Monday, April 27, 2009

Hramblings: Buddy can you spare a tire?

In the old days, you had a spare tire that was part of the tire rotation loop. Over time this was replaced by a temporary spare that was only used to get you to the repair facility. There are a smattering of run-flat options that feature a stiffened side-wall and/or an internal rubber support on the wheel.

More recently we've seen inflators with tire sealant replacing spare tires. These can work well (not to mention saving weight and storage space), but there are a few things to remember. If you have a puncture from an object that didn't stay in the tire, the air loss can be faster than the inflator can deal with. One option is to reposition the car so that the puncture is on or close to the ground. This will help slow the leak and get the sealant in the best position to flow through the puncture.

In any event, you should know what flat tire repair system you have in your car, where its stored and how to use it. If the lug wrench provides too little leverage for you there are after market X-wrenches and electric lug wrenches that plug in to a power-point. Consider road service coverage on your insurance. Think about a backup system if you make long trips or are a long distance between repair facilities.

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Hrecommended: My Best of Ann Arbor Food for 2008

The alphabetical order by venue is intentional. All of these places have more going for them than just the items I've chosen to highlight. That said, most of these are local, owner-operated and almost certainly have less consistency to their execution than the robots at a chain restaurant can deliver. This year has been hard on local food outlets. As always, this is my list. Yours will almost certainly be different.
  • Amadeus -- Cheapest Trip to Europe
  • Blue Tractor -- Best New Restaurant
  • Cafe Zola -- Best Weekday Lunch Spot
  • California Pizza Kitchen -- Best Pizza, Entree Salads
  • Chia Shiang -- Best Comeback (try the Kung Pao Soybean Skinrolls)
  • Corner Brewery -- Most Potential
  • Dimo's -- Best Burger
  • Kozmo Deli -- Best Bi Bim Bap, Best Diner
  • Lotus Thai -- Best Thai
  • Northside Grill -- Best Breakfast (try the Huron Sampler)
  • Madras Masala -- Best Indian
  • Paradise -- Best Asian
  • Paesano's -- Best Seasonal Menu (try the soups, pasta features)
  • Queen of Hearts -- Best Cakes and Pastries (sadly they have ceased their walk-in business)
  • Red Hawk -- Best Bar Food, Best non-Beer tap (try the hard ciders and root beer), Best Smoke-Free Place to Have a Beer
  • Red Hot Lovers -- Best Hotdogs (try a Serious Dog)
  • Star Cafe -- Best Middle-Eastern
  • Totoro -- Best Sushi (tie)
  • Uptown Coney -- Best Club Sandwich
  • Yotsuba -- Best Sushi (tie)
  • Zingerman's Bakehouse -- Best Bread, Best Bagels
  • Zingerman's Roadhouse -- Best Chili (try the Ancho Beef), Best Haute Cuisine, Best Chef (Alex Young)

Sadly, no winners for: Best BBQ, Best Home-style Desserts, Best Fish and Chips, Best Tapas, Best Cajun, Best Service, Best Mexican

Gone but not forgotten: Allen and Rumsey Steakhouse, American Spoon Gelato, Brewbakers Ginger Cream Soda, Manali, Mr. Rib, Latdior, Los Tres Amigos, Philly's, Original 60's Sub Shop, Rio Bravo, Zydeco, chef Takashi Yagihashi, chef Mark Pruitt

Thursday, January 01, 2009

Hramblings: My Best of the Internet 2008

tools:
blogs:
honorable mentions

Happy New Year 2009!



Snow and Mist, originally uploaded by jhritz.


Thursday, December 25, 2008

My Top Movies of 2008

Note: This is my list. It probably doesn't match anyone elses. That's more or less by design. Ann Arbor gets flicks that don't hit other markets, but frequently gets Oscar contenders after the awards go out. 2008 was another great year for movies. Some of the choices this year are edgy or offbeat (YPF, The Gymnast). My advice is to pay attention to ratings and descriptions.
Honorable Mentions

Missed at the Theaters but Caught on DVD