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Need a Funnel?

By
Edel Alon
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0

One day I was in the middle of cleaning up and I needed a funnel for something. All my funnels were in the dirty dishes pile and I didn’t feel like washing just yet. Normally, I’d create some funnel out of aluminum foil in the shape of a funnel. I’ve also made a cone from a sheet of paper.

Recently I was throwing away some of my bills (I don’t like bills) and I noticed this big stack of envelopes. I felt as if a lightbulb turned on above my head.

I use plastic bags as piping bags…plastic bags look like envelopes…if I cut the end off an envelope, I’ll have funnel.

Funnel out of an envelope

Ingredients:
Envelopes (preferably from a company who asked you to mail them a check)

Directions:
Take your old envelopes, cut a corner to fit whatever you’re funneling into, pour.

Notes: This works with most cooled liquids too.

James V. Espaldon, Fil-Am Senator of Guam

By
Edel Alon
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0

Jim EspaldonThe Asian Journal recently highlighted one of Guam’s senators as part of their Voice of Fil-America series. Check it out: https://www.asianjournal.com/voice-of-fil-america/72-voice-of-fil-america/1839-james-v-espaldon-fil-am-senator-of-guam.html

It’s pretty cool to see his bio listed on Asian Journal. I thought I should show you some of the bills that were authored by him:

6/6/2008 – Bill No. 314 (EC) by Espaldon, Barnes, Palacios
Relative to Historical Objects & Sites on Guam
An act to amend §76212 of Title 21, Guam Code Annotated, relative to specifying the depository for all remains and objects; and to add a new Subsection (e) to §76511 of Title 21, Guam Code Annotated, relative to the penalties for failure to comply with a certificate of approval.

6/6/2008 – Bill 313 (EC) by Espaldon, Palacios, Guthertz,
Relative to Boxing, Wrestling & MMA on Guam
Bill No. 313 (EC) – J.V. Espaldon / A.B. Palacios, Sr. / J P. Guthertz, DPA / T.R. Muña-Barnes <p> An act to repeal Chapter 41 of Title 22, Guam Code Annotated, relative to the Guam Boxing and Wrestling Commission; to add a new Chapter 7 to Title 11, Guam Code Annotated, relative to “Unarmed Combat” and establishing the Guam…

5/22/2008 – Bill No. 303 (EC) By Espaldon, Blas
Relative to the Streetlight fund debt
An act to prioritize the payment of the Government of Guam’s General Fund Defict to ensure that the payment for streetlight arrearages owed to the Gam Power Authority is paid expeditiously.

5/13/2008 – Bill No. 298(EC) by Espaldon, Barnes, Respicio
Relative to zoning unzoned property
An act to zone the previously unzoned Lot Number 5327 in the municipality of Dededo to Light Industrial (“M-1”) Zone.

5/6/2008 – Bill 288 (EC) by Espaldon, Shimizu, Cruz, Ishizak
Provide magistrates and satellite court facilities
Bill 288 (EC) by Espaldon, Shimizu, Cruz, Ishizaki and RespicioAn act to provide for the appointment of Magistrates and Judicial Hearings Division Hearings Officers within the Judiciary of Guam and to provide for the creation of satellite court facilities.

3/10/2008 – Bill 233 (LS) Espaldon, Ishizaki, Calvo, Palacios
Mandating Fuel-efficient GovGuam vehicles
AN ACT TO ADD A NEW §(e) TO §5123 OF CHAPTER 5, TITLE 5, GUAM CODE ANNOTATED, RELATIVE TO MANDATING THE PURCHASE OR LEASE OF GOVERNMENT OF GUAM VEHICLES THAT HAVE A MINIMUM AVERAGE COMBINED MILES PER GALLON (MPG) OF TWENTY-FIVE MILES PER GALLON (25 MPG); TO ADD A NEW §(f) TO §5123 OF CHAPTER 5, TITLE 5, GUAM CODE ANNOTATED, TO…

3/10/2008 – Bill No. 232 (LS) by Espaldon, Ishizaki, Palacios
Prison Industries Act
AN ACT TO ADD A NEW §90.50 TO CHAPTER 90, ARTICLE 1 OF TITLE 9, GUAM CODE ANNOTATED, AUTHORIZING THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS TO ESTABLISH PRISON INDUSTRIES; TO ADD A NEW §90.55 TO CHAPTER 90, ARTICLE 1 OF TITLE 9, GUAM CODE ANNOTATED TO CREATE THE PRISON INDUSTRIES REVOLVING FUND; AND, TO CITE THIS ACT AS THE “PRISON INDUSTRIES…

2/13/2008 – Bill 213 (LS) by Sen. Espaldon
Monies directed for Pale San Vitores Road.
An act to amend §§17 of the “Exhibit B” attachment to §22958 of Article 10, Chapter 22, Division 2 of Title 5, Guam Code Annotated, Providing Six Million Dollars ($6,000,000.00) for the reconstruction of Pale San Vitores Road.

