Pete Dudchenko

Google recently announced that they will start displaying QR Codes in stickers in front of stores which will allow people to “zap” the code with their cell phone and do some cool things like write a review, receive a coupon, or go to a website.

QR Codes have been around for a while but I figure something like this will start to gain in popularity now that Google has put a stake in the claim. As a BlackBerry user who has BlackBerry Messenger 5.0, this is also pretty cool because we can take advantage of these QR Codes immediately. Don’t worry if you don’t have it, just  check this announcement by Google and they offer plenty of other options for cell phone users.

Take the image below:

If you open up BlackBerry Messenger 5.0 and select “Add Contact,” and then “Scan Invitation Barcode from another BlackBerry” you’ll be presented with the same view you get when you want to take a photo. Just point your phone at the image above (make sure you get the whole image to appear in the screen) and the phone will do the rest. No need to click the photo, the system will open a new browser when it reads the code and take you to the super-secret website (hint, it looks a lot like this one).

Want to make your own bar code? Check out Kaywa where you can generate a code that opens a website, offers a textual message, or even provides a phone number.

As many of you probably know, California is very much into the healthy lifestyle. Exercise and nutrition are at the top of most minds here in San Diego and an  article in The Reader proves just that. As you can see, the discussion below weighs the various cooking options of properly preparing a hot dog in the most healthy manner.
Stay Classy San Diego…..

(click to enlarge)

Maintenance people do just that. They help us maintain our normal lifestyle. God bless em because I don’t know the first thing about fixing an electrical outlet or installing a new sink. I must say however that I’ve met a few over the years that makes me think it takes a special breed to do what they do.

Let me start with an example back in my college years. The apartment I had just moved into was somehow wired up so that when I turned off the light switch by the front door, the switch would turn off the lights, the TV, the stereo and basically anything else in the living room. We called the electrician to come fix it and soon enough, the guy had the light switch apart with wires sticking out and was working away. Suddenly I hear this shock of electricity jump from the wires into the electrician’s hands. We both just stood there looking at each other for a few seconds and I finally ask him, “Dude! Are you OK???” His response, “N-n-n-n-no p-p-p-p-probbbblem. It ha-ha-ha-ha-happens all the t-t-t-time.”

Case number two, the other day we had called an exterminator to help us with some ants that had found their way into the building. Showing up he looks around and then starts to spray the corners and bathrooms and stuff. I’m working away at my laptop in the living room when I hear play by play announcements from the back bathroom, “Sooooo looong ants.” and, “See ya later boys.”

So here’s to the men and women that help us live our lives where light switches only turn off lamps and not TV’s, and where we don’t have ants plotting to overtake the apartment. I salute you all.

Thanks to everyone who left a comment. Without any further delay, here are the winners:

Lolly
Christian
Derek
Daniel
Kevin

I’ll be submitting the email invites today but please be aware that it’s up to Google on how soon you get the invitation. My understanding is that they may not be immediate. When you do get your invite though, be sure to add me to your contacts list so we can test Google Wave out.

For those that didn’t win, sorry, but as I get more invites I’ll pass them along.

I was a little surprised this morning to get an email invitation for Google Wave as I thought the invites went out yesterday. Since I was lucky enough to get one then I figure why not share the love. I have five Google Wave Invites to offer and all you have to do is leave a comment below (be sure to fill out your email correctly).

I’ll select five from the list and announce the winners on Monday. Good Luck!

**UPDATED 10/10 – Thanks for everyone who commented. Google Wave Invite Winners have been announced.**

They say that you should find at least one good cause to support. For me, as much as I love cooking and learning about food it’s been pretty apparent that there’s a growing movement around finding sustainable food. I’ve only just started to become educated on the subject but it’s been interesting looking for resources specific to seafood sustainability in San Diego.

But first, what is seafood sustainability and why is it important to the food I eat? According to one website, “It is seafood that is fished or farmed without compromising fish populations or marine habitats. Moreover, sustainable seafood is also generally healthier and of higher quality than the run-of-the-mill seafood.” Basically, it means that we don’t take fish from the ocean faster than they can be replenished and the manner in which we catch the fish is friendly to the environment.

When you look at farming techniques like Salmon farms, not only are they unhealthy for you to eat but they can actually hurt the environment more than just “traditional” fishing in the wild since many of these farms release pollutants into the water from the overcrowding of fish. Also, according to some predictions, Scientists predict that if we continue fishing as we are now, we will see the end of most seafood by 2048.

As a sushi fan, and a big Salmon fan, it was concerning to realize that many of the fish the local restaurants and grocery stores are serving are farmed Salmon and not wild caught.

So what can someone do? Well for me, the first step is to get educated and that’s the step I’m on right now. Below are a few resources that I’ve found that help describe what you can do to help the cause:

Seafood Watch – A great resource for learning more about seafood sustainability and especially great for sushi lovers. Download a free pocket guide or access their site on the go from your cell phone to help choose the right seafood to select.

Marine Stewardship Council – The MSC is the world’s leading certification and ecolabelling program for sustainable seafood. Look for the blue MSC ecolabel when shopping or dining out.

Finding Sustainable Seafood in San Diego – Those of us local to San Diego will find this article interesting as it has a few local links to also investigate.

San Diego Roots: Sustainable Food Project – A list of San Diego Restaurants that use locally grown food.

In Fish We Trust – San Diego’s one-stop-shop for sustainable seafood. Another great list of restaurants in the San Diego area that offer sustainable seafood menus.

The End of the Line – I haven’t watched it yet but it’s a documentary on sustainability. “The world’s first major documentary about the devastating effect of overfishing premiered at Sundance Film Festival.”

Finally, check out for yourself what’s good to eat: