be available worldwide.

As you can see from the artwork, this version of the home video release will include copies of the film on Blu-ray, 3D Blu-ray, DVD, and Ultraviolet. Each edition will also be numbered so you can prove to your friends that you’re one of the world’s most dedicated Superman supporters.

Fans can also choose between two versions of the Man of Steel Blu-ray. One cover features the Superman insignia, while the other shows star Henry Cavill in front of a ruined vault. If you’re hardcore, then you can always purchase both.

When can fans expect the summer blockbuster to arrive on home video? According to Flickering Myth, the latest big-screen version of the classic superhero will arrive on October 23, 2013. However, you’ll probably want to pre-order the Blu-ray if you’re interested in getting the limited edition version.

Those who have yet to experience the adventure should check out Man of Steel while it’s in theaters. Since the movie is still in the top ten, moviegoers should be able to catch the flick in cinemas before it’s bumped to make room for the rest of the summer’s offerings.

The artwork for the upcoming Blu-ray release is included below.

Did you catch Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel in theaters? Do you plan to pick up the limited edition Blu-ray when it lands on retail shelves this October?

‘Man Of Steel’ Limited Edition Blu-Ray Artwork Revealed [Photos] is a post from: The Inquisitr

 

Want to make a friend feel fantastic? Or an enemy feel awful?

I’ve posted a lot about how we underestimate the power of context and how we are terrible about remembering what really makes us happy.

Some people regard these ideas with skepticism.

Here’s a great example of how both work, and how, if you’re so inclined, you can make a friend feel fantastic or an enemy feel awful about their entire life. (Big hat tip to io9.)

In his bestseller Thinking, Fast and Slow, Nobel Prize winner Daniel Kahneman tells the story of a study where they asked students two questions:

• How happy are you these days?
• How many dates did you have last month?

They wanted to see if the answer to the first would have any effect on the answer to the other.

Nope. Zip. Zero. Zilch.

But what about when they reversed the order?

• How many dates did you have last month?
• How happy are you these days?

Oh boy.

Via Thinking, Fast and Slow:

In this sequence, the correlation between the number of dates and reported happiness was about as high as correlations between psychological measures can get. 

 

What the hell happened?

Emotional context is huge.

People have a big emotional reaction to thinking about their fantastic (or awful) dating life and the brain can’t help but carry this emotion over to a subsequent question.

Via Thinking, Fast and Slow:

The students who had many dates were reminded of a happy aspect of their life, while those who had none were reminded of loneliness and rejection. The emotion aroused by the dating question was still on everyone’s mind when the query about general happiness came up…

“Happiness these days” is not a natural or an easy assessment. A good answer requires a fair amount of thinking. However, the students who had just been asked about their dating did not need to think hard because they already had in their mind an answer to a related question: how happy they were with their love life. They substituted the question to which they had a readymade answer for the question they were asked.

And it’s not just questions about dating.

Via Thinking, Fast and Slow:

The same pattern is found if a question about the students’ relations with their parents or about their finances immediately precedes the question about general happiness. In both cases, satisfaction in the particular domain dominates happiness reports. Any emotionally significant question that alters a person’s mood will have the same effect. 

This will be fun to test.

• When friends inform me of good things that have recently happened to them, I’m going to ask them how they feel about their lives.

• Also, I’m going to be very careful going forward about when I decide to ponder the big questions in life. (Note to self: All deep philosophical inquiry shall now take place after a large meal, surrounded by friends and laughter, while mildly inebriated.)

• And if someone tells me they just got a parking ticket and I reply, “So how happy are you these days?”, it’s safe to assume this person owes me money.

Join 45K+ readers. Get a free weekly update via email here.

Related posts:

What 10 things should you do every day to improve your life?

What do people regret the most before they die?

What five things can make sure you never stop growing and learning?

The post How to make someone feel fantastic (or awful) about their entire life: appeared first on Barking Up The Wrong Tree.

Tom Hanks celebrates 57 years of making the planet a little more awesome, on Tuesday. This is a man with two Oscars, a pleasant disposition and an asteroid named after him. A space rock, people — a space rock

While we couldn't figure out a way to send Mr. Hanks a Wilson the volleyball-shaped cake, we still wanted to celebrate. So we skipped the fondant and trip to UPS, and instead gathered 14 Tom Hanks GIFs that are definitely better than The Da Vinci Code.

Happy Birthday, T-Hanks!

Image courtesy of funnyjunk

Image courtesy of heartoftea

Image courtesy of tumblr Read more...