7/24/2007 – Bill No. 156 (EC) by Espaldon, Palacios, Blas
Relative to protecting and recovering property
An act to repeal and reenact Chapter 74 of Title 11 of the Guam Code Annotated relative to protecting and recovering property owned by utilities, telecommunications companies, government entities, construction firms, and other parties. Received: 7/24/07 – 1:45 p.m.

6/13/2007 – Bill No. 130 (EC): by Espaldon, Blas,
“The Guam Pesticides Act”
An act to repeal and reenact Chapter 50 of Title 10 of the Guam Code Annotated relative to the Guam Pesticides Act.Received: 6/13/07 – 1:59 p.m.

6/13/2007 – Bill No. 131 (EC) by Espaldon
Relative to recording grand jury proceedings
An act to amend §50.38 of Chapter 50 of Title 8 Guam Code Annotated relative to recording grand jury proceedings. 6/13/07 – 1:59 p.m.

5/22/2007 – Bill No. 112 (EC) by Espaldon, Unpingco
Masso Reservoir fresh water fishing grounds
An act to authorize I Maga’Lahen Guåhan to issue a temporary easement for a period not to exceed three years to facilitate the ongoing efforts to create the Masso Reservoir fresh water fishing grounds. Received: 5/22/07 – 4:41 p.m.

4/19/2007 – Bill No. 97 (LS) by Espaldon, Won Pat, Muna-Barnes

Relative to court issued protective orders.
An act to amend Section 40105(b) of Chapter 40, Title 7, Guam Code Annotated relative to providing flexibility to the courts in the issuance of protective orders.Received: 4/19/07 – 10:06 p.m.

3/2/2007 – Bill No. 59 (EC) by Espaldon, Forbes, Lujan
Relative to an unzoned lot
An act to zone the previously unzone LOT NOS. 5328-5NEW-R2, 5328-R6NEW-R2 and 5328-6, all in the municipality of Dededo to Light Industrial (“M-1”) Zone.Received: 3/2/07 – 4:54 p.m.

3/1/2007 – Bill No. 58 (EC) by Espaldon
Relative to Solid Waste Management.
An act to repeal and reenact §51101, §51102, §51103, §51104, §51110, §51111, §51118, §51119 of Article 1, Chapter 51 of Division 2, Title 10 Guam Code Annotated relative to Solid Waste Management.Received: 3/1/07 – 4:19 p.m.

Census Bureau Announces Guam Economy Grew by 36 Percent in Sales Between 2002 and 2007

By
Edel Alon
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0

Maybe it’s time for me to move back to Guam.  I saw this article and now with the military buildup it looks like there might be room for me rake some of it in.

Take a look at this news release:

WASHINGTON, May 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Guam’s economy generated $6.2 billion in sales in 2007, up from $4.6 billion in 2002, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2007 Economic Census of Island Areas: Geographic Area Series for Guam.

The economic census profiles Guam’s economy every 5 years. In 2007, Guam had 3,143 businesses with paid employees. These businesses employed 52,394 people and accounted for $1.1 billion in annual payroll. This compares with 2002, when Guam had 2,926 employer businesses, with 43,104 employees and an annual payroll of $846 million.

The 2007 census data include statistics for Guam and its 19 election districts for businesses with paid employees. Guam is a U.S. territory in the western Pacific Ocean.

Other findings:

  • In 2007, the retail trade sector in Guam accounted for $1.6 billion in sales, employed 8,219 people and paid $150 million in annual payroll. This compared with 2002, when the sector saw sales of $1.3 billion, employed 7,402 people and had an annual payroll of $123 million.
  • The largest share of retail sales in Guam was found in general merchandise stores ($334 million) and food and beverage stores ($327 million). In 2002, general merchandise stores sales were $299 million and food and beverage stores sales were $259 million.
  • Businesses in the Tamuning election district reported $3.6 billion in total sales – more than 57 percent of total sales in 2007, compared with $2.7 billion in 2002.
  • Guam had 193 businesses with 50 or more employees in 2007, representing 6 percent of all businesses. These businesses accounted for 57 percent ($3.6 billion) of total sales. In 2002, there were 169 businesses with 50 or more employees, accounting for $2.2 billion in total sales.

