Tofu and Seaweed Soup
This recipe is a bit strange, but very tasty and very fast.
Cut some very firm tofu into cubes. Add to a casserole dish with chicken stock (low salt version), white wine, a can of V8 (great veggie selection and low salt) and the seaweed.
Add a few crushed cloves of garlic (roasted garlic cloves are even better). Grind in some fresh pepper.
Simmer for at least an hour. Top up with liquid as necessary.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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Bard - Google's new AI agent
Bard - Google's new AI agent
Bard can answer almost any question you ask. Almost anything. That's a scary thought.
So of course I had to test it by asking an algebra question.
Me: Find the roots of the quadratic equation x^2 - 3x + 2 = 0
Bard: Sure. The roots of the quadratic equation x^2 - 3x + 2 = 0 are 1 and 2
(Bard then went on to give a detailed description of the solution process.)
Here's Bard. Ask away.
Meet Bard
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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Bard can answer almost any question you ask. Almost anything. That's a scary thought.
So of course I had to test it by asking an algebra question.
Me: Find the roots of the quadratic equation x^2 - 3x + 2 = 0
Bard: Sure. The roots of the quadratic equation x^2 - 3x + 2 = 0 are 1 and 2
(Bard then went on to give a detailed description of the solution process.)
Here's Bard. Ask away.
Meet Bard
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
Like this post? Please share it by clicking one of the share buttons below!
How are your eyes?
How are your eyes?
I go for regular eye exams. But I just printed the Amsler Grid and tested myself. It took me 30 seconds to find a problem.
Try it. Print this grid and do the test. Amsler Grid
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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I go for regular eye exams. But I just printed the Amsler Grid and tested myself. It took me 30 seconds to find a problem.
Try it. Print this grid and do the test. Amsler Grid
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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The Guns of August by Barbara Tuchman
The Guns of August by Barbara Tuchman
In the early days of August 1914 Germany mobilized seven armies. Their plan, years in the making, was to sweep in a giant arc across Europe and by the end of the month descend on Paris, the heart of their longtime enemy. The events of August 1914 were the opening salvos of what that generation called The Great War, and what the next had reason to rename World War I.
It is this single month that Barbara Tuchman treats in her Pulitzer Prize winning book The Guns of August (1962). Tuchman is a master of detail, and lays the ground rules for her readers in an Author’s Note at the beginning of the book, "All condition of weather, thoughts or feelings, and states of mind public or private, in the following pages have documentary support." The result is a 440pp narrative that at times can be frustrating, with extensive descriptions of generals and geography, but which paints a vivid picture of a cataclysmic event that erased a generation of young men. It is worth reading.
Tuchman covers the two major theatres of war, the European (or Western) front and the Russian (or eastern) front. She omits the war in the Balkans, centered around Turkey, except that she devotes an interesting chapter to the pursuit of the German battleship Goeben by Allied forces in the Mediterranean. The Goeben finally took refuge in the Turkish Dardenelles while Turkey was still neutral and thus precipitated its entry into the War on the side of Germany. The subsequent Allied fighting in the Balkans against Turkey included the ill fated Gallipoli campaign where so many British troops died.
Tuchman carefully analyses the events which led to the outbreak of war, and we are left with a picture of inevitability. Germany, imagining itself betrayed and enveloped by European alliances, had been preparing war plans for over 10 years. France was always Germany’s target. When the Archduke Ferdinand (an Austrian) was assassinated by a Serbian, a compex web of alliances were triggered, but the net result was that Germany marched on France. Moving 7 armies within the tight confines of Europe required plenty of space, and Germany planned to violate Belgium neutrality to move its troops towards Paris. It therefore came about that the opening battles of the war were on Belgium soil against Belgium cities.
Tuchman describes the battle of Liege, where the Germans used their huge siege guns against the city’s forts, and then the march through Belgium. The Germans did not expect the Belgiums to resist, but when they came under sniper fire in village after village the Germans instituted a policy of reprisals against the civilian population. Reports of mass executions in village squares became common, but the event that shocked the world was the burning of Louvain, where the Germans laid waste to the entire city. This event was a wake up call to the world and signaled the beginning of a long brutal war.
As they crossed the Belgium frontier into France, the German armies were engaged by 7 French armies and 2 British divisions known as the BEF (British Expeditionary Force). The battle was brutal, and the Allies were forced to slowly retreat under the German onslaught until finally the Germans were within 40 miles of Paris. The town was preparing for siege and possibly complete destruction. The government had fled south and when 2 divisions of reserves arrived they were rushed to the front by the city’s fleet of 600 taxi cabs commandeered for the purpose!
Tuchman carefully introduces us to all the key players, the Allied commanders of the French and British and the German commanders. With her characteristic attention to detail we learn of their personalities, strengths and weaknesses. And here perhaps more than anywhere in the book we come to realize just how world events can be shaped by personal foibles. Many of the names are unfamiliar: Joffre was the French General, Lord Kitchener the British War Minister, and Kluck led the final sweep of the German forces towards Paris. But some of the names are more familiar: a young soldier named De Gaulle fought for France, and Winston Churchill was Lord of the British Admiralty, but was to see his finest hour many years later in 1940.
When the Germans made a brief detour to chase one of the French armies north of Paris, the Allies saw an opportunity to counter attack and started to muster all available troops. The British BEF, sensing a catastrophe, promptly began retreating, with the intention of reaching the channel ports and going home. It took pleas from both the French and British to convince Field Marshal Sir John French to return his troops to battle in France’s darkest hour. He agreed with tears streaming down his face. In the subsequent attack, the Germans were forced back north to the line of the river Somme, with both sides suffering terrible losses, and the BEF wiped out. But nothing was decisive, the enemy was not vanquished, and both sides settled into a defensive trench system that cut across France west to east along the Somme. This became known as the Western Front and was to consume a generation of young men (of both sides) in 4 years of fighting.
Tuchman tells all this in well researched detail and avoids drawing conclusions. She focuses on key moments - as when Joffre convinces Field Marshal Sir John French to return the BEF to battle, or the state of Paris preparing for siege. She describes the conditions of the soldiers under forced march - dirty, tired, bloody and hungry. She describes the Generals dining on quail and taking tea while conducting the business of war - issuing orders, tracking troop movements and hiring and firing field commanders.
Tuchman humanizes the events and therefore helps us understand them. Wisely, she offers very little analysis, except to say that World War I was a terrible loss of an entire generation and left no winners but simply a profound sense of disillusionment. She quotes D. H. Lawrence, “All the great words were cancelled out for that generation” and in several places in the book she keeps us mindful of a sober fact: those who survived The Great War were to see their sons march in the next.
My father was one of them. And this is dedicated to him.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
Like this post? Please share it by clicking one of the share buttons below!
In the early days of August 1914 Germany mobilized seven armies. Their plan, years in the making, was to sweep in a giant arc across Europe and by the end of the month descend on Paris, the heart of their longtime enemy. The events of August 1914 were the opening salvos of what that generation called The Great War, and what the next had reason to rename World War I.
It is this single month that Barbara Tuchman treats in her Pulitzer Prize winning book The Guns of August (1962). Tuchman is a master of detail, and lays the ground rules for her readers in an Author’s Note at the beginning of the book, "All condition of weather, thoughts or feelings, and states of mind public or private, in the following pages have documentary support." The result is a 440pp narrative that at times can be frustrating, with extensive descriptions of generals and geography, but which paints a vivid picture of a cataclysmic event that erased a generation of young men. It is worth reading.
Tuchman covers the two major theatres of war, the European (or Western) front and the Russian (or eastern) front. She omits the war in the Balkans, centered around Turkey, except that she devotes an interesting chapter to the pursuit of the German battleship Goeben by Allied forces in the Mediterranean. The Goeben finally took refuge in the Turkish Dardenelles while Turkey was still neutral and thus precipitated its entry into the War on the side of Germany. The subsequent Allied fighting in the Balkans against Turkey included the ill fated Gallipoli campaign where so many British troops died.
Tuchman carefully analyses the events which led to the outbreak of war, and we are left with a picture of inevitability. Germany, imagining itself betrayed and enveloped by European alliances, had been preparing war plans for over 10 years. France was always Germany’s target. When the Archduke Ferdinand (an Austrian) was assassinated by a Serbian, a compex web of alliances were triggered, but the net result was that Germany marched on France. Moving 7 armies within the tight confines of Europe required plenty of space, and Germany planned to violate Belgium neutrality to move its troops towards Paris. It therefore came about that the opening battles of the war were on Belgium soil against Belgium cities.
Tuchman describes the battle of Liege, where the Germans used their huge siege guns against the city’s forts, and then the march through Belgium. The Germans did not expect the Belgiums to resist, but when they came under sniper fire in village after village the Germans instituted a policy of reprisals against the civilian population. Reports of mass executions in village squares became common, but the event that shocked the world was the burning of Louvain, where the Germans laid waste to the entire city. This event was a wake up call to the world and signaled the beginning of a long brutal war.
As they crossed the Belgium frontier into France, the German armies were engaged by 7 French armies and 2 British divisions known as the BEF (British Expeditionary Force). The battle was brutal, and the Allies were forced to slowly retreat under the German onslaught until finally the Germans were within 40 miles of Paris. The town was preparing for siege and possibly complete destruction. The government had fled south and when 2 divisions of reserves arrived they were rushed to the front by the city’s fleet of 600 taxi cabs commandeered for the purpose!
Tuchman carefully introduces us to all the key players, the Allied commanders of the French and British and the German commanders. With her characteristic attention to detail we learn of their personalities, strengths and weaknesses. And here perhaps more than anywhere in the book we come to realize just how world events can be shaped by personal foibles. Many of the names are unfamiliar: Joffre was the French General, Lord Kitchener the British War Minister, and Kluck led the final sweep of the German forces towards Paris. But some of the names are more familiar: a young soldier named De Gaulle fought for France, and Winston Churchill was Lord of the British Admiralty, but was to see his finest hour many years later in 1940.
When the Germans made a brief detour to chase one of the French armies north of Paris, the Allies saw an opportunity to counter attack and started to muster all available troops. The British BEF, sensing a catastrophe, promptly began retreating, with the intention of reaching the channel ports and going home. It took pleas from both the French and British to convince Field Marshal Sir John French to return his troops to battle in France’s darkest hour. He agreed with tears streaming down his face. In the subsequent attack, the Germans were forced back north to the line of the river Somme, with both sides suffering terrible losses, and the BEF wiped out. But nothing was decisive, the enemy was not vanquished, and both sides settled into a defensive trench system that cut across France west to east along the Somme. This became known as the Western Front and was to consume a generation of young men (of both sides) in 4 years of fighting.
Tuchman tells all this in well researched detail and avoids drawing conclusions. She focuses on key moments - as when Joffre convinces Field Marshal Sir John French to return the BEF to battle, or the state of Paris preparing for siege. She describes the conditions of the soldiers under forced march - dirty, tired, bloody and hungry. She describes the Generals dining on quail and taking tea while conducting the business of war - issuing orders, tracking troop movements and hiring and firing field commanders.
Tuchman humanizes the events and therefore helps us understand them. Wisely, she offers very little analysis, except to say that World War I was a terrible loss of an entire generation and left no winners but simply a profound sense of disillusionment. She quotes D. H. Lawrence, “All the great words were cancelled out for that generation” and in several places in the book she keeps us mindful of a sober fact: those who survived The Great War were to see their sons march in the next.
My father was one of them. And this is dedicated to him.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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A simple use of Calculus
A simple use of Calculus
You're fencing in a rectangular garden against a wall. So no fence is needed along the wall.
You have 100 feet of fencing. What size do you make the garden to maximize its area?
Let the garden be y deep and x wide.
So its area is a=xy
The length of fencing is l=2y+x=100
So x=100-2y
Substitute this into the area, so a=y(100-2y)=100y-2y^2
Differentiate and set to zero to find the max..
da/dy=100-4y=0
So y=25
Which means the garden is 25 deep and 50 wide.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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You're fencing in a rectangular garden against a wall. So no fence is needed along the wall.
You have 100 feet of fencing. What size do you make the garden to maximize its area?
Let the garden be y deep and x wide.
So its area is a=xy
The length of fencing is l=2y+x=100
So x=100-2y
Substitute this into the area, so a=y(100-2y)=100y-2y^2
Differentiate and set to zero to find the max..
da/dy=100-4y=0
So y=25
Which means the garden is 25 deep and 50 wide.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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Guns in America
Guns in America
Guns in America are totally out of control. There is no other way to describe it. Period.
Young school kids are dying. So much potential lost.
Imagine if one of these kids grew up to be a scientist and cured cancer. Opportunity gone. One life lost is many lives lost.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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Guns in America are totally out of control. There is no other way to describe it. Period.
Young school kids are dying. So much potential lost.
Imagine if one of these kids grew up to be a scientist and cured cancer. Opportunity gone. One life lost is many lives lost.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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Ken’s SAT Math Crib Sheet
Ken’s SAT Math Crib Sheet
I tutor SAT Math and over the years I’ve learned a lot. This crib sheet is short and sweet, but it’s the result of years of experience helping students boost their scores.
SAT Math is an interesting test. Being good at Math is not enough to score high. You also need test taking techniques. This crib sheet reveals my personal method.
First, in terms of test dates, latest news and how to register for the Math SAT go to the people who write and administer the test, The College Board The College Board
Alert!!! Big changes are coming to the SAT Math test. The paper and pencil test is going away and it will become totally online in 2023 for international students and in 2024 for US students. It will also be shorter and an on screen calculator will be available for the entire test. It's also possible that grid-ins will be replaced. Always check with the College Board for the latest information.
Now let’s start.
No matter how good or bad you are at Math we’re going to boost your score.
