Under the Stars

Hello. I love to skate! If there is something that I love to do, skateboarding is it! It allows one to release any built up aggression on the obstacle and no one is to blame if one gets hurt but one's own self. Skateboarding helps develop balance, stamina, and definitely helps teach discipline, especially being not a meany head to others that could or could not be in the way. Knowing not to get angry is a very well appreciated aspect that I have learned from skateboarding. It is so fun! In California the weather and the feel is so right! :) I have a super good time in a skate park environment though the street aspect is more of an art! I like that medium. The skate park is just all around good times. The sun, other skaters, and looooots of water! Water is key as well as eating cereal! Water balloons, shaken sodas, and fire works commence! :)

Bike Inner Tube Replacement

  I love to ride my bike! The kind of bike I have is a foreign kind. I really need to up grade it. I am not an expert at bike repair, though it is a necessity, I find (because my tire always bursts) to be able to do by ones self, that is inner tube replacement.

1. Asess the tire. Yup, it still has that flat that it gotten some from odd reason.
2. Loosen with a wrench. Left is to loosen and right is to tighten.
3. Remove the entire wheel of the frame.
4. Have a special tool for this type of job comes in handy. This tool hooks on to the spoke as one takes its similar pair and runs the hook end along the tire, removing it from the rim.  
5. Remove the inner-tube from the rim (I like to save it for extra repair patches or maybe a protective layer to improve my skateboard shoes).
6. Insert the new inner-tube by first putting the schraeder (air-tip) through the rim hole and work your way up the rim by hands.
7. Place the special tool(or a flathead screw driver) carefully inbetween the tire and the rim so it will be held in. Slip the tire back into the rim (either the special tool, the flathead screw driver, or both), to put the last bit of tire into the rim(carefully).  
8. Place the tire back on the frame. In this case the tire that was in need of repair was the rear(the front wheel does not need adjustment). Hand tighten a little and make sure that the wheel is centered  along with the frame and taught enough in the chain. Tighten up the bolt once the wheel is in a good position.
9. I like to fill the inner-tube with half air and roll it on the ground to loosen up the tire if it was twisted a bit. Then I fill the tire up untill it is good to ride.
   There it is folks! As good as new! :) Thank you very much! Eric M. Rangel

Holy Guacamole

 Hello. I have a really great family. Mostly everybody gets along and if that is not the case, at least by the end of the day every one is doing well. A part of my family is an aunt with a great avocado tree! Every year it fruits abundant. This year in exchange for helping with upgrading their computer, they gave my a bucket load. I had to eat them fast enough before they went bad because there was so many. I love avocados and I hope you do as well! Here is a simple avocado recipe that I use.

 

 7 Avocado

1  Purple Shalot

1 Tomato

1 Lime

1 Jalepeno(marinated)

A few sprigs of Cilantro (removed from stem)

1.  Cut the avocado in half and remove the seