I like saying my opinion no matter what other people say, so here you go!
Zack’s Top 10 Predictions for 2010:
#10: Sequel to “smash-hit” 2012, “2012: Oh Look, The World DIDN’T Actually End!”, begins filming.
#9. Justin Bieber will finally reveal that he is gay and that all his love songs were about the times his daddy raped him. Read the rest of this entry »
I stumbled upon this little place when I was looking at a blog for a game that a friend (EPICponyz) sent me. This laboratory is where a man named Andre Michelle makes experiments. There is everything from synthesizers to panoramic picture to even Pac-Man and Mario Kart clones. Really… you can waste hours here… it is amazing. The link I am going to post is to my favorite thing from there called “ToneMatrix” where it just a sinewave synth trigger by a 16-step sequencer. I may have taken that straight from the site… but I know what it means.
While many agree that making a good cup of espresso is an art within itself, latte art refers to patterns made in the foam topping espresso drinks. If you want to get in touch with your inner barista (expert in coffee preparation), latte art is a critical skill which can take years to master.
Steps
Pour enough milk for one cup into the steam pitcher. Put the steam wand at the bottom of the pitcher. Turn on the steam, and slowly raise the wand until it is near the top of the milk. Lower the pitcher as the milk rises so the steam wand stays 1 cm away from the top of the milk. The milk should not stretch too much nor should there be any big bubbles. Create a smooth, velvety milk as opposed the foam that sits atop most espresso drinks.
Allow the milk to reach 80 ºF (27 ºC), then place the steam wand on the side of the pitcher, deep into the milk, positioning the pitcher to spin counterclockwise. Keep doing this motion until the milk heats to 150 ºF to 160 ºF (65 ºC - 70 ºC). Shut the steam and remove the steam wand and thermometer from the milk. Clean the steam wand with a wet cloth.
Vigorously swirl the milk. If you see any bubbles, pound the pitcher on the counter several times and go back to swirling the milk for 20 to 30 seconds. Do this even while the espresso is pouring.
Start pouring the milk into the espresso. To create a flower pattern, pour the milk into the bottom part of the cup, about an inch (2 cm - 3 cm) away from the bottom. Once the cup is about half filled, shake the pitcher back and forth while slowly moving it backwards. The flower design will move forward, filling the cup. Do this with a shaking motion originating at the wrist instead of moving your hand back and forth.
Once the foam reaches the top, pour the milk up the center of the pattern you created. Use a minimal amount of milk to avoid sinking the flower pattern.
Embellish the design using stencils, powder, and milk foam. This step is optional, as many prefer to limit their latte art to “free form” methods, but you may want to experiment with the possibilities added by “etching.”
To write a word, such as “love” in the picture, melt milk chocolate and using a pin as a paintbrush drag the melting chocolate over the foamed milk. More commonly this is done by dipping said pointy object into the cream of the drink being decorated, and then transferring that cream stained foam to the pure white foam to ‘draw’ a design,
Video
Tips
If you want to pour a heart pattern, shake as before without moving backwards as much. Form a ringed circle then slowly pour milk through the center to make a multi-layered heart.
The espresso must be perfect.
You must use an espresso machine with a proper brew head and boiler and enough steam power to properly froth the milk. These machines can cost at least $500.
Before trying this with milk, try it first with water. While water doesn’t have the same consistency as milk, practicing with water will allow you to get familiar with pouring and shaking at the same time.
Use fresh milk for every cup, even if you have milk left over from the previous cup.
Start with very cold milk — keep the temperature right above freezing. Also, make sure you keep the steam pitchers refrigerated. Cold milk and steam pitchers will give you more time to create the smooth and velvety texture needed for latte art.
Use a cup with a wide mouth. It will allow you to see the developing latte art design more easily.
Instead of using a thermometer, you can keep two fingers at the bottom of the pitcher. When you can’t hold your fingers there without burning them, it’s usually between 120 and 125 degrees.
Make sure you have a decent crema (thick, golden layer) on the espresso - it’s just as important as the milk: if you don’t have crema, what is there to stain?
Try shaking chocolate powder into the cup before pouring the milk - it gives an interesting effect
Warnings
Do not let the milk heat to over 160 ºF (70 ºC), as this will limit the sweetness of the milk.
Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Make Latte Art. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.
Have you always wanted to be in an exclusive club, but never known of any? Do you wish to be viewed as chic and sophisticated? Start a secret society with only your coolest and closest friends.
Steps
Get a secret! A secret society has a secret to protect. The Illuminati are said to have a secret plan to take over the world (and is said to already be working).
Read a few clique-like books for some background information. Get any number of your friends to read these books. Privately talk with one of your closest friends whom you know will love the idea of starting a secret society.
Think of a name. You and your closest friend should discuss what your secret society should be called. Also discuss who you will induct. Remember, even if you have a large group of (really good) friends, not all of them are secret society material. They won’t find out, as it is a secret society.
Conduct a proper initiation for you and your closest friend. This should be done before you initiate others. That way, you are sure to come up with a good idea. The initiation is one of the most important parts of the society. It has to be something neither of you would do normally. Candle-lighting sets a serious and official tone, whereas something like streaking or alcohol may spice it up a little.
Figure out what your society does. There have to be rules. Set a schedule for fun things you can do, ie. dressing alike on certain days, or having monthly rituals. Have fun with it! It’s all about your creativity.
Find potential members. Subtly drop something related to your secret in a conversation with a friend to figure out how they feel about it. Make sure there’s no possibility they ever betray you, make sure they will be okay with the rules. Don’t mention your secret society until you are absolutely sure they can be completely trusted.
Induct your members. Invite your friends to a sleepover and then spring it on them. They will be surprised and excited, and thrilled because they are special.
An important thing in secret societies is to meet in secret, that means meeting in a new place every time.
Make a dress code. Most small secret societies use robe while large ones, like the Freemasons, have complex mason aprons. (Rhyme not intended).
Keep quiet and have fun. Your friends and you will be even closer than ever.
Warnings
If you are only choosing certain friends amongst a clique, be prepared to deal with questions if one of your unchosen friends finds out about your secret society; have answers and excuses meticulously prepared!
Delete your history so that nobody finds this web page.
Don’t base the society on any cults. Satanists sacrifice children, the Assasins would kill anybody on command, even themselves, and then there’s that weird cult where teenagers drink juice with cyanide to kill themselves.
You see that? You see that pink tab under it? Click it. If you click that and join… you can save a life. You don’t have to make a donation or anything. All you have to do is click that and make a free account. 5 minutes of your time can save someone’s life… WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!
