Props to JanSport!

A little over decade ago - I arrived in rural Illinois with a 60 liter backpack (~15.85 gallons) and two suitcases (Ed. Note: this was back in the days when airlines didn't charge for the first or second checked in luggage - sigh). I quickly realized that lugging the 60 liter backpack around one's college campus was not really practical proposition and accepted the sad reality that I needed to spend US dollars (USD) to buy a backpack in America.

I wasn't accustomed to spending American dollars, and back then, the exchange rate was around one USD to thirty three New Taiwan dollar (NT). When one considers that the minimum wage in Taiwan at the time was about NT$65... one can easily see why a fresh off the boat kid from Taiwan would shy from spending $45 USD to buy a backpack.

Fast forward ten years...the bag began to show its age and contracted the dreaded zipper disease. The sling was also slowly separating at the seams and one of the water bottle elastic retainers had snapped. I remembered that JanSport had a lifetime warranty and sent my backpack off to its maker with a note describing the necessary repairs.

A week later I received this email:

"Thanks for being part of our history. You may not know it, but that pack you sent back for inspection recently is now part of a rich history that started way back in 1967, when our first pack hit the trail. We build our packs to last. So when one doesn't, we want to learn what went wrong. And make it better. For you and all the other people who love the outdoors as much as you do. Your pack should be home soon, better than ever. In the meantime, if you need to check on your bag, please call (800) 426-9227."

A couple more weeks later - my bag arrived in the mail, good as new with a blue bow tie - awwwwww.

JanSport really has a nice warranty service... although this makes me wonder how JanSport and its corporate sibling, "The North Face," combine to sell approximately half of all backpacks in the United States. Uh... do people just throw their backpacks away? Why not send it in for repairs and pass it on to the children and teach them how to value longevity and heirlooms?

And JanSport should consider making holsters and gun bags. The conservative folks will appreciate a good reliable bag and a honest warranty.

Tremble and Weep Yinz. Tremble and Weep.

Let it be known that I can now commit felonies with no fear of deportation. 

Oh and I bought a new watch! It is a Citizen BM8180-03E, which is the entry model of the light powered Eco-Drive powered watches that ought to stay ticking for at least a quarter of a century without a battery replacement. If we ever have kids, I intend to pass this watch to the future generation. 

The Quartz time keeping has been perfect so far, and has stayed accurate to within a second of the US National Institute of Standards and Technology's atomic clock after over a month of ownership.

Splatter Screens.

If you like to cook, you will invariably have splatter. Whether you're boiling a pasta sauce, or frying something, if there is any temperature gradient between your cookware, the heat transfer media in the pot (i.e. oil, water, etc), or the food - you will have splatter.

Sometimes you can stick a lid on the pot or pan (i.e. simmering a soup), but sometimes you need to let the evaporated moisture escape (i.e. frying).

The solution? A splatter screen. So when I began my quest to look for a reliable and cost effective splatter screen, I browsed through my local Bed Bath & Beyond. They had two kinds in store - an OXO splatter screen, and a Farberware splatter screen.

I ended up with neither. The OXO splatter screen was essentially a flat disk with many punched holes - basically a flat colander. I decided against it because it had too much thermal mass, which because of the temperature difference, will allow moisture to condense and remain in the frying pan. Nope - not good at all.

The Farberware splatter screen was a true woven screen, and it featured activate charcoal woven in the mesh, which was supposed to be "odor" absorbing.

Um... I'm not sure what other people are cooking, but I'm not interested in absorbing odor. I'd rather smell my food while it is cooking. Thank you very much!

Anyway - at the end I decided to get a Progressive International Stainless Steel Splatter Screen, which was on sale at $12.99.

I christened the splatter screen by frying some panko-crusted scallops and Mahi-mahi. It worked like it was supposed to, allowed moisture to evaporate, and stopped the errant oil splatter in its path! Yay!

Black Pepper Sauce goes well with anything.

