How to Use Social Media in a Healthy and Powerful Manner

How to Use Social Media in a Healthy and Powerful Manner

Jesse Bluma at Pointe Viven. All rights reserved.

Imagine if we organized as a community for significant issues.  What if news reporters chose to stop giving us fluffy, bloody, short, shiny news stories online?  What if our local politicians stopped presenting a million different projects and promises each day on social media?  What if our efforts were focused on and offline?  We could focus and think through and encourage many healthy habits, causes, and sentiments.  A healthy and powerful use of social media is how we can truly liberate ourselves and live in a more meaningful way.

Reading items online we often get outraged, inspired, appalled, animated, and enthusiastic.  Certain topics related to our culture, media, politics, sports, food, et cetera are clickbait, attract attention, for responses.  It is important to keep in mind that social media sites are for communication and sharing.  As an involved citizen it is important to develop a reputation that you are an expert and professional.

Social networking can spread important news and social movements in a flash.  Respect and careful use is of course necessary, as in everything we do in life.  Life is short, so it is essential whatever we do it is useful, informative, respectful, or healthy.

As award-winning filmmaker Gary Turk stated, “I don't want you to stop using social media or smartphones.  I use social media only when appropriate, and to keep followers up to date with new projects and fun/interesting things.”  

In “Look Up”, Turk demonstrated how “social media can disengage us from real relationships, human interactions and living in the real world.”  The film was nominated for a Webby Award and won two Gold Lovie Awards for Best Viral Film and Best Individual Performance.  

The last stanzas of “Look Up” by Turk are powerful enough to re-read a few times.  

So look up from your phone, 

shut down those displays,

we have a finite existence, 

a set number of days.

Why waste all our time getting caught in the net,


as when the end comes, nothing’s worse than regret.

I am guilty too, of being part of this machine,
 this digital world, 

where we are heard but not seen.


Where we type and don’t talk, where we read as we chat,


where we spend hours together, without making eye contact.

Don’t give in to a life where you follow the hype,


give people your love, don’t give them your like.


Disconnect from the need to be heard and defined


Go out into the world, leave distractions behind.

Look up from your phone, 

shut down that display,


stop watching this video, 

live life the real way. (75-88)

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Credit: youtube.com/watch?v=Z7dLU6fk9QY&t=42s, garyturk.com

The Best Tips for Selecting a Hybrid Car

The Best Tips for Selecting a Hybrid Car

Jesse Bluma at Pointe Viven. All rights reserved.

Envision driving an automobile that has great performance and that maximizes fuel usage.  With less time required at the pump for refueling.  With less expense on total fuel.  And the benefits of both an electric and gasoline engine.  That is why a hybrid car can be the right decision.  Selecting a hybrid car, especially with all the brand and model options, is an exacting task.  

Here is where expert knowledge and trusted expertise comes in handy.  Many readers rely on Jesse Bluma at Pointe Viven as an authority.  Follow the steps below to aid your selection of a hybrid auto that fits your needs and that will be an excellent driving experience.

Take into account the following items when choosing a hybrid car.

What will be the purpose of the vehicle?  There is a variety of hybrid cars, such as SUV (sport utility vehicle), sedan, wagon, luxury, and hatchback.

What is the safety performance rating of the car?  See safercar.gov by the United States Department of Transportation or other source.

What is your budget?  

How much money will the car cost for regular maintenance?  Caring for a car may include storing the car, cleaning, oil changes, replacing the battery, replacing tires, repairing scratches, windshield repair, replacing air filters, et cetera. 

How much is insurance?

What is the cost of registration?

How will you drive the car?  Commuting?  Weekends?  At highway speeds?

Is there a point of payback for the investment?

Additionally, consider your personal standards and desired features, such as style of seating, warning devices, cameras, electronics, climate control, et cetera.  

For instance, the BMW e and i class (Bayerische Motoren Werke or Bavarian Motor Works) are designed to get better miles per gallon than a combustion engine, can be charged with electricity as your desire with a cable, and have great torque and acceleration when the eBoost technology is employed.