The current pencil and paper SAT Math test has two parts:
No Calculator: 25 minutes. 20 questions (15 multiple-choice, 5 Grid-in).
Calculator allowed: 55 Minutes. 38 questions (30 multiple-choice, 8 Grid-in).
A grid-in is just another way of supplying your answer. You mark them on a grid on the answer sheet. So make sure you know how to grid-in, play with this for a while until you’re totally comfortable. You don’t want to waste valuable time on test day learning how to grid-in. Do that now. How to do grid-ins
OK, so now you can supply your answers with multiple choice or grid-in. Good. These things are just test mechanics.
Now let's look at strategy.
Notice the test is timed. So time management is critical. Absolutely critical. It's important that you attempt every single question on the test. That’s why we’re going to use a 3 pass method. That’s right, you’re going to scan and answer questions in 3 separate passes.
Pass 1: The easy pass.
Read every question, but only answer those that you feel very confident about. Very confident you know the answer. Read the whole test and answer these. Skip any question you don’t like. Don’t waste time on these questions. Don't even start work on them. Skipping a question means skipping it instantly.
Pass 2: The maybe pass.
Now go back and read the questions again. This time answer those that you feel you have a reasonable chance of answering. Do not get hung up on any question. If you can’t answer a question in a reasonable time, go to the next question. Wasting time is a score killer. Never spend more than 1 minute trying to answer a question.
Pass 3: The impossible pass.
Now go back and read the questions again. By now the only questions left are the impossible questions. These are those where you have absolutely no clue. So you’re simply going to guess an answer. If there are 4 multiple choice answers you’re simply going to pick one. So your chance of being correct is 1 in 4. Yes? Not always. In many cases there’s a trick to put probability on your side. To illustrate this consider the following question from a real SAT Math test:
For which value of c does 2x^2 + c = 8x have exactly 1 solution?
A) -8
B) 0
C) 2
D) 8
Imagine you have no clue. So you’re simply going to guess. That’s a 1 in 4 chance. But before you guess, look at the answers. Why is 8 mentioned twice? One is 8 and the other is -8. It's for those people who can answer this by doing actual calculations but may make a mistake in the sign of their answer. So the answer is 8 or -8 and now you have a 1 in 2 chance of being correct. But wait, in the equation c is positive, so why not guess 8 as opposed to -8. And you would be correct. That's a slew of extra points just by using intelligent guessing. The moral of the story: with multiple choice questions, the answer options can often help you, even if you have no clue of the math involved. Intelligent guessing is a powerful way to boost your score.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
Like this post? Please share it by clicking one of the share buttons below!
I tutor SAT Math and over the years I’ve learned a lot. This crib sheet is short and sweet, but it’s the result of years of experience helping students boost their scores.
SAT Math is an interesting test. Being good at Math is not enough to score high. You also need test taking techniques. This crib sheet reveals my personal method.
First, in terms of test dates, latest news and how to register for the Math SAT go to the people who write and administer the test, The College Board The College Board
Alert!!! Big changes are coming to the SAT Math test. The paper and pencil test is going away and it will become totally online in 2023 for international students and in 2024 for US students. It will also be shorter and an on screen calculator will be available for the entire test. It's also possible that grid-ins will be replaced. Always check with the College Board for the latest information.
Now let’s start.
No matter how good or bad you are at Math we’re going to boost your score.
The current pencil and paper SAT Math test has two parts:
No Calculator: 25 minutes. 20 questions (15 multiple-choice, 5 Grid-in).
Calculator allowed: 55 Minutes. 38 questions (30 multiple-choice, 8 Grid-in).
A grid-in is just another way of supplying your answer. You mark them on a grid on the answer sheet. So make sure you know how to grid-in, play with this for a while until you’re totally comfortable. You don’t want to waste valuable time on test day learning how to grid-in. Do that now. How to do grid-ins
OK, so now you can supply your answers with multiple choice or grid-in. Good. These things are just test mechanics.
Now let's look at strategy.
Notice the test is timed. So time management is critical. Absolutely critical. It's important that you attempt every single question on the test. That’s why we’re going to use a 3 pass method. That’s right, you’re going to scan and answer questions in 3 separate passes.
Pass 1: The easy pass.
Read every question, but only answer those that you feel very confident about. Very confident you know the answer. Read the whole test and answer these. Skip any question you don’t like. Don’t waste time on these questions. Don't even start work on them. Skipping a question means skipping it instantly.
Pass 2: The maybe pass.
Now go back and read the questions again. This time answer those that you feel you have a reasonable chance of answering. Do not get hung up on any question. If you can’t answer a question in a reasonable time, go to the next question. Wasting time is a score killer. Never spend more than 1 minute trying to answer a question.
Pass 3: The impossible pass.
Now go back and read the questions again. By now the only questions left are the impossible questions. These are those where you have absolutely no clue. So you’re simply going to guess an answer. If there are 4 multiple choice answers you’re simply going to pick one. So your chance of being correct is 1 in 4. Yes? Not always. In many cases there’s a trick to put probability on your side. To illustrate this consider the following question from a real SAT Math test:
For which value of c does 2x^2 + c = 8x have exactly 1 solution?
A) -8
B) 0
C) 2
D) 8
Imagine you have no clue. So you’re simply going to guess. That’s a 1 in 4 chance. But before you guess, look at the answers. Why is 8 mentioned twice? One is 8 and the other is -8. It's for those people who can answer this by doing actual calculations but may make a mistake in the sign of their answer. So the answer is 8 or -8 and now you have a 1 in 2 chance of being correct. But wait, in the equation c is positive, so why not guess 8 as opposed to -8. And you would be correct. That's a slew of extra points just by using intelligent guessing. The moral of the story: with multiple choice questions, the answer options can often help you, even if you have no clue of the math involved. Intelligent guessing is a powerful way to boost your score.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
Like this post? Please share it by clicking one of the share buttons below!
Robot Algebra Tutor
Robot Algebra Tutor
It turns out that Bard (Google's new AI agent) can do algebra.
Here's an example:
ME: Find the roots of the quadratic equation x^2 - 3x + 2 = 0
BARD: Sure. The roots of the quadratic equation x^2 - 3x + 2 = 0 are 1 and 2
(Bard then went on to give a detailed description of the solution process.)
Meet Bard
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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It turns out that Bard (Google's new AI agent) can do algebra.
Here's an example:
ME: Find the roots of the quadratic equation x^2 - 3x + 2 = 0
BARD: Sure. The roots of the quadratic equation x^2 - 3x + 2 = 0 are 1 and 2
(Bard then went on to give a detailed description of the solution process.)
Meet Bard
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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Ken's Smashed Potatoes - An easy potato dish
Ken's Smashed Potatoes - An easy potato dish
Take a few cloves of garlic, crush and chop course. Put in a bowl, add some olive oil and microwave for 20 seconds to warm.
Take some baby potatoes. Place each one on a wood cutting board, then smash with another cutting board. Dry the potatoes with kitchen towel then place in a bowl. Add the garlic, some fresh herbs, a pinch of salt, a grind of fresh pepper and a pinch of paprika. Mix well.
Place on a cooking tray and bake in the oven at 350F until golden brown.
Tech Notes:
There's no need to wash or peel the potatoes. This makes preperation much easier and faster.
Tarragon goes well with this dish. So does bay leaves. But use your favorite fresh herb. Rip the leaves to help release the oil.
Like this? Please help me get the word out by sharing this. Please help! Thanks.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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Take a few cloves of garlic, crush and chop course. Put in a bowl, add some olive oil and microwave for 20 seconds to warm.
Take some baby potatoes. Place each one on a wood cutting board, then smash with another cutting board. Dry the potatoes with kitchen towel then place in a bowl. Add the garlic, some fresh herbs, a pinch of salt, a grind of fresh pepper and a pinch of paprika. Mix well.
Place on a cooking tray and bake in the oven at 350F until golden brown.
Tech Notes:
There's no need to wash or peel the potatoes. This makes preperation much easier and faster.
Tarragon goes well with this dish. So does bay leaves. But use your favorite fresh herb. Rip the leaves to help release the oil.
Like this? Please help me get the word out by sharing this. Please help! Thanks.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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Ken's Cabbage Soup - a complete meal
Ken's Cabbage Soup - a complete meal
Take a small firm cabbage. Cut off the stem and remove the outer leaves, then cut into quarters. Check each quarter carefully for bad spots. If you find anything discard the quarter. Sometimes you may need 2 cabbages just to get 4 perfect quarters.
Get a heavy casserole and saute the cabbage in a small amount of olive oil and butter. Turn and brown all sides. Add a bit more butter and oil to the casserole then add finely chopped garlic, onions, carrots and celery. Add a grind of fresh pepper and a pinch of salt. Add a small amount of prosciutto. Stir everything and saute for another minute.
Then add a few bay leaves (rip them to help release the oil). Add chicken stock, water and dry white wine to just cover the cabbage. Slice in a carrot and add some finely chopped parsley (use the leaves only, discard the stems). Add a sprinkle of grated Romano cheese. Add a few crushed cloves of garlic. Put the lid on the casserole and bake in the oven at 350F for about an hour.
Serve in bowls with one quarter of cabbage per bowl.
Tech Notes:
While in the oven the liquid will reduce. That's fine, but check to make sure it does not reduce too far. If it does top it up.
For an even more delicate taste try adding a small splash of dry vermouth.
If you're serving this to friends you can make them curious by calling it Baked Cabbage.
If you're missing protein add some chicken or beef just before you put the casserole into the oven.
If you want seafood add it just before you take the casserole out of the oven. It only takes a few minutes to cook, and you don't want to overcook seafood.
Like this? Please help me get the word out by sharing this. Please help! Thanks.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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Take a small firm cabbage. Cut off the stem and remove the outer leaves, then cut into quarters. Check each quarter carefully for bad spots. If you find anything discard the quarter. Sometimes you may need 2 cabbages just to get 4 perfect quarters.
Get a heavy casserole and saute the cabbage in a small amount of olive oil and butter. Turn and brown all sides. Add a bit more butter and oil to the casserole then add finely chopped garlic, onions, carrots and celery. Add a grind of fresh pepper and a pinch of salt. Add a small amount of prosciutto. Stir everything and saute for another minute.
Then add a few bay leaves (rip them to help release the oil). Add chicken stock, water and dry white wine to just cover the cabbage. Slice in a carrot and add some finely chopped parsley (use the leaves only, discard the stems). Add a sprinkle of grated Romano cheese. Add a few crushed cloves of garlic. Put the lid on the casserole and bake in the oven at 350F for about an hour.
Serve in bowls with one quarter of cabbage per bowl.
Tech Notes:
While in the oven the liquid will reduce. That's fine, but check to make sure it does not reduce too far. If it does top it up.
For an even more delicate taste try adding a small splash of dry vermouth.
If you're serving this to friends you can make them curious by calling it Baked Cabbage.
If you're missing protein add some chicken or beef just before you put the casserole into the oven.
If you want seafood add it just before you take the casserole out of the oven. It only takes a few minutes to cook, and you don't want to overcook seafood.
Like this? Please help me get the word out by sharing this. Please help! Thanks.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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Has the Pandemic changed your life?
Has the Pandemic changed your life?
Has the Pandemic changed your life?
Let's list the ways the Pandemic might have changed lives and the economy forever. Here's one.
I used to commute by car every day. Now I don't. I work from home. So I save gas. I save wear and tear on my car. I save tolls. I save on parking costs. And I also save 3 hours per day of my life to devote to other things.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
Has the Pandemic changed your life?
Let's list the ways the Pandemic might have changed lives and the economy forever. Here's one.
I used to commute by car every day. Now I don't. I work from home. So I save gas. I save wear and tear on my car. I save tolls. I save on parking costs. And I also save 3 hours per day of my life to devote to other things.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
Testing Bard - Google's new AI Agent
Testing Bard - Google's new AI Agent
Bard is not yet commercially released but I'm testing it. So far I'm very impressed.
It's done some very nice things for me, such as writing a Letter to the Editor of a local newspaper. And yes, the editor loved it.
And of course it can make searching easier and fun. Condider this dialog I recently had with Bard.
ME: What's the fastest commercially operating MagLev train?
BARD: The fastest commercially operating MagLev train is the Shanghai Maglev Train. It has a top speed of 430 km/h (270 mph) and runs from Longyang Road station in Shanghai to Pudong International Airport. The train travels on a 30.5 km (19 mi) elevated track. The Shanghai Maglev Train was opened in 2004 and is the first commercial MagLev train in the world. It is also the only commercial MagLev train that uses superconducting magnets.
The L0 Series Maglev is the fastest train in the world, with a speed record of 603 km/h (375 mph). It was developed by Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central) and is still under development. The L0 Series Maglev is not yet in commercial operation.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
Bard is not yet commercially released but I'm testing it. So far I'm very impressed.
It's done some very nice things for me, such as writing a Letter to the Editor of a local newspaper. And yes, the editor loved it.
And of course it can make searching easier and fun. Condider this dialog I recently had with Bard.
ME: What's the fastest commercially operating MagLev train?
BARD: The fastest commercially operating MagLev train is the Shanghai Maglev Train. It has a top speed of 430 km/h (270 mph) and runs from Longyang Road station in Shanghai to Pudong International Airport. The train travels on a 30.5 km (19 mi) elevated track. The Shanghai Maglev Train was opened in 2004 and is the first commercial MagLev train in the world. It is also the only commercial MagLev train that uses superconducting magnets.
