Month: December 2012 (Page 5 of 9)

SLAPPA delivers for photographers with the M.A.S.K. DSLR backpack

December 17, 2012 /

As a working photographer who often needs to lug a ton of equipment to my shoots, I was immediately intrigued when I heard about the new DSLR/laptop backpack from our friends at SLAPPA. We haven’t been shy about our love of SLAPPA equipment over the years, in large part because the quality of their gear is hard to beat. This MASK DSLR backpack is no different, with its water-resistant 1680D ballistic nylon outer shell and cushioned interior offering all sorts of protection for the contents inside. And I mean ALL the contents.

As with most SLAPPA bags, you may have a hard time filling all the available space in this backpack, with pockets seemingly on top of pockets inside of just about every nook and cranny of the bag. Inside, the padded divider insert allows for storage of a full collection of lenses and bodies for any pro or amateur photographer, and you can configure that section of the bag to fit your needs. The face of the bag features a pocket designed to give you instant access to your DSLR camera body and up to a 10” lens, and other flaps on the front are perfect for memory cards, spare batteries and other supplies. To top it off, there’s a dedicated pocket in the back of the bag for your 17” laptop and all the cords and chargers you need.

The only downside with this bag is the size which, when fully loaded, makes it more of a travel bag than something you’d carry with you on-site during a shoot, and the divider section is tough to access without completely unzipping the face of the bag. We’d also like to see a locking mechanism for the zippers so you can secure your equipment, but you won’t find many camera backpacks that can match the M.A.S.K.’s versatility and sheer capacity. If you need to get all of your photography gear from Point A to Point B, this is the bag for you. Stylish and comfortable, SLAPPA delivers yet again with this roomy and reliable DSLR/laptop backpack.

Gadgets, Gear, Stuff to Buy, Travel

App of the Week: Christmas HD

December 16, 2012 /

Developer:
DualBoot Games

Compatible with:
Android Systems

Requires:
Android 2.2 and up

Price:

$1.99

Available here

I have a confession for this entrant of app of the week. My choice isn’t really an app at all.

No, friends wait! Put down your torches and pitchforks and hear me out. While not strictly an app, and more of a wallpaper, this entrant is related to Christmas, which I think we call all agree is pretty bad ass.

And you know what? So is this wallpaper. It’s a live wallpaper that comes from the good people at DualBoot Games and is called Christmas HD. As you may have guessed, it’s in celebration of Christmas, and over the course of five screens depicts a home that is decked out with all of the classic decorations. Besides being extremely bright and colorful and active, the wallpaper is also filled with many, many details. You’ve got a calendar that serves as a Christmas countdown that updates every day, a steaming mug of hot chocolate with rising steam, a copy of “Twas the Night Before Christmas” resting on a comfortable lounge chair, snow gently falling outside the window, stockings hanging by the roaring fireplace, and a plate of cookies laid out by a note for Santa just to name a few. No classic sign of the holidays was left by the wayside, and that warm feeling that can only be described as “Christmasy” is impossible to avoid as you scroll through the wallpaper with a childish smile.

What really sells the wallpaper are the customization and interactive options available. Everything from the name on the stockings, to the photo on the mantle, to the message on the note, to the decorations on the trees and more can be customized via the surprisingly deep wallpaper menu which simply lays out a very welcome variety of options for the user. Even better, you can interact with a variety of the items on display in unique and unexpected ways, that will have you touching and swiping all over the layout just to see what may happen.

There’s an almost infinite amount of wallpapers available, and around this time of year, many of them are Christmas related. None of them, however, compare to Christmas HD. It’s vibrant, it’s clever, and it’s absolutely loaded with customizable details, the discovery of which are pleasantly comparable to the experience of opening a Christmas present. It’s constant presence on your phone is a cheerful reminder of the best time of the year, and the amount of fun clearly had making it is instantly recognizable in the amount of fun you will have using it.

For most of the year, this wallpaper may come off as confusing, unnecessary, and somewhat of a bad investment at $1.99. However, it’s hard to think like that when you’re in the heart of “Christmas-mania”, and for this brief time period it’s the best wallpaper money can buy, and makes for a very merry app of the week.

Entertainment

Drink of the Week: The Brooklyn (Canadian Club Sherry Cask Iteration)

December 14, 2012 /

The Brooklyn (Canadian Club Sherry Cask).This probably isn’t the first time, but we’re doing things a bit bass ackward this week.  That’s what happens when someone is nice enough to send something for free along with a recipe, and then that recipe turns out to be a very acceptable variation on a classic which we haven’t gotten to here yet. So, we’re doing the variation first. We’ll get to the “real” drink later.

In the case of this week’s drink, my old friends — and I do mean “friends” — at Canadian Club saw fit to send me another of their very nice off-the-beaten track expressions and one I hadn’t tried before, Canadian Club Sherry Cask. It’s pretty much exactly what you’d expect, a slightly more complex variation on their highly underrated original whiskey. It boasts a very nice sherry finish and just enough extra alcohol to be interesting at 82.6 proof, as opposed to the usual 80 proof. It’s actually very drinkable just on the rocks and I’m sure would work nicely in most of your basic cocktails. It was nice — almost too nice and gentle — in an Old Fashioned. I imagine it would make a delicious Manhattan, but I’ll have to try that one out.

As for this week’s drink, a traditional Brooklyn is made with rye whiskey, a more peppery flavored relatively distant relative of Canadian whiskey. It also features dry vermouth. This version features sweet vermouth, and the proportions are different as well. It’s safe to say that the Canadian Club Brooklyn is a lot sweeter than the classic. I’m sure a lot of people will prefer it.