Visit Amazon to purchase your official BMW merchandise, gear, and gifts.

  

“BMW's plug-in hybrid technology came directly from the BMW i8, more specifically, its award-winning (International Engine of the Year Award Winner) sports car hybrid drivetrain system.  This advanced piece of engineering is responsible for taking the BMW i8, and now BMW iPerformance models, farther than ever with enhanced performance.

What differentiates the drivetrain of BMW iPerformance models from the drivetrain in any other BMW is the electric eDrive motor.  Powered by a high-voltage lithium-ion battery, the electric eDrive motor not only makes it possible to drive with greater efficiency than a standard gas-powered BMW, it also enhances the thrill of driving with performance features such as eBoost — an instant acceleration provided by the electric motor and gas engine working in tandem whenever you push the throttle.”

From the urban to the barren.  Taking the 330e to Palm Springs was a treat.  The handling and performance made the jaunt enjoyable and fun.  What awaited ahead was a sun drenched playground, a city oasis with excellent restaurants, swimming pools, big sky, and daytime temperatures in the triple digits.  The test drive to Palm Springs put this BMW to the test.

After test driving the BMW 330e for six days, several items stand out.  The 330e’s 2.0 liter 4-cylinder engine combined with its lithium-ion powered electric motor produces a strong 248 horse power and 310 pounds-feet of torque.  This tandem electric/gas engine accelerates the car from 0-60 miles per hour in 5.9 seconds.  The car is quick and responsive.

  

The 330e was an enjoyable car to drive, as it handled the curves and changes in elevation on the way from the city to the desert.  No trouble going up hill.  This is not a sluggish, slow car to drive.  The 330e (e for electric) has the poise and aggressiveness of the non-electric BMW 3 series.  The electric mode makes the car almost completely quiet and smooth.  

The sleek jet black car was eager to take on city driving as well as a venture to the desert.  Contoured lines, a lean stance, and wraparound headlights give this hybrid great style.  The 330e took on the road, handled well, and did not stand out as a peculiar looking electrified car.  Other drivers on the road or pedestrians on the city streets probably did not notice this car was a hybrid.

Visit Amazon to purchase your official BMW merchandise, gear, and gifts.

Zero-gas emissions were achieved when putting the car in Max eDrive mode.  BMW’s Connected Drive application can be used to locate the nearest charging station, if you wish to mainly utilize the electric engine.  What is really savvy is the 330e’s ability to analyze how much of the gas and electric engine to use while driving.  The car’s program uses information about speed, road conditions, and destination to take full advantage of the tandem engine.  The three driving modes (Auto eDrive, Save Battery, and Max eDrive) are operated by a button on the center console.  Auto eDrive is the hybrid mode—the use of gasoline and electricity is determined by the car’s technology.  Save Battery—in this mode the car operates on gasoline and recharges the electric battery.  Max e-Drive—the car is in full electric mode.  

Pros: the ample trunk space, the options—moon roof, sport seating, lumbar support, Harman Kardon surround sound system, side and top view cameras, BMW M performance drive analyzer, bright LED (light-emitting diode) headlights, and satellite radio.  One of the best attributes is that the gas engine charges the electric engine.  The 330e also garnered a “Good” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.  Bonus:  this 330e qualifies for a U.S. tax credit.

The realities to consider.  The BMW 330e does not provide for as much electric charge as some other hybrids.  Beware of going options poor.  If purchasing a 330e or any other car, be mindful of what options you will actually use.  You may also miss the roar of a gasoline engine—especially of a BMW.  The cost of a hybrid, such as the 330e, may be more than other cars you are considering.  Also, it is key to calculate the point of payback—the time it will take to reap the fuel savings.  The value for money must be considered.  The ability to recoup the extra cost of a hybrid will depend on options selected, personal driving habits, and driving conditions.

The BMW 330e is a good option for car buyers to consider, from a dependable company.  In 1916, Karl Rapp and Gustav Otto merged their companies, Rapp Motorenwerke and Bayerische Motoren Werke.  The BMW emblem began to be display on the company’s products in 1917, “which incorporates the Bavarian state colors.  At the end of the 1920s, the emblem made its first appearance in the company’s advertising as a rotating propeller—in a form that has been regularly reinterpreted since.”  After surviving World War II in Germany, the company had its production expanded to South Africa, France, and the United States.

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Credits: bmwusa.com, bmwgroup.com, mybimmerparts.com

Your Coffee Maker Buying Guide

Your Coffee Maker Buying Guide

Jesse Bluma at Pointe Viven. All rights reserved.

Imagine the aroma of freshly brewed coffee in the morning.  No waiting in line.  No big daily expense.  That is why a coffee machine is the right decision.  Selecting a coffee maker, especially with all the brand and model options, can be an arduous task.  

Here is where expert knowledge in the kitchen, with food and drink, and trusted expertise comes in handy.  Many readers rely on Jesse Bluma at Pointe Viven as a source for how-to and where-to regarding cookery, culture, and community.  Follow the steps below to purchase the right coffee machine for you to end up with that delicious cup of coffee each day.

Visit Amazon to purchase the optimal coffee maker for your home, workplace, or as a gift.

Consider the following items when examining coffee makers.  

How much coffee do you typically consume each day?

Do you like an extreme, bold brew, or at least the option for an extreme brew?

How important is it for you, and anyone else that may be using the machine, to control the strength of the brew?

Will you want to program the time each day for the machine to make the coffee?

Does the machine have an automatic off?

Does the coffee maker have a clean function?

Is the machine made with BPA (Bisphenol-A, an estrogen-imitating chemical) free parts?

What kind of filter is included with the coffee machine?

Can the beeping sound be muted? 

Next, consider your standards for flavor, temperature, space, and specialty functions (some coffee makers have options to make more than coffee).  

For example, the Cuisinart 14 Cup Glass Carafe with Stainless Steel Handle Programmable Coffeemaker creates coffee that has excellent flavor, because the machine is designed to make the water flow nicely and to keep the water temperature at a good level.  The Cuisinart 14 Cup machine brews hotter coffee than some other coffee makers, making for a better brew, and the Cuisinart also has various temperature settings.  The ability to have a coffee brewed at a hotter, medium, or lower temperature is a great feature, depending on the weather or personal preference.  The gold tone, commercial style permanent filter and charcoal water filter also ensure an excellent brew.

  

Another feature to consider is what material is the carafe, or container, made of and what is the style of the lid and pour spout.  The BPA free material of the Cuisinart is key to health and flavor.  The glass carafe of the Cuisinart 14 Cup machine is also a perfect design, providing a clear view of the coffee dripping into the pot and the amount of joe in the container.  The large 14 cup carafe and spout that is wide enough for easy pouring is excellent for coffee consumers looking to drink more than one cup of coffee a day or wanting to serve guests at a party or event.

Cleaning is essential to the health of the coffee drinker, the flavor of the coffee, and longevity of the machine.  The Cuisinart 14 Cup machine has a self-cleaning feature.  An indicator light signals when it is time for the machine to decalcify.  Also, make sure to clean the carafe of any machine you purchase on a regular basis.

Visit Amazon to purchase the optimal coffee maker for your home, workplace, or as a gift.

After considering the purchasing guide above, the Cuisinart 14 Cup machine is an excellent choice from a dependable company.  In 1971, “[e]namored by a demonstration of a restaurant food preparation machine in France, Carl Sontheimer and his wife, Shirley, are convinced they can adapt this technology to a useful home appliance for Americans.  Sontheimer, a retired MIT-trained physicist and accomplished cook, makes a daring decision to jump into the highly competitive housewares business with his own company called Cuisinart.”  In the late 1970s the business soared with more machines, appliances, and the famous Cuisinart food processor.  After much success the Cuisinart company was sold to the family-owned Conair Corporation in the late 1980s. 

Visit Amazon to purchase the optimal coffee maker for your home, workplace, or as a gift.

What to do with left over coffee grounds and tea leaves?  Click here.

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Credits: cuisinart.com, amazon.com/Cuisinart-DCC-3200-Programmable-Coffeemaker-Stainless/dp/B00MVWGQX0, youtube.com/watch?v=eH5J9Z3ZPio

Roasted Fish and Kimchi Potatoes with Arugula: Martha and Marley Spoon Review

Roasted Fish and Kimchi Potatoes with Arugula:

Martha and Marley Spoon Review

Jesse Bluma at Pointe Viven. All rights reserved.

Absolutely, positively, indubitably better than takeout.

This is a brilliant, quick, and spicy as you like it meal.  Martha and Marley Spoon delivers recipes and ingredients to your door, “Technology allows us to become your local greengrocer, butcher and fishmonger.  Or at least it gives us the opportunity to reconnect you with the core values of knowing where your food comes from.  Building relationships with sustainable suppliers ensures that we are a lot more than just an online shop.”

My trial of the meal kit service was first-class.  The recipes were enjoyable, plentiful, and  tasty.  The online ordering, pre-portioned ingredients, chilled box, and recipe cards are smartly designed and based on Martha Stewart's techniques.  A must order whether it’s dinner for one or more. 

The Roasted Fish and Kimchi Potatoes with Arugula was remarkably flavorful and simply created on one baking sheet.  Kimchi, a cabbage that has been fermented, brought excellent flavor and spice to the smashed potatoes.  Utilizing an ingredient such as kimchi is one way to liberate your palate from the doldrums of other tired, overused ingredients.  Martha and Marley Spoon provides terrific opportunities for customers to discover new items and explore various cuisines.

Ingredients

pollock fillet (species of the cod family)

baby arugula

kimchi

fingerling potato

olive oil

coarse salt

freshly ground black pepper

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Credit: marleyspoon.com

Barbecue Chicken with Dill Pickle Potato Salad: Martha and Marley Spoon Review

Barbecue Chicken with Dill Pickle Potato Salad:

Martha and Marley Spoon Review

Jesse Bluma at Pointe Viven. All rights reserved.

Recipe That Says “Disfrute de su comida” to Your Dinner Guests.

Another easy, satiating, and bright flavor meal.  Martha and Marley Spoon delivers recipes and ingredients to your door, “Technology allows us to become your local greengrocer, butcher and fishmonger.  Or at least it gives us the opportunity to reconnect you with the core values of knowing where your food comes from.  Building relationships with sustainable suppliers ensures that we are a lot more than just an online shop.”

My week long trial of the service was a success.  The meal kits are enjoyable, hearty, and delicious.  The online ordering, pre-portioned ingredients, chilled box, and recipe card are smartly designed and based on Martha Stewart's techniques.  A must order. 

The Barbecue Chicken with Dill Pickle Potato Salad has unbelievable deliciousness and layers of flavors that come together with a simple formula.  The potato salad is the star of this dish with bright, fresh flavors that will make you want an extra large portion.  This dish makes great sense for a summertime picnic or date night meal.

Ingredients

kosher dill pickle

ketchup

Worcestershire sauce

boneless skinless chicken breast

dark brown sugar

wholegrain mustard

apple cider vinegar

mayonnaise

sugar snap peas

fresh dill

shallot

red skinned potatoes

coarse salt

freshly ground black pepper

vegetable or safflower oil

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Credit: marleyspoon.com

Celery, Fennel, and Quinoa Salad: Martha and Marley Spoon Review

Celery, Fennel, and Quinoa Salad:

Martha and Marley Spoon Review

Jesse Bluma at Pointe Viven. All rights reserved.

A Recipe That Says ¡Buen provecho! to Your Family.