These data for Guam are available through the Census Bureau’s American FactFinder, an online data tool that allows users to access, filter, manipulate and extract data. Data for the Northern Mariana Islands were released in March 2009. Data for the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa and Puerto Rico will be released between July 2009 and September 2010. More information about the Economic Census of Island Areas is available at http://www.census.gov/econ/islandareas/index.html.

Editor’s note: More information about the 2007 Economic Census of Island Areas can be found at http://www.census.gov/econ/islandareas/index.html. For information on confidentiality protection, nonsampling error and definitions, see the Methodology description at http://www.census.gov/econ/islandareas/methodology.html.

Now I’m craving some island food.

Guam birds: Guam Rail and Micronesian Kingfisher

By
Edel Alon
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0

Where have all the Guam birds gone?  Probably to the snakes and other predators out there.  Recently in St. Louis Zoo, a baby Kingfisher was born and then brought to Guam.  There’s a new player out there in the race to bring back Guam birds–the Philadelphia Zoo.

Now, as the Philadelphia Zoo prepares for Saturday’s opening of its new McNeil Avian Center, a $17.5 million reinvention of the original facility, vice president Andy Baker hopes the story will have a happier ending for at least two species in its care: the Guam rail and the Micronesian kingfisher.

Both species, native to Guam, are extinct in the wild. But the Philadelphia Zoo is participating in a captive-breeding program to bolster the population and reintroduce some of the birds into their native habitat.

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/health_science/daily/20090525_Breeding_hope.html

They even built a cool looking exhibit in preparation.  It’s amazing what $17.5 million can do.  Right now there are 103 Guam Kingfishers in zoos across the US and they are slowing introducing the Rails back to Guam.  These efforts are amazing (I’m still hooked on the $17.5 million and probably more when we think of the other zoos out there).  What’s exciting is that these developments along with the Guam buildup for the military will put Guam on the map.  We just need a way to get rid of the snakes.  Sorry, I keep thinking mongoose.

Memorial Day…

By
Edel Alon
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0

Every once in a while I’ll read some story about WWII or Vietnam vets and their heart felt stories of love, life, war, and survival.  I found this story today as part of the Memorial Day celebrations.

Twins fought in the Pacific, survived, together…

The shipped out to Hawaii for training for the Guam invasion, although they didn’t know at the time they were headed for Guam.

After a week at sea, the 77th Division invaded Guam on July 23, 1944. The Higgins boat carrying the twins landed on the beachhead under fire.

The battle for Guam lasted nearly a month and a half. The brothers stayed in the same foxholes but split up in battle so they wouldn’t be killed together. Sammy was wounded by shrapnel and would have been awarded a Purple Heart, but refused out of respect for those who lost a limb, or more, in the battles. And, after one battle, Artie discovered a bullet hole in his fatigues.

When Guam was finally secured, the 77th left for New Caledonia near Australia for rehabilitation, but before they arrived, the Pacific command shipped them to Leyte to help with the invasion that was underway. The 77th landed in Ormach on the side of the island opposite the established beachhead, with the mission to fight across the island and meet allied forces on the other side, cutting the island in two for the Japanese. The Japanese called in reinforcements and U.S. troops were bombed and strafed.

Read the whole article…

Guam Baseball

By
Edel Alon
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0

Skip Rozin had it right when he said, “Guam — Baseball Diamond in the Rough.”  I totally feel him on this.  Think about all the other island countries that send their players to the MLB.  It’s great that Skip highlighted Guam’s son, John Hattig, in the Wall Street Journal.  I think Skip’s right.  Baseball on Guam can develop.

It’s puzzling given Guam’s American ties — it is a U.S. territory, host to a Naval and an Air Force base — and its conditions ideal for baseball: perpetual summer and residents who crave the outdoors. Yet despite the fact that Guam has been playing baseball for more than a century, most locals instead choose to pursue outrigger-canoe racing, soccer, and diving in the crystal-clear Pacific waters, or relaxing at day-long barbecues.

I think the move of the Marines and other forces to Guam will definitely increase the visibility of the sport.

