AntSaint

Top 10 Firefox 3 Features

Bring on Firefox 3! FF has been getting some major overhauling done, from the sound of things, and I'm stoked to see what the final version is like. Lifehacker has done a great comprehensive breakdown of what's coming up, and what's been worked on (less memory hogging, anyone?) for the new release:

Link: Lifehacker Top 10: Top 10 Firefox 3 Features.

"Nearly everything in the open-source app has gotten a second look from the minds at Mozilla, from back buttons to bookmarks, address bars to add-ons, passwords to performance, and the changes will make Firefox 3 worth the upgrade come its official release date, slated for sometime next month. Let's take a look at the 10 best upgrades in Firefox 3"

Sasquatch Brew Fest in Downtown Eugene, June 7

For some reason, I've never made it to the Sasquatch Brew Fest. But this year, I do believe, that has to change. Just think of it — downtown on a June day (which here, well, might or might not be nice, you never know), and nothing to do but hang and sample some fine Oregon brew. Indeed:

Link: ENTREE NOTES: The Register-Guard, Eugene, Ore..

"Memorial brewfest on tap June 7 — The Sasquatch Brew Fest, dedicated to the memory of Pacific Northwest professional brewer Glen Hay Falconer, takes over the open-air Broadway Plaza in downtown Eugene on June 7. In addition to beer tasting, activities include a silent auction, beer dinner and a homebrew contest. The festival runs noon to 11 p.m. Admission at the gate is $10, which includes a commemorative glass and two tasting tickets."

Pondering the Future of the Antsaint Blog

Where is this site going? What do I want to write about? What do my 8 readers want to hear about?

Questions like these have been on my mind for a while. Antsaint is, and was conceived as, a highly miscellaneous blog. That's in total contrast to Ride Three, which is very niche, very focused. And I've always enjoyed this difference. On Ride Three, I get to yammer on about my Ural sidecar motorcycle, and post all sorts of links and photos and what-not about Urals and what it's like to own and ride a sidecar rig.

But Antsaint? Very different kettle of fish — and each fish in the kettle is a different kind of fish. Antsaint's been going for about, oh, 4 or 5 years now, and more and more I think it's time to look at narrowing down the focus.

For starters, I think that would help me do better, more original posts. I enjoy linking to things I read, and from what I hear tell some of my 8 readers even find that stuff interesting too. But doing some more creative things, some more original things — that's been gnawing at me.

Maybe just writing, food and drink, and Eugene. That'd be a narrow down. Gads, maybe I'd even finally get a real header. Hmmm...

Jeffrey Morgenthaler's Gallon of Margaritas

This has been out there for a while, but I'm only recently finding this very nice, very simple margarita recipe from renowned Eugene mixologist Jeffrey Morgenthaler. I've been telling Jodie I'd like to have some good margarita fixins on-hand for our summer grilling, parties, get-togethers and such, and given that this is also in quantity, well, we're just going to have to try this out:

Link: Jeffrey Morgenthaler � A Gallon of Margaritas by the Gallon.

"It’s summer here in Eugene, Oregon, which means barbecues, camping trips and river floats are on the agenda for the next few months. I always love showing up with a gallon jug of pre-mixed margaritas for the party, so I’ve decided to share my recipe with you, the loyal reader."

How to Make Accurate Time Estimates

When it comes to estimating projects, I am always far too optimistic. Too trusting of efficient skills and fact-finding, and always a little too forgetful of inevitable hiccups, problems, and stuff that comes up along the way. Reading Steve Pavlina's post was quite the eye-opener. The solution is so simple, really — just figure out your own personal "fudge factor", say 1.5 in Steve's case, and multiple your time estimate by that number. If I'm not careful, I'm going to start coming up with accurate estimates now...

Link: How to Make Accurate Time Estimates.

"My average fudge ratio is about 1.5. This means that whenever I make an off-the-cuff estimate for how long a task will take, on average I’m too optimistic; the task ends up taking about 50% longer than my initial guess."

New Pasta Revello Italian Restaurant in Whiteaker

Ah, pasta that's only a few minutes drives or bike ride from our front door. Oh, yeah. We've not gotten down to the Pasta Revello yet — but it won't be long, especially after reading this article:

Link: Restaurant features casual Italian: The Register-Guard, Eugene, Ore..

Now Red Barn owners Dan and Amanda Beilock have jumped next-door into the former New Day space to open their own restaurant — Pasta Revello — at 345 Van Buren St. “It’s casual Italian dining,” says Danielle St. Hilaire, the new restaurant’s manager. “We try to focus on what we have locally available in Oregon, and do that with an Italian theme.”

Grilled Broccoli Recipe

This past Sunday night, with perfect clear skies and warm temperatures outside, and Jodie and I done after a day of gardening and some indoor project planning, it was time to grill. In addition to some steaks, red onions and thin-sliced fingerling potatoes, we also grilled up a large broccoli head from our Good Food Easy produce CSA. The only mod to this recipe was we did not use Parmesan cheese. The broccoli grilled up nicely — be sure to get it just a hair charred in a spot or two. This is a keeper for summer grilling:

Link: Grilled Broccoli Recipe | Taste of Home Recipes.

35 Source Code Editors

As a long-time fan of HomeSite (though on the Mac I currently dabble in Smultron), to me there's nothing better than source code-focused HTML and CSS editors. There's plenty more out there though, and the smashing folks at Smashing Magazine have put together a comprehensive list of some of the best:

Link: 35 Useful Source Code Editors Reviewed | Developer's Toolbox | Smashing Magazine.

"In the list below we present an overview of 35 established or rather unknown — but useful source code-editors; you’ll probably find “usual suspects” — your favourite editor or the editor you’ve once been working with. But you’ll also find some rather unknown alternatives which are definitely worth considering when choosing an optimal source code editor"

Favorite Online Marketing Quotes

Online marketing, like any other field, churns out its share of aphorisms and quips. This is a great collection of things that will bring out a big grin on inner online marketing geek (thanks JP for sending it along!):

Link: Favorite Online Marketing Quotes.

My favorite: “Being #1 on MSN is like being Valedictorian of summer school.” — Craig McDonald

Jeffrey Morgenthaler, 21st Century Cocktail Crusader

My first encounter with the legendary Jeffrey Morgenthaler was at Eugene's now-defunct Bamboo (where El Vaquero is now, at 5th Street Market). My friend Lindsay and I would occasionally nip down there for a cocktail, sushi and some conversation.

While I'm more of a beer and wine person, Jodie and I have definitely been getting a bit more into mixed drinks. The article below is not only on Jeffrey though. It is also about how mixed drinks, like beer and wine before them, are going through a renaissance — and how a master mixologist like Jeffrey, like a devotee of any art, is helping to bring the cocktail the respect and quality it deserves:

Link: MIXOLOGIST LETS IT POUR: The Register-Guard, Eugene, Ore..

"Jeffrey Morgenthaler is a man on a mission, and he’s carrying on his crusade these days from behind the well-stocked bar at Bel Ami Restaurant and Lounge at Midtown Marketplace, on Willamette Street in just-south-of-downtown Eugene. The mission — and not only has he already accepted it, he helped start it — is “to put Oregon on the map by being on the forefront of ‘craft’ bartending,” which means “putting out world-class cocktails” and getting bartenders all over the state to sign on to do the same thing."

By the way, you'll currently find me quite at home with one of the following:

• Whisky sour
• Margarita (Cafe Soriah on 13th and Lawrence does a great Margarita)
• Rusty Nail (equal parts whisky and Drambuie)