Blanket Stitch Beanie

Adopted from this pattern, this is the adult sized version.

Crochet Pattern: Blanket Stitch Beanie.
Round 1: ch 2, 10 dc in magic circle. sl st in 2nd chain: 10 dc
Round 2: ch 2, turn, 2 dc in each dc around, sl st in 2nd chain: 20 dc
Round 3: ch 2, turn, (2 dc in next dc, dc in next dc) around, sl st in 2nd chain: 30 dc
Round 4: ch 2, turn, (2 dc in next dc, dc in next 2 dc) around, sl st in 2nd chain: 40 dc
Round 5: ch 2, turn, (2 dc in next dc, dc in next 3 dc) around, sl st in 2nd chain: 50 d
Round 6: ch 2, turn, (2 dc in next dc, dc in next 4 dc) around, sl st in 2nd chain: 50 dc
Round 7: ch 2, turn, (2 dc in next dc, dc in next 5 dc) around, sl st in 2nd chain: 60 dc
Round 8 – 18: ch 2, turn, *(2 dc, sc) in next st, skip 2 sts, repeat from * around, sl st in first dc: 22 shells. Finish off at row 18

That Time I Met Reggie

So, Reggie Fils-Aime is retiring. In my previous life I actually used to run into him all the time. He’s really tall, so it’s easy to spot him in a crowd, and he’s very approchable. I dug back into my archives and actually found the pics and story of the first time I met him in 2005. Here it is, thanks Reggie for being cool.

Kicking ass, taking names

September 22, 2005

Yeah so Reggie prolly could have kicked my ass and took my name. This picture was taken late at night, because our corp guys took Reggie out to dinner and he didn’t arrive till late. But true to his word, he did visit with us and signed autographs. I had given up on the guy after waiting around for hours. I decided to go to my room when Mariano called me. He said that he and senior Bub was going to order a pizza and asked me to bring my Xbox. After a few minutes of getting fragged in Halo, my boss called me. “Hey Reggie’s here, bring your DS to get signed”. I ran and ran trying to get back downstairs before he left. Liz pushed me to the front where I got my DS signed and this photo taken. He was cool, but had nothing nice to say about the PSP. I slid my psp in my pocket before I had the chance to talk to him. What an exciting night!

Mema’s Tacos Veganized

Small, fried pockets of goodness.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup of dried lentils green
  • Half of a small white onion or 1/3 of a large one
  • 2 cloves of garlic (optional)
  • 1 Tbsp (or to taste) of Cumin seeds, crushed in hand or peppermill. Can use ground cumin but might need to add more to taste.
  • 1 cup of vegetable broth. I use 1 tsp of Better Than Bullion mixed with a cup of warm water.
  • Garlic salt to taste
  • Corn tortillas
  • Canola or vegetable oil for frying
  • Taco toppings of your choosing

Prep time: 2 hours
Cooking time: 40 minutes

Directions

Soak lentils in water for 2 hours. They should double in size.

Finely chop onion and garlic using a food processor, chopper or manually with a kitchen knife. Add to hot sauce pan with a bit of water. Add cumin. Cook till onion is translucent, continuing to replenish water as it cooks out. Do not let it dry out, don’t burn the onions.

Add soaked lentils to onions. Stir in vegetable broth and garlic salt then cover. The broth should just cover the lentils. Since they are soaked already, they won’t absorb a lot of broth. Alternatively you can add dry lentils, but your cooking time and amount of broth needed will increase. Soaking them also neutralizes anti-nutrients making them easier to digest. Turn heat to low and cook for 10-20 minutes until lentils are soft. Add garlic sale to taste.

Optional, to create the same paste like texture of the original recipe’s potatoes and ground beef: Take half of the lentils from the sauce pan and blend in food processor or blender, then add blended lentils back to the sauce pan. Let cook uncovered on low heat for a few more minutes or until most of the moisture is cooked out.

Heat pan with oil for frying. Keep it shallow, this is not a deep fry. Warm corn tortillas wrapped in a clean dish cloth in a microwave for ~30 seconds or until soft. Scoop lentil filling into the middle of a tortilla, fold over and add to the frying pan. Fry on one side until golden brown and flip, cooking the other side. Lay cooked taco vertically in a paper towel lined bowl to allow oil to drain. Serve with desired toppings.

Ideas for toppings:
Lettuce, Pico de Gallo, white vinegar or salsa.
For non vegans, sour cream or Munster cheese.

Atari 2600 Paddle Nut Size

So this information didn’t exist anywhere on the Internet that I could find, so I’m posting it here.

 The nut that fastens an Atari 2600 paddle controller is 3/8 32. They are also used on electric guitars, I found mine at a music shop. Even better, they had some laying around in the back and gave me one for free. You can also order some on Amazon. If this information helps you like it did me, let me know in the comments, thanksssss.

 

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