Remote Desktop

By
Edel Alon
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0

A friend of mine asked for simple instructions on how to do Remote Desktop on Windows XP.  Here’s the PDF file: XP Remote Desktop

 

Divide and Conquer

By
Edel Alon
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0

I recently went on a field trip with ninety 4th graders and roughly sixteen or so adults.  The field trip lasted 3 days and 2 nights where I had to bunk with 4 boys during the nights.  Lucky for me I knew two of them very well.  And I knew that both of them had very strong personalities that can quickly go against each other.

I think of strategies of crowd control all the time.  Lucky for me, I read some snippets from the Art of War .

Knowing that I had two strong personalities/leaders in the room, I decided to divide them and give them some power to control.  One of them was Red Leader 1 and the other Blue Leader 1.  Each of them got one of the other boys.  I’m trying to empower these kids with leadership skills and give them to those who are lacking.  The followers were named Red Leader 2 and Blue Leader 2.  Yes, I left the leader in there to help boost their self-confidence.

Now, this did a couple things that I didn’t even think it was going to do:

  • The Leader 1s started to follow all the rules and made sure that their followers were following.
  • The Leader 2s followed.
  • The Leader 1s were competitive where they tried to make sure their team was the best.

I slept well.  The next day, I switch it around where the followers were now the leaders.  I was hoping that the leaders would understand how they were treating the followers and then have the tides turn on them.  And it sure did.  The leaders realized how they were doing things and didn’t like it when they were the followers.  The followers became a little more self-confident to a point they were giving orders to their former leaders.

On day 3, I switched them up again.  The boys were a little more controlled with their orders they gave and were more understanding of the followers.

I was talking with one of the other dads.  His technique was to find the leader of the room and just control that one.

Handbrake.fr

By
Edel Alon
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2

When the iPhone and video iPods came out a friend of mine was asking me about how to copy movies so they work on them. My initial response was to buy the movies from iTunes. I got the same look when I told someone I bought a Windows 95 license. After doing some research, I found a couple of burners out there but none of them were very Mac OS X friendly.

Then I found HandBrake: http://handbrake.fr/.

This application is really easy to use. You pop in your DVD, click the settings you want to burn for (Apple TV, iPhone, iPod, PSP, etc…) and click start. In a few minutes or so you’ll have a video ready for any of your portable devices. So now what? The kids can watch their movies without draining my battery life on my laptop (this is a huge plus).

The quality is good. I’ve only been burning movies for the iPhone. When I play them on the iPhone it works out great. When I play it through iTunes, the sound quality is a little on the low end but again, I burned it specifically for the iPhone. I’m sure if I adjust the settings I can get better sound out of it.

Give it a try and let me know what you think.

Goat Milk Ice Cream

By
Edel Alon
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0

I’ve been on a goat milk ice cream kick for about 2 years now. I was first introduced to goat milk ice cream on a trip to Napa valley where I had a small carton of LaLoo’s Goat’s Milk Ice Cream. I was very skiddish at first but I figured since I eat goat meat I should be able to handle this.

Oh, the flavor–vanilla. I tried the first spoonful. It was delicious and didn’t have the heaviness in regular ice cream. There’s a gamey taste to goat and you get the same taste in the ice cream. It’s not over powering but just enough to let you know that this isn’t cow’s milk. The overall texture is smooth but that could be from how it was made. I kept eating away at it. Now, I’m a tad bit lactose intolerant and the goat milk ice cream didn’t churn my stomach at all. I was surprised.

So why am I writing about this now?

I tried a new flavor! Deep Chocolate: Rich Dark Chocloate Ganache Volcanic Black Cocoa with Raw Bittersweet Coco

Deep Chocolate Deep Chocolate Lid

The flavor is amazing. Or I’m sold on the description of it. When I first bit into this ice cream I didn’t get the goat milk taste. It took a while, maybe on the 3rd spoonful or so.

The taste is like the first time you had a Dove chocolate with the many complex chocolate flavors that covered your tongue. Same goes with this ice cream. There are so many flavors that each bite takes a while to hit your brain. It’s too late when you finally realize you are in chocolate heaven because you’ll be on your second spoonful.

Check them out: http://www.laloos.com/

Send me a message on the flavors you’ve tried. Have any recipes?

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Welcome to the curated chaos of curiosity and creativity—brought to you by Edel Alon: maker, thinker, and hands-on problem-solver. This blog is part journal, part resource hub, and entirely dedicated to the art of doing. From culinary experiments and car tinkering to tech deep dives and DIY builds, you'll find stories, guides, reviews, and reflections designed to inspire, inform, and occasionally make you laugh (or at least raise an eyebrow). It's a celebration of learning by doing—with a few detours along the way.

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