The L0 Series Maglev is the fastest train in the world, with a speed record of 603 km/h (375 mph). It was developed by Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central) and is still under development. The L0 Series Maglev is not yet in commercial operation.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
Very Fast Trains - The Japanese Maglev
Japan has a long history of high speed train development starting in the 1970s. The latest is their SC Maglev. Maglev is short for Magnetic Levitation, so this train has no wheels, it floats on magnetic tracks. SC is short for superconducting, which refers to the ultra powerful magnets used.
The latest development is the Chuo Shinkansen maglev line under construction between Tokyo and Nagoya and planned to open in 2027.
Most of the 177 mile track will be in tunnels.
Top speed is 314 mph.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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The Spin Inversion Conjecture
The Spin Inversion Conjecture
Spin Inversion is a conjecture I made about elementary particles. It says that every elementary particle in the Standard Model (except for the Higgs) of spin s has a partner of spin 1/s.
So the bosons (spin 1) in the Standard Model are their own partners, but the fermions (spin 1/2) in the Standard Model have spin 2 partners.
Of course, for this to work we need at least one spin 2 particle. Maybe more. So gravity appears automatically.
I have no theoretical justification for Spin Inversion, but I do have a rather amusing story of how I came up with it.
I was imagining how you might model a spin 1/2 elementary particle with an everyday object. After a bit of thought I decided on a Mobius strip (strip of paper joined after applying 1 half twist). I figured 1 half twist = spin 1/2.
Then I made a strip with 4 half twists and discovered something rather elegant.. it will naturally "flip" into a double thickness Mobius strip.
In other words a strip with 4 half twists (spin 2) naturally flips into a strip with 1 half twists (spin 1/2).
That's a Boson to Fermion transition. Think of gravity (a Boson spin 2 structure) "condensing" into spin 1/2 Fermions.
So that's it. All you need is paper, scissors, a touch of glue, and a vivid imagination!
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
Spin Inversion is a conjecture I made about elementary particles. It says that every elementary particle in the Standard Model (except for the Higgs) of spin s has a partner of spin 1/s.
So the bosons (spin 1) in the Standard Model are their own partners, but the fermions (spin 1/2) in the Standard Model have spin 2 partners.
Of course, for this to work we need at least one spin 2 particle. Maybe more. So gravity appears automatically.
I have no theoretical justification for Spin Inversion, but I do have a rather amusing story of how I came up with it.
I was imagining how you might model a spin 1/2 elementary particle with an everyday object. After a bit of thought I decided on a Mobius strip (strip of paper joined after applying 1 half twist). I figured 1 half twist = spin 1/2.
Then I made a strip with 4 half twists and discovered something rather elegant.. it will naturally "flip" into a double thickness Mobius strip.
In other words a strip with 4 half twists (spin 2) naturally flips into a strip with 1 half twists (spin 1/2).
That's a Boson to Fermion transition. Think of gravity (a Boson spin 2 structure) "condensing" into spin 1/2 Fermions.
So that's it. All you need is paper, scissors, a touch of glue, and a vivid imagination!
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
Couscous - so simple, so tasty
Couscous - so simple, so tasty
Before we begin, Couscous is pasta that's been ground into tiny granules. You're eating pasta.
Put a cup of Couscous into a large bowl. Add some finely chopped garlic and a small splash of olive oil. Then grind on some fresh pepper and add a pinch of salt.
Now add your favorite vegetable. It should be pre-cooked unless you like it almost raw. Add a small splash of chicken stock and a small splash of white wine. Mix well.
Add a cup of boiling water and let sit for a few minutes.
Fluff up and serve.
Tech Notes:
This makes a great side dish to almost anything.
As regards adding a vegetable. Peas are good. For a slightly sweeter dish I use raisins.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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Before we begin, Couscous is pasta that's been ground into tiny granules. You're eating pasta.
Put a cup of Couscous into a large bowl. Add some finely chopped garlic and a small splash of olive oil. Then grind on some fresh pepper and add a pinch of salt.
Now add your favorite vegetable. It should be pre-cooked unless you like it almost raw. Add a small splash of chicken stock and a small splash of white wine. Mix well.
Add a cup of boiling water and let sit for a few minutes.
Fluff up and serve.
Tech Notes:
This makes a great side dish to almost anything.
As regards adding a vegetable. Peas are good. For a slightly sweeter dish I use raisins.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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Ken's Martini - fast, different, full strength
Ken's Martini - fast, different, full strength
I like to make a Martini fast and with minimal fuss. So the old Martini shaker method is out. Besides, it uses ice.
Stick a bottle of your favorite Gin or Vodka in the freezer the night before. Yes, the freezer not the fridge. It will not freeze, but the low temperature will make it viscose and its mouthfeel much more interesting.
Take a Martini glass and drop in your favorite fixing - an olive, twist of lemon, touch of extra dry Vermouth, slice of fresh ginger, or nothing. Pour in the Gin or Vodka. There is no need to chill the glass because the Gin or Vodka is so cold it instantly does the job.
Sip.
But remember, this Martini was not shaken with ice so it's not diluted, it's full strength.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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I like to make a Martini fast and with minimal fuss. So the old Martini shaker method is out. Besides, it uses ice.
Stick a bottle of your favorite Gin or Vodka in the freezer the night before. Yes, the freezer not the fridge. It will not freeze, but the low temperature will make it viscose and its mouthfeel much more interesting.
Take a Martini glass and drop in your favorite fixing - an olive, twist of lemon, touch of extra dry Vermouth, slice of fresh ginger, or nothing. Pour in the Gin or Vodka. There is no need to chill the glass because the Gin or Vodka is so cold it instantly does the job.
Sip.
But remember, this Martini was not shaken with ice so it's not diluted, it's full strength.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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Ken's Lettuce Soup - unusual, delicate, tasty!
Ken's Lettuce Soup - unusual, delicate, tasty!
Take a small firm iceberg lettuce. Remove the outer leaves then cut it into quarters. Check each quarter carefully for bad spots. If you find anything discard the quarter. Sometimes you may need 2 lettuces just to get 4 perfect quarters.
Get a heavy casserole and saute the lettuce in a small amount of olive oil and butter. Turn and brown all sides. Add a bit more butter to the casserole then add finely chopped garlic, onions and carrots. Add a grind of fresh pepper and a pinch of salt. Stir everything and saute for another minute.
Then add a few bay leaves (rip them to help release the oil). Add chicken stock, water and dry white wine to just cover the lettuce. Slice in a carrot and add some finely chopped parsley (use the leaves only, discard the stems). Add a slice of bacon that has had most of the fat trimmed off. Add a few crushed cloves of garlic. Put the lid on the casserole and bake in the oven at 350F for about an hour.
Serve in bowls with one quarter of lettuce per bowl.
Tech Notes:
While in the oven the liquid will reduce. That's fine, but check to make sure it does not reduce too far. If it does top it up.
For an even more delicate taste try adding a small spash of dry vermouth.
If you're serving this to friends you can make them curious by calling it Baked Lettuce.
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Take a small firm iceberg lettuce. Remove the outer leaves then cut it into quarters. Check each quarter carefully for bad spots. If you find anything discard the quarter. Sometimes you may need 2 lettuces just to get 4 perfect quarters.
Get a heavy casserole and saute the lettuce in a small amount of olive oil and butter. Turn and brown all sides. Add a bit more butter to the casserole then add finely chopped garlic, onions and carrots. Add a grind of fresh pepper and a pinch of salt. Stir everything and saute for another minute.
Then add a few bay leaves (rip them to help release the oil). Add chicken stock, water and dry white wine to just cover the lettuce. Slice in a carrot and add some finely chopped parsley (use the leaves only, discard the stems). Add a slice of bacon that has had most of the fat trimmed off. Add a few crushed cloves of garlic. Put the lid on the casserole and bake in the oven at 350F for about an hour.
Serve in bowls with one quarter of lettuce per bowl.
Tech Notes:
While in the oven the liquid will reduce. That's fine, but check to make sure it does not reduce too far. If it does top it up.
For an even more delicate taste try adding a small spash of dry vermouth.
If you're serving this to friends you can make them curious by calling it Baked Lettuce.
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Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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Ken's Poached Cod in Milk - healthy, easy, yummy!
Ken's Poached Cod in Milk - healthy, easy, yummy!
Get a frying pan with a lid.
Slice an onion and a few cloves or garlic. Saute then in a small amount of olive oil and a tablespoon of butter.
Add milk, a couple of bay leaves (rip them to help release the oil), a grind of fresh pepper, a pinch of paprica and pinch of salt.
Reduce down, sprinkle with chopped parsley (use only the leaves not the stems), then add a filet of wild cod. Put the lid on the pan and boil for a few minutes. Then switch off the heat and let sit for a few minutes.
Serve with lemon wedges.
Tech Notes:
Sides include boiled potatos and asparagus.
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Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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Get a frying pan with a lid.
Slice an onion and a few cloves or garlic. Saute then in a small amount of olive oil and a tablespoon of butter.
Add milk, a couple of bay leaves (rip them to help release the oil), a grind of fresh pepper, a pinch of paprica and pinch of salt.
Reduce down, sprinkle with chopped parsley (use only the leaves not the stems), then add a filet of wild cod. Put the lid on the pan and boil for a few minutes. Then switch off the heat and let sit for a few minutes.
Serve with lemon wedges.
Tech Notes:
Sides include boiled potatos and asparagus.
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Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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Ken's Mushroom Appetizer - simple, fast, tasty!
Ken's Mushroom Appetizer - simple, fast, tasty!
Take some muchrooms, wash them and cut the stems off. Discard the stems. Dry the mushrooms and place on a baking tray.
Take some small tomatoes, cut in half and add to the tray.
Finely chop some fresh garlic and sprinkle 1/2 on the mushrooms and tomatoes. Drizzle everything with olive oil. Grind on some fresh pepper and a pinch of salt. Toss everything to coat the muchrooms and tomatoes.
Now turn the mushrooms stem side up and sprinkle on the rest of the garlic. Add a teaspoon of garlic marinara sauce to each mushroom. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
Sprinkle with breadcrumbs.
Drizzle with more olive oil.
Bake at 350F until breabcrumbs turn golden brown. Serve.
Tech Notes:
As with all cooking the quality of ingredients makes a big difference.
Use first cold pressed olive oil.
Wisconsin makes good parmesan cheese, but use imported Italian parmesan if you can. And if you can get a chunk and grate it fresh even better!
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Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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Take some small tomatoes, cut in half and add to the tray.
Finely chop some fresh garlic and sprinkle 1/2 on the mushrooms and tomatoes. Drizzle everything with olive oil. Grind on some fresh pepper and a pinch of salt. Toss everything to coat the muchrooms and tomatoes.
Now turn the mushrooms stem side up and sprinkle on the rest of the garlic. Add a teaspoon of garlic marinara sauce to each mushroom. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
Sprinkle with breadcrumbs.
Drizzle with more olive oil.
Bake at 350F until breabcrumbs turn golden brown. Serve.
Tech Notes:
As with all cooking the quality of ingredients makes a big difference.
Use first cold pressed olive oil.
Wisconsin makes good parmesan cheese, but use imported Italian parmesan if you can. And if you can get a chunk and grate it fresh even better!
Like this? Please help me get the word out by sharing this. Please help! Thanks.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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NYC Artist - Lorin Cole
NYC Artist - Lorin Cole
Artist Lorin Cole lives and works in NYC. I love her work. Her images are striking and full of rich atmosphere, like this painting of Grand Central from 42nd Street.
I recently spoke with Lorin about this painting..
"I've been blessed to have the privilege of living and working in New York City throughout my adult life. As an artist, Grand Central Station with its multicolored, glimmering lights inspired me to share my creative vision and the emotion that it inspires onto paper. Please enjoy Bright Lights Over Grand Central."
It's Watercolor, 22x30 and prints are available. For collectors the original may also be available. It's signed by the artist.
Interested in purchasing prints or the original? Contact the artist below.
Contact Artist Lorin Cole:
Website: Lorin Cole
Email: lorin6nyc@gmail.com
Phone: (917) 306-0120
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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I recently spoke with Lorin about this painting..
"I've been blessed to have the privilege of living and working in New York City throughout my adult life. As an artist, Grand Central Station with its multicolored, glimmering lights inspired me to share my creative vision and the emotion that it inspires onto paper. Please enjoy Bright Lights Over Grand Central."
It's Watercolor, 22x30 and prints are available. For collectors the original may also be available. It's signed by the artist.
Interested in purchasing prints or the original? Contact the artist below.
Contact Artist Lorin Cole:
Website: Lorin Cole
Email: lorin6nyc@gmail.com
Phone: (917) 306-0120
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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Verizon 1 Gigabit Internet - Amazing
Verizon 1 Gigabit Internet - Amazing
I have Verizon 1 Gigabit and it's wicked fast. My upload/download speed is amazing. Very pleased. Highly Recommended.
Clock your speed here..
Verizon Speed Test
But remember, if things seem slow it's probably your WiFi Router and not Verizon. Make sure you have the latest high speed WiFi Router.
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Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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I have Verizon 1 Gigabit and it's wicked fast. My upload/download speed is amazing. Very pleased. Highly Recommended.
Clock your speed here..
Verizon Speed Test
But remember, if things seem slow it's probably your WiFi Router and not Verizon. Make sure you have the latest high speed WiFi Router.
Like this? Please help me get the word out by sharing this. Please help! Thanks.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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NYC Artist - Grand Central Station
NYC Artist - Grand Central Station
The artist is Lorin Cole. Her images are striking and full of rich atmosphere, like this painting of Grand Central from 42nd Street.
I recently spoke with Lorin about this painting..
"I've been blessed to have the privilege of living and working in New York City throughout my adult life. As an artist, Grand Central Station with its multicolored, glimmering lights inspired me to share my creative vision and the emotion that it inspires onto paper. Please enjoy Bright Lights Over Grand Central."
