I will be the first to admit that Yahoo Answers is great in many ways.  I use it to promote some of my websites.  It generates some no-follow traffic, and that’s fine.  I use it for a reason and I always try to provide quality, reasonable, resourceful information and then throw a little link reference to a related article of mine.  And I will be the first to admit that I vote for my own answers as well.  But if someone has actually answered a question reasonably well, didn’t leave anything out, and shows some level of expertise, I move on to the next question and let that user have his moment of glory.  But when someone doesn’t know what they are talking about, self-proclaims himself an ‘expert’ and then proceeds to vote himself up to get ‘Best Yahoo Answer Award of the Year’ or whatever, it really annoys me.

Here is a good example:  A user asked a question about Manatees in Florida, how the cold has been adversely affecting them, and was looking for someone who had some direct knowledge or experience with the subject (a requirement for his class assignment).  Holy Smackers!!!  I wasnt even looking for specific promotional questions, but we had recently been to SEE the Manatees huddling together to stay warm, had spoken to some Biologists ON LOCATION, did a head count ourselves, saw with OUR OWN EYES, took OUR own PHOTOGRAPHS, and we blogged about it!!!  This is exactly what the Yahoo questioner was looking for right???  We live literally blocks away from the big news event locations!!!

We did not get best answer.  (see the actual Yahoo Answers Page here) Instead Mr. Top Contributor who wrote some gibberish about global warming and mans impact on the climate did.  Dude, we were talking about Manatees and COLD weather.  Does he even know what a manatee is??  I don’t know, but it was obvious that he voted himself up just because he needs to and it wasn’t even a good answer.  Yes, global warming is an important issue, but that is NOT what the question was!!!  Yahoo answers can sometimes really annoy me

So I propose new rules for Yahoo Answers:

• A short 4 question common sense multiple choice quiz, based on the category your responding in, before you can answer the question.
• A short 10 question spelling quiz before you can ask a question.
• A pop-up that asks the asker if he/she actually googled it first.
• A gun-shot to the head for anyone cutting and pasting directly from google in response to a question.
• Some form of intervention for Top-Contributors, and links and resources for them to ‘get a life’.
• Automatic account cancellation for anyone who has Capital letters in the middle of their username.  For example:  JoEmaGGit, or dUmbBU@loKeBabe.
• A way for users to ridicule and make fun of both answers and questions that are completely retarded.

Also, the gray sections were just not removed, only carve around the black sections…

Ingredients:

1 lb. Ground Beef

1 Packet Taco Seasoning

1 Can Tomato Sauce

3/4 Cup Chunky Salsa

1 Box Pasta (Elbows, Ziti, Rigatoni, or the like)

Lots of shredded cheese.  I used a combination of sharp cheddars for flavor and Mexican blends as well.

Begin browning the hamburger meat, and while cooking, prepare the rice and pasta per directions and set aside.  I recommend cooking the Pasta until just Al dente.  Drain the meat and add in taco seasoning and a little water per the packet directions.  Simmer.

Add in the salsa and tomato sauce, continue to simmer for about 10 minutes.  Stir in the rice, and then stir in the pasta.  Note the rice isn’t necessary, but I’ve made with and without and the texture of the rice adds to the dish.  It, unexpectedly, makes a huge difference.  Using a large casserole dish, alternate layers of cheese and the mixture, and top heavily with cheese at the end.  Bake in the over at 350 Degrees for about 45 minutes or until the cheese is browned on top.  Serve.

Its a great dish from scratch or, as I prefer, a way to use leftover Mexican night ingredients.  Enjoy!

We just moved into this place and the tree is actually in the neighbors yard.  I love the shade and privacy it provides, but am hoping this season’s seeding isn’t an annual thing, and maybe happens only every few years?  I don’t know.  Tried googling it with no luck…anyone know what kind of tree this is?

This is in Central Florida on the East Coast

Ingredients

Place the oil in a pan and add jalapenos.  Sauté over medium heat until they become a more vibrant green and the seeds brown a bit.  This basically helps release the capsaicin which is what makes peppers hot.  The heat releases these compounds and the oil absorbs them.

Add the chopped onions, then a few minutes later, add the garlic.  Continue to sauté, but DO NOT cook till browned.  Add the salt and water, and simmer, lid on, for about 5 minutes.

Remove from heat and pour into a blender and blend, adding the vinegar to the mixture slowly.  ONce well blended, you should have Green Slime looking stuff.  Add a squeeze or two of lime juice, and pour into a bottle.  I used an old Louisiana Hot sauce bottle and my girlfriend helped make a very unique and exceptional label in about 4 seconds.  Refrigerate it.  Its best after about 1 week marinating.  Good for at least 6 months in fridge.

Ingredients:

• 2 Cups Instant Rice
• 2 Cups Water
• 3 eggs (scrambled)
• 2 cups shredded cheese or cheese blend
• 1 Cup Salsa
• salt and pepper to taste

Make the instant rice per product directions, but do not remove from heat and cover.  Reduce heat to ‘low’.  Add all other ingredients and stir until well blended.  Cover and remove from heat.  Let stand for 5 minutes.  Stir and serve.  Simple as that.

Now if you want to add a little flair, sauté bell-peppers, onions and sliced breakfast sausage, and serve over the dog-food.  Makes it a bit more ‘adult’.

For example, his affection for dogs, especially golden retrievers.  Almost every one of his novels has a pooch, and there is always a close bond between the doggy character and the doggy’s master.  His characters do tend to feed the dogs too much chocolate, which worries me.  But this usually happened in his earlier works, and I think the characters have become a bit more educated on the matter.

The strength in women.  No Koontz novel will portray women as the damsel in distress in need of a big strong hero.  Most often the female characters in Koontz novels are strong, intelligent, warrior like independents.  Even when a female character is a house-wife, or social care-giver, even in these roles, they are always equal too their male counterparts and the men need and look up too these ladies as a source of guidance and support.

Koontz digs trees and plants.  I would assume he enjoys gardening or landscaping.  Every house we roll up on, we will be treated to at least a couple of paragraphs describing the fauna in that particular Southern California locale.  I think he really likes Bougainvillea.  I think they grow along every home’s pathways and walls in his novels.  I think they’re nice to look at, but they are evil little plants.  Thorns galore, and if you have to trim them, you will get stuck.  Maybe this has meaning.  Rather than the little rose with thorns, Dean Koontz is throwing in an entire bush that creeps and crawls along all edges of your space.  A beautiful, organic, encompassing entity with the ability to cut and slice you open if handled wrong.  I would say this is so.

It always rains in Koontz-land.   Now Southern California, with the exception of a few coastal and southern Sierra Nevada regions, receives very little rainfall annually.  Los Angeles receives about 15 inches a year.  Its dry, desert conditions.  If it does rain, it is almost always a news-worthy event.  But if you’re in-tune to Koontz novels, you’ll find that it rains much more frequently.  I’ve put some little facts together and some very guesstimated estimates:

• Dean Koontz has written 107 novels since 1968.  (I might have miss-counted, but should be pretty close)
• This is an average of 2.5 novels a year.
• Lets say the average novel’s time-frame takes place in the span of one calendar month.
• Lets say the average rainfall days within a Koontz novel is 25%.  This is to say that, it is raining 25% of the time in Koontz-land.  I think this is a modest estimate.
• Based on the torrential rains that afflict our characters in the novels, it is safe to assume that a Koontz-land rain day is at least 2-inches of precipitation.  At least.  I’m currently re-reading Dark Rivers of the Heart, in which it rains in the Nevada desert, flooding the plains, and sending our hero floating down a river of water.  that would be at least two inches right?
• Lets assume that the 2.5 months a year covered in a Koontz novel is across various seasons, both wet and dry.  It is equally cool or hot, depending on the book in hand.  The seasons covered are at all times of year.
• So with that, it’s safe to assume it rains 25% of the time, at least 2 inches of rain per rain-day.  There are 365 days in a year, average of 30.4 days a month, 25% of that is 7.6 rain days, at 2 inches, annually = 182.5 inches of rainfall in Koontz land a year.

I live in Central Florida.  Our average annual precipitation is 48 inches.  So it rains 4-times more in Koontz-land then here in the thunderstorm capital of the world.  In Koontz-land, we would be dealing with all kinds of problems:  Psychotic killers, telekinetic villains, power-hungry madmen, genetically altered creatures, all running around in a flood-land, where our novel’s heroes must avoid mudslides, raging rivers, flooded streets, and of-course, bad drivers not used to so much rain.  The biggest, and most feared result of such a menacing land would be the wild growth of untamed Bougainvillea vining and creeping into every area of Koontz-land.  Spurred on by the torrential rainfall, these plants would smother highways, entrances and exits, preventing our heroes from escaping the many threats pursuing them.  This in itself, would be a great novel.

Because of this he has become my mascot and logo for Inforats.  The website dedicated to providing web-related solutions, specifically web development and using the WordPress platform.  He sits in his ‘office’ directly behind my chair and feeds me magical technological information.   I have created a small walking platform for him, so he can be the curious rat he is and walk around outside his cage.  I would build a bridge and allow him to climb over to my desk, but that typically leads to issues with stolen pens and other desk paraphernalia disappearing.  I have also run into issues with spontaneous urination and poops which I don’t really want to deal with.  As a matter of fact, just getting some of the photo ops I use for my website, has led to some rather sticky keys.  Currently, the left shift key requires a double tap in order to pop it back into place.  I have now developed a technique to do this mid-typing, but for a while it was quite cumbersome.  Being a software kinda guy, I try to avoid hardware issues.  I really don’t want to tear my laptop apart and clean up behind the keyboard.

So for now, I keep my Inforat close, but not too close.  He is now about a year old, and already getting gray fur.  Makes him seem even wiser.  For those who are curious, he is Dumbo rat.  Named after the large ears he totes around.  They are actually domesticated rats breed for specific characteristics, also known as fancy rats.  In his case, the bigger ears, and larger size in general.  So Buddy has become sort of an iconic critter.  A mascot, a logo, a pet, and my buddy.

I am a 36-year-old father with two daughters ages 7 and 9.  I have managed to lose my kids twice since their conception.  Yes, Moms, I actually misplaced, as in, completely had no idea where my kids were.

The first slip-up, my oldest daughter had just turned five.  At the time, I was almost a single dad.  My X-wife worked nights and I was charged with the nightly task of feeding, bathing, beating, and rushing off to bed my little ones.  Each and every evening was a battle of wits and perseverance.  4 or 5 bathroom runs, one more bedtime story, or something of the utmost importance would always hamper a speedy departure to dreamland.

On this night, as always, I sternly announced the approaching nighty-nite time 15 minutes prior.  As they watched TV, curled up on the couch, I let the dog out the back for his last bathroom break of the night.   I returned, and found that my oldest was gone.  Assuming she went off to her room to play, I sat down with my youngest who had already fallen fast asleep beside me.  Time for bed came, I tossed my youngest over my shoulder and headed to their room.  I realized that the lights where not on, and my oldest was nowhere to be found.

As I began the relaxed search, I realized that the front door was unlocked.  This was the time in their lives when they learned the tricks of the door lock and where frequently running out without permission.  Always caught them quickly, and it was always during normal active hours.  My heart took a little thump.  I looked up and down the yard and walked to the front and back of the house quickly.  No one in site.  I went back in the house and looked throughout, back to the bedroom for a quick peak.  Nothing.  Out to the garage…nothing.  Back outside, now calling her name, inside and out…Nothing.  Concern turns to anger, anger to really worried, worried began to turn into panic as time went by.  Parents, you know the feeling.  I called their Mother and explained.  While trying to keep her calm but hoping for some kind of guidance, a thought popped into my head…The Ditch!

Behind my house was an easement and I immediately had a vision of her falling in and getting stuck facedown in the mud.  I hung up and called 911 as I ran outside again.  By this time, I’m in full-blown panic mode.  The operator was calm and assured me that the police where on their way and walked me through describing the events to this point.  As I told her everything including my fear of the water behind the house, officers where already showing up and apparently she was relaying all info to them because they had spot lights and flashlights directed all around, with emphasis on the ditch.

The operator had me return inside again and go back to the girls room one more time.  I, of course, explained that I already checked there, but followed her instruction anyway.  As I was emphatically expressing the necessity to be outside aiding the search and recovery mission, I placed a hand on the top bunk, over the crumpled up comforter and felt a bump…a leg, a body!  I pulled the blanket down, and there, fast asleep, was my daughter.  She had manipulated the blanket so, and rolled up into such a tight ball under them, that it seemed the blanket was just crumpled up in the back corner of the bed.

Needless to say, but panic turned to immediate embarrassment.  After the entire county’s search and rescue squad verified that the missing child was, in fact, in bed, I felt the need to explain to the operator that my girls had never, not once, not ever gone to bed on their own!  I could sense the mind-waves through the phone; “Yeh, just an inexperienced Dad.  Unbelievable!..”

Now the second time I lost one of my girls, it was my youngest, and only about 6 months ago.  This time though, I lost her and my girlfriends youngest daughter as well.  Well, WE lost them.  Between both of us, we have 4 girls ages 5 to 10.  When together, they typically pair up; the 2 youngest and the 2 oldest.  Apparently, on this day, the big sister and buddy system rules we have in-place fell apart.  The two youngest went missing.  Turns out they were a few houses down with the neighbors kids watching television inside.  Failed to tell the big sisters or us of the plans.  Yes, the cops were involved again along with almost every concerned neighbor.  Results of this lost daughter incident was a firm but loving spanking and a nice intimidating talk by the police officer.

