CircleCount helps you better understand Google+

2013-06-17 17:22:30 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 4 +1s)

Digg Reader Update
It is getting close to the death of Google Reader but luckily Digg Reader will come out in time - even if it is at the very last moment.

I'm quite thrilled about Digg Reader and I love that it sounds like Digg have good intentions and the right focus:

"Given the compressed time frame for this sprint, we decided early on that we needed to focus on one type of user. We asked ourselves who had most to lose from the shutdown of Google Reader, and the answer was fairly obvious: the power user, the people who depend on the availability, stability, and speed of Reader every day."

2013-06-17 16:30:09 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 14 +1s)

Political Shaun:

Must read for everyone interested in Snowden.

2013-06-16 13:18:24 (49 comments, 0 reshares, 61 +1s)

I've been a bad boy! Honestly,I waited way too long to let you guys know how much your gifts meant to me. They took a while to get here and then, kept putting posting it off because how could I convey with mere words how my heart almost burst when I opened them (including the ones that arrived in time for my bday) how I felt like I just diced onions, how I want to hug each and everyone of you like mad, cook your favourite food or/ and get drunk with you or just laugh and have fun. Maybe all of it. Thank you for making my birthday one I'll remember forever !

So many feels!

I would also like to point out how that one character on the Weiner shirt looks suspiciously like Scott >_>

2013-06-15 12:55:19 (100 comments, 6 reshares, 99 +1s)

Jalapeño Cheese Bread with Bacon and Maple-Chipotle-Butter

Who doesn't love cheese and Jalapeños ? This is pure comfort food, simple, easy and the combination of hot Jalapeños combined with smoky bacon and wonderfully gooey cheese topped with a small dash of sweet-smoky cold butter, will blow your mind and tickle your tastebuds.

This is a different take on the bread I made last year, foregoing the mediterranean flavours. Again, this can be easily adapted to your preferences, even as a vegetarian dish by leaving out the bacon. I had a similar butter in a restaurant I was a while ago but they did not tell me exactly what was in their version. So I made my own. 

Ingredients:

Bread
500 g white bread flour (type 550)
300 ml / 1.5 cups lukewarm water
1,5 packages of instant dry yeast
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon seasal... more »

2013-06-15 08:03:21 (28 comments, 38 reshares, 102 +1s)

Man of Blue Steel

Hansel has nothing on him

<_<

via. reddit 

2013-06-09 15:46:26 (6 comments, 2 reshares, 21 +1s)

Fuck.

2013-06-09 07:36:38 (55 comments, 2 reshares, 72 +1s)

Happy birthday dear +Mz Maau

It is been a year again and I had to travel long and far, to find this little guy for you. He does remind me of someone, <_<

I hope this day will find you happy and smiling, covered in cats and slightly nibbled upon by your loved furry ones as you wake up. You deserve the most wonderful cake, lots of it and for once, no greedy Bits all over it. 

<3 You wonderful, delightful, lovable, squeeable and glittery friend. 

#happybirthdaymaau   #ephelant  

2013-06-07 20:44:56 (17 comments, 0 reshares, 14 +1s)

Up

2013-06-07 18:55:47 (14 comments, 0 reshares, 20 +1s)

We are excited to announce the launch of our +Indiegogo campaign!

Who are we and what is the campaign for?

We build environmentally friendly water generators for those without clean drinking water. Our new smart technology, Dew Point Intelligence™, will make creating water from the air energy-efficient. Under the right conditions, our water can cost as little as two cents (USD) a liter.

It will take approximately three to four months for us to build a working prototype of our new smart technology. We know this technology will work but are lacking the funds to complete it. We have put together this campaign to help raise the $200,000 we need to do this.

And...we will be donating 5% of the funds we raise to +Water.org 

Would you like to learn more? Please click on the link below.

Thank you!

#water   #cleanwater  #clea... more »

2013-06-07 06:49:40 (39 comments, 66 reshares, 87 +1s)

Game of Thrones 

This, this is amazing! So pitch perfect! I do not even like Rap but.. this is brilliant! 