It's Watercolor, 22x30 and prints are available. For collectors the original may also be available. It's signed by the artist.
Interested in purchasing prints or the original? Contact the artist below.
Contact Artist Lorin Cole:
Website: Lorin Cole
Email: lorin6nyc@gmail.com
Phone: (917) 306-0120
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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I recently spoke with Lorin about this painting..
"I've been blessed to have the privilege of living and working in New York City throughout my adult life. As an artist, Grand Central Station with its multicolored, glimmering lights inspired me to share my creative vision and the emotion that it inspires onto paper. Please enjoy Bright Lights Over Grand Central."
It's Watercolor, 22x30 and prints are available. For collectors the original may also be available. It's signed by the artist.
Interested in purchasing prints or the original? Contact the artist below.
Contact Artist Lorin Cole:
Website: Lorin Cole
Email: lorin6nyc@gmail.com
Phone: (917) 306-0120
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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Wine - Amazing selection, great prices, delivered to your door
Wine - Amazing selection, great prices, delivered to your door
I love my local wine stores. But when I need something specific I use these folks.
The reasons are simple: amazing selection, great price and delivered to my door. Their selection is so extensive I'm beginning to think that if these folks don't have it then it was never made. The grapes were never planted. LOL.
Oh, I almost forgot. Use the link below to get $30 off your first order. That's a nice bottle of free wine.
Wine - $30 off your first order!
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Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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I love my local wine stores. But when I need something specific I use these folks.
The reasons are simple: amazing selection, great price and delivered to my door. Their selection is so extensive I'm beginning to think that if these folks don't have it then it was never made. The grapes were never planted. LOL.
Oh, I almost forgot. Use the link below to get $30 off your first order. That's a nice bottle of free wine.
Wine - $30 off your first order!
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Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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Ken's Meatloaf - Easy, moist, delicious and versatile
Ken's Meatloaf - Easy, moist, delicious and versatile
Take a large mixing bowl. Break in an egg, add a splash of milk, a splash Worcestershire sauce, a splash of olive oil, a splash of tomato ketchup, a grind of pepper and a pinch of salt. Beat.
Now add some finely chopped onions, carrots, garlic and mushrooms. The secret of a tasty moist meatloaf is mushrooms. I use Portobello, but use your favorite. Now add some peas and some breadcrumbs. Then add some finely chopped fresh oregano, use leaves only, discard the stems. Mix well.
Add the ground meat. I use turkey. It's not as fatty as beef. But use whatever you like. If you use beef use a lean cut such as sirloin and drain the fat after cooking. I have a friend who makes this with ground venison.
Mix very well, turn out into a loaf pan that's been sprayed with vegetable oil, add the topping below and bake at 350F.
Tech Notes:
Make a topping. Mix tomato ketchup, Dijon mustard and a splash of maple syrup, then spread on top of the meatloaf before baking.
You can cover the mixture and let it sit overnight in the refrigerator for a more mature taste.
Almost any dish will benefit from freshly shaved real imported Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. Add a small amount to the mix for subtle flavor. Just a small amount.
Versatile: This mixture can also be used for wonderful tasty burgers and meatballs.
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Now add some finely chopped onions, carrots, garlic and mushrooms. The secret of a tasty moist meatloaf is mushrooms. I use Portobello, but use your favorite. Now add some peas and some breadcrumbs. Then add some finely chopped fresh oregano, use leaves only, discard the stems. Mix well.
Add the ground meat. I use turkey. It's not as fatty as beef. But use whatever you like. If you use beef use a lean cut such as sirloin and drain the fat after cooking. I have a friend who makes this with ground venison.
Mix very well, turn out into a loaf pan that's been sprayed with vegetable oil, add the topping below and bake at 350F.
Tech Notes:
Make a topping. Mix tomato ketchup, Dijon mustard and a splash of maple syrup, then spread on top of the meatloaf before baking.
You can cover the mixture and let it sit overnight in the refrigerator for a more mature taste.
Almost any dish will benefit from freshly shaved real imported Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. Add a small amount to the mix for subtle flavor. Just a small amount.
Versatile: This mixture can also be used for wonderful tasty burgers and meatballs.
Like this? Please help me get the word out by sharing this. Please help! Thanks.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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Ken's Risotto - Fast & Yummy
Ken's Risotto - Fast & Yummy
You're going to need Arborio rice. If you don't use Arborio rice you'll wind up with rice pudding.
Take a pan, spay with vegetable oil then add 1/2 cup of Arborio rice on low heat.
Add 1/2 cup of chicken stock. Add 1/4 cup of water and 1/4 cup of thick cream.
Add a small amount of butter, a cinnamon stick and a few cloves. Grind on some fresh pepper and add a pinch of salt.
Boil carefully on very low heat, stirring often to make sure it does not stick or burn.
After a while switch the heat off. It will continue to cook. Test it. It should be just slightly firm and chewy.
If you want to make it look fancy sprinkle with chopped Parsley or Coriander. Use leaves only, discard the stems.
Serve as a side dish with almost anything.
Tech Notes:
Want veggies in your Risotto? Chop off the top tips of Asparagus and add them at the boiling stage, or slice in mushrooms. If you want fruit with your Risotto slice in some not quite ripe fresh mango. Don't use fully ripe mango, it will just go mushy. More creativity: when cooked throw on a handful of raisins, or one of my all time favorites, slice on some fresh figs.
Oh, I almost forgot, any Italian dish will benefit from adding some fresh shaved real imported Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. It's a given. How could I forget that?
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Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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You're going to need Arborio rice. If you don't use Arborio rice you'll wind up with rice pudding.
Take a pan, spay with vegetable oil then add 1/2 cup of Arborio rice on low heat.
Add 1/2 cup of chicken stock. Add 1/4 cup of water and 1/4 cup of thick cream.
Add a small amount of butter, a cinnamon stick and a few cloves. Grind on some fresh pepper and add a pinch of salt.
Boil carefully on very low heat, stirring often to make sure it does not stick or burn.
After a while switch the heat off. It will continue to cook. Test it. It should be just slightly firm and chewy.
If you want to make it look fancy sprinkle with chopped Parsley or Coriander. Use leaves only, discard the stems.
Serve as a side dish with almost anything.
Tech Notes:
Want veggies in your Risotto? Chop off the top tips of Asparagus and add them at the boiling stage, or slice in mushrooms. If you want fruit with your Risotto slice in some not quite ripe fresh mango. Don't use fully ripe mango, it will just go mushy. More creativity: when cooked throw on a handful of raisins, or one of my all time favorites, slice on some fresh figs.
Oh, I almost forgot, any Italian dish will benefit from adding some fresh shaved real imported Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. It's a given. How could I forget that?
Like this? Please help me get the word out by sharing this. Please help! Thanks.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) - Changing our view of the Universe
James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) - Changing our view of the Universe
This amazing instrument has only been in service for a short time but it's already changing our view of the Universe.
Why?
The secret is how it sees. It does not detect visible light, instead it sees the infrared part of the electromagnetic spectrum.
The electromagnetic spectrum is broad, ranging from ultra short wavelengh Gamma Rays to the very long wavelength Radio waves. The human eye can only see a tiny sliver of this range, and that is of course called the visible spectrum.
But what about the rest, the vast majority of the spectrum?
The JWST cannot detect the whole spectrum but it's designed to detect the infrared section.
Infrared is important because light gets stretched as it travels through space. That means its wavelengh gets longer. Light from distant galaxies is stretched enough that its wavelength moves into the infrared part of the spectrum.
Perhaps the most amazing discovery so far is what it sees when it looks at a completely empty part of the sky. Empty of course means there is nothing there that we can see with the human eye. There is nothing in the visible spectrum, so what does the JWST see?
It sees a massive number of Galaxies!!!!!!
The pictures we see from the telescope have been generated by computer, which maps the JWST infrared data to the visible spectrum. That's just for our benefit. Scientists analyze the raw infrared data and will be doing that for decades.
It will change our view of the universe forever.
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Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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This amazing instrument has only been in service for a short time but it's already changing our view of the Universe.
Why?
The secret is how it sees. It does not detect visible light, instead it sees the infrared part of the electromagnetic spectrum.
The electromagnetic spectrum is broad, ranging from ultra short wavelengh Gamma Rays to the very long wavelength Radio waves. The human eye can only see a tiny sliver of this range, and that is of course called the visible spectrum.
But what about the rest, the vast majority of the spectrum?
The JWST cannot detect the whole spectrum but it's designed to detect the infrared section.
Infrared is important because light gets stretched as it travels through space. That means its wavelengh gets longer. Light from distant galaxies is stretched enough that its wavelength moves into the infrared part of the spectrum.
Perhaps the most amazing discovery so far is what it sees when it looks at a completely empty part of the sky. Empty of course means there is nothing there that we can see with the human eye. There is nothing in the visible spectrum, so what does the JWST see?
It sees a massive number of Galaxies!!!!!!
The pictures we see from the telescope have been generated by computer, which maps the JWST infrared data to the visible spectrum. That's just for our benefit. Scientists analyze the raw infrared data and will be doing that for decades.
It will change our view of the universe forever.
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Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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River Town Restaurants - My Favorites on the Water
River Town Restaurants - My Favorites on the Water
The Hudson River Towns have lots of great restaurants, but let's focus on those very close to the water.
Over time I've found a few places worthy of note. I've eaten often at all these.
In Yonkers we have X2O. It's out on the river in an old ferry terminal. The views are amazing, upstream, downstream and across.
Next we move to Hasting where we find Harvest on the Hudson. It's big and spacious with great food and service. And it really is on the Hudson, you can walk through their garden to the river.
Now let's jump to Irvington where we find two restaurants I like. The Red Hat is feet from the river and serves great American fare, while Chutney Masala is 50 yards away and serves great Indian food.
Next up is Tarrytown. They have a restaurant on the river (Washington Irving Boat Club), but also an eclectic selection of restaurants on Main Street.
Finally let's visit Ossining. They have 2 restaurants on the river, the busy and big 3 Westerly Bar and Grill and the small cozy Boat House. Both are good and very close to the water.
OK, I must include Croton. They have nothing specific on the river, but close is the Ocean House and The Tavern. I've eaten at both often and always enjoyed it.
So these are my picks. But there must be more. If you have a recommendation please email me at the address below.
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Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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The Hudson River Towns have lots of great restaurants, but let's focus on those very close to the water.
Over time I've found a few places worthy of note. I've eaten often at all these.
In Yonkers we have X2O. It's out on the river in an old ferry terminal. The views are amazing, upstream, downstream and across.
Next we move to Hasting where we find Harvest on the Hudson. It's big and spacious with great food and service. And it really is on the Hudson, you can walk through their garden to the river.
Now let's jump to Irvington where we find two restaurants I like. The Red Hat is feet from the river and serves great American fare, while Chutney Masala is 50 yards away and serves great Indian food.
Next up is Tarrytown. They have a restaurant on the river (Washington Irving Boat Club), but also an eclectic selection of restaurants on Main Street.
Finally let's visit Ossining. They have 2 restaurants on the river, the busy and big 3 Westerly Bar and Grill and the small cozy Boat House. Both are good and very close to the water.
OK, I must include Croton. They have nothing specific on the river, but close is the Ocean House and The Tavern. I've eaten at both often and always enjoyed it.
So these are my picks. But there must be more. If you have a recommendation please email me at the address below.
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Fertility Clinics - Professional Help Getting Pregnant
Fertility Clinics - Professional Help Getting Pregnant
If you're having problems getting pregnant Fertility Clinics offer a wide range of treatments.
A woman's fertile years are her 20's and early 30's. By the time a woman reaches 40 her fertility is dramatically lower.
If you're having difficulty getting pregnant bypass all the usual specialists, time is of the essence, see a Reproductive Endocrinologist at a Fertility Clinic sooner rather than later. And not just for you, for your partner also. You both need to be tested.
You'll find that your fertiliy clinic offers lots of options.
Try IUI or IVF. Or if you partner's sperm count is very low try ICSI.
If you're over 40 chances are you'll need an egg donor.
And at the other end of the spectrum, if you're young and have not found a partner you can freeze your eggs. To be used in the future.
And what about DNA? Fertility clinics can now screen embryos for genetic defects, so you can avoid things like Down Syndrome and many others.
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If you're having problems getting pregnant Fertility Clinics offer a wide range of treatments.
A woman's fertile years are her 20's and early 30's. By the time a woman reaches 40 her fertility is dramatically lower.
If you're having difficulty getting pregnant bypass all the usual specialists, time is of the essence, see a Reproductive Endocrinologist at a Fertility Clinic sooner rather than later. And not just for you, for your partner also. You both need to be tested.
You'll find that your fertiliy clinic offers lots of options.
Try IUI or IVF. Or if you partner's sperm count is very low try ICSI.
If you're over 40 chances are you'll need an egg donor.
And at the other end of the spectrum, if you're young and have not found a partner you can freeze your eggs. To be used in the future.
And what about DNA? Fertility clinics can now screen embryos for genetic defects, so you can avoid things like Down Syndrome and many others.
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Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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Autoimmune Disease - My Story
Autoimmune Disease - My Story
I was diagnosed with an autoimmune condition called Churg Strauss Syndrome. It's quite rare, but many autoimmune conditions are not.
Autoimmune simply means that the body's immune system malfunctions and attacks the body itself.
Rheumatologists are the medical specialists that handle many autoimmune conditions. Mine prescribed Prednisone. It's the first line of defence for autoimmune conditions that involve inflammation. But even at 60 mg/day it was not powerful enough and I soon needed stronger meds (Methotrexate and Cytoxan). I was having a hard time breathing and my legs became numb, so it was difficult to walk. It was scary.