Very few things make me nostalgic about anything concerning my childhood. But I have to say that black pepper sauce is of those things that elicit childhood memories.

One of the only childhood memories I have with my dad involves black pepper sauce. We didn't eat well growing up, neither parent had the inclination to bother, and we didn't have the $ to eat out with any regularity.

But, sometime between the age of 4-6, for whatever reason, my mother had one of her extended absences abroad. I don't precisely remember why my brother wasn't around, but somehow my dad and I ended up at a "steakhouse."

Keep in mind, this was in the mid-late 1980s, and Taiwan had barely just emerged from under martial law, we didn't really have THAT much culinary contact with the outside world, so "steaks" were really more like sad little cuts of beef from an old water buffalo or maybe an old cow. It definitely wasn't one of them fancy American or Australian imported steaks.

But it was cheap. For something like $2.50 USD, the "steak" came to your table sizzling on a hotplate, with black pepper sauce, with an egg (sunny side up), vegetables, and pasta. And not just any regular pasta (which we had plenty of in Taiwan), but WESTERN extruded pasta (i.e. macaroni). WOW!

I was a child, and didn't really know how to use this strange WESTERN knife and fork business (where's my chopstick?), so I spent about 90 minutes gnawing on this rather dry little "steak" that sat in a puddle of black pepper sauce. I distinctly remember how proud my dad was that I had finished this thing, even if it took 90 minutes (or maybe it was relief? I was a kid, who knows!).

Objectively speaking the steak was dry and old beef, but for me that was one of the more memorable meals.

With that old country tale being told, let me get to the actual cooking.

You can make your own black pepper sauce, but I didn't bother. I endorse Lee Kum Kee's black pepper sauce. It works, and you can find it at any respectable East Asian food mart.

I sliced an onion. Sauteed it in an oiled skillet at medium-high heat until they're brown, then added a pound of bite-sized chicken.

You can use lamb, beef, or whatever protein that builds your muscles. Saute until the surface of the protein is cooked, and add your vegetables. We opted for peas.

Add some chicken stock, some pepper sauce, and bring the mixture to a boil. Simmer for 20 minutes.

You can eat it over rice, or chose to do the "Western" thing and eat it over some rotini.

Yum!

"AUTHENTIC" Iron Chef Panko.

I'm a big fan of frying things coated with panko. Panko (パン粉) is basically a type of Japanese unseasoned bread crumb. I prefer it over regular North American bread crumbs because it provides a more crispy texture, and doesn't coat as thick as the silica-texture bread crumbs.

Being a fan of buying non-perishable food items in bulk, I couldn't resist giving Costco's "IRON CHEF AUTHENTIC PANKO" a shot. Admittedly I was a little suspicious at the "authentic" panko, but after trying it on pork katsu, I'm happy to report it works.

I award this product five out of five truffles.


I've talked about the recipe before, but this time I've got pictures. I've also substituted flour with cornstarch. The cornstarch undercoat is more delicate than flour, and does a better job gluing the panko to the pork.

Recipe
1. Flatten a piece of pork. You can use a heavy skillet, or if you have bear-paws in place of hands or pent up frustration, use your hands. I prefer to work with tools, so I used a hammer. For hygienic reasons, I placed the pork in a freezer bag.

The hammer is my friend. I use it to flatten cutlets of meat,
and strike down upon my enemies with great vengeance and uh... nvamind!

2. Dust the pork (now flattened) with corn starch.

3. Crack an egg. Mix it up. Dunk the flattened pork in the egg.

4. Dunk the pork in a plate full of panko. Coat it evenly but not excessively, shake off the loose panko. Loose panko in hot oil = nasty burnt bits in the panb.

5. Fry in a pan. 

Frying.

Yum!

LG Kompressor® Pet Care LuV200R.

We have two cats, and unfortunately, with great companionship comes annoying filamentous biomaterial. Our cats are American Shorthairs, which are believed to be the descendants of cats that brought over the pond on the Mayflower.

Unfortunately, the radical religious English Separatists on the Mayflower were more concerned with controlling rodents, and did not appreciate traits that create a hypoallergenic cats.

For several years now, we've have a fairly large living room rug. The cats really like lying on it. I have been vacuuming this particular rug with a budget vacuum cleaner. This particular vacuum cleaner does not perform that well, and I would basically spend anywhere from 1 to 2 hours, scrapping the rug with my hands while "vacuuming" with the machine.

I've always coveted a new vacuum cleaner.

I thought it was time for a change, and researched vacuum cleaners currently on the market over several weeks.

Pretty much all current bagless vacuums, utilizes cyclonic separation to remove particulates from the vacuum airstream. By using vortex separation, filters do not get immediately become clogged with dirt, and there is "no loss of suction."

Dyson vacuums are ubiquitously associated with that phrase, because they're amongst the first to successfully commercialize cyclonic separation vacuum cleaners. Unfortunately, that also means Dyson products may command a premium. One that I did not intend to pay.

I decided to get the LG Kompressor® Pet Care LuV200R. LG developed this particular vacuum cleaner to spearhead its entry into the North American vacuum cleaner market, and I think it is a winner.

I found the LuV200 on sale at 18% off at Bed Bath & Beyond, then used a coupon to knock another 20% off. I'm pretty happy about that.

The LuV200 has several features that won me over. The first unique feature is how LG implemented its cyclonic separation chamber. All the other bagless vacuums orientate the cyclonic chamber so that the vortex rotates horizontally like a tornado. LG decided to orientate the chamber so that the vortex rotates vertically and dumps the particulates down, and it seems to work really well. After vacuuming the entire apartment, the pre-motor filter (which is intended to protect the motor from any particulates that may get through the vortex), seems entirely clean. In my old ineffective vacuum, the pre-motor filter would become entirely clogged before I even vacuumed one rug.

The second feature that I found appeal was the KOMPRESSOR!

This is something so simple I don't know why no one else has implemented on other vacuums, but essentially it is a rotating wiper that continuously compacts the contents of the dustbin.

After vacuuming our rug, it was obvious that the LuV200 had successfully cleaned the rug. In addition, while my previous vacuum would require me to empty the dustbin up to ten times just to get the rug clean, the KOMPRESSOR mashed the hair and dirt. The picture to the right shows the compacted debris after I vacuumed the entire rug.

This video shows the compacted dirt & pet hair after several weeks of consistent use. The vacuum is so quiet! AWESOME!
The LuV200R also comes with an awesome flexible extending hose, which comes with the usual attachments, but also a nice rotating brush that allows one to vacuum upholstery and stairs clean of pet hair with relative ease!

Finally, LG is backing this product with a 5-year warranty. Mmmm considering that so many consumer vacuums are dead or dysfunctional after a couple years of regular use, I like the sound of that.

Oh... I almost forgot about the vacuum's awesome instruction manual! While this manual was not dispositive to my purchasing decision, this cute disclaimer certainly didn't hurt!

Kimchi & Tigger lets out a sigh of relief!

iPhone 3GS review.

As previously mentioned, I got myself an iPhone 3GS, so here's a quick product review of the Apple iPhone 3GS.

I'm please to say it has been a pleasant replacement to my previous Nokia 6555, which had a bad habit of turning itself off randomly and also had a tendency to BEEP really loud right into my ear when people hung up or when the connection died.

The phone itself is relatively large, it isn't the smallest or the thinnest, but it is small enough to fit within my pant pockets. My phone is covered with the SwitchEasy Colors silicone case, and I think it improves the look of the phone, which in my opinion looks pretty snobby and tacky in the nude (maybe because I have a distaste for the Apple logo and the company's marketing).

