Amazon Prime Video sent me an email saying, Your $6 credit is waiting.
It would have been less spammy if they’d just sent an email saying: Your $6 credit has been applied to your account.
It worked after I clicked Activate now.
Note: Email was from no-reply@primevideo.com
When you see mail from Laser Substrates, Inc. in your USPS Informed Delivery email, it is USPS Certified Mail that is generated using software from Laser Substrates, Inc.
I’m not sure why the software can’t send the actual sender info to USPS to display in Informed Delivery emails.
This year I am embracing The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning.
This “process of clearing out unnecessary belongings can be undertaken at any age or life stage but should be done sooner than later, before others have to do it for you.”
In the photo, I’m with Omer Hecht of CatLABS of JP (Jamaica Plain), a local camera store that buys and sells cameras and also provides film processing.
I’m holding my Minolta SRT-101, the camera I used when taking photos for the yearbook in high school and the student newspaper at UMass Amherst. It had a lot of years of good use. Omer is holding my Canon Powershot, the camera I first used when in addition to taking photos, I used to take videos back in the day.
I used it when teaching as an example of using the camera that you have with you to shoot video. Back then, people didn’t even know that their cameras shot video. I also turned over my faithful Canon GL/2 miniDV video camera that was a mainstay of my video production and steaming business.
Surprisingly I was fine with handing over all these cameras and more. Omar gave me what I consider a fair price and was a joy to work with and talk to. If you go in to CatLABS tell Omer that Steve sent you. 😉
National Grid has been repeatedly calling me from 617-469-2300 with automated calls and hanging up on no answer, without leaving a voice mail.
I Googled the phone number and got the image below.
I deduced that it was time to replace my gas meter so I called them at their main phone number, 1-800-233-5325. After waiting 10 minutes, I spoke with a representative and scheduled my meter replacement. Gas meters are replaced every 7 years. It’s been 7 years.
I left them feedback saying that the automated hangup calls were not helpful, and I would have appreciated an email notice that it was time to replace my meter. Also, they could have put a note on my online account. In addition, they could have sent me paper USPS mail.
Also, it would be easier to schedule if they had an online scheduling system.
How to Replace the InSinkErator F-1000 Instant Hot Water Dispenser Filter.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=1YStjTHEpvQ&si=4ibtXQqa6QZ31wL3
The instructions that come with the filter are wrong.
Step one, slowly turn the cartridge CLOCKWISE until it stops, to remove it.
Step two, insert the new cartridge and turn it COUNTER-CLOCKWISE until it stops.
UPDATE January 1, 2006:
They fixed the instructions!
US Postal Service Informed Delivery should have an option to UNSUBSCRIBE from mail.
Jury Duty.
I had jury duty at Chelsea District Court. A great stop before court is Katz Bakery where I got a baker’s dozen of hot fresh bagels, and a side of cream cheese. There is a nice Dunkin’ just across the street from the courthouse.
I was there a little early, because doors open at 8:30 AM. You can’t get in before then, the doors are locked. So I took a walk around Chelsea Square and learned a lot about the history.
After you have proofed your sourdough bread in the fridge, you are ready to bake.
PREHEAT the oven to 500 degrees.
Place covered Dutch Oven in the oven for 1 hour.
While it heats up, score the bread. First, remove the bread from the proofing bowl.
Put a piece of parchment paper on top of the proofing bowl, then place a plate on top of parchment paper.
REMOVE the bowl and plate.
DUST the top of the bread with flour.
SCORE
With a razor blade, score the top of the bread. Here are some good examples,from Make It Dough, How to Score Sourdough Bread (Tips and Scoring Patterns).
BAKE
Take the Dutch Oven out of the oven and remove the cover.
Reduce oven temperature to 450 degrees.
Transfer the dough on parchment paper into the Dutch Oven. Add three pieces of ice just to the side of the parchment paper. Put the cover back on.
BAKE for 30 minutes.
REMOVE COVER and BAKE for 10-15 more minutes. The bread is done at 205 - 210 degrees.
After Bulk Fermenation, the First Rise, you are ready to SHAPE the dough.
I liked how this step is explained in this video: Make Beautiful Sourdough with Claire Saffitz. I also followed tips from Modern Eats Farmhouse Easy Sourdough Bread Recipe. Click through to get the whole recipe and lots of good info.
Scrape the dough out of the bowl onto a floured work surface. Split in half two make two loaves.