The Brooklyn (CC Sherry Cask)

1 ounce Canadian Club Sherry Cask Whiskey (Regular Canadian Club might also work, as might rye — but I can’t vouch for them)
3/4 ounce sweet vermouth
1/4 ounce Torani Amer
1/4 ounce Luxardo maraschino liqueur
Maraschino cherry (garnish)

Combine the whiskey, vermouth, Torani Amer, and maraschino liqueur in a cocktail shaker or similar vessel. If you’re a purist stir; if you’re me, shake. Strain into a chilled cocktail over your preferred cocktail cherry. Contemplate the fact that that, considering the way people are constantly tinkering with drinks, there’s no way I’ll ever run out of drinks to write about.

****
Canadian Club Sherry Cask. Now is the time at Drink of the Week when we discuss ingredients and their discontents. For starters, both the classic recipes with dry vermouth and rye and the one I received from Canadian Club contain a little known bittersweet liqueur called Amer Picon.

There are only two problems with this. First, Amer Picon’s recipe has changed so much over the years that some expert mixologists no longer recognize it as a proper ingredient for a Brooklyn. Also, Amer Picon is unavailable in the United States. On the other hand, many consider the 78 proof digestif, Torani Amer, to be far closer to the original Amer Picon recipe…and you can pick it up about $10 or $11 at BevMo. So, I used that.

My first tries were made using the universal fall back sweet vermouth, Martini & Rossi. It was very drinkable, if a bit medicinal…in a good way, I think. Less like Robitussin and more like some of the now forgotten medicines my mom gave me back in the Paleozoic era when rock and roll was still slightly controversial.

Then, as fortune would have it, a long awaited bottle of Carpano Antica Formula Vermouth arrived from another benefactor. We’ll be discussing this stunning fortified beverage again very soon but, trust me, it’s worth the extra money if you’re into sweet vermouth. In this version of a Brooklyn, well, it was kind of perfect. Gone was the pleasant but non-idyllic medicine flavor and in it’s place was a lovely chocolatey undercurrent. This is the way to make this particular drink, I think.

Food & Drink, Lifestyle, Vices

Wanna Get Active? Pick Up A New Sport

December 14, 2012 /

When the new year rolls around most people think about getting in shape, losing a few pounds, or just living a more active lifestyle in general. This is something you can do pretty easily if you pick up a new sport, especially if the sport demands strength and endurance.

Rugby

Rugby has finally moved across the pond and onto the fields of local high schools and parks. It can serve as a good alternative for football with less padding and smaller teams. Less padding, most players just using a mouth guard, allows this sport to be played without having to spend money on lots of extra padding and equipment.

A metro team is usually made up of all willing players in two or three surrounding areas. There are lots of different components that make up a rugby team so new members are always encouraged to join no matter what level their skill set.

Hockey

Hockey is a sport that is hit and miss around the country. Areas that “hit” on hockey are usually the Northeast or anywhere in Canada where locals are seemingly mad for the sport. Then you have warmer climates where the game is less popular or almost unheard of. Playing hockey anywhere in the country is possible and a ton of exercise. Learning how to skate on ice or on a hardwood floor takes practice and effort, but once you start playing you will never want to stop. If you aren’t the type who wants to skate constantly think about playing goalie where you have a lot of downtime mixed in with really intense moments of defending your net.

Practice always makes for a better player particularly when it comes to maneuverability. Purchasing proper equipment, such as skates, hockey masks, sticks and pads is key to both safety and performance on the ice.

Lacrosse

Lacrosse is a more up and coming sport that is a sort of blend of other field sports. It is both a speed and contact sport and so requires a sense of brute finesse. Personal equipment includes upper body padding, a helmet, and a lacrosse stick. This said, men’s and women’s lacrosse rules and regulations vary when it comes to equipment and on field contact. Like rugby, metro teams can pop up instead of individual high school teams, but unlike hockey, all that lacrosse requires is an open field and a couple of nets.

Regardless of what method you try to get in shape during 2013 one of the best is picking up a sport. Combining fun and exercise is a great combo. Even if you only play 1 day a week it is a good change of pace from the gym and something to look forward too, so grab a ball, stick, or whatever and get out there.

Sports

Protecting Your Car From the Elements

December 13, 2012 /

As the harsh winter weather settles in, it’s time to protect your vehicles from the elements. Whether you have a prized vehicle, or just want to protect your family vehicles from the weather, there are things you can do this season to ensure that your mode of transportation does not end up destroyed by the elements that accompany this season. Don not fret about your vehicle making it through this season, you can ensure that it does with these simple options:

Park it in the Garage

Out of all the advice you can receive, this is by far the simplest, yet most overlooked option. Many people use their garage as a storage space while leaving their vehicles unprotected from the elements. Do your spring cleaning a season early and make space for your car in the garage. It’s the perfect place to have the car in your possession and protected from the elements at the same time. You can’t beat that.

Invest in a Quality Car Cover

Some people do not have a garage to put the car into during these harsh months of the year. If you do not have a garage, then you can purchase a high-quality car cover. These covers will keep off the snow and frost that frequently accompany this time of the year. While it may not be as ideal as a garage, especially for vehicles you have to use everyday, it is still a simple, inexpensive solution to your problem.

Store it Away for the Season

This works very well with vehicles that you do not use on a daily basis. Many people have prized, vintage cars that they take to shows or just show-off in around time. While that is incredibly fun, the harsh winter elements may not be the best time of the year to show off your vintage car around town. Instead of taking up space in your garage, or allowing it to collect snow on your driveway in Cincinnati, a temporary car storage place could be beneficial. This type of storage is especially important for some parts of the country. If you live in a place like Cincinnati, you will definitely need a place to protect your prized car from the harsh winter weather.

You do not have to chance your car making it through the winter. Be proactive and take the steps necessary to ensure its safety, despite how awful the weather gets this winter season.

Cars

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