I Don't Get Grown Up Coloring Books

Pop psychology tries to solve adult stress...yet again.

This time it is in the form of a beloved childhood staple -- coloring books.

I was at OfficeMax today and saw a display labeled "Coloring for Adults."

First off all, I do graphic design for a living. I also paint on canvas in my spare time. So the notion of taking up an artistic activity (for any reason) is alright by me.

In a world that has taught us yoga, meditation, and moderate amounts of wine are good for the soul, the pop culture profits are now pimping the mindful aspects of coloring.

Here's one article on the adult coloring trend, for example.

Many of these paisley-and-swirl-covered concoctions are marketed as a way to relieve stress. So many, in fact, that there are "parody" grown-up coloring books -- including one that features swear words for you to color.

Thumbing through the book titled "Everyone Loves Coloring Patterns" (on the shelf next to "Everyone Loves Coloring Birds"), some of the coloring sheets looked kind of interesting. Others, like this page of hexagons, look like something you'd use to torture prisoners. 

Now, before you throw a cup of herbal tea at me, and try to gouge my eyes with a colored pencil, let me explain.

I don't doubt that coloring is therapeutic for people. One of my mom's favorite things in life was a box of fresh Crayola crayons.

I just question the relaxation quotient derived from coloring intricate and tedious patterns.

Are they really relaxing? Or are they relaxing because a dozen news stories say it is so?

Part of the fun of coloring as a kid was a book of broadly printed strokes and fanciful pictures -- images of that took you away from regular life. 

Just because you are an adult doesn't mean you need some sort of "specially marketed collection" of coloring pages to feel "on trend" and "justified" in your desire to color.

This looks way more fun, less stressful, and is like $4 cheaper:

Read yesterday's blog post: Seats & Springs

Seats & Springs

Drip...drip...drip.

The Peerless faucet on our bathroom sink is about 20 years old, and is the only faucet in the house that hasn't been repaired or replaced in the 12 years we've lived here. 

It recently developed a steady drip from the spout.

If you haven't already encountered this issue, it is a fairly easy fix. Peerless fixtures use Delta replacement parts, and drips at the spout are generally a result of worn out springs and seats (which are available at most hardware stores).

Unfortunately, our "under the sink" shut offs aren't in good shape, so I typically turn off the pressure valve next to the water meter:

(I put marks with a Sharpie on the handle and the nut so I know where to set it when I turn the water pressure back on). 

To make sure you got it off, go to your faucet and turn it on: the water should go from a stream to nothing.

Next, remove the faucet handles. Handles can be affixed in different ways. Ours are held on the side by a little hex screw. I used my handy Allen wrench to remove them (if you don't have an Allen wrench set, it is worthwhile to invest in a set since many things use hex nuts or screws).

Once the screw or nut is out, pull the handles off.

You will see stems (a white composite material surrounding a metal stem) -- they are held down by nuts (these look like collars). Sometimes you can remove the collar by hand. In other instances you might need an adjustable wrench. Turn counterclockwise.

The next step is to get the stems out. Depending on the amount of calcified gunk built up, you can use a wrench to grab the metal ends and pull straight up.

If it is being obstinate (and before you panic), try pouring some household vinegar around the stem and soak it for a bit to try and loosen some of the crud. 

And...take a pic with your phone of the orientation of the stem mechanism so you can put it back in the correct way.

Once out, you will reveal the black rubber seats (cups) sitting in holes down in the faucet. I'd recommend using an Allen wrench (like the one you used to remove the screws on the handles) to gently remove the springs and seats.

Once out, clean up any gunk inside. You might want to use some vinegar on an old rag, or use an old toothbrush to gently clean it (if you don't have a better brush available). 

Delta/Peerless faucets use a standard set of cups and springs for their faucets. The Delta and Peerless websites can both tell you which part to get, or you can take them to a hardware or home improvement store and they can assist.

When you put the new seats and springs in, it is helpful to thread them onto the Allen wrench -- that will allow you to slide them together down into the hole.