Thanks to a friend who is not on G+ for the tip! 

I got Dragons, Bitch!

#GoT   #gameofthrones  

2013-06-06 05:26:28 (25 comments, 31 reshares, 56 +1s)

The Bacon will show you the way

This may look like a parody but, it is isn't and now I want bacon. 
I also think they did a lot of research on  people like, well, me :P 

The perfect gift, who needs diamonds, right?

www.sayitwithbacon.com

Thank you +Skye Delaney 

2013-06-05 10:58:02 (21 comments, 4 reshares, 55 +1s)

If you like white wine and chocolate, you are going to love these White wine chocolate cupcakes :)
http://tinascookings.blogspot.com/2013/06/white-wine-chocolate-cupcakes.html
Quick and easy to make, but very impressive to serve :)
#wine #chocolate #baking #tinascookings #cupcakes #cupcakeswednesday  

For the English version, please scroll down the recipe, my blog is bilingual.

2013-06-02 16:16:48 (95 comments, 1 reshares, 85 +1s)

Spicy Boston Blade Steak Asia Style on a Bed of Nuts and Greens

This is usually something I'd throw on the grill, but it works equally well in a pan. Using the Boston Blade steaks from the neck of the pork, ensures a juicy piece of meat that brings lots of flavour but is not lean. If you mind a piece of meat with some fat, this is not for you. Using Hot and savoury ingredients, adding some sweetness and the wonderful flavour of sesame, you get a great piece of meat to spice of your diet. The salat was a mix of crunchy, fresh and savoury with the tartness of lime juice and the nutty flavours of toasted sesame seeds and peanuts.

Serves 2

Ingredients

Meat
2-3 1 inch steaks from the Boston Blade Neck of pork
1 large clove of garlic
2 medium hot peppers / chilies / jalapenos
0.50 inch / 1 cm fresh ginger
1 small... more »

2013-06-02 05:13:59 (25 comments, 0 reshares, 20 +1s)

Hangout Quote of Note:

"I hate Everything"  - +Dirk Reul 

2013-05-31 16:48:41 (27 comments, 3 reshares, 23 +1s)

Coffee + Creativity = Coffitivity
The vibe of a coffee shop right to your desktop

-> coffitivity.com

2013-05-31 16:26:51 (25 comments, 0 reshares, 43 +1s)

This #FoodFriday I give you one of my favourites :)
Sour cream crescent rolls
http://tinascookings.blogspot.com/2013/05/sour-cream-crescent-rolls.html
They are easy (and quick) to make, very delicious and stay fresh even the next day :)
#FoodFriday is curated by +Natty Netsuwan +D. DeMonteverde +Jenn Oliver +Moon Lee

#sourcream #rolls #bread #tinascookings #baking  

2013-05-31 06:52:57 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 17 +1s)

FNS Ultra Edition: Classic Rock 'N' Giving

Tomorrow night, +FRIDAY NIGHT SESSIONS is doing a MONUMENTAL PUSH for +The LittleBigFund. Throughout the night, we'll be playing some of the all-time great CLASSIC ROCK songs, and we'll gently persuade everyone to get ready for Saturday - the LAUNCH DAY for The LittleBig Fund. helmed by the tireless +Carter Gibson!

What's The LittleBig Fund, you wonder? Read: https://plus.google.com/+CarterGibson/posts/KbUTFZZqpxs

We'll take requests all night long, and I'll be asking for your help in finding the best of the best - all those GREAT, FANTASTIC, SMASHING, AMAZING, WONDERFUL, CRAZY BEAUTIFUL classic rock tunes that have made us happy since the 50s, 60s, and 70s.

We'll be playing bands like: Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, Pink Floyd, The Who,... more »

2013-05-30 16:58:13 (93 comments, 5 reshares, 78 +1s)

Moroccan Chicken on red Couscous with Pomegranate and Cilantro

I bought organic chicken breast yesterday and also a bunch of beautiful pomegranates. So here you go, a culinary trip to North Africa, sort of. This is extremely simple and quick to cook since you can prepare most in advance and just need to cook it when the time is right. Join me in tasting the delightful combination of tender chicken seasoned with Moroccan spices, earthy and fruity notes, combined with slight tartness of pomegranates and the fresh and citrus like cilantro.