This dish by Martha and Marley Spoon was easy to prepare, satisfying, and teaches customers how to develop full flavor.  Martha and Marley Spoon delivers recipes and ingredients to your door, “Technology allows us to become your local greengrocer, butcher and fishmonger.  Or at least it gives us the opportunity to reconnect you with the core values of knowing where your food comes from.  Building relationships with sustainable suppliers ensures that we are a lot more than just an online shop.”

My week long trial of the service was a success.  The deliveries were enjoyable, hearty, and delicious.  Not something everyone could keep up with every day, which is why there is the option to choose the frequency of deliveries.  The online ordering, pre-portioned ingredients, chilled box, and recipe card are smartly designed and based upon Martha Stewart's techniques.  A definite must order. 

The Celery, Fennel, and Quinoa Salad with Fried Chickpeas, Almonds, and Feta was aromatic and composed with bright flavors and crunchy textures.  Quinoa salad is an excellent dish to learn to make, as it can be made in a variety of ways for many cuisines.  An enjoyable summertime meal for any family or party.

Ingredients

red quinoa

small shallot

Dijon mustard

red wine vinegar

small fennel bulb with fronds

celery

chickpeas

cumin

feta

roasted unsalted almonds

coarse salt

freshly ground black pepper

olive oil

Disclaimer: no payment was accepted for editorial coverage.

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Credit: marleyspoon.com

Triumph of the Artisan

Triumph of the Artisan

Jesse Bluma at Pointe Viven. All rights reserved.

The revival of piece work and artisan products is exciting.  We can point to baked goods by local bakers, vintage products, and custom furniture items.  It is remarkable to see the craftsmanship, the work ethic, and entrepreneurship across the globe.  A look at farmers’ markets, online stores, trade shows, business networks, events, food trucks, and pop-ups demonstrate a renewed interest and appreciation for the homemade, the need, and desire to economically progress.  Etsy, for instance, “is a marketplace for handmade goods, vintage items, and supplies for making. Our community is made up of independent creative businesses from around the globe.”

The flourishing market of artisans and piece work is not new.  Networks of trade and manufactured goods is centuries old, from Africa to Asia, to Europe, to the Americas.  Money is an important theme in this story.  Jean-Baptiste Colbert, finance minister in France during the 1600s, sought to create more trade.  His ideas and policies supported monopolies, promoted manufacturing, and mercantilism.  This centralized the economy with close government oversight and expanded trade oversees with exports to India, North America, and the West Indies.  

Contemporary artisans and small business owners also parallel some other movements throughout time.  Adam Smith promulgated what is called “free enterprise” during the 1700s.  This system centers upon individual freedom to conduct business.  Workers, investors, owners, and consumers benefit from the laws of supply and demand.  This system was a shift for many away from mercantilism.  Smith promoted self-regulation, self-interest, and sympathy “for the help of brethren” in The Wealth of Nations.   Smith’s view is in keeping with the “natural laws” of competition.  

There are several challenges and influences artisans, craftsmen, and business owners have always faced.  Profit, power, and religion are further themes in this story.  In England for example, religious persecution, growing numbers of wealthy, and risk makers spurred on migration to the New World.  Thousands of people immigrated to New England, forever planting European cultures, religions, laws, and commercialism in the New World.

As the The Ottoman Empire declined in the 1600s, European expansion and progress was in gear.  Commercial and financial expansion to lands overseas outpaced that of the Ottomans.  This historical tale demonstrates the power of money coffers and the making the governments and leaders as significant stakeholders in the world.  In contemporary times and times past we see economic expansion affects, influences, improves, and can decimate the lives of artisans.  The eternal spirit of great artisans is a triumph.  

Population growth, decline, risk-making, and pure sweat equity are also key in this story.  The amalgamation of freedom, great participation by the populace, big and little actions, and excitement lead to synergy within trades, professions, and businesses.  We are left with much to ponder.  What forces are important to us?  How should and do artisans and craftsmen respond?   National identities, securities, insecurities, developments, and alliances are forged through dramatic events like imperialism and expansion.