Make sure the flat end of the rubber seat is facing up, and the narrow end of the spring is facing up.

Delta has a good video demonstrating this with a "single-handle" faucet, but it is the same principle for replacing the seats and springs on two-handle fixtures: 

Once you have put in the new seats and springs, re-assemble the stems and handles. Then, turn the water back on (either underneath the sink or at the shutoff/pressure valve by the meter) and try it out.

If you are uncomfortable with any of this, please call a friend, family member, neighbor or plumber to help you out.

Read yesterday's blog post: The Ill-Fated Fusion of Video and a Record Album

The Ill-Fated Fusion of Video and a Record Album

Remember these? 

This ad appeared in the Omaha World-Herald on Oct. 24, 1982 -- I was in 4th grade at the time.

A couple friends of mine had an RCA VideoDisc player back in the early 80s.

I remember watching "Raiders of the Lost Ark," "Star Wars" and "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" at their house. All I really recall was that you'd insert a large, square plastic sleeve containing the movie into the machine's slot, then the player would pull the "disc" inside. You'd then remove the empty sleeve.

At the mid-point of the movie, you'd have to "flip" the disc by inserting the empty sleeve and waiting for the disc to eject back into the sleeve, then you'd have to flip it over and repeat the process above.

(That sounds like a pain...and it kinda was...)

Here is a commercial from back then -- and you could get a VideoDisc player for less than $500!!

Until today, I really had no idea how VideoDiscs worked, or the technology behind them. I guess I always assumed they were like a giant floppy disc.

But they weren't. In essence, the VideoDisc -- or Capacitance Electronic Disc (CED) -- was an analog video disc with grooves, and a special needle (stylus) that played it. Sort of like a vinyl LP, but with video.

According to various articles on CEDs, RCA started developing the technology in the 1960s. It was apparently a laborious process, and the technology wasn't what they had hoped for (they had intended the discs to be released in jackets like record albums, but the surface material was very sensitive to dust and scratches, and couldn't be directly handled).

There is a good article on the format here.

RCA finally released the VideoDiscs and VideoDisc players in 1981, but the format would never take off and was ultimately discontinued in 1984.

Here is a video about the format's death on CNN Headline News:

I can't recall how VideoDiscs looked or sounded (and TV technology those days left something to be desired). But I thought it was cool that my friends could watch movies anytime they wanted (something I couldn't do until we got our first VCR in 1985).

They would ultimately be supplanted in the home video marketplace by VHS, Betamax and LaserDisc.

The VideoDisc's demise serves as a reminder that not all formats survive.

But it was an interesting idea.

Read yesterday's blog post: Let There Be Light

Let There Be Light

My wife will tell you that I am kind of obsessed with lighting. 

Close to a decade ago, I swapped out all the incandescent light bulbs in our home for lower-wattage CFLs (compact fluorescent lights).

The reason is that I wanted to lower the electrical pull on the older fuse box running electricity throughout the house, and see if maybe we could save a bit of money.

We did lower our electrical use and saved money in the process.

The main issue with the CFLs is that the light produced by the bulbs hasn't necessarily had the same "brightness" as incandescent counterparts (and many models were slow to warm up). Other drawbacks include the fact that most I encountered weren't designed for fully-enclosed fixtures, and many weren't able to function with dimmers.

But, I liked the fact that they used about one-quarter the wattage of a comparable incandescent.

The issue facing consumers the past few years is that the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 essentially redefined efficiency standards for bulbs. The legislation phased out certain watt incandescent bulbs between 2012 and 2014.

The past 18 months I have been swapping out CFLs for the latest-generation LED lamps -- and recently completed refitting all fixtures with LED bulbs, other than a lone fluorescent tube light and lights in our closets (which aren't on enough to justify a pricier LED at this juncture). Thirty-six bulbs in total have been changed around our house -- covering the interior and exterior of our home.

These bulbs use one-half to one-third the energy of the CFLs (in most instances).