Serves 2-3

Ingredients

Chicken

2 organic chicken breasts
1 1/2 teaspoons of Ras el Hanout
1 teaspoon of salt
fresh black pepper
1 tablespoon of honey
1 tablespoon of olive oil
1 1/2 tablespoons of soy sauce

Beet-apple couscous

250 g / 8,5.oz... more »

2013-05-30 07:22:12 (33 comments, 9 reshares, 40 +1s)

Sir Patrick Stewart gives a brilliant response regarding work with Domestic Violence and PTSD to a question posed by a fan at Comicpalooza.

A Great man,

2013-05-29 10:24:05 (23 comments, 2 reshares, 61 +1s)

Chocolate Roulade with Burnt Sugar Buttercream

Recipe http://www.ledelicieux.com/recipes/chocolate-roulade-with-burnt-sugar-italian-meringue-buttercream/

#chocolaterecipes   #swissroll   #buttercreamfrosting   #bakingrecipe  

2013-05-29 05:44:35 (75 comments, 0 reshares, 59 +1s)

Monty Python + Dirk Reul = This

Well, either this or a giant foot squishing his head. When I posted the original animation earlier, I just felt like it was missing something. So far, my theory of image improvement holds true. Just add +Dirk Reul. He's like the all-spice of graphics. ;-)

#gplususermashup  

2013-05-27 16:35:03 (40 comments, 1 reshares, 32 +1s)

Hochzeitfotos mal anders, aber absolut sehenswert. Schaut mal beim Herrn Ludolph auf der Webseite vorbei und lasst ihm ein +1 da, denn das hat er verdient!

2013-05-26 05:54:11 (4 comments, 1 reshares, 9 +1s)

I've added all photographers from my various circles into one circle.

Please feel free to share as you wish.

Over the next while, I will be sharing my favorite images from each of you - in groups of 10.

Thank you for your participation in these circles - without you they would be meaningless.

2013-05-25 06:35:17 (16 comments, 4 reshares, 35 +1s)

Happy birthday, dear +Melissa Bryan

Well all know Melissa as our resident gamer, ginger and tech geek. But, did you know, that she is also a Mutant and it is her birthday?

It's true. Gingers do have special powers and abilities due to some rare genetic mutations. Much like the X-Men, gingers are genetically different to "normal people". Hey. wait, "much like the X-Men"

Redheads have a mutated MC1R gene, which produces a mutated MC1R receptor, also known as the melanocortin-1 receptor. This mutation leads to the special hair colouration, the paler skin and freckles that we know and love - but scientists have found that it also leads to the super-ability to withstand much greater levels of pain than non gingers, mostly by devouring our souls <_< and we damn well like it ! 

But.. I think I saw this image somewhere, let me... more »

2013-05-24 20:17:46 (91 comments, 4 reshares, 81 +1s)

Gruyere Gratinated Mushroom and Ham pane filone a la Betragne

Tonight called for a quick dish, something fresh, savoury and delicious. I had some mushrooms left, onions and lean bacon. After a quick shopping trip, this is what I came up with. Enjoy the slight tartness of lemon marinated mushrooms, combined with the savoury yet smooth taste of the Gruyere and topped with the rich taste of creme fraiche with ham and garlic. 

Serves 1-2

Ingredients

1 pane filone (you can use a French baguette but I find these are too narrow)
4-5 large swiss brown mushrooms, cut into slices
2-3 tablespoons of lean smoked ham / bacon, finely cubed
1/2 medium sized onion, finely minced
5 tablespoons of creme fraiche, seasoned with salt and pepper and mixed with herbs
3-4 slices of savoury cheese, Gruyere 
1 medium sized lemon, juicedmore »

2013-05-24 10:15:14 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 21 +1s)

Abercrombie & Fitch Becomes Attractive & Fat | An Open Letter to Mike Jeffries

2013-05-24 10:07:40 (23 comments, 3 reshares, 39 +1s)