As parents, we are stricken with grief, frustration, and fear when we hear of a lost child.  I cringe at every News broadcast in relation to.  As a father, my heart is torn a few more times to hear word of a missing girl.  I CAN imagine what its like and it scares and chills me to the core.  We are their protectors.  So when it comes to missing children, I urge everyone to help the cause by doing your part to actively prevent crimes against children.  Amber Alerts can be added to websites, both real-time and RSS feeds.  If you look at my side panel, you will see an Amber Alert feed for Florida.  I add this to all my blogs, and ask that you do the same.

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BBQ sauce is a mix of stuff.  Stuff!  It didn’t come off the BBQ sauce making tree, it was all mixed up with stuff in the kitchen.  So here’s a few ideas for makin’ some po’ man sauces with what you have in the kitchen

BBQ SAUCE:  BBQ sauce has some basic ingredients always or usually always used.  If you have some or all of these in some combination, you can make a BBQ sauce from scratch.

• Tomato Base:  Ketchup, Tomato Sauce, Tomato Paste (add water).  Something tomato-ee.  Yes, tomatoes are tomato-ee!!  If you have tomatoes, stew them then mash into a sauce….
• Brown Sugar:  Brown sugar, simple, but if you don’t have, try another sweetener.  Molasses, syrup, white sugar, cane sugar syrup, whatever.  Something sweet, just don’t use equal or sweet-n-low.
• Oil:  Some kind of oil, use vegetable, olive, canola, whatever.  This is your consistency support, so is also important.  I have even heard of people using lard or animal fat by-product (grease).  This is good too, but will not keep as long of course.
• Vinegar:  This is what gives your sauce tang.  White, Apple Cider, Red wine, balsamic, whatever.  If you can’t find, I have actually used pickled jalapeno juice (like jalapeno slices in a jar).  It works and gives a little kick.  I don’t recommend regular pickle juice.  Didnt work out so well.  Add till you just have a slight vinegary tang, since some vinegars are more diluted or more acidic than others.

That covers your basic core BBQ sauce requirements.  Now the bells and whistles.  Add bits and pieces of more stuff to get the taste you want.

• Onion, minced
• Garlic, pressed and/or minced
• Worcestershire Sauce
• jalapeno or other spicy pepper, Minced
• Beer
• Mustard
• Salt, Pepper, Garlic Powder, Chili Powder, cinnamon, curry etc.

Start with your core ingredients except the vinegar and blend well till you have a good BBQ sauce consistency, bring to a very low simmer, and add small amounts of your other ingredients to a taste you and the other professional taste testers in your kitchen agree upon.  I would recommend using your fingers for tasting to ensure back-yard, finger lickin’ good quality.  If you have beer, use in place of water when thinning your sauce.  Add the vinegar towards the end to bring the sauce to tanginess

Carolina BBQ Sauce:  This is an old school abbreviated basting solution, and is primarily only used for pork.  Works real well if doing a whole-pig roast:  Simple – Apple Cider Vinegar and Crushed peppers of all sorts.  Blend, and refrigerate for a couple of days then baste your meats!  Can also use as a dip like an Auju Sauce.  Yummmalicious!

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Fancy Smancy Restaurant sauces

Ever go to a restaurant and they have all these fancy combination type sauces that you’re like “mmm, this is good!” at.  Most of those were made by….drum roll……combining everyday normal ingredients!  Here’s a few delicious simple ones

• Honey Mustard:  Hmmmm, lets see, yeh combine honey and mustard.
• Wasabi Ranch:  Combine wasabi and ranch dressing.  I recommend the more paste like wasabi, but powder will work as well
• jalapeno Ranch:  Blend some canned jalapeno or cut/dice/mash as much as possible and combine with ranch dressing.
• Tartar Sauce:  Mayonnaise, Pickled Relish, Lemon Juice, Salt and Pepper to taste…VOILA!
• Buffalo Style Wing Sauce:  Louisiana Hot Sauce, Stick o’ butter, Package of Italian Dressing Mix.

A couple of other things:

Ketchup and Mustard mixed is called Ketchard

Ketchup and Mayonnaise mixed is called by a few names including Pink Sauce, Fry Sauce, or Marie Rose sauce