The lumens (total quantity of visible light emitted) is vastly superior to the CFLs, and they are "instant on" in nature.

You can buy LEDs designed for fully enclosed fixtures (which includes 10 fixtures in our home), and there are many dimmable models available.

Couple quick things to keep in mind:

1. Warm-colored bulbs have a color temperature of 2700k to 3000k, so look for that on the packaging. Cooler-colored bulbs (meaning "bluer" light) tend to have a temperature closer to 5000k. 
2. While the "lit part" of LEDs tends to be cool to the touch, the aluminum base (heat sink) can get hot. The efficiency in LED bulbs comes from the fact that energy isn't lost to infrared heat (as it is with incandescents and fluorescents), but energy is still used to power the mechanics in the bulb.
3. Look for sales on bulbs. Many models are pricey, and it is a good idea to be patient and shop around.

I'll talk more about LED lamps in the future.

I can safely say that the overall quality of light in our home has improved significantly since the switch to LEDs -- things are much brighter (which is beneficial for 40-something-year-old-eyes).

The other advantage is that all 36 LED bulbs consume around 327 watts -- or the equivalent of about three of those old 100-watt incandescents.

Read yesterday's blog post: Food From a Really Nice Camper

Food From a Really Nice Camper...

The Omaha Food Truck Association held a Food Truck Rally at Cabela's in La Vista.

Did you ever see the 2014 movie "Chef"...? 

Starring (and directed by) Jon Favreau, the movie focuses on a disillusioned gourmet chef who ditches the competitive culinary scene for a food truck -- cooking the food he loves. 

Here's the trailer:

We saw it at Aksarben Cinema when it was a released, and the movie captures how food trucks have become a significant part of the food lexicon in recent times -- kind of like how cupcakes have become the trendy dessert item of the day.

The food truck movement has grown in Omaha over the past few years. The mobile vendors have become more prominent and popular (thanks, in large part, to the wonders of social media).

In recent months, food trucks in Omaha have come under fire for not being part of Omaha's controversial "restaurant tax." (But the Omaha Food Truck Association has worked to bring them into compliance).

Food trucks serve up some delicious treats, and have the ability to take their wares all over the area.

There is something quaint and nostalgic about the steel beasts with compact, galley-style kitchens.

Today we had the opportunity to visit the Cabela’s Food Truck Rally at Cabela's in Sarpy County, NE. I was able to grab the prime rib dip sandwich and tots from Anthony Piccolo's Mobile Venue (a favorite of mine -- I first had it at the summer arts festival in 2015).

Fish and chips from The Dire Lion Grille and Chippy.

Prime Rib Sandwich with Tots – $11.99

Mmmmm.....

There were a variety of vendors there including: Ox ’n’ Bull (BBQ), Hawks Pizza, Johnny Ricco’s Brooklyn Pizza, Taste of New Orleans, Big Green Q, Chicago Dawg House, and Kona Ice (among others). Bridget got her food from the The Dire Lion Grille & Chippy.


According to mobile-cuisine.com's 2015 data, this is the seventh year of consistent growth for food trucks — they’ve experienced 12 percent growth in the past five years. It is a $1.2 billion industry (compared to restaurants, which is a $709 billion industry).

The average order is $12.90, and the average annual revenue per truck is $290,556. It costs more than $90,000 to startup the average food truck.

It's a far cry from the kind of money brick-and-mortar restaurants can make, but food trucks can be a lucrative business for vendors who visit busy urban areas, carnivals, concerts, office parks and rallies (like the one we visited today).

Chicago Dawg House's food truck was also there.
No Italian Sausage today, though.

Waiting to place my order at Anthony Piccolo's Mobile Venue food truck.

The Anthony Piccolo's Mobile Venue Food Truck set up at Cabela's.

The menu at Anthony Piccolo's Mobile Venue.

Yesterday's blog post: Wish I Would Have Kept My Trapper Keeper

Wish I Would Have Kept My Trapper Keeper

We found a modern Trapper Keeper at Kmart!

The modern Trapper Keeper replaces the Velcro with a snap.

Did you know the folders are called "Trappers"?

Back to school time means stores unleash mass quantities of school supplies.

When I think of school supplies, the venerable Trapper Keeper by Mead immediately comes to mind.

I had one in elementary school. It was sort of "the thing" in binder-folder-holder mechanisms in the 1980s. Anything else just didn't cut it.

Here is an ad from the early 80s: 

Yes, that is future "Full House" star Lori Loughlin telling her classmate to get a Trapper Keeper, and when Aunt Becky tells you to get a Trapper Keeper, you get a Trapper Keeper.

According to an extensive profile of the folder-binder system on mentalfloss.com, Mead sold $100 million in folders and binders per year in the time immediately following the Trapper Keeper's nationwide launch.

Significant market research went into the product, which likely explains Trapper Keeper's success — and longevity.

How a relatively pedestrian item has become something of a pop culture icon is anyone's guess.

The early binders have nostalgic appeal. I noticed a couple on eBay going for $150+ dollars, and several are available for varying amounts.

While Mead has a new generation of Trapper Keeper products available, many of the big box stores focus on other binder-folder systems.

I had one in the standard, royal blue color (like the one in the video above). The first folders I had (with their unique side-pocket design) were blue, green and red.

Interesting anecdote, the boys in Mrs. Worrall's third grade class in 1981 figured out that if you poked a hole in the corner of the clear-plastic outer coating, you could blow into it and "inflate" your Trapper Keeper into a bizarre-looking "bubble binder." You had to put tape over the hole to keep it inflated, though. (Too bad we didn't have cell phones back then.) 

Bridget's note: Jon thought he and his friends had invented this "bubble binder," but read the first comment on this blog.

Read yesterday's blog post: Is the NFL Siri-ous About Twitter Streaming?

Is the NFL Siri-ous About Twitter Streaming?

While I was getting ready for bed last night, I was telling Bridget that Twitter had secured streaming rights to 10 NFL games this season. 

To set the scene: I was putting on my Avengers boxers, she was brushing her teeth in the bathroom. We were discussing the oddity of Twitter streaming the games, and wondered how the video would be featured.

I quipped: "Yeah, seriously. A series of 30-second clips and 10-second animated GIFs."

Then, out of nowhere, Bridget's iPhone started talking to us:

What the hell? I'm guessing Siri activated when I said, "Seriously…" *

(Total interloper... And what was that math in her response?)

According to Bloomberg, Twitter was not the highest bidder for the 10 Thursday Night Football games this season ($10 million for 10 games).

It sounds like the NFL felt the popularity of the Twitter platform for live events (in particular, sporting events) was part of the consideration.

It is an odd choice considering the fact that the social media giant isn't experienced in streaming this sort of video content, and isn't a featured player on streaming boxes and smart TVs like Amazon and Yahoo! (both also bid to stream the games).

It brings up the bigger issue as to whether the National Football League is serious about taking its product to new viewers, or merely dabbling in "off the beaten path" platforms (that aren't at the forefront of streaming video) as a token gesture.

It presents an interesting opportunity for Twitter, and could open up the possibility of other partnerships in the future.

* If you have your iPhone plugged in, Siri will respond to questions without you having to push the home button to activate her.


Read yesterday's blog post: Why I Became a Cord Cutter

Why I Became a Cord Cutter

As many of you know, I became a "cord cutter" a little over a year ago.

I think the terms "cord cutter" and "cord cutting" are kind of ridiculous descriptions for people who drop cable and satellite television subscriptions.

The reason is that most continue to have hi-speed Internet in their homes, and that means they continue to be dependent on a service provider for a portion of their viewable content.

Nonetheless, that is the lingo used. 

WHY CUT THE CORD?
I'm not advocating any particular course of action. If you are happy with your tiered cable or satellite subscription, I'm not going to try and push you away from that.

For some people, the act of cord cutting is about saving money. Others suggest they do it because there "isn't anything good on TV" or they are "too busy to watch TV" or they "stream everything." There is also a segment that seems to do it as an act of "social disobedience."

Whatever the reason, it is a good idea to think it through before you make the jump, and have a playbook ready to go. 

JON'S #1 RULE

The most important thing to remember is that it is unrealistic to try and "recreate" an entire cable/satellite channel lineup for "free." 

Not realistic. 

Furthermore, this blog is NOT going to focus on any illegal file sharing methods for getting all the content available. 

That isn't the way I operate, and isn't the way anyone should operate. 

I will focus on typical methods and services any household could consider when cord cutting, and try to make it as easy to understand as possible. 

THINK DIFFERENT 

We've saved $1,200 in the past year on "pay TV" fees -- and have found more affordable ways to enjoy a myriad of content. 

I wanted to try it. We found that there were fewer and fewer programs we made a point of watching on cable. We typically recorded network shows, and found ourselves watching more things on the AppleTV unit we purchased in 2013. 

Be that as it may, the notion of dropping the cable TV subscription didn't come without some trepidation, or some adjustment. 

I'm going to give a brief overview of the methods we use to get programming, and delve deeper into the technology in upcoming blog posts. 

HD ANTENNAS

We use digital antennas with our two HDTV sets (antennas haven't changed all that much in the last 40 years). 

Digital broadcasts are different than the old analog broadcasts, but they still travel on UHF and VHF (now called Hi-VHF) frequencies. 

In the Omaha area (where we live) there are 21 or so digital channels you can receive for free over-the-air. Each of the local affiliates for ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, CW, and PBS broadcast their main channels in hi-definition, and the signals are beautiful and uncompressed.

In addition, there are digital "sub channels" broadcast alongside the main affiliates. Examples of sub-channels in the Omaha market are MeTV (classic TV shows), Grit (action movies, shows, and westerns), LAFF (older comedy shows and movies), Comet (science fiction shows and movies), and alternate PBS channels like "Create" and "World." 

Some markets have more of these channels available, and include networks dedicated to movies, TV shows, game shows, Spanish-language programming, and home shopping. 

If you live within a reasonable distance of the broadcast towers, you should be able to pick up your local channels with simple set-top antenna...

...but I will dedicate an entire blog post in the future to antennas, signals, tips, and tricks.

We will also look at the various DVR options available for use with an antenna. Simple digital tuner boxes are available that allow you to do basic recording (with a USB drive) of digital channels (similar to the old VCR days, but with digital files on a drive). 

There are also fancier options — like TiVo — that allow multi-channel recording, season passes, a slick program guide, and various streaming services alongside (but it requires various fees for service). 

The benefit of using an antenna to get free programming seems self-evident. 

I visit with cord cutters who weren't alive back in the day when we all used to use antennas to watch TV. 

I've read certain cord cutting blogs where the authors complained about not being able to watch the Super Bowl or the Oscars -- for some reason they had made the decision to forgo a basic antenna in their setup.

STREAMING SERVICES

These days, when people think about cord cutting, they tend to think about the various streaming services and devices available.

As I mentioned earlier, we use an AppleTV unit. There are other options by companies like Roku, Amazon, Microsoft, Sony, and Google. In addition, certain HDTVs are dubbed "smart TVs" and have streaming options (plus wi-fi and Ethernet) built into the set. 

You might currently subscribe to offerings like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu. There exists a myriad of options for streaming content (some free and others not) that are available on these various devices. 

There are also services like Sling TV that offer a limited package of channels (including ESPN and HGTV) for $20 a month. 

In future posts we will take a look at the various options and try to help simplify the process and assist you with navigating through the choices. 

WOULD WE GO BACK?

We have been happy with our decision. As I said at the outset, it took some getting used to, but it was the right decision for us. 

Bridget and I are both old enough to remember what it was like when cable television first came to Omaha. We remember the days when three networks and PBS were all we had to watch. 

In many respects, it has been fun to travel "back to the future" and employ a combination of old and new strategies to have a rich, vibrant, and unique viewing experience -- an experience is economical, enjoyable, and controllable. 