There was one time I insisted on going to the airport to meet my daughter. My wife drove of course because I could not. I was walking with a cane, my breathing was terrible and because of the medication my hair had fallen out. But I thought I was fine. My daughter arrived, took one look at me and burst out crying. I guess that was the low point.
But finally they got things under control. And my hair grew back thicker than ever!
I was lucky. With other autoimmune conditions like Lupus, Multiple Sclerosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Type 1 Diabetes the situation can be more complex.
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I was diagnosed with an autoimmune condition called Churg Strauss Syndrome. It's quite rare, but many autoimmune conditions are not.
Autoimmune simply means that the body's immune system malfunctions and attacks the body itself.
Rheumatologists are the medical specialists that handle many autoimmune conditions. Mine prescribed Prednisone. It's the first line of defence for autoimmune conditions that involve inflammation. But even at 60 mg/day it was not powerful enough and I soon needed stronger meds (Methotrexate and Cytoxan). I was having a hard time breathing and my legs became numb, so it was difficult to walk. It was scary.
There was one time I insisted on going to the airport to meet my daughter. My wife drove of course because I could not. I was walking with a cane, my breathing was terrible and because of the medication my hair had fallen out. But I thought I was fine. My daughter arrived, took one look at me and burst out crying. I guess that was the low point.
But finally they got things under control. And my hair grew back thicker than ever!
I was lucky. With other autoimmune conditions like Lupus, Multiple Sclerosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Type 1 Diabetes the situation can be more complex.
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Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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Very Fast Trains - The Chinese Maglev
Maglev is short for Magnetic Levitation, so this train has no wheels, it floats on magnetic tracks. It's in regular commercial service in China. Its top speed is 286 mph.
Let's do a calculation. I live about 40 miles outside New York City. The express train into the city takes 50 minutes. This train would get me into the city in 9 minutes.
Or I could go from Manhattan to JFK airport in 5 minutes.
China was smart. They realized that developing this technology by themselves from scratch would take forever. So they bought it from Germany and got themselves a super fast education. So now, for the second generation of Maglev, they can do it themselves.
And yes, China is currently developing a faster version.
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Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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The Secret of Great Cooking
The Secret of Great Cooking
You go on vaction to Italy and rent a farmhouse in a tiny village in Tuscany. It's way off the tourist route. The village has one restaurant. On your first night you dine there and you are blown away by the food.
So you return often and on your last night the lady who owns the place gives you a couple of her family recipes.
When you get home you go to the supermarket, buy all the ingredients, and cook exactly as per the recipe.
But it's not the same. It's nowhere near as good. Why?
Because quality of ingredients is the secret of great cooking. The lady in Tuscany grew her own herbs and vegetables and made her own pasta from scratch. And her meats were local and wild.
Give the greatest chefs in the world poor quality ingredients and they will produce poor quality meals.
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You go on vaction to Italy and rent a farmhouse in a tiny village in Tuscany. It's way off the tourist route. The village has one restaurant. On your first night you dine there and you are blown away by the food.
So you return often and on your last night the lady who owns the place gives you a couple of her family recipes.
When you get home you go to the supermarket, buy all the ingredients, and cook exactly as per the recipe.
But it's not the same. It's nowhere near as good. Why?
Because quality of ingredients is the secret of great cooking. The lady in Tuscany grew her own herbs and vegetables and made her own pasta from scratch. And her meats were local and wild.
Give the greatest chefs in the world poor quality ingredients and they will produce poor quality meals.
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Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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Ken's Seared Breast of Duck
Ken's Seared Breast of Duck
Get your hands on a superb breast of duck. A farm? A farmer's market? The supermarket is the last resort.
Take a stainless steel skillet and put on medium heat. When it's warm rub the duck skin side down all over the skillet. This will create your cooking fat. No need for olive oil or other things.
Once you have enough duck fat turn up the heat and sear the duck skin side down. Keep going untilt the skin is crispy.
Now turn over, so skin side is up. Add a grind of fresh pepper and a pinch of salt.
Sear for just a few minutes. Not too long.
Remove duck from skillet. Let rest for a few minutes and then serve.
TIP: How to dispose of duck fat, or any other fat? Do not pour down the sink, this could create a major problem. Pour onto a paper plate, let cool, then throw paper plate in the trash.
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Get your hands on a superb breast of duck. A farm? A farmer's market? The supermarket is the last resort.
Take a stainless steel skillet and put on medium heat. When it's warm rub the duck skin side down all over the skillet. This will create your cooking fat. No need for olive oil or other things.
Once you have enough duck fat turn up the heat and sear the duck skin side down. Keep going untilt the skin is crispy.
Now turn over, so skin side is up. Add a grind of fresh pepper and a pinch of salt.
Sear for just a few minutes. Not too long.
Remove duck from skillet. Let rest for a few minutes and then serve.
TIP: How to dispose of duck fat, or any other fat? Do not pour down the sink, this could create a major problem. Pour onto a paper plate, let cool, then throw paper plate in the trash.
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Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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Apple Watch - My (Not Funny) Story
Apple Watch - My (Not Funny) Story
I just bought an Apple Watch SE. I bought if from Apple's online store. Ordering was a dream.
Delivery was a dream.
But when it came time to setup the dream turned into a bit of a nightmare.
First I was told the Apple Watch OS was out of date and needed to be upgdated. Out of date? I just bought the thing.
So I started the update process which I was told would take 2 hours. Two hours!!!!!!
After 1 hour it paused and said it could not continue until the Apple Watch was charged.
I went and unpacked the charging cable. It did not have a USB-A connector, it had some other connector that I did not recognize or have any place to plug in. Who ships a charging cable with no USB-A connector? Apparently Apple does.
So I could not charge and thus could not upgrade and thus could not setup.
I ordered an Apple Watch charging cable from Amazon. All the cables offered on Amazon had USB-A connectors.
I'm waiting for delivery.
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Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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I just bought an Apple Watch SE. I bought if from Apple's online store. Ordering was a dream.
Delivery was a dream.
But when it came time to setup the dream turned into a bit of a nightmare.
First I was told the Apple Watch OS was out of date and needed to be upgdated. Out of date? I just bought the thing.
So I started the update process which I was told would take 2 hours. Two hours!!!!!!
After 1 hour it paused and said it could not continue until the Apple Watch was charged.
I went and unpacked the charging cable. It did not have a USB-A connector, it had some other connector that I did not recognize or have any place to plug in. Who ships a charging cable with no USB-A connector? Apparently Apple does.
So I could not charge and thus could not upgrade and thus could not setup.
I ordered an Apple Watch charging cable from Amazon. All the cables offered on Amazon had USB-A connectors.
I'm waiting for delivery.
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Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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Ken's Dumpling Soup
Ken's Dumpling Soup
Great dumplings are difficult to make, so let's leave that to the experts. Swing by your favorite Chinese Restaurant and pick up a load of dumplings. Make sure they're boiled not fried.
Finely chop corrots, onions, celery and a few cloves of garlic then add a sprinkle of Paprika. Saute everything in olive oil until soft.
Add a few cups of chicken broth, a cup of water, a cup of white wine and two drops of Tabasco. Grind in some fresh pepper.
Add the dumplings and simmer for a while.
Serve.
Tech Note:
You can easily add meat to the soup. For example: cut some chicken into small cubes and add at the simmering stage.
If you're not a Chinese dumplings fan you can substitute Italian Tortellini or Ravioli or any stuffed pasta that's totally closed. There's also a wide range of Jewish Dumplings (Kreplach) that work perfectly with this recipe. Many nations produce dumplings.
If you want to add an extra subtle flavor finely chop some fresh coriander or parsley (leaves only, discard the stems) and add at the simmering stage.
If you want a slightly nore robust herb flavor rip up a few leaves of fresh sage and add at the simmering stage.
It never hurts any soup to throw in a few bay leaves.
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Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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Great dumplings are difficult to make, so let's leave that to the experts. Swing by your favorite Chinese Restaurant and pick up a load of dumplings. Make sure they're boiled not fried.
Finely chop corrots, onions, celery and a few cloves of garlic then add a sprinkle of Paprika. Saute everything in olive oil until soft.
Add a few cups of chicken broth, a cup of water, a cup of white wine and two drops of Tabasco. Grind in some fresh pepper.
Add the dumplings and simmer for a while.
Serve.
Tech Note:
You can easily add meat to the soup. For example: cut some chicken into small cubes and add at the simmering stage.
If you're not a Chinese dumplings fan you can substitute Italian Tortellini or Ravioli or any stuffed pasta that's totally closed. There's also a wide range of Jewish Dumplings (Kreplach) that work perfectly with this recipe. Many nations produce dumplings.
If you want to add an extra subtle flavor finely chop some fresh coriander or parsley (leaves only, discard the stems) and add at the simmering stage.
If you want a slightly nore robust herb flavor rip up a few leaves of fresh sage and add at the simmering stage.
It never hurts any soup to throw in a few bay leaves.
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Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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Ken's Chicken Drum Sticks
Ken's Chicken Drum Sticks
Friends challenged me to do this.
Finely chop some onions, carrots and cellery and saute in olive oil.
Marinate some chicken drum sticks in olive oil, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano and fresh ground pepper. Add a pinch of salt.
Let this marinate for several hours. Overnight in the refrigerator is good.
If you feel like it rub in Panko bread crumbs.
Preheat oven to 350F.
Bake until brown and tender. Then add chicken stock and white wine.
Eat.
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Friends challenged me to do this.
Finely chop some onions, carrots and cellery and saute in olive oil.
Marinate some chicken drum sticks in olive oil, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano and fresh ground pepper. Add a pinch of salt.
Let this marinate for several hours. Overnight in the refrigerator is good.
If you feel like it rub in Panko bread crumbs.
Preheat oven to 350F.
Bake until brown and tender. Then add chicken stock and white wine.
Eat.
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Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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Mental Health - My Story
Mental Health - My Story
I've fought depression all my life.
I'm telling my story in the hope it will help others. Of course, these are just my personal recollections, they are not intended as medical advice. So with that caveat, here's the scoop on depression from my perspective.
I was born near Stockport in the UK. I was the eldest of 3 kids. I have 2 younger sisters.
I suffered from bouts of depression from an early age. I still vividly remember the first time when I was just 10 years old.
But I had lots of friends "on the block" and we got up to many adventures. We created our own bows and arrows and catapults. Every Nov 5th we would build a huge fire for Bonfire Night.
There was a critical exam at age 11, it was called the "11 Plus". If you passed you went to "Grammar School" and on an academic track to university. But if you failed you went to "Secondary School" - with no chance at university and you were prepared for the Trades.
I failed.
So I went to "Secondary School" and learned woodworking, metalworking and gardening.
I complained, so my folks got me a private tutor. That year there was a new program.. you were allowed to retake the 11 Plus a year later if approved. I was one of just 3 students in the entire school that was approved.
So I took the 12 Plus, passed, and was transferred to Grammar School. I studied like crazy and at 18 I won a place at Sussex University where I got my BSc in Physics.
From there I went to Cambridge University where I did my PhD in Physics. But depression followed me all the way. At Cambridge University I sometimes could not get out of bed until midday or later. I missed quite a few Physics lectures.
But after 1 year in Cambridge I was transferred to the experimental Lab which was near Oxford. It was there that I lived in Coseners House. Amazing. I was ultra busy so my depression subsided but never really left me.
I got my PhD in 1975.
So I had a PhD. I applied for jobs. But no jobs in Physics. But as soon as I applied for a job in computing I was snatched up by a London based computing consulting firm.
I went on a few adventures, including working in Holland on computer control for a North Sea Gas Pipeline. Then I was sent to Chase Manhattan Bank in NYC to work on money transfer systems.
I resigned from the London consulting company and got married. Then I went into business with my brother-in-law to build a new Personal Computer App. IBM released their PC in 1981, but it could not do what we needed.
So I went out and became a print salesperson in order to sustain our business. I met an interesting woman on the train. She worked for Hertz Corporation and gave me a ton of printing business. That helped us through a rough financial period.
Then in Jan 1984 Apple released the Mac. It was exactly what we needed. We shipped our App in Jan 1985. It was a success.
It's strange, but during all this time I did not seek professional help for my depression. But finally in the 1990s I did seek help. First I tried talk therapy. Over the years I've seen several therapists and I still do.
The other professional I saw was a psychiatrist who prescribed Venlafaxine which is an SNRI (Serotonin Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhaibitor). That helped but of course did not "cure" the depression. I still got bouts of depression but they were not as severe. I take Venlafaxine daily. It helps.
Over the years I've learned that my depression is less when I'm actively involved in a project and mentally challenged. Of course such projects are not always easy to find.
I sometimes get angry with myself for "allowing" depression to affect my entire life. But that's a negative thought and almost always triggers a bout of depression. I try my best to stop analyzing the past with constant "what if" questions.
So what's the bottom line? I'm 73 now and I've had derpreesion since I was 10. Did I find a cure? No. But talk therapy has helped me manage my mental attitude towards depression. And medication has helped manage the mechanism of the disease. I have a wonderful wife, 2 great daughters and 4 amazing grandkids. I totally believe in science. There will come a day when sophisticated treatments eradicate depression and a lot of other things. I will not be around to see that. But my grandkids will.
Tech Note:
Serotonin and Norepinephrine are chemicals in the brain that are known to be involved in mood. It's generally agreed that increased concentrations of these chemicals can help reduce depression. And that's exactly what Venlafaxine does - it simply increases the concentration of Serotonin and Norepinephrine. It's a "sledge hammerreduce" approach, but that's where science is right now.
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Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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I've fought depression all my life.
I'm telling my story in the hope it will help others. Of course, these are just my personal recollections, they are not intended as medical advice. So with that caveat, here's the scoop on depression from my perspective.
