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Friday, April 29, 2016

[Video] Carol and Steve: Baking Jordan Marsh Blueberry Muffins



Above is the video Carol and I made of Baking Jordan Marsh Blueberry Muffins. We followed the recipe we got from WCVB's Maria Stephanos when she interviewed the original baker. I've modified the order here so that the ingredient list matches the baking steps.

These muffins came out exactly like I remember them. Other recipes might have been on the web before this one, but this is the best Jordan Marsh Blueberry Muffin recipe!

Jordan Marsh Blueberry Muffins

Ingredients:

◦ 1/2 cup butter
◦ 1 cup sugar
◦ 2 eggs
◦ 1 teaspoon vanilla

◦ 2 cups flour (unsifted, blend of bread and pastry)
◦ 2 teaspoons baking powder
◦ 1/2 teaspoon salt

◦ 1/2 cup milk

◦ 2 1/2 cups blueberries (1/2 cup mashed, 2 cups floured)

◦ 2 teaspoons sugar (for tops)


On low speed, cream butter with sugar until fluffy.

Add eggs one at a time and mix until blended.

Add vanilla.

Sift dry ingredients; add to eggs-and-butter mixture, alternating with milk.

Mash 1/2 cup of berries and stir into mixture by hand.

Flour the remaining 2 cups of whole berries, and stir in by hand.

Grease muffin tins well with butter; grease the top surface of the pans as well. Pile mixture high in each muffin cup, and sprinkle the sugar over tops.

Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes.

THE RESULT:

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Flickr Now Includes Creative Commons License in Embedded Photos

SXSW 2016

Wow.

I just noticed that Flickr Now Includes Creative Commons License in Embedded Photos.

You can see the Creative Commons License if you hover yh our cursor over the photo.


IMAGE: Creative Commons License in Embedded Flickr Photo

Amazing.

I think we've been asking for this for 10 years.

The Ring Video Doorbell Now Gives You A Live View On Demand

Ring.com just introduced to Live View.

From their email:

You can now see and talk to anyone at your home, on demand. Check in with your family and keep an eye on your home, anytime night or day.


IMAGE: RING APP

To use Live View, simply open the Ring app on your mobile device, select your Video Doorbell and then tap Live View.

Ring Live View
IMAGE: Ring Video Doorbell Live View

Live View is currently available to select users with hardwired devices only. Your Live View stream may take a few seconds to load.

Read my post: Ring Video Doorbell Installation

Monday, April 18, 2016

Ring Video Doorbell Installation

Update 12/29/16: The Ring Video Doorbell needs a really good WiFi connection for best performance. I just installed and reviewed an eero Wifi System. It helped a lot.


Boston Globe Newspaper Neglects to Link to Online Site Mentioned in Article

In a time when newspapers are trying to figure out how to engage an audience that has largely moved online, The Boston Globe continues to ignore this online audience in the print edition of the newspaper.

Regular readers of this blog know that I've been complaining about this for years. When a newspaper article is written about a website, the Boston Globe usually neglects to mention a link to the website. Readers are left having to use Google to search for the site online.

Over the years, the online version of the newspaper has gotten better, adding hyperlinks to article where required, but the link between the physical newspaper, the Boston Globe website, and the internet at large is still broken.

Here's an example from today, detailing a treasure trove of photo negatives of former mayor of Boston James Michael Curley, which have been put online.

NEWSPAPER

Image: Boston Globe Print article courtesy Boston Globe

The print article says this:
Now, with help from the Boston Public Library, the images, dating from 1934 to 1958, have been digitized and posted online.
Guess I'll have to get out the old Google to find that. ;-)

ONLINE

Image: BostonGlobe.com Online article courtesy Boston Globe

The online version of the article at BostonGlobe.com, does a better job by adding lots of links, include the money link to the archive:
Now, with help from the Boston Public Library, the images, dating from 1934 to 1958, have been digitized and posted online.

DIGITAL COMMONWEALTH SITE

Image: James Michael Curley negatives website screenshot courtesy Digital Commonwealth

Digital Commonwealth.
James Michael Curley photo negative collection.

UPDATE:

Some easy solutions for the Boston Globe print edition to implement.

1. Add a simple link to the website that you are talking about: "...digitized and posted online at http://digitalcommonwealth.org"

2. Add a custom link, that's easy for readers to type: "View online: http://bit.ly/CurleyNegatives"

3. Add a QR code for people to scan with their smartphone:


View online: http://bit.ly/CurleyNegatives