This has become a topic of great interest to me, and fiddling with antennas and trying new streaming services is a fun hobby. 

One of my favorite stores in junior high school was Radio Shack, and I have always been fond of gadgets and technology. 

I plan to share the knowledge I have accrued the past year, and maybe save you some money along the way...


Read yesterday's blog post: The Puma Principle

The Puma Principle

My Puma collection -- heavily skewed in the "Mav Hockey" color scheme. 

When you want to show your "retro" street cred, put on a pair of Pumas.

I own three pairs. They look good with jeans and seem "period appropriate" for my sizable "Star Wars" t-shirt collection (more on that collection later...)

I remember back in late 1970s when my older brother desperately wanted a pair of blue-suede Pumas, and my dad came home one day wearing the exact model and said, "How do you like my new Pumas?"

The venerable shoe brand has been featured in a variety of entertainment properties over the years (Example: Paul Walker dons them in the "Fast and Furious" franchise), and the shoes recently showed up in two new Netflix series: "Stranger Things" and "The Get Down."

If you haven't seen the recently added shows (and the featured shoes), check them out.

I've watched "Stranger Things" all the way through. It is a compelling homage to 1980s horror and science fiction films set in 1983 Indiana -- with references to Stephen King, John Carpenter and Steven Spielberg throughout (plus the clever integration of a "Star Wars" Yoda action figure, a Millennium Falcon toy, and Lando Calrissian as a metaphor for traitorous behavior).

And our main protagonist -- the super-smart geek Mike Wheeler -- wears a pair of Pumas.

While the Puma references in "Stranger Things" tend to be more subtle, red-suede Pumas are something of a plot point in "The Get Down."

The show starts off in the Bronx at the end of the school year in 1977. It is produced by Baz Luhrmann ("Moulin Rouge") and is a bright, vivid, nearly mythic show about the end of disco and the rise of hip-hop music.

(Anyone familiar with Luhrmann knows there is a "fantastical" quality to his productions, making them cinematic stage plays).

Several characters mention plans to see the movie "Star Wars" (which was released on May 25, 1977).

I've only watched the 90-plus-minute debut episode thus far, but the music, fashion and vibe go straight for the jugular in terms of vivid period style.

One of the characters in the show is named Shaolin Fantastic. He is perceived in near-mythic terms at the beginning of the story, and wears a crisp pair of red-suede Pumas.

Jaden Smith's character Marcus "Dizzee" Kipling says of Shaolin Fantastic, "His Pumas are always pristine."

I've read that the folks over at Netflix spend a considerable amount of time basing programming decisions on viewing habits and "big data"...

Both of these recent entries into their "originals" lineup skew to a particular age group, and nods to a time in history that appeals to a particular demographic.

I don't know if including Pumas in these productions is merely a method to evoke time and place, or a clever use of "product placement" by the shoes' parent company.

Regardless, the folks at Puma must be pleased as punch.


Read yesterday's blog post: What Is Jon Crunch?

What Is Jon Crunch?

If you Google search "define crunch," one of the definitions presented is:

...a crucial point or situation, typically one at which a decision with important consequences must be made.

Also included: 

...process large amounts of information or perform operations of great complexity...

We spend each day analyzing the world around us. 

We are looking for answers and solutions in our daily life. 

Back in the day, people known as "expert prescribers" did much of that crunching for us, and the world was happy to heed their words. 

But in this crowdsourced world we live in, the influencers are regular people like you and me. 

People are looking for authenticity. They want to hear from people who are genuine, and they are less inclined to trust a slick sales pitch.

That is what this blog is all about.

We will cover a myriad of topics -- including technology and popular culture. We will get you some pics and vids of things along the way.

My hope is that this blog can be to daily life what Fritos Corn Chips were to kids' lunches in the 1970s and 80s (...anyone remember that catchy jingle? And how the crunchy goodness of the corn chips brightened up the lives of depressed suburban larvae?) 

Muncha buncha .... !