I was born near Stockport in the UK. I was the eldest of 3 kids. I have 2 younger sisters.
I suffered from bouts of depression from an early age. I still vividly remember the first time when I was just 10 years old.
But I had lots of friends "on the block" and we got up to many adventures. We created our own bows and arrows and catapults. Every Nov 5th we would build a huge fire for Bonfire Night.
There was a critical exam at age 11, it was called the "11 Plus". If you passed you went to "Grammar School" and on an academic track to university. But if you failed you went to "Secondary School" - with no chance at university and you were prepared for the Trades.
I failed.
So I went to "Secondary School" and learned woodworking, metalworking and gardening.
I complained, so my folks got me a private tutor. That year there was a new program.. you were allowed to retake the 11 Plus a year later if approved. I was one of just 3 students in the entire school that was approved.
So I took the 12 Plus, passed, and was transferred to Grammar School. I studied like crazy and at 18 I won a place at Sussex University where I got my BSc in Physics.
From there I went to Cambridge University where I did my PhD in Physics. But depression followed me all the way. At Cambridge University I sometimes could not get out of bed until midday or later. I missed quite a few Physics lectures.
But after 1 year in Cambridge I was transferred to the experimental Lab which was near Oxford. It was there that I lived in Coseners House. Amazing. I was ultra busy so my depression subsided but never really left me.
I got my PhD in 1975.
So I had a PhD. I applied for jobs. But no jobs in Physics. But as soon as I applied for a job in computing I was snatched up by a London based computing consulting firm.
I went on a few adventures, including working in Holland on computer control for a North Sea Gas Pipeline. Then I was sent to Chase Manhattan Bank in NYC to work on money transfer systems.
I resigned from the London consulting company and got married. Then I went into business with my brother-in-law to build a new Personal Computer App. IBM released their PC in 1981, but it could not do what we needed.
So I went out and became a print salesperson in order to sustain our business. I met an interesting woman on the train. She worked for Hertz Corporation and gave me a ton of printing business. That helped us through a rough financial period.
Then in Jan 1984 Apple released the Mac. It was exactly what we needed. We shipped our App in Jan 1985. It was a success.
It's strange, but during all this time I did not seek professional help for my depression. But finally in the 1990s I did seek help. First I tried talk therapy. Over the years I've seen several therapists and I still do.
The other professional I saw was a psychiatrist who prescribed Venlafaxine which is an SNRI (Serotonin Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhaibitor). That helped but of course did not "cure" the depression. I still got bouts of depression but they were not as severe. I take Venlafaxine daily. It helps.
Over the years I've learned that my depression is less when I'm actively involved in a project and mentally challenged. Of course such projects are not always easy to find.
I sometimes get angry with myself for "allowing" depression to affect my entire life. But that's a negative thought and almost always triggers a bout of depression. I try my best to stop analyzing the past with constant "what if" questions.
So what's the bottom line? I'm 73 now and I've had derpreesion since I was 10. Did I find a cure? No. But talk therapy has helped me manage my mental attitude towards depression. And medication has helped manage the mechanism of the disease. I have a wonderful wife, 2 great daughters and 4 amazing grandkids. I totally believe in science. There will come a day when sophisticated treatments eradicate depression and a lot of other things. I will not be around to see that. But my grandkids will.
Tech Note:
Serotonin and Norepinephrine are chemicals in the brain that are known to be involved in mood. It's generally agreed that increased concentrations of these chemicals can help reduce depression. And that's exactly what Venlafaxine does - it simply increases the concentration of Serotonin and Norepinephrine. It's a "sledge hammerreduce" approach, but that's where science is right now.
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Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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Baba Ganoush
Baba Ganoush
Baba Ganoush is a dish made from Eggplant. Think Hummus, but eggplant instead of chickpeas. Here's how you make it.
Take a few eggplants and half them lengthwise. Brush with olive oil, add some ground pepper and salt and pakrika. Then bake at 450F with sliced side down until the eggplant collapses.
Take out of oven, let sit for a few minutes, then scoop all the flesh out of the eggplant leaving the skin behind.
Place the flesh in a bowl. Add some garlic powder and lemon juice and stir vigorously with a fork until eggplant breaks down. Add some tahini to the bowl and stir until it’s incorporated. While stirring, slowly drizzle in some olive oil. Continue stirring until the mixture is pale and creamy.
Stir in some finely chopped fresh parsley, salt and cumin. Season to taste with salt and lemon juice.
Transfer the baba ganoush to a serving bowl and lightly drizzle olive oil on top. Lastly, sprinkle it with parsley and smoked paprika.
Serve with accompaniments of your choice. It’s also great on sandwiches!
Tech Note:
If you want it extra smooth and creamy then after you've scooped out all the flesh from the eggplant force it through a sieve. This will leave the lumpy parts behind.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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Baba Ganoush is a dish made from Eggplant. Think Hummus, but eggplant instead of chickpeas. Here's how you make it.
Take a few eggplants and half them lengthwise. Brush with olive oil, add some ground pepper and salt and pakrika. Then bake at 450F with sliced side down until the eggplant collapses.
Take out of oven, let sit for a few minutes, then scoop all the flesh out of the eggplant leaving the skin behind.
Place the flesh in a bowl. Add some garlic powder and lemon juice and stir vigorously with a fork until eggplant breaks down. Add some tahini to the bowl and stir until it’s incorporated. While stirring, slowly drizzle in some olive oil. Continue stirring until the mixture is pale and creamy.
Stir in some finely chopped fresh parsley, salt and cumin. Season to taste with salt and lemon juice.
Transfer the baba ganoush to a serving bowl and lightly drizzle olive oil on top. Lastly, sprinkle it with parsley and smoked paprika.
Serve with accompaniments of your choice. It’s also great on sandwiches!
Tech Note:
If you want it extra smooth and creamy then after you've scooped out all the flesh from the eggplant force it through a sieve. This will leave the lumpy parts behind.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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Ken's Paella - Chicken and Chorizo
Ken's Paella - Chicken and Chorizo
Paella started out as a Spanish picnic dish. They would fully load the pan and carefully cook it over an open wood fire. I've never tried this.. but I can imagine the wood adds a very subtle aromatic flavor!
Marinate the chicken
Take a few chicken thighs and remove the skin. Prick all over with a sharp knife. Place in a bowl and add olive oil, salt, pepper, paprika and finely chopped fresh Oregano. Just use the oregano leaves not the stems. Mix well and leave in the fridge to marinate for a few hours, or overnight.
Prepare the veggies
Chop a spanish onion. Remove the seeds from some red, green and yellow peppers and then chop the peppers. Crush a few cloves of fresh garlic. Place everything in a paella pan, add a splash of olive oil and mix.
Cooking - Stage 1
Add the chicken to the veggies in the paella pan, then add some slices of Chorizo. Bake in oven at 350F until everything is tender.
Cooking - Stage 2
Add a cup of Arborio rice and sprinkle it with Turmeric, or if you can afford it use Saffron. Add 2 cups of chicken stock and a splash of white wine. Cover pan with aluminum foil and cook in oven at 350F until the rice is done. Remove aluminum foil and serve.
Tech Note:
Using Arborio rice gives the Paella a Risotto type consistency. If you don't want this just use regular long grain rice.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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Marinate the chicken
Take a few chicken thighs and remove the skin. Prick all over with a sharp knife. Place in a bowl and add olive oil, salt, pepper, paprika and finely chopped fresh Oregano. Just use the oregano leaves not the stems. Mix well and leave in the fridge to marinate for a few hours, or overnight.
Prepare the veggies
Chop a spanish onion. Remove the seeds from some red, green and yellow peppers and then chop the peppers. Crush a few cloves of fresh garlic. Place everything in a paella pan, add a splash of olive oil and mix.
Cooking - Stage 1
Add the chicken to the veggies in the paella pan, then add some slices of Chorizo. Bake in oven at 350F until everything is tender.
Cooking - Stage 2
Add a cup of Arborio rice and sprinkle it with Turmeric, or if you can afford it use Saffron. Add 2 cups of chicken stock and a splash of white wine. Cover pan with aluminum foil and cook in oven at 350F until the rice is done. Remove aluminum foil and serve.
Tech Note:
Using Arborio rice gives the Paella a Risotto type consistency. If you don't want this just use regular long grain rice.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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Tide Mills - Unlimited Green Energy
Tide Mills - Unlimited Green Energy
A tide mill uses a pond at sea level. The tide comes in and fills the pond. The pond gates are then closed. The tide goes out. Now we have a large amount of water above sea level.
It's let out slowly, in ancient times to run a flour mill, but in modern times it could run small electric turbines. This energy is totally free and totally green.
Many countries have massive coastlines, meaning thousands of tide mills could be installed and the electricity fed to the national grid, or used to power local villages.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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A tide mill uses a pond at sea level. The tide comes in and fills the pond. The pond gates are then closed. The tide goes out. Now we have a large amount of water above sea level.
It's let out slowly, in ancient times to run a flour mill, but in modern times it could run small electric turbines. This energy is totally free and totally green.
Many countries have massive coastlines, meaning thousands of tide mills could be installed and the electricity fed to the national grid, or used to power local villages.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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Ken's Potatoes au Gratin (Dauphinoise)
Ken's Potatoes au Gratin (Dauphinoise)
The French call this dish Potatoes Dauphinoise. It's absolutely delicious, creamy and garlicy, and is a great side dish to almost any meal.
Take several cloves of fresh garlic, peel, crush and chop fine. Put in a bowl and add a small amount of olive oil. Let rest for an hour stirring occasionally.
Take some boiling potatoes, peel and slice medium thin into a bowl of cold water. This stops them from browning while you prepare the other ingredients. It also removes some of the starch.
Take a casserole dish and rub butter all over the bottom.
Sprinkle in some of the garlic, then dry some potatoes well and add a layer, then sprinkle on more garlic, grind on some fresh pepper, then add a few small chunks of butter, then sprinkle with freshly grated Italian Parmigiano-Reggiano (Parmesan) cheese.
Repeat twice.
Add whole milk until potatoes are half covered. Add a splash of cream.
Cover the casserole with aluminum foil and bake at 350F until the potatoes are tender. Then remove the foil and broil for a few minutes to brown the potatoes.
Sprinkle with finely chopped parsley and serve.
Tech Notes:
As with all cooking, the quality of the ingredients makes a huge difference. Use first cold pressed olive oil. Buy the garlic from a farmer's market. Use real imported Italian cheese. Use organic whole milk.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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The French call this dish Potatoes Dauphinoise. It's absolutely delicious, creamy and garlicy, and is a great side dish to almost any meal.
Take several cloves of fresh garlic, peel, crush and chop fine. Put in a bowl and add a small amount of olive oil. Let rest for an hour stirring occasionally.
Take some boiling potatoes, peel and slice medium thin into a bowl of cold water. This stops them from browning while you prepare the other ingredients. It also removes some of the starch.
Take a casserole dish and rub butter all over the bottom.
Sprinkle in some of the garlic, then dry some potatoes well and add a layer, then sprinkle on more garlic, grind on some fresh pepper, then add a few small chunks of butter, then sprinkle with freshly grated Italian Parmigiano-Reggiano (Parmesan) cheese.
Repeat twice.
Add whole milk until potatoes are half covered. Add a splash of cream.
Cover the casserole with aluminum foil and bake at 350F until the potatoes are tender. Then remove the foil and broil for a few minutes to brown the potatoes.
Sprinkle with finely chopped parsley and serve.
Tech Notes:
As with all cooking, the quality of the ingredients makes a huge difference. Use first cold pressed olive oil. Buy the garlic from a farmer's market. Use real imported Italian cheese. Use organic whole milk.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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How to ace any job interview
How to ace any job interview
It's actually very simple, but so many people get it wrong.
First do research on the company and the position being offered, then..
-Be ontime. Get there a few minutes early.
-Shake hands and smile.
-Dress right. Dress conservatively. Don't dress casual, even if their culture says casual.
-Never bullshit. If you don't know an answer to a question just say you don't know.
-Be positive, upbeat and enthusiastic. Ask questions.
At the end of the interview shake hands and smile.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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It's actually very simple, but so many people get it wrong.
First do research on the company and the position being offered, then..
-Be ontime. Get there a few minutes early.
-Shake hands and smile.
-Dress right. Dress conservatively. Don't dress casual, even if their culture says casual.
-Never bullshit. If you don't know an answer to a question just say you don't know.
-Be positive, upbeat and enthusiastic. Ask questions.
At the end of the interview shake hands and smile.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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How to test a totally self driving car
How to test a totally self driving car
Get in your regular car and drive around for a day completely obeying every single speed limit.
When you get home in the evening, and after you've finished screaming, you will never want to hear the words totally self driving car again.
LOL!!!!
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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Get in your regular car and drive around for a day completely obeying every single speed limit.
When you get home in the evening, and after you've finished screaming, you will never want to hear the words totally self driving car again.
LOL!!!!
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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Ken's Shepherd's Pie
Ken's Shepherd's Pie
Sheep Herders pie, or Shepherd's pie, is traditionally made with ground lamb. (Think about that for a moment.)
It's a meat and vegetable sauce topped with mashed potatoes.
Meat and vegetable sauce
Saute some chopped onions in olive oil. Add your favorite ground meat, grind on some fresh pepper, add a pinch of salt, then stir and saute until brown.
Add some peas, chopped garlic and chopped carrots. Add some tomato paste.
Add a splash of flour and a splash of Worcester Sauce. Add plenty of beef stock, then simmer until the sauce is thick, stirring often. Don't let it burn.
Put the sauce in a casserole dish.
