Archive for July, 2006
July 27, 2006 at 3:36 pm · Filed under Tea
Looking at my tea stash, I might have to make a run in the next 2 months, so I thought I’d compile a list of each one I’ve tried for reference. I typically enjoy one cup in the morning or in the afternoon each day.
I’ve stopped using the orange tea ball that Ceej got me. I think you get the best flavor when the leaves sit openly in the water. This gives the leaves full room to expand and enrich the water with flavoring. So, I’ve been using the tea mug I got from Adagio Teas for everything. My general steep time is 3 min, unless the tea specifies longer.
- Star of Persia – A traditional full bodied black tea. Accented with ruby sugar crystals, lightly sweet.
- Snow Monkey Plum – This distinctive black tea flavored with the delicate sweet essence of sacred plum.
- English Breakfast – The English required a tea strong enough to wash down their beloved Fry-up, a typical morning fare of fried bacon, sausage, mushroom, eggs and tomato.
- Ceeylon Orange Pekoe – Long, thin, wiry leaves that sometimes contain leaf buds. The liquor is light to dark in color.
- Genmai cha – Japanese green tea with roasted and popped brown rice added, lightly tart and toasted flower in a green liquor.
- Sencha Overture – This tea extracts a pale green liquor with a mellow grassy aroma.
- Green Pekoe – Its thin, wavy leaves produce a light cup with a smooth, mellow taste and a gentle, soothing aroma.
- Chamomile – Chamomile continues to be used today to battle illness, promote calm and relieve anxiety at bedtime.
- Jasmine – Delicately sweet, laced with jasmine flowers, top grade from China.
- Peppermint – Dried peppermint leaves to make a minty, refreshing drink that is highly satisfying both hot and cold.
- Pu erh – The earthy taste is not subtle. Chances are, you’ll either love it or hate it.
I think all of them have their own unique pros. Genmai cha and Sencha Overture are two of my favorites. But, I think I still have traces of Pu erh in my teeth. Yuck City.
July 23, 2006 at 5:24 pm · Filed under Lifestyle
Went to the beach today with my roomate. I used sunblock but forgot to lather up my feet. So, now, its mandatory that I say “Ouch” everytime I walk.
Went to the library yesterday. Around the street, they were organizing a “disability pride parade.” Pride parade? I dont remember being disabled as a lifestyle choice. Whatever. Walk on by, wave your flag, and smile.
Checked out Breakfast of Champions and Cat’s Cradle, both by Kurt Vonnegut. Here’s why the library sucks. I did a search for these books using their computer system. It gave me a call number, PN 4948… But the fiction books are orgaized by author, FIC VONN.
Watched Ceej’s recommendation of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Now, I’m a believer that good tv is still out there. The major networks just dont have the guts to show it. Seriously, hillarity ensued.
I missed my afternoon siesta. Now, me sleepy.
July 18, 2006 at 1:46 pm · Filed under Lifestyle
Last night, I was cozily about to fall asleep on the couch. I was listening to Nightly Business Report (~11:30). All of a sudden, the TV, the fan, and AC all turned. My initial reaction was gosh darnnit, The circuit must have blew out. Then, I noticed the street light were out. The entire neighborhood had lost power. I looked outside and realized that it was storming really hard. I walked around the apartment, and rain was blowing 3 feet into the kitchen. I closed the windows a bit, and I should also mention that it was one of the hottest days of summer. It was night time and in the 90s. Eventually, the storm let up, and I opened the windows again. It had stopped raining, but there were large burst of lightning. Much of the neighborhood had gone outside to watch, and did I mention it was god awfully HOT. I opened up some more windows, but I didn’t fall asleep until 2.
In the morning, I got woken up by my roommate. Before work, he went and bought some ice to put most of the perishables in coolers. Then, I fell back to sleep. I woke up again around at 10:30AM. It was significantly less hot today and bearable. I debated going to the library and spending the whole day there (which I’m here now.) Before, I left the power did come back on. So, that’s a load off. The internet was still off and hopefully shouldn’t be long before its running again. So, I still might spend the rest of the day downtown. Maybe get some McD’s and read a book or three.
July 16, 2006 at 5:51 pm · Filed under Lifestyle
Ceej said: “It’s way funnier, but who knows you may get praise for cleaning up the yard, alley, or whatever…..or even better….get a really funny story out of it.”
Clear:) said: “Ceej definitely has a point that blogging about it is funnier, but you might even get more material by just doing something.”
Tomorrow, I’m going to hang out downtown with a cardboard sign. It will read “Will Work 4 Blog Inspiration.”
July 16, 2006 at 1:21 pm · Filed under Finance
I read a lot of financial news, and I thought I should open a new category on my blog towards finance. This is an article I found in Fidelity about CDs and why they’re good right now.
In case you haven’t noticed, interest rates have been on the upswing in recent years—and that’s good news if you’re investing in certificates of deposit (CDs).
CDs are debt instruments offered by commercial banks, thrifts, and brokerages to raise funds for their business activities. Typically, investors lock in the market interest rate at the time of purchase, which is fixed for the term of the CD.
Many investors buy CDs directly from banks, but you might consider an alternative—so-called brokerage CDs. These are issued by banks but sold through brokerage firms.
Here are some current comparisons of what banks are offering:
|
CD Maturity |
Annual Rate |
Percentage Yield |
| USBank |
15 months |
5.25% |
Annual & Maturity |
| ING Direct |
12 months |
5.25% |
Monthly or Maturity |
| Fidelity |
6 months |
5.25% |
Maturity |
More CDs are offered, but these were the specifics of an annual rate of 5.25%. I’ve seen some CDs as high as 5.6%, but the maturity is 5 years. USBank and ING are banks that issue their own CDs, while Fidelity is a brokerage firm that offers Bank’s CDs. That’s why you can find shorter term CDs, better rates, and varieties. So, check around.
It’s important to note that when you a buy a CD you lock in that rate for the given maturity period. If you close it early, you can be charged fees. ING can distribute the dividends in monthly increments, which is good. That money will be put back in your savings account with them. It currently earns 4.35 %.
So, if you have some money laying around, you may think about a fixed income such as CDs. I myself bought a 6 month CD from ING last October. I locked in a rate of 4.2 %. But with the Fed raising rates, you can easily get 5.25%. The Fed is rumored to raise rates again in August to 5.5%.
Next entries »