Red Band Trailer - NSFW
I looks like a standard formula comedy at first, but I laughed a couple of times quite hard ;)

2013-05-24 06:21:32 (16 comments, 0 reshares, 42 +1s)

Happy birthday dear +Anna Robertson Davis

my dear friend, Anna celebrates her birthday today and there is a lot about Anna, that makes her special and rather lovable. Anna is among the most kind-hearted persons I know, she is generous, wicked smart, creative, engaging and a huge nerd! (well, actually she is tiny but I am probably not supposed to mention that). Anna is also a wonderful artist with a very unique style that continues to blow me away everytime I see another piece of her art (In fact, I own a piece, my precious)  Ahem, where was I? Right, here, so go on, take a look: http://annardart.com/

But, there is another side to Anna, one the revels in debauchery, high tea, frilly clothing, cakes and cookies, tasty morsels. The side, that lets her ascent the skies in her airship, dressed up in the most shockingly frivolous attire and assuming a different name, Admiral SelmaKi... more »

2013-05-23 16:25:31 (13 comments, 2 reshares, 25 +1s)

American Red Cross for OKC

The +American Red Cross is still accepting blood, platelet and monetary donations at this time for the people affected by the recent tornado in Oklahoma and has offered some fantastic incentives.

To show our appreciation for your lifesaving efforts, donors who present to give during the time periods below will be entered into a raffle to win an American Express gift card *

Memorial Day — May 23 to May 31 — Win 1 of 5 $1,000 gift cards!
Independence Day — July1 to July 15 — Win 1 of 5 $3,000 gift cards!
Labor Day — August 26 to September 9 — Win 1 of 5 $1,000 gift cards!

*Promotional rules apply. For full rules and regulations visit: redcrossblood.org/summerrulesandregs

If you recently made a blood donation, or if you have already scheduled an appointmentto donate bl... more »

2013-05-23 14:55:37 (21 comments, 9 reshares, 43 +1s)

Woe is me - in many, many different forms

For the lovers of obscure lingo, you will find this to be a delightful source of information. 




Via +Jyoti Dahiya and found by Kiril Minanov (whom I cannot tag) in a private share, hence the public new post. 

2013-05-23 09:15:06 (1 comments, 1 reshares, 7 +1s)

This Cooking & Foodie circle is a new one! If you want to be added, follow the simple steps!
add this circle (I can't include you otherwise)
plus this post
share this post publicly
leave a comment you want to be added!

#katherinevucicevicsharedcircle #foodies #sharedcircles #circleshare  

2013-05-22 17:29:01 (20 comments, 7 reshares, 64 +1s)

Love Hurts First Aid

Melanie Chernock, created this nifty set of first response essentials for a broken heart ( I do not have have to insert a wink here, right?) Too bad it is not for sale. 

_Love Hurts was created based on an assignment to make an activity book. I thought it would be more interesting to make a sort of activity kit instead. From there, I came up with the concept of Love Hurts: A first aid kit for a broken heart. Initially, I knew that I did not want to make a kit of sadness and wanted to approach the product with a sense of humor. Love Hurts contains all of the essentials for going through a rough breakup such as dark chocolate, vodka, bubble bath soap, a candle with matches, candy hearts, a mix CD, and, if all else fails, tissues. All of the products come neatly packaged in a compact kit. Unfortunately, the kit is not yet available to purchase. If anyone is... more »

2013-05-22 15:23:50 (41 comments, 4 reshares, 61 +1s)

Blackadder - why you should start

Do you enjoy black humour, sarcasm, witty dialogue or utter nonsense? Brilliant  welcome to the world of Blackadder. What truly made Rowan Atkinson famous, was surely this show. Not the rather, well, simpler Mr. Bean. You will also see a lot of familiar faces throughout the seasons;  Hugh Laurie (Dr. House) or Stephen Fry to name but two.  That said, grab a servant to rest your feet, a potato and if I may say so, Sir Your Moustache Is Lovely.