Mashed potato topping
Peel some boiling potatoes and boil in lightly salted water until soft. Drain, mash, then add salt, pepper, butter, a splash of milk and freshly grated parmesan cheese. Mix well and then spread on top of the sauce in the casserole dish. Mashed potatoes should be about 2" deep.
Bake in oven at 350F until potatoes just begin to brown.
Serve.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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Sheep Herders pie, or Shepherd's pie, is traditionally made with ground lamb. (Think about that for a moment.)
It's a meat and vegetable sauce topped with mashed potatoes.
Meat and vegetable sauce
Saute some chopped onions in olive oil. Add your favorite ground meat, grind on some fresh pepper, add a pinch of salt, then stir and saute until brown.
Add some peas, chopped garlic and chopped carrots. Add some tomato paste.
Add a splash of flour and a splash of Worcester Sauce. Add plenty of beef stock, then simmer until the sauce is thick, stirring often. Don't let it burn.
Put the sauce in a casserole dish.
Mashed potato topping
Peel some boiling potatoes and boil in lightly salted water until soft. Drain, mash, then add salt, pepper, butter, a splash of milk and freshly grated parmesan cheese. Mix well and then spread on top of the sauce in the casserole dish. Mashed potatoes should be about 2" deep.
Bake in oven at 350F until potatoes just begin to brown.
Serve.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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KIVA - Micro loans go mainstream
KIVA - Micro loans go mainstream
Welcome to the world of micro financing!
Make a tiny loan, get a big impact. Loans start at $25.
Remember, this is a loan not a donation.
KIVA
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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Welcome to the world of micro financing!
Make a tiny loan, get a big impact. Loans start at $25.
Remember, this is a loan not a donation.
KIVA
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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Study at Cambridge University in the UK - Without leaving home
Study at Cambridge University in the UK - Without leaving home
The University of Cambridge is one of the top Universities in the world.
They offer a wide selection of courses online. Take a course without leaving home.
Cambridge University Online
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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The University of Cambridge is one of the top Universities in the world.
They offer a wide selection of courses online. Take a course without leaving home.
Cambridge University Online
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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King Charles - Off to a rough start
King Charles - Off to a rough start
He had 73 years to practice.
But apparently that did not help.
First we have the tantrums with the pens. Then worse, we have layoffs at Clarence House.
Oh boy. Methinks his mother would be annoyed.
The Attack of the Pens
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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He had 73 years to practice.
But apparently that did not help.
First we have the tantrums with the pens. Then worse, we have layoffs at Clarence House.
Oh boy. Methinks his mother would be annoyed.
The Attack of the Pens
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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Does Light have Mass?
Does Light have Mass?
Yes. Photons have energy and thus mass. Lots of it.
But they have zero rest mass, which is kinda cute because you will never find a photon at rest.
So, saying a photon has zero rest mass is the same as saying photons travel at a constant speed relative to any reference frame. Years before Special Relativity Maxwell’s equations showed this very clearly.
Einstein must have been acutely aware of this, and in fact his first paper on what we now call Special Relativity had the title “On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies”.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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Yes. Photons have energy and thus mass. Lots of it.
But they have zero rest mass, which is kinda cute because you will never find a photon at rest.
So, saying a photon has zero rest mass is the same as saying photons travel at a constant speed relative to any reference frame. Years before Special Relativity Maxwell’s equations showed this very clearly.
Einstein must have been acutely aware of this, and in fact his first paper on what we now call Special Relativity had the title “On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies”.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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The Coronation - My Story
The Coronation - My Story
I remember the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. It was 1953 and I was 4 years old.
My folks bought a TV, the first on our block, specifically to watch the Coronation. It had a tiny black and white screen, rabbit ears and a flickering picture that oozed a grey glow.
All our neighbors came over and our living room was packed.
I squeezed between their legs to get a view. My first view of history.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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I remember the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. It was 1953 and I was 4 years old.
My folks bought a TV, the first on our block, specifically to watch the Coronation. It had a tiny black and white screen, rabbit ears and a flickering picture that oozed a grey glow.
All our neighbors came over and our living room was packed.
I squeezed between their legs to get a view. My first view of history.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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How to take your own Passport Photo
How to take your own Passport Photo
Many jurisdictions now allow passport applications online, which includes uploading your own photo taken with your cellphone. But to avoid annoying rejections you need to follow these rules..
Use a plain white background with no objects in the background.
Take off your glasses and open your eyes.
Close your mouth and do not smile.
No shadows.
Look directly at the camera.
Take head and shoulders only.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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Many jurisdictions now allow passport applications online, which includes uploading your own photo taken with your cellphone. But to avoid annoying rejections you need to follow these rules..
Use a plain white background with no objects in the background.
Take off your glasses and open your eyes.
Close your mouth and do not smile.
No shadows.
Look directly at the camera.
Take head and shoulders only.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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Tide Mills - Free Unlimited Green Energy
Tide Mills - Free Unlimited Green Energy
A tide mill uses a pond at sea level. The tide comes in and fills the pond. The pond gates are then closed. The tide goes out. Now we have a large amount of water above sea level.
It's let out slowly, in ancient times to run a flour mill, but in modern times it could run small electric turbines. This energy is totally free and totally green.
Many countries have massive coastlines, meaning thousands of tide mills could be installed and the electricity fed to the national grid, or used to power local villages.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
Like this post? Please share it by clicking one of the share buttons below!
A tide mill uses a pond at sea level. The tide comes in and fills the pond. The pond gates are then closed. The tide goes out. Now we have a large amount of water above sea level.
It's let out slowly, in ancient times to run a flour mill, but in modern times it could run small electric turbines. This energy is totally free and totally green.
Many countries have massive coastlines, meaning thousands of tide mills could be installed and the electricity fed to the national grid, or used to power local villages.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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Merging General Relativity and Quantum Mechanics - The Answer
Merging General Relativity and Quantum Mechanics - The Answer
What if the answer was hiding in plain sight. And that answer was stunningly simple: It can never be done, not because it's difficult but because the very concept of merging is not defined.
Using temperature as an analogy we can actually illustrate this in detail..
For a while temperature (T) was regarded as fundamental. But then as we probed nature at shorter and shorter distances we discovered atoms and eventually built a robust atomic theory.
One of the first insights concerned T. We clearly saw it was not fundamental and in fact could only be defined for huge ensembles of atoms.
So we didn't attempt any merging.. we did not attempt to speak about the temperature of an individual atom, or the temperature of an individual electron. The very concept of individual temperature was not defined. T was an ensemble property.
So then we probed nature at shorter distances and found neutrons and protons. Now the LHC is probing at even shorter distances.. the internal structure of the proton.
Imagine going further.. probing at even shorter distances.. and imagine we discover some amazing new object, let's call it X. Then we discover that if we have a huge ensemble of Xs their statistical behaviour generates our current spacetime. It generates x,y,z,t.
So spacetime is a macro ensemble property and as such is well described by GR.
Do we attempt to ascribe this property to individual Xs. No. The concept is not even defined for individual Xs.
Where does this leave GR? It's still incredibly useful, but it's a macro ensemble theory, and we would never dream of trying to apply it to describe individual Xs. i.e. we would never dream of trying to reconcile it with QM. The idea makes no sense. It's not even defined.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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What if the answer was hiding in plain sight. And that answer was stunningly simple: It can never be done, not because it's difficult but because the very concept of merging is not defined.
Using temperature as an analogy we can actually illustrate this in detail..
For a while temperature (T) was regarded as fundamental. But then as we probed nature at shorter and shorter distances we discovered atoms and eventually built a robust atomic theory.
One of the first insights concerned T. We clearly saw it was not fundamental and in fact could only be defined for huge ensembles of atoms.
So we didn't attempt any merging.. we did not attempt to speak about the temperature of an individual atom, or the temperature of an individual electron. The very concept of individual temperature was not defined. T was an ensemble property.
So then we probed nature at shorter distances and found neutrons and protons. Now the LHC is probing at even shorter distances.. the internal structure of the proton.
Imagine going further.. probing at even shorter distances.. and imagine we discover some amazing new object, let's call it X. Then we discover that if we have a huge ensemble of Xs their statistical behaviour generates our current spacetime. It generates x,y,z,t.
So spacetime is a macro ensemble property and as such is well described by GR.
Do we attempt to ascribe this property to individual Xs. No. The concept is not even defined for individual Xs.
Where does this leave GR? It's still incredibly useful, but it's a macro ensemble theory, and we would never dream of trying to apply it to describe individual Xs. i.e. we would never dream of trying to reconcile it with QM. The idea makes no sense. It's not even defined.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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Einstein's fundamental assumption of Special Relativity
Einstein's fundamental assumption of Special Relativity
You're on a train and I'm standing on the side of the track. As your train passes I measure your speed.. it's 60 mph.
So I tell everyone you are travelling at 60 mph.
But one person totally disagrees with me.
They say they started driving their car next to the train until they reached 60 mph and then measured your speed. The answer they got was 0 mph. So for them you are not moving.
Now, replace the train with a beam of light, which travels fast but still at a finite speed (186,000 mps).
I measure the speed while standing next to the track and I get 186,000 mps. No problem, I get in a rocket ship and start travelling next to the beam until I reach 186,000 mps. Then I measure the speed of the beam again.
And I get 0 mps. Nn I don't.. I get.. drum roll please.. 186,000 mps.
That's the fundamental cornerstone of Relativity, or at least Special Relativity. That the speed of light is a fundamental constant independent of any reference frame.
Einstein's genius was not in seeing this (it was already known), his genius was in making it the fundamental assumption of a new theory and then deriving the consequences.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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You're on a train and I'm standing on the side of the track. As your train passes I measure your speed.. it's 60 mph.
So I tell everyone you are travelling at 60 mph.
But one person totally disagrees with me.
They say they started driving their car next to the train until they reached 60 mph and then measured your speed. The answer they got was 0 mph. So for them you are not moving.
Now, replace the train with a beam of light, which travels fast but still at a finite speed (186,000 mps).
I measure the speed while standing next to the track and I get 186,000 mps. No problem, I get in a rocket ship and start travelling next to the beam until I reach 186,000 mps. Then I measure the speed of the beam again.
And I get 0 mps. Nn I don't.. I get.. drum roll please.. 186,000 mps.
That's the fundamental cornerstone of Relativity, or at least Special Relativity. That the speed of light is a fundamental constant independent of any reference frame.
Einstein's genius was not in seeing this (it was already known), his genius was in making it the fundamental assumption of a new theory and then deriving the consequences.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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Mixing Einstein and Maxwell
Mixing Einstein and Maxwell
Take Einstein’s E=m*c^2 and Maxwell’s c^2=1/(pe*pm) where pe is the electrical permittivity of the vacuum and pm is the magnetic permeability of the vacuum.
Now substitute Maxwell into Einstein and you get the fascinating equation m=E*pe*pm
The mass of an object depends on its energy plus the electrical and magnetic properties of the vacuum. Wow.
Of course, at the quantum level the vacuum is far from empty, and far from understood, but it can produce all sorts of effects. And this is one.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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Take Einstein’s E=m*c^2 and Maxwell’s c^2=1/(pe*pm) where pe is the electrical permittivity of the vacuum and pm is the magnetic permeability of the vacuum.
Now substitute Maxwell into Einstein and you get the fascinating equation m=E*pe*pm
The mass of an object depends on its energy plus the electrical and magnetic properties of the vacuum. Wow.
Of course, at the quantum level the vacuum is far from empty, and far from understood, but it can produce all sorts of effects. And this is one.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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The Coming Revolution in Healthcare
The Coming Revolution in Healthcare
It's telehealth.
Amazon just bought One Medical (a telehealth company) for $3.9 billion.
And then there's the device side that will probably be dominated by Apple.
Hardware monitors for..
-Temperature
-Weight
-Stethoscope
-Pulse rate
-Blood oxygenation
-Blood pressure
-Dermatological camera
-EKG
All of which will plug into your iPhone. And these devices will transmit over the internet in realtime to your doc.
And then there's the massive emerging sector of mental health, which lends itself perfectly to telehealth. Many psychotherapists have already given up their offices and are seeing their patients remotely. This trend was dramatically accelerated by Covid.
And I bet there's more.
Buy a monthly subscription then get ready to see a specialist anywhere worldwide.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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It's telehealth.
Amazon just bought One Medical (a telehealth company) for $3.9 billion.
And then there's the device side that will probably be dominated by Apple.
Hardware monitors for..
-Temperature
-Weight
-Stethoscope
-Pulse rate
-Blood oxygenation
-Blood pressure
-Dermatological camera
-EKG
All of which will plug into your iPhone. And these devices will transmit over the internet in realtime to your doc.
And then there's the massive emerging sector of mental health, which lends itself perfectly to telehealth. Many psychotherapists have already given up their offices and are seeing their patients remotely. This trend was dramatically accelerated by Covid.
And I bet there's more.
Buy a monthly subscription then get ready to see a specialist anywhere worldwide.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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Life in the Universe - The Probability
Life in the Universe - The Probability
Suppose you were given 10,000 billion billion chances to win the lottery.
Do you think you would win?
Astronomers estimate there are 100 billion Galaxies in the Universe and the average Galaxy contains about 100 billion stars. So that's a total of 10,000 billion billion stars.
Or 10,000 billion billion chances for life.
Of course, if there's truly intelligent life out there the last thing it will do is contact us. LOL!
So we'll continue with our usual self centered mantra, "it seems we're the only intelligent life in the universe."
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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Suppose you were given 10,000 billion billion chances to win the lottery.
Do you think you would win?
Astronomers estimate there are 100 billion Galaxies in the Universe and the average Galaxy contains about 100 billion stars. So that's a total of 10,000 billion billion stars.
Or 10,000 billion billion chances for life.
Of course, if there's truly intelligent life out there the last thing it will do is contact us. LOL!
