I have signed up for Google Email Hosting for my immediate family members. If you know someone that recently changed to an @santoro.com email address, they are a family member of mine but not necessarily directly related to this site.

If you are a family member and want an @santoro.com address delivered via GMail, give me a call and we will set it up.

If you are not a family member but do have the same last name, keep an eye out here, I may be selling addresses for a reasonable price shortly.

Dave

The URL is http://sites.santoro.com/arcadereplay/

I have also added a lot of new digitized scans from our 1988-1999 family photos. Next chore: renaming and categorizing our photos for 2007 and 2008 to date.  We have a bunch going back to last summer.

The Gallery will be back though, and when it is it will be faster and more secure.

The technology has come along way in those four years and Mamenation is HUGE, protruding rudely into our den. With the recent LCD price reductions it is now possible to build a slimmer arcade cabinet than was previously possible with large, deep CRT tube-style monitors. All these facts, combined with the fact that I haven’t built anything cool in a few years, made me decide to build a new, slim arcade machine. I will be selling Mamenation to fund the new project.

Last time around I did paper sketches and it wasn’t conducive to quality work. This time around I used the opportunity to learn “Sketchup,” a free 3D modeling program from Google. It has a rather steep learning curve. I have spent about 15 hours with it so far and am now just starting to not be spastic with it. In the end it was worth it because it gives you the ability to look at your creation from any angle before it ever exists.

Here is the design I am leaning toward:

(click for larger picture..)

I have ordered all the parts that I need and should start construction soon if work doesn’t keep me working late too much.

http://www.curbly.com/Chrisjob/posts/2252-DIY-Shrinky-Dinks-

If we try it I’ll report back here how it worked.

• U2′s ‘Vertigo’ Tour (twice, Madison Square Garden, and Continental Airlines Arena)
• Peter Gabriel’s ‘Growing Up’ tour at the Continental Airlines Arena
• Billy Joel at the Hartford Civic Center

I got an email a few weeks ago saying that there were tickets available for The Police at Giants Stadium, and was able to jump on the opportunity. We scored floor seats about thirty rows back from the stage.

Overall I enjoyed the concert. I will say that Sting didn’t really seem to be ‘really into it.’ He smiled and moved around the stage, but he was cleary not having the time of his life. I was also disappointed at how some of the songs were unceremoniously chopped up. U2 have managed to slice and dice thier tunes in an artistic and natural way, but The Police have not mastered that art.Anyway this is not meant to be a full review. This review echoes my sentiments pretty well:

http://thepolicetour2007.blogspot.com/2007/08/police-tour-2007-concert-review-setlist_6654.html

I’d give the concert a solid ‘B’ grade, and for sure it was fun seeing some great old songs performed. I’m glad I went.

Ingredients:

• 2 large sweet Italian Sausages
• 1 medium Spanish Onion, diced
• 1 lb Penne Rigate Pasta (penne with ‘ridges’)
• 1 tbsp Crushed Red Pepper (the kind you put on pizza – use 2-3 tbsp if you like spicy)
• Small package fresh Mozzeralla Cheese
• 1 large tomato, diced
• 1 26 oz jar Classico Tomato and Basil spaghetti sauce (brand is probably not important, this is what I used)
• 1/3 cup Vodka
• ‘1/3 of a half-pint’ (about 3oz?) heavy cream
• 1 tbsp chopped fresh basil
• 3 Fresh whole basil leaves
• Olive Oil

Start by boiling water for the pasta.  Cook the onion over low heat in 1 tbsp olive oil until the onion is just beginning to get clear.  While the onion cooks, remove sausage meat from the casings and cook over medium heat till fully cooked, being sure to break up any large chunks. 

Don’t forget to put the penne in the boiling water.

In a medium pan boil the vodka.  There is a very strong smell at first as you boil off the alcohol.  As soon as the smell lessens a little, lower the heat to medium and add the spaghetti sauce.  Mix in the heavy cream, crushed pepper, tomato, and chopped basil – stir over medium heat till it almost boils, remove from heat.  The sauce should be only slightly pink. 

When the pasta is al dente, remove, drain, and rinse with cold water.  Drain well, transfer back to the pot.  Mix in the onion and sausage, then add enough of the pink sauce so that everything has an even coating without excess sauce pooling in the pan.  You may not need it all.

Transfer the mixture to a large baking dish or casserole.  Spread slices of the mozzarella across about 70% of the top and bake at 375 for 20 mins with foil over  the top.  Cook longer if the pasta cooled a lot before you put it in.

Remove from oven and garnish with basil leaves garnish prior to serving.