You ride a horse rather less well than another horse would. Your brain would make a grain of sand look large and ungainly and the part of you that can't be mentioned, I am reliably informed by women around the court, wouldn't be worth mentioning even if it could be.

Watch all episodes. online, on Dailymotion: http://goo.gl/qhurm

#H201306220700   

2013-05-22 05:41:36 (102 comments, 3 reshares, 76 +1s)

I mean, really.
It makes it so fun to chase a comment box.

2013-05-21 10:34:29 (33 comments, 1 reshares, 18 +1s)

Did Google Plus Search change its algorithm for looking up posts by hashtags?

Just before, as I looked up posts associated with the #sundayclassics tag, posts without that hashtag showed up also. Although subject related (in this case 'classical music'), that's not what I expected (nor hoped for), actually. Searches with other hashtags confirmed this behaviour.

Not having noticed this before, I guess this might've been introduced along with the most recent #googleplusupdate .

Edit: Excellent tip from +Dirk Reul added:
Remove the leading hash character from your seach term may do the trick!

2013-05-21 09:51:23 (34 comments, 2 reshares, 38 +1s)

For my slightly OCD friends

Have a moment of Zen :)

via +Lucia Segura in a limited post (hence the new share)

2013-05-21 07:46:08 (30 comments, 6 reshares, 53 +1s)

Ballroom Luminoso

I adore these pieces, form and light combined with skill and an eye for beauty on multiple layers. 

is a series of six brilliantly lit, color changing chandeliers. Drawing from the formal elegance of the freeway underpass and the cultural currents of the surrounding neighborhoods, the piece transforms a forgotten space into one that connects the community.

Each globe contains a custom-designed LED light fixture, which casts sharply detailed overlapping shadows. The chandeliers paint the underpass with complex color patterns and ethereal lighting thereby refashioning the space into a majestic ballroom-cum-shadow theater. Melding grandeur with a sense of neighborhood rejuvenation, the sculptures weld recycled bike parts into refined forms.

The installation can currently be seen in  San Antonio, Texas. 

Find out more about theins... more »

2013-05-19 15:45:45 (30 comments, 7 reshares, 51 +1s)

Having a serious Spock boner right now.

h/t +Rugger Ducky 

2013-05-19 14:48:27 (9 comments, 9 reshares, 57 +1s)

2013-05-19 14:40:19 (79 comments, 2 reshares, 80 +1s)

Coq au Vin on Roasted Garlic Potato Mash - Doing it French Style

Classic dishes are a favourite of mine. Some of the classics have been perfected over time and I enjoy the old time flavour this brings. This time, I went for a classic of the French cuisine; Coq au Vin, I did change it a bit to suit my own tastes and to use available ingredients, but the seemingly simple, yet complex layered flavours of dry red wine, vegetables and herbs, combined with garlic and the savoury bacon are just wonderful.

Please note that this does involved quite a few steps one day in advance, but I enjoy the meticulous approach to this dish :)


Ingredients

Coq au Vin
10-15 Shallots
3-4 chicken thighs and legs, or 1 or a whole chicken, cut into pieces
200g / 7 ounces of thick bacon, cubed
4 tablespoons water
500g / 18 ounces of Swiss... more »

2013-05-19 06:41:36 (19 comments, 7 reshares, 30 +1s)

The Dark Game of Hobbit Knight Thrones

A violinist's brilliant tribute to the best film scores of this decade. This'll give you goosebumps. Plug-in your headphones and enjoy the ride.

#thedarkknight   #thehobbit   #gameofthrones  

2013-05-18 18:24:40 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 10 +1s)

Circles Everywhere!

Over the past couple of days I have been shared in some really awesome circles.  It reminded me how long it's been since I shared one of my own.  And with all the new people around, I figured it might be helpful.  

These 200 lovely plussers were chosen by google's magic as being the most relevant to me (minus a few pages and the people who don't use G+).  I went through them and can assure you that these are all top notch characters (well, mostly :p).  They definitely make google+ the amazing place that it is.  Just, be prepared for shenanigans.  

If you were notified, you are in the circle.  I don't ever notify, so hopefully you guys don't mind this one.