So we'll continue with our usual self centered mantra, "it seems we're the only intelligent life in the universe."
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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Selling your car with Carvana
Selling your car with Carvana
I can't guarantee this will happen to you.
But it happened to me.
I went online, answered a few question and uploaded a pic of my dash panel. They gave me a quote. It was $8K higher than my local dealer. They came to my house, gave me a check for the exact amount of the quote and took my car. 10 minutes!
Beyond amazing! Here.. Carvana
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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I can't guarantee this will happen to you.
But it happened to me.
I went online, answered a few question and uploaded a pic of my dash panel. They gave me a quote. It was $8K higher than my local dealer. They came to my house, gave me a check for the exact amount of the quote and took my car. 10 minutes!
Beyond amazing! Here.. Carvana
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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Uluru - Rock of Life
Uluru - Rock of Life
Uluru is a giant sandstone rock in Australia, it's almost 6 miles in circumpherence and over 1,000 feet high.
And it's in the center of Australia, the so called Red Center. It's semi desert - red sand and small bushes for about 1,000 miles in every direction. It's not the place to go walking without special equipment and support.
But the rock supported a whole culture. Archaeological findings suggest that humans settled in the area more than 10,000 years ago.
Small cooking caves around the rock show that cooking was done communaly for the entire population. And the same is true of education - with several teaching caves.
Rain was rare, but the top of the rock was a massive concave rain collector. So there was always a gentle stream of water falling into small lush basins. And ideal for bathing.
So what happened to the rock people after 10,000 years? They were moved to a "reservation" not far from Uluru and their decendants are still there. It's a well managed trailor park. This is very similar to what America did with the original Indian population.
I think it's sad. They were moved to a trailor park while their ancestral home became an international tourist attraction.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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Uluru is a giant sandstone rock in Australia, it's almost 6 miles in circumpherence and over 1,000 feet high.
And it's in the center of Australia, the so called Red Center. It's semi desert - red sand and small bushes for about 1,000 miles in every direction. It's not the place to go walking without special equipment and support.
But the rock supported a whole culture. Archaeological findings suggest that humans settled in the area more than 10,000 years ago.
Small cooking caves around the rock show that cooking was done communaly for the entire population. And the same is true of education - with several teaching caves.
Rain was rare, but the top of the rock was a massive concave rain collector. So there was always a gentle stream of water falling into small lush basins. And ideal for bathing.
So what happened to the rock people after 10,000 years? They were moved to a "reservation" not far from Uluru and their decendants are still there. It's a well managed trailor park. This is very similar to what America did with the original Indian population.
I think it's sad. They were moved to a trailor park while their ancestral home became an international tourist attraction.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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CERN LHC Fans - Watch the LHC in Action
CERN LHC Fans - Watch the LHC in Action
Check beam energy, ramps, squeezes, beam status, machine tests, detector status and more. Plus, see messages from machine operators.
Watch LHC operations
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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Watch LHC operations
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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Renting v. Buying
Renting v. Buying
I think buying is for younger people and renting is for the older.
But renting has a lot going for it. No mortgage, no property taxes, no maintanance.
Certainly, almost all new developments being built near me are rental.
And many young folks are on board.
We owned a house for many years. Then we sold and put the proceeds into an investment account with a great financial advisor. He showed us how the cash generated from the account could pay our rent. Just the cash, without touching the value of the account.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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I think buying is for younger people and renting is for the older.
But renting has a lot going for it. No mortgage, no property taxes, no maintanance.
Certainly, almost all new developments being built near me are rental.
And many young folks are on board.
We owned a house for many years. Then we sold and put the proceeds into an investment account with a great financial advisor. He showed us how the cash generated from the account could pay our rent. Just the cash, without touching the value of the account.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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Like this blog? Please consider a small donation by PayPal, my account is abbottsystems@gmail.com Thank you.
How to bake a potato
How to bake a potato
It's trivial, right? No, not if you want to do it right.
There are lots of different potatoes, so first make sure you buy a baking potato.
Pour some fine olive oil on your hands and massage the potato. Then sprinkle on garlic powder, some fresh ground pepper, salt and a bit of Hungarian Paprika.
Set oven to 350F and bake. It's done when a knife goes in smoothly with absolutely no resistance.
Take out of oven, cut open and add the fixings you like. I like none, but you may consider butter or sour cream or chopped chives or chopped shallots or parsley or whatever. Go for it.
Eat.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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It's trivial, right? No, not if you want to do it right.
There are lots of different potatoes, so first make sure you buy a baking potato.
Pour some fine olive oil on your hands and massage the potato. Then sprinkle on garlic powder, some fresh ground pepper, salt and a bit of Hungarian Paprika.
Set oven to 350F and bake. It's done when a knife goes in smoothly with absolutely no resistance.
Take out of oven, cut open and add the fixings you like. I like none, but you may consider butter or sour cream or chopped chives or chopped shallots or parsley or whatever. Go for it.
Eat.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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Crime by City - How does you city rank?
Crime by City - How does you city rank?
Are you a safe city? Check your crime ranking here.. Check here.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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Are you a safe city? Check your crime ranking here.. Check here.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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A note to the US - The price of living in the past
A note to the US - The price of living in the past
The 2nd amendment is over 230 years old when it took two minutes to load one round into a gun. Talk about living in the past. The US has decided to live in the past.
And the price of living in the past is to slowly become irrelevant.
Hello US, the rest of the world moved on many years ago. You are growing slowly less relevant. And it's your own choice.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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The 2nd amendment is over 230 years old when it took two minutes to load one round into a gun. Talk about living in the past. The US has decided to live in the past.
And the price of living in the past is to slowly become irrelevant.
Hello US, the rest of the world moved on many years ago. You are growing slowly less relevant. And it's your own choice.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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Stop School Shootings - This is not rocket science
Stop School Shootings - This is not rocket science
Let's analyze this.
Imagine you're a deranged student who has decided to shoot up a school. What do you need? You need 3 things: a gun, ammo and easy access to the school.
So let's make all 3 very difficult. Especially access. Sure, you have fancy metal detectors at the front door. But what about that open, unsupervised back door.
Schools need a security guard at every single entrance 100% of the time school is in session. And please don't say, "sorry this is not in the budget". Because the lives of children should be beyond the budget.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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Let's analyze this.
Imagine you're a deranged student who has decided to shoot up a school. What do you need? You need 3 things: a gun, ammo and easy access to the school.
So let's make all 3 very difficult. Especially access. Sure, you have fancy metal detectors at the front door. But what about that open, unsupervised back door.
Schools need a security guard at every single entrance 100% of the time school is in session. And please don't say, "sorry this is not in the budget". Because the lives of children should be beyond the budget.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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Quantum Computing - A long and winding road?
Quantum Computing - A long and winding road?
It's a bit like self driving cars. An idea that won't really happen on a commercial scale for another 30 years. Maybe longer.
Sure, many great companies are working on quantum computers. And good for them. But there is still a very long way to go.
Rumor has it that some of these early players, like IBM, are looking to sell their quantum computing divisions.
Is the first phase of the party over?
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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It's a bit like self driving cars. An idea that won't really happen on a commercial scale for another 30 years. Maybe longer.
Sure, many great companies are working on quantum computers. And good for them. But there is still a very long way to go.
Rumor has it that some of these early players, like IBM, are looking to sell their quantum computing divisions.
Is the first phase of the party over?
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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Complete dinner in one package
Complete dinner in one package
This is fast, easy and healthy. Anybody can cook it. Everybody will love it.
Rip off a huge piece of aluminum foil and lightly coat it with fine olive oil.
Place a chunk of wild salmon on the foil with skin down. Grind on some fresh pepper.
Add a few slice of lemon.
Add some slices of onion, carrots and sweet potato. Add lots of chopped fresh garlic and some chopped fresh sage or parsley or your favorite fresh herb. Use leaves only, discard the stems.
Drizzle a small amount of olive oil over everything. Add a small sprinkle of salt and grind on some fresh pepper.
Now fold the aluminum foil into a leak-proof package, but add chardonney and chicken stock and a tablespoon of butter just before you seal the package.
Then bake on a tray (in case it leaks) in the oven at 350F.
To serve just place on a plate, open the package and eat. Smell the aromatic flavors as the package opens!
This lends itself to countless variations. You could use different fish, shrimp, clams, oysters, chicken, lamb or beef. And the vegetables and herbs can be almost anything - the last time I did this I used Coriander as the herb with Bok Choy and Orange Peppers as the vegetables. Experiment and enjoy!
This is an individual product, so if you're a young guy trying to impress your girlfriend with your "cooking skills" make one for each of you. Trust me it will do the job!
Oh, I almost forgot. No cleanup!!!!! Meaning no messy pans to clean up. This is a big bonus.
Tech note: If you use chicken it's best to remove the skin. Otherwise you'll get a greasy broth. For lamb I would of course use Rosemary as the herb.
Versatility note: Just to show the versatility. Suppose you like lamb curry. Make this dish with lamb cubes, then add some fresh sliced ginger, your favorite Indian ground spices (or curry powder) and a splash of yogurt. Bingo.. you have an amazing lamb curry.
Like slow cooked lamb or beef? Just turn the oven down to 250F and cook for much longer. This works especially well with cheap cuts of meat because the long slow cooking makes them tender.
Like this? Please help me get the word out by sharing this. Please help! Thanks.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
Like this post? Please share it by clicking one of the share buttons below!
This is fast, easy and healthy. Anybody can cook it. Everybody will love it.
Rip off a huge piece of aluminum foil and lightly coat it with fine olive oil.
Place a chunk of wild salmon on the foil with skin down. Grind on some fresh pepper.
Add a few slice of lemon.
Add some slices of onion, carrots and sweet potato. Add lots of chopped fresh garlic and some chopped fresh sage or parsley or your favorite fresh herb. Use leaves only, discard the stems.
Drizzle a small amount of olive oil over everything. Add a small sprinkle of salt and grind on some fresh pepper.
Now fold the aluminum foil into a leak-proof package, but add chardonney and chicken stock and a tablespoon of butter just before you seal the package.
Then bake on a tray (in case it leaks) in the oven at 350F.
To serve just place on a plate, open the package and eat. Smell the aromatic flavors as the package opens!
This lends itself to countless variations. You could use different fish, shrimp, clams, oysters, chicken, lamb or beef. And the vegetables and herbs can be almost anything - the last time I did this I used Coriander as the herb with Bok Choy and Orange Peppers as the vegetables. Experiment and enjoy!
This is an individual product, so if you're a young guy trying to impress your girlfriend with your "cooking skills" make one for each of you. Trust me it will do the job!
Oh, I almost forgot. No cleanup!!!!! Meaning no messy pans to clean up. This is a big bonus.
Tech note: If you use chicken it's best to remove the skin. Otherwise you'll get a greasy broth. For lamb I would of course use Rosemary as the herb.
Versatility note: Just to show the versatility. Suppose you like lamb curry. Make this dish with lamb cubes, then add some fresh sliced ginger, your favorite Indian ground spices (or curry powder) and a splash of yogurt. Bingo.. you have an amazing lamb curry.
Like slow cooked lamb or beef? Just turn the oven down to 250F and cook for much longer. This works especially well with cheap cuts of meat because the long slow cooking makes them tender.
Like this? Please help me get the word out by sharing this. Please help! Thanks.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
Like this post? Please share it by clicking one of the share buttons below!
Heat Pumps - Heating and Cooling All-In-One
Heat Pumps - Heating and Cooling All-In-One
Heat pumps are interesting. They are a/c systems that can run in reverse. Meaning they can cool in summer and heat in winter. And they don't need ductwork, so you can put them anywhere you like.
An outdoor compressor drives several indoor units connected through small pipes - which eliminates the huge cost of installing ductwork. They cool great, and in heating mode they can reduce or even eliminate the use of oil and gas furnaces.
And they come with a remote control. So just point and click to get what you want.. heat or cool anytime.
They are perfect for retrofit situations in older buildings. Most people initially install them for a/c in summer but then are thrilled that the same unit can also provide heat in winter.
How do you get one? Contact your local HVAC contractor. Chances are heat pumps are a massive part of their business. If not find a different contractor.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
Like this post? Please share it by clicking one of the share buttons below!
Heat pumps are interesting. They are a/c systems that can run in reverse. Meaning they can cool in summer and heat in winter. And they don't need ductwork, so you can put them anywhere you like.
An outdoor compressor drives several indoor units connected through small pipes - which eliminates the huge cost of installing ductwork. They cool great, and in heating mode they can reduce or even eliminate the use of oil and gas furnaces.
And they come with a remote control. So just point and click to get what you want.. heat or cool anytime.
They are perfect for retrofit situations in older buildings. Most people initially install them for a/c in summer but then are thrilled that the same unit can also provide heat in winter.
How do you get one? Contact your local HVAC contractor. Chances are heat pumps are a massive part of their business. If not find a different contractor.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
Like this post? Please share it by clicking one of the share buttons below!
Manhole Covers
Manhole Covers
You walk on them. You drive over them. You never think about them.
But Manhole Covers have a life and history of their own.
I walked Manhattan and photographed a few. Some are rare. And almost all are made in India.
Here's a list of NYC Manhole Cover Abbreviations. Who knew?
Here's one I photographed in Manhattan's West Village and it's not even listed. I assume that makes it rare.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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But Manhole Covers have a life and history of their own.
I walked Manhattan and photographed a few. Some are rare. And almost all are made in India.
Here's a list of NYC Manhole Cover Abbreviations. Who knew?
Here's one I photographed in Manhattan's West Village and it's not even listed. I assume that makes it rare.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
Like this post? Please share it by clicking one of the share buttons below!
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