The phone has been a godsend at work, as I can occupy and distract the 80% of the un-utilized brain capacity by listening to podcasts, music, and radio. The phone also allows me to be more spontaneous, because I can look up information, maps, and check the email account whenever I want to. In addition, being able to surf and read the news while on the bus is pretty nice. The face proximity sensor is also pretty darn good, as you can hold a phone to your face without concern on whether you'll push any buttons.

However, the phone is not perfect. My biggest criticism?

The phone's battery life makes it basically a one day phone, sort of like a PDA of old. If left unused, the iPhone will retain more or less than 70% of its battery capacity after one day. However, with moderate/heavy usage, the phone will be down to 30% by the time I go to bed and plug it in. This limitation really hasn't a problem, but I can see it being an inconvenience for people with a less regular lifestyle.

As a parting note, I think anyone considering a smartphone should consider the iPhone, however, don't let the availability of applications be a dispositive factor, as most apps available are total crap.

Google Voice is smart.

I've been trying Google Voice, which I previously mentioned here. The sign up process was really easy, and I was able to select my own telephone number and area code. Phone calls can be screened by #, filtered by group, or just ignored and sent to voicemail, where Google Voice transcribes the message so you can read your voicemail instead of listening to it. The feature I've found most helpful is the voicemail system's ability to transcribe phone numbers left by the caller. I don't know about you, but I've always had to press "replay" when listening to voice mails. Maybe I have a hearing problem, but most people speak too fast and I don't have the short term working memory for memorizing phone numbers and writing them down.

Another feature Google Voice provides is... a "call widget." Which will allow me to put a application that'll allow readers to click a button, and call me (while keeping my telephone # secret).

Naturally, I will not enable this feature... but in any case, Google Voice is smart.

Oh... in other news, I will be heading to Wheeling, WV in the near future. I shall take pictures, and see if John Denver's recollection of West Virginia is factually correct.

Introducing the Playstation 3.

It has been a while since I've updated. Studying for the bar exam is boring, and after a full day of studying, I have very little motivation to read/write and update this blog.

Instead I have been spending my late afternoons getting acquainted with my PlayStation 3. I've been spending most of my gaming time playing Battlefield: Bad Company and Grand Theft Auto IV.

For those unacquainted with the GTA franchise... it is essentially a nonlinear/sandbox game where the player controls a Serbian immigrant called Niko Bellic, who has joined his idiot cousin in "Liberty City" (NYC). There is a whole series of missions that the player can decide to complete, or you can always just roam around the city and wreck havoc.

Below is a sample of what "Niko" did today:
1. Shot up a homophobic idiot (who was beating up gay people jogging in "Middle Park").
2. Take possession of a truckload of cocaine from a Chinese Triad.
3. Drove around NYC streets at something like 100mph.

Good times in Liberty City.

Behold the mighty OXO Y Peeler.

I love OXO products. They are simple, affordable, and ergonomic.

Originally intended for the arthritic, OXO products are generally nicely rubberized, well balanced, and impervious to wear and tear in the kitchen.

I have had my $7 dollar OXO "Good Grips" Y Peeler for almost 7 years. It is still sharp and as easy to use as when it was fresh out of the box. The peeler's handle has a good circumference (other peeler's lend to be too narrow and rounded, which does not fit the closed human hand).The soft touch finish makes it comfortable to use for peeling up to 20 pounds of potatoes in a single sitting (I have to take a break after 21).

I award this product five out of five truffles.

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If I were in charge of product development at OXO, I may steer them towards the direction of surgical equipments. OXO already makes a mandoline slicer - which in my lay opinion - can easily be modified to work as a dermatome (medical instrument which plastic surgeons use to take thin sheets of skin for grafts).

More ergonomic tools = less fatigued surgeons. Which will most certainly increase the number of procedures they may attempt while decreasing the number of medical errors caused by fatigue.

I'll assume that the soft-touch rubber and plastic may have to come out (since you probably can't put either materials in an autoclave), but maybe they can replace the soft touch rubber with the silicon material utilized in most soft spatulas (which are resistant to temperatures of up to 480°F/248.8°C).

</semi-serious>