More about Lists, Tom Hanks, Film, Gifs, and Watercooler

Our love and admiration for Hot Pop Factory and their 3D printing skills is well documented (here and here), and the Toronto-based duo behind the brand, Bi-Ying Miao and Matthew Compeau, continue to push the envelope with 3D printing and their mission of designing collections of geometric goodness, including one of the latest that 3D prints wood. Lucky for us, they’ve agreed to walk us through the process of creating their recently launched, one of a kind collections, Boreal and Platonix, in this month’s Deconstruction.

Digital sketches of the Boreal Pendant design – with variations that are algorithmically generated.

Each Boreal pendant variation is made on a 3D printer using a composite material consisting of recycled cherry wood and polymer. The 3D printed wood actually emanates the slightest scent of charred wood during the printing process.

Each pendant’s form is defined by a soft curvature and heat-induced striations which, like fingerprints, are unique to every piece.

After the 3d printing process, each piece is hand-finished.

The Boreal collection is made with 18K rolled gold and sterling silver chain and handmade findings.

Here is the finished product of the Boreal Type II Necklace.

Here is the finished 3D printed wood necklace.

Digital sketches of the Platonix Circle Earrings design – with variations that are algorithmically generated.

Final Product: Three variations of the Platonix Circle Earrings in 3D printed in black nylon.

The Platonix Type II pendants are made with gunmetal findings.

Final Product: Platonix Triangle Bracelet in yellow. The nylon material has a flexible and durable quality that lends to the wearability of the collection.

SanDisk has revealed its latest high-speed memory card, the SanDisk Extreme microSDXC, offering up to 64GB of mobile storage with transfer rates up to 80 MB/sec. The new memory cards, targeting smartphones and cameras where users want to shoot Full HD video, can be read at up to 80 MB/sec and written at up to 50 MB/sec, with Class 10 performance in preparation for Ultra HD video modes.

There’s also UHS Speed Class 1 (U1) compliance, a standard perhaps lesser known then the “Class” system traditionally found on memory cards. Right now, U1 is the highest speed around under the standard, with a theoretical maximum of 104 MB/sec. However, U2 is in the pipeline, with plans for up to 312 MB/s to be supported.

That sort of speed might not be 100-percent necessary today, but with smartphones that can record Ultra HD 4K video just around the corner, they could well become more important. There are already rumors that the Sony “Honami” Android smartphone, yet to be announced but already being churned by the rumor-mill, will include 4K video recording with its expected 20-megapixel camera.

In the box there’s a microSD card adapter, to use the cards in a regular SD slot, and SanDisk says they’re also waterproof, X-ray proof, and generally resilient to knocks, temperature extremes, and bumps. There’s a lifetime warranty on top, too.

The Extreme cards come in sizes from 16GB to 64GB. The range is priced from $59.99 to $199.99, and is shipping now.

SanDisk Extreme microSDXC is eager for Ultra HD phones is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2013, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Retta being absolutely fab

Ranging from the Northeast to the Great Lakes region, the Crimson Nosepicker (mucus digguli) is a constant nuisance to any unwary hiker caught without a tissue.

Via Mark Dumont.

Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: Birds, Gee-ross!

Martial arts superstar Bruce Lee is the latest deceased celebrity to re-appear in CG form to sell you things.

Read more...

Twinkies, America’s much loved and missed spongy cream cakes, are making a comeback!

The Inquisitr reported last month that Hostess, the producer of the yummy cakes we all love and miss, are to return to supermarket shelves this coming Monday 15th July.

The Twinkies return will see a new and improved recipe, which will offer a much longer shelf life than previous Twinkies.

Hostess spokesperson, Hannah Arnold, said that the new Twinkies were released by the old owners of Hostess back in November of last year. Production was stopped when the company went out of business a few weeks later.

Arnold wouldn’t divulge the details of the new Twinkies recipe, saying it was “Proprietary information.” She confirmed that the new production process would have: “No impact on the quality or taste” of the cakes.

Last week the New York Post reported that the cakes will be delivered to stores frozen, to extend their shelf life. This would mean that retailers can put their own expiration dates on the Twinkies they sell.

About 10% of retailers who will be selling the new Twinkies requested to have them delivered frozen but Hostess would not comment on which retailers will stock the pre-frozen Twinkies.

The new shelf life is slated to be 45 days as opposed to the old Twinkies which lasted around 26 days. This means that the product is more lucrative for retailers, as they can keep the cakes on their shelves for longer.

Are you looking forward to the ‘Twinkies return’ and do you think that the changes made to ensure longer shelf life will affect the taste of the product? How do you feel about frozen Twinkies vs. fresh ?

Twinkies Return: Promise 45 Day Shelf life is a post from: The Inquisitr