Using AI To Find Fonts

I was looking for a new font to spice up an old presentation, and instead of searching myself, I asked Google Gemini for some recommendations for upscale fonts.  The two I liked best were Montserrat and Playfair Display, which you see below.  To make that more visual for you, I added both fonts to my Google Blogger and formatted the text below using those specific fonts.  Seeing is believing. 

https://gemini.google.com/app

1. Montserrat (Geometric Sans-Serif)

Montserrat is a modern classic that feels clean, high-end, and architectural. It is exceptionally legible even at smaller point sizes, making it perfect for return addresses.

• Why it works: It feels "boutique" and contemporary.

• Pro Tip: Use All Caps with slightly increased letter spacing (tracking) for a high-fashion, minimalist look.

2. Playfair Display (Sophisticated Serif)

If you want a more traditional "old money" or editorial aesthetic, Playfair Display is an excellent choice. It features high contrast between thick and thin lines, reminiscent of late 18th-century European styles.

• Why it works: It looks like it belongs on a luxury invitation or a premium real estate brochure.

• Pro Tip: Use the Italic version for the recipient's name to add a touch of grace.

Fried Rice

Gourmet Chef Elaine found this super-easy recipe for fried rice, and it was a hit.  You just cook the veggies (chopped white onion, frozen peas and carrots) in sesame oil until tender.  Slide the vegetables to the side, pour 2 lightly beaten eggs onto the other side of the skillet, scramble them with a spatula, and mix everything together.  Stir in rice, combine it all together, and cook until warm throughout.  Serve with sliced green onion, if that's your thing.  A few other details can be found at the link below.

https://therecipecritic.com/easy-fried-rice

Golf Shirt

I rarely find a great product at a ridiculously low price, but the golf shirt you see below is just that.  First, it costs only $14.99, has a subtle cross-golf-club design, is light but of good quality, and is long enough to stay tucked in.  It's available at the link below and includes over two dozen other designs, some pretty wild, with most costing $19.99.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F94FMGX9

SQL Murder Mystery

For the non-techies:  SQL means Structured Query Language.  It's used to read and write records in a database.  You can stop reading now.  

For the techies, the link below will take you to a murder mystery created by Knight Lab.  The first query you run gives you the names of the nine tables where clues are buried.  The second query allows you to see all the fields in a table.  You start with the statement below.

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A crime has taken place, and the detective needs your help. The detective gave you the crime scene report, but you somehow lost it. You vaguely remember that the crime was a ​murder​ that occurred sometime on ​Jan.15, 2018,​ and that it took place in ​SQL City. Start by retrieving the corresponding crime scene report from the police department’s database.

---

Can you find the killer?

https://mystery.knightlab.com

Fork Mystery

The oddly designed fork you see below came from a luncheon at Wright State University.  I'm still wondering exactly the purpose of the little "wings" you see in the middle.  One theory is that they're designed to work with a particular type of dispensing unit, and the "wings" help the forks from falling out.  Another theory is that it adds additional strength at the point of maximum stress, helping the fork from breaking.  The weirdest theory is that you use it to pick off pieces of chicken or ribs from their bones.  

I don't know what to believe, but I can't find an online seller that offers this shape.  Perhaps one day I'll find the truth.

Using AI To Design A Cabinet

The picture on the left below was the result of the Gemini AI chatbot being asked to take an existing empty cabinet, add a shelf so a TV sits on top, and a cable box that fits below.  But when I saw it, the thought occurred to me that maybe painting the inside black could look even better.  Gemini then created the picture on the right in a few seconds and confirmed what my imagination cooked up.  

This example is one of the things I like about AI chatbots.  They allow me to be creative, and they do the creating.  I can let my imagination go wild and leave all the brushstrokes to the bot.  Sweet!

https://gemini.google.com/app

Slicing Texas Toast

I love Aunt Millie's Texas Toast, but two slices will cost you 220 calories of your daily intake.  Gourmet Chef Elaine taught me this trick to reduce that to a more reasonable 110 calories.  You first toast the bread, let it cool enough to handle it, then slice it in half with a serrated knife.  This would be tough to do with a regular piece of bread, but the thickness of the Texas Toast, combined with the additional rigidity gained by toasting it, makes it a breeze.  

Golf Ball Marker Line

I picked up a couple of devices for $5 to draw lines on golf balls in an attempt to make more putts.  The device is spring-loaded to hold the golf ball firmly, while a Sharpie is used to draw a line on both sides.  This would make a nice stocking stuffer for the golfer in your family.  

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FP6HSLPV

Hose Pot

We've replaced our standard hoses and their hose reels in both the front and back yards with the XHose Pro hoses I blogged about this last January.  We didn't want to just leave them on the ground, and we bought a couple of the Hose Pots you see below to hide and protect the hoses.  This combination makes watering our new landscaping much easier, which we (i.e., Gourmet Chef Elaine) will be doing a lot.  

I'm not sure why, but I don't have any issues connecting these hoses to the spigots.  Every other hose I've ever had took 3-5 attempts to get the threads lined up, but this usually only takes the first try.  I so love that.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Suncast-Plastic-75-ft-Hose-Pot-Hose-Reel/1000739748

New Landscaping

After losing every boxwood at the front of the house, we decided to start totally fresh.  After consulting with Mike Gorman of Gorman Landscape, we decided he and his crew would plant ‘Trautman’ Juniper (the tall one on the left) and three 'Bowing Ball’ Arborvitae to the right of that.  In front, we have three 3 White Drift Roses and one ‘Sun King’ Aralia.  The other side (to the right of the front door) has a similar configuration.  These beds were mulched, as was everything else in both yards.  These guys do a great job.

https://www.gormanlandscape.com