Todd's Place
I don't do these:
  • Last Seen
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Air Quality

Sometimes I order "Extra Spicy" dosas at Chennai Masala

12/31/2015

0 Comments

 
A Karaikudi Dosa is a delicious specialty with all sorts of vegetables, curried and stuffed inside. I've never seen it anywhere else. In this case, they added diced jalapeño peppers to the filling.
Picture

Usually I order "XXXX Extra Spicy" !

This is quite a bit hotter! There are zillions of minced thai chili pieces added to the vegetable curry filling. YowZers!
Picture
0 Comments

How to embed LaTex math equations in a blog

12/30/2015

0 Comments

 
Lately, I've been skimming a lot of math papers. There are some great breakthroughs in number theory, and I'm trying to get a feel for the significance of the results. In preparation to share some of the fun, I need to put some math in my blog. To typeset equations, there's a good way (LaTex), a bad way (MathML), and an ugly way (rendering images for each equation).

Mercifully, there is a way to embed LaTex directly into HTML for a blog. I used this great tutorial which handles the setup for many different blog platforms. You do need access to raw HTML to include a JavaScript handler. Just look up your platform (i.e. Weebly, Wordpress, Blogger, Tumblr, etc...) and go.

​Here I've copied his two examples:

​
Math between dollars is inline: $\sum_{k=1}^n k = \frac{n(n+1)}{2}$
Math between slash-square-brackets is display:

\[ \sum_{k=1}^n k = \frac{n(n+1)}{2} \]

So pretty. So easy!
0 Comments

Making our first Hong Kong egg-shaped waffles!!

12/29/2015

0 Comments

 
These are a Cantonese street food, which you can find in most parts of Hong Kong. They are called Gai Dan Zai, pronounced like "guy dan Zai". Cooked perfectly, they are crispy on the outside, light and chewy on the inside, with just a hint of caramel and sweetness. I love them! :)
​

Not. Too. Shabby.

Picture
0 Comments

Making Taiwanese Pineapple Tea Cakes

12/27/2015

0 Comments

 

It starts with whole, ripe pineapples

A few days prior, two entire pineapples were chopped and then reduced down to a chewy jam. This is all that remains. No sugar or thickeners are added at all.
Picture
Each dough ball is measured, to the exact gram, as is the filling. Push the filling in, then mould around the filling.
Picture
Filled ball is placed in a special aluminum baking form, which we brought back from Taiwan.
Picture


​Mom is a Cake-Stomping Machine!!

I created this animated GIF from this awesome, free web site ​gifmaker.me. A link on their site takes you to another great free image-resizing service, resizeimage.net. I highly recommend them!

Let the cake-stomping begin.


​Baked until golden, then cooled:

Picture
Picture
These pretty little wrappers, also from Taiwan, keep the cakes fresh and tasty.
Picture
0 Comments

More Christmas Gifts?! Egg Waffle Heaven!

12/27/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

The owls loved it.

Picture
Picture
Finally, I also got my Christmas gift from ZPacks! Zpacks makes custom, ultralight camping gear. Their designs and materials are second to none. Their customer service is fantastic. They will even take payment in bitcoin, I've done it!

This standard Tyvek mailing envelope contains:

  • A complete 2-person tent with fly, lines, mesh liner, and bathtub floor
  • One breathable waterproof hooded jacket, large
  • A hooded wind shirt, large
  • A pair of breathable waterproof hiking pants
  • Two pairs of mitts
  • Two Dry bags
  • One stuff sack

It weighs nothing. This is actually a second set that ZPacks sewed up for free, to replace a set that got mis-routed. They even got it to me in a rush, without my even asking!

Best, super-sexy-exotic-light camping gear, ever. I love, Love, LOVE ZPacks! :)
Picture
0 Comments

Mom arrives from Hong Kong. We're saved!

12/26/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Picture

Hong Kong tasty, pasty red bean dessert. I installed a TV in the guest room last night, and it's streaming TV direct from Hong Kong.

Picture
Picture
Picture
The ladies love this room. Here they are hanging out days later:
Picture
0 Comments

Goose Noodle for dinner to celebrate!

12/26/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

Merry Remote NJ Christmas!

12/25/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Hope that leg mends quickly! :)
Picture
Picture
Super cute!
0 Comments

Christmas in WA too

12/25/2015

0 Comments

 
0 Comments

Our first Christmas eve dinner on our own

12/24/2015

0 Comments

 
0 Comments
<<Previous

    Author

    I'm an applied-math-research Ph.D. and serial startup founder. I am a recognized computer security expert, fortunate to join the ranks of many, great CTO's. I've founded and seed-funded multiple, successful, VC-backed companies. I'm still at it!

    My wonderful wife and I moved from New England to near the Portland Oregon area. We LOVE the Pacific Northwest, and we've been here a few years now. We have an adorable baby girl, Vivi.

    People here are nice and smile a lot. Vegetables are insanely delicious. Driving is not like Mad Max.

    This blog is very Vivi-centric. Our family just can't resist. :) Also, there are some stupid hacking and geek tricks.


    Archives

    December 2020
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    June 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    October 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Copyright 2012-2021  Todd Brennan