2013-05-18 08:37:20 (37 comments, 6 reshares, 44 +1s)

Trek Wars

I love these Star Wars and Trek mashup cookies :) 

Tribble-Chewbacca is genius! 

via 
http://www.klickitatstreet.com/2013/05/boldly-go-and-may-fourth-be-with-you.html

2013-05-17 15:31:36 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 9 +1s)

Star Stuff Circle
"We are all connected: To each other, biologically; To the earth, chemically; To the rest of the Universe, atomically."  - Neil Degrasse Tyson

...And through G+, algorithmically. Thanks for the relevance. If you're new to G+, this is a pretty good circle if you want to liven up your stream or you're in the mood to pop a blood vessel or two. IJS. Have a happy Friday.

#sharedcircles   #publicsharedcircles   

2013-05-17 15:01:17 (8 comments, 2 reshares, 41 +1s)

Korean Sticky, Sweet, and Spicy Chicken Legs

http://chowdivine.com/korean-sticky-sweet-and-spicy-chicken-legs

One of my favorite dishes of all time :)

#recipe   #dairyfree   #korean   #chicken   

#foodfriday curated by +Natty Netsuwan +D. DeMonteverde +Jenn Oliver and +Moon Lee

2013-05-13 20:13:09 (2 comments, 3 reshares, 21 +1s)

Clear, Unambiguous Statement About the Missing Posts
+Yonatan Zunger has stepped in and made this clear and unambiguous statement about the issue with missing posts that so many of us have been experiencing in recent weeks.

(Source: plus.google.com/103697368260407276883/posts/bDj7QsPEurA)

2013-05-13 17:40:06 (99 comments, 7 reshares, 80 +1s)

Rosemary Potato Pizza with sweet Onions and Feta - Earthy delights

Because I have to atone for my food-fail of the weekend, I wanted to make something quick and easy that I can also eat tomorrow. A pizza dough can be made many way, I went for the really easy one described here: http://goo.gl/kktwG enough for about 1 baking try if rolled out thinly.

The topping is catering to my personal tastes, I love feta, red onions, Rosemary and potatoes. Combining them with a bit of Ricotta, freshly ground black pepper and extra virgin olive oil, creates a simple yet delightful dish bringing the mediterranean into my dreary and overcast German day.

This will easily feed 3 grownups :)

Ingredients

(without pizza dough)
150 g / 2/3 cup of Ricotta cheese
3-4 waxy potatoes
300 g / 2 cups of feta cheese
3-4 red onions or a mix of... more »

2013-05-13 17:01:34 (41 comments, 1 reshares, 23 +1s)

Good morning, all!

First of all my apologies for having notified you. Let me explain:

I have been noticing for a while now that I don't see as many posts as I should see, given that I have 415 people in my circles. I checked this this morning. I saw the same ol' posts that I had plussed hours ago after maybe 5 new posts. Given that G+ is the home of people from all over the world where in every hour at least someone is awake and posting on G+, there should be a high influx of new posts every minute or so.

I went to the profiles of some of you and noticed there that, depending on how prolific a poster you are, I only saw every 3rd to 5th post of you, and as the circles are sorted by relevancy (not mine obviously), the profiles I have checked out so far are only the ones of the people on the top of my biggest circle. I will continue to visit your profiles, each... more »

2013-05-12 07:45:13 (48 comments, 0 reshares, 54 +1s)

No food post this weekend due to own stupidity

Checking not only once, but twice that you have all the ingredients. Only to realise that in fact you are missing other vital ingredients that you cannot substitute and you just cannot buy on a Sunday in Germany because shops are closed and those cannot be had at a gas station makes me just want to.. gah! 

I will make a food post this week to make up for it. Now, I will go and pout. 
I feel like there should be a series of pictures with signs like for the dog shaming, only .. for cooking. <_<

#sosorry   #yesIshouldknowbetter   #sorryrosenocaketoday  

2013-05-11 15:57:48 (2 comments, 5 reshares, 37 +1s)

Love this idea!

h/t +Gloria Bass