Starbucks Prices Increased
I haven’t stopped by a Starbucks for a few days so I haven’t experienced the price increase. But if you’re wondering whether the prices seem different, apparently they’re 1% more.
Call It a Comeback
Sorry, LL Cool J, but this indeed is a comeback with Twinkies returning to the shelves in mid-July. Heck, even the boxes will be emblazoned with the phrase:
The Sweetest Comeback In The History Of Ever
So go ahead and indulge on those Twinkies you stockpiled. Don’t worry about that 45-day expiration window – still good, especially when stirring coffee.
What Happened to the Dried Cherries?
Seems like both Costco and Sam’s Club both stopped carrying tart dried cherries. These are a good addition to morning oatmeal, but I haven’t seen them in months. Let’s see how these Stoneridge Orchards Whole Dried Tart Montmorency Cherries
Testing Embedding Instagram Videos
With some work, it is possible to embed Instagram videos outside of the Instagram service.
Download video: MP4 format
Using the Embed.ly method seems easier and offers analytics, but for testing purposes, this is just fine. I think our microwave oven needs to be rebalanced, and that’s just 15 seconds of your life that you ain’t getting back. 😉
Buttery Coffee, Yum
Adding butter to coffee? Say what? And it could be beneficial to your health? Feel more energetic and lose weight by downing buttered coffee?
Sounds too good to be true.
I’m Getting a Trenta
Assuming the Trenta size still exists, I’m gonna get a Trenta-sized drink from Starbucks before they put up their new menus showing calories. Yeah, I know the nutritional information is already available online or via the Starbucks app, but seeing the calories right in front of you is more sobering.
Trenta up!
Scratch Magic Draw
Fun for ages 5 to 95. Acid and lignin free. Make sure you get the “boards” versus the sheets. Lots of complaints that the sheets are just too thin, making them easy to mar simply by handling them.
Buy the Scratch Art Magic Draw
Making the Sony HT-CT260 Sound Bar Work with Oceanic Cable
My pops wanted better sound to match his HDTV broadcasts from Oceanic Cable. But when The Wire Cutter says no to home theaters in a box and endorses Sony’s HT-CT260 sound bar then you heed their researched advice. Unfortunately, the CT260 was out of stock at Amazon.com. Fortunately, Best Buys in Hawaii just received their shipment, and the regular price is the same as Amazon’s. So there we have it, an instant Father’s Day gift.
Now the setup… The Wire Cutter is correct. Setting up the sound bar was easy since the subwoofer is wireless. Configuring the sound bar to work with the television and cable box was another ordeal. The Oceanic provided Scientific Atlanta cable box has a digital optical out that connects to the Sony sound bar, but sound is still sent to the other outputs as well. This causes problems with the television’s audio. With the sound bar in play, I don’t want sound coming through the tinny television speakers. The television’s volume needs to stay at 0 while volume control needs to go to the sound bar and not the television.
The solution is two-fold. Configure the cable remote to control the sound bar and change the channel volume lock. On the remote, I configured the AUD button to control the sound bar. I believe the Sony code for the CT260 is 1759. If you can power on/off the sound bar and control the volume from the cable remote then you got it right.
Next, remap the remote’s audio controls from the television to the sound bar. That’s the function of the channel volume lock. Follow the instructions for “Locking Volume Control to One Mode.” When you change the volume, the remote changes control to the AUD configured device. When changing channels, the remote switches back to TV (or CBL). And that’s what we want – audio exclusively through the sound bar and one remote to control it all (television, cable box, sound bar).
Jay-Z Favoring the Samsung Galaxy
Well, there goes the iPhone/iOS hip hop neighborhood. Jay-Z has a new release dropping on July 4, and if you’re a Samsung Galaxy device kind of music lover, then you can download Magna Carta Holy Grail for free. Using the Magna Carta Holy Grail app, the first million Galaxy users can partake of the Holy Grail.
Go to http://magnacartahol​ygrail.com for more info.
A Belated Father’s Day Surprise from LEGO
Well, one day post Father’s Day, but as a LEGO fanatic, do you really care? LEGO VIP members can now purchase the massive Tower of Orthanc from Lord of the Rings. With more than 2300 pieces, it may take the rest of June to finish this set which becomes publicly available starting July. Five minifigures, an Ent, a Great Eagle, and all the black bricks a LEGO Dad will ever need.
As part of this early release promotion, you’ll also get a Tower of Orthanc poster, and since this set is $200, it qualifies for the free Superman Jor-El minifigure. Bonus!
Sargeant Shaka Shirt
Didn’t see the subtle chevron patterns behind the classic Sharka. Hence “Sargeant” Shaka. Click on the image for more details.
How Does This Complete the Look?!
Checking out Nordstrom’s half-yearly sale online, I saw these Nike LunarRidge OMS sneaker/boots. They’re kinda interesting, matching up the outdoors with Nike Lunar technology. They’re even more appealing at 33% off, but alas, common sizes are sold out.
Scrolling down on the shoe’s page, Nordstrom.com recommend this to “complete the look.” Really? I don’t understand how Nike Combat Core boxer briefs finishes off the look of the LunarRidge. Perhaps both the LunarRidge and Core briefs follow the description of “Breathable mesh panels allow for maximum cooling…” I don’t know what else could be common factors. I mean the colors of the shoes and boxers don’t even match!