Other factors include human tendencies toward violence, curiosity, competition, power, and security, and superiority.  For example, discoveries and exploration for gold, spices, and other goods were made possible by enhancement in ships and navigation.  The Portuguese made a name for themselves in ship building, designs that allowed them to sail the globe.  These advancements helped traders from Portugal compete with the Ottomans.  Today craftsmen utilize computers, websites, and various applications to meet demand and become sustainable.
   

Great cooks, tinkerers, designers, and engineers rely on education and training.  The current excitement around local businesses would not be possible if something did not occur before production, distribution, and marketing.  Throughout time and time to come education is key.  Etsy, social networking, apprenticeships, schooling, independent practice, and formal training is needed to become an authority and develop skills.  Etsy and other networks provide a guild system, offering classes and authorities to improve mastery of skills.  Similar to the guilds and divisions of labor popular throughout Europe in the 1500s.  These private associations of merchants, such as butchers, goldsmiths, vintners, and plumbers, provided instruction, legal aid, and standards.  

We see many reasons contemporary artisans and craft makers enter the marketplace.  For some, it is the expression of their personality and art that drives them to work.  For others it is the expression of their personality preferences and desire for economic freedom.  Necessity is also a key factor.  One must work for survival.  Still others have a calling.  For those such as Martin Luther, work is a form of service.  For those such as John Calvin, work is the will of God.

This Protestant Work Ethic, this work with a calling, enhances and elevates vocations and provides a dignity and equality of value.  The break from traditional work, doing as your parents did, as supported by Calvin and others spawned more interest in other fields and capitalistic endeavors.  From ancient to modern times it is these desires from a multitude of backgrounds, values, and ideas that forge new relationships and inspire others.  As Milton Friedman explained, “The only way that has ever been discovered to have a lot of people cooperate together is through the free market”.

We must also understand relationships to better understand our story of contemporary artisans.  For instance, European expansion ignited internal and external changes within the continent and across the Atlantic, into China, and Japan.  A major consequence was the intertwining of economies, politics, interests, and personal lives.  Interactions varied and led to different results.  Accordingly, Japan was more isolated than other civilizations.  This geographical characteristic reflected their response to those that landed on their shores.  From Myron in ancient Greece to Michelangelo in Italy, Talbot and photography, to Thomas Keller in the culinary world, relationships, struggles, interests, and culture have shaped and been shaped by the artisan. 

The contemporary and historical story of artisans is one of change, triumphs, strategy, disasters, migration, society, priorities, resources, and security.  The breadth and depth of the topic leaves us with an immense amount to think about.  An interesting cast of characters is always in the mix, from the elite, to non-elite, kings, and queens, peasants, Pilgrims, bakers, jewelers, and gadget makers.

It is exciting to see spirited business owners of all forms be at their best and work on becoming their best despite the obstacles.  Over time, with internal and external challenges, power shifts, and various perceptions, we see concepts such as collaboratives, capitalism, market economies, socialism, cottage industries, mercantilism take shape, be reshaped, and rise and fall out of favor.  Never going extinct.  Only melding and shifting locations.  There is always an international mix, a context, for artisans and skilled masters to overcome and enjoy.

Ultimately, as Robert Putnam explained in Bowling Alone, “[t]o build bridging social capital requires that we transcend our social and political and professional identities to connect with people unlike ourselves”.  Great artists, workers, and professionals are key to building that social capital.  Those rich benefits that can only be supported through education, farmers’ markets, online stores such as Etsy, trade shows, business networks, food trucks, and pop-ups.  The good of those in business, their patrons, and supporters is fundamental to continuing the legacy of the arts, crafts, trades, and financial health of everyone.  This revival of piece work and artisan products is compelling.

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Credits: freedigitalphotos.net and Etsy.com and  Twenty20.com, cocojohnson