Clay Aiken’s “Something About Us”

One of the pleasures of listening to Clay’s On My Way Here is that it features a variety of sounds, from songs which are more pop to songs that have rock, r&b, or jazz influences, like “Something About Us” (Track 4).

I have to be honest. I first heard “Something About Us” when snippets from the CDs were put up on an online retailer’s site, and was a wee bit disappointed. I thought it sounded old. But once I got hold of the CD, and heard the song in its entirety, it became one of my favourite songs on there. The jazzy arrangement complements the deeply romantic lyrics perfectly. And the whole effect is rather cool (not dated at all). Plus LOVE Clay’s vocal work on this song.

For the rest of my post, go here:

http://crookedturret.wordpress.com/2008/05/23/clay-aikens-something-about-us/

Hongbao as Collectibles

For collectors, hongbao packets provide great examples of traditional design motifs. Even more fascinating, the re-interpretation of old designs and introduction of modern graphic ideas reflect how Chinese cultural practices are adapting to modern lifestyles and tastes.

For the rest of my article, go to:
http://hubpages.com/_32wy0v979249g/hub/COLLECTING-HONGBAO

My Favourite Sandwich — Avocado and Tomato

I found this recipe some years ago and it’s still my favourite. Avocado goes sooo well with tomato!

The Avocado-Tomato Sandwich



For the rest of my article, go to:
http://crookedturret.wordpress.com/2008/06/05/my-favourite-sandwich-avocado-and-tomato/

Did you know that non-stick cookware may be dangerous?

I was asked to write an article about choosing a wok recently (interesting experience, actually. I researched the subject, but once I did that, I realised that I actually do know quite a lot about it through using various types of work over the years), and in the process of writing it, I discovered that non-stick may be harmful to your health.

For the rest of my article, go to:
http://crookedturret.wordpress.com/2008/07/12/nonstickcookware/

Another Kitchen Must-Have: The Thermal Cooker

One of the most useful "cookers" we have in our kitchen is a Thermal Cooker. All you have to do is put all the ingredients in the pot, take it to a boil, then leave it to cook some more for a few hours (no electricity required during this phase). And the food from the pot is nicely warm when you're ready to eat.

What is a thermal cooker, how does it work and how do you choose one?

For the rest of my article, go to:
http://hubpages.com/_32wy0v979249g/hub/Another-Kitchen-Must-Have-The-Thermal-Cooking-Pot

Entwined Hearts

I added some of the photos I've taken recently to Triond, and very interesting, this turned out to be the one with the most views:


Link to my Triond page:
http://www.picable.com/Concepts/Love/Entwined-Hearts.156629