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Highlands Today

I Never Know What Time It Is

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By Norm Cukras | Highlands Today

Published: January 26, 2008

A recent article in the Tampa Tribune spoke to the many "bells and whistles" being offered or soon to be offered in modern autos. A technology company spokesman is quoted as saying "Everybody wants to take their living room with them." Including DVD players and computers? I wonder what ever happened to keeping one's mind on the road?

What was interesting is that with all the gadgets mentioned a simple device like a clock was not included. With everyone's need to be in more than one place at a time and with a GPS to tell them where to go you'd think they would like to know if they will get there on time.

Oh yeah, I do have a clock in my car but it's built into the radio which is inconvenient to look at and, depending on where the sun is, impossible to see in the daylight.

My previous GM car also had the clock-built-into-the-radio feature. I sent the company an e-mail expressing my displeasure with their human engineering. I also questioned the need for four cigarette lighters in the car in the face of overwhelming opposition to smoking unless, of course, the American auto industry was being subsidized by the tobacco industry in light of their falling position in the marketplace.

Since three of the four lighters were in the back seat, I suggested that one be replaced by a clock so I could ask a backseat passenger, when I had one, what time it was. I never heard back from the people who get suggestions although I swear I heard a collective "tsk" when the e-mail was passed around the engineering department. I must admit that the design guys did reduce the number of lighters to three in the newer model of the car. But they didn't go as far as using the space for a remote timepiece.

In my replacement car the clock is still incorporated in the radio and it's still just as inconvenient as well as illegible when the sun is shining. Perhaps what the automaker has in mind is that I subscribe to On-Star so I can ask a representative the time. Or as an alternative I can put a clock on my Google Gadgets display (available with Vista) since I'll have access to my computer while I'm driving anyway.

12 Steps To Good Eating

Shortly after the Sebring Outback Restaurant opened I did an article on the Bloomin' Onion. Rob Napoli, the then owner/manager of the popular eating-place, took me step by step through the process.

I learned that the appetizer weighs, when served, one pound. Actually it starts at somewhere between 22 ounces and 24 ounces before it undergoes the orchestrated 12-stage process. After being hand selected each individual onion is sliced along one end, it is then: peeled, scooped, cut, soaked, chilled, dusted, dunked, redusted, cooked, cored, arranged on a plate and then served. And what puts the bloom in the bloomin' thing is the chilling. This causes the "petals" to open, or blossom.

I happened to think about this 12-step cooking process the other night when I realized that frequently we resort to a similar 12-step process in the preparation of our meals. Although I will admit that while the end result of getting food on the tables is similar the steps we take are somewhat different.

Our method is more like this: open the pantry door, look for a can of something edible, remove can and close door, look for can opener, open can, pour contents into a pot, season with whatever is within reach, cook in accordance with label, find a plate and utensils (rinse if necessary), place pot contents on a plate (or bowl) and serve.

And believe it or not after enough of these 12-stage meals we tend to blossom as well.

Overheard

Overheard at the wishing well: Did you ever wonder who the first person was, at least before Snow White popularized the practice, who thought tossing money in a well would result in good luck or in dreams coming true?

I wonder if it didn't have something to do with someone accidentally dropping a coin down a well and wishing he could get it back? A passer by might have overheard the clumsy one and thought they were casting some sort of spell by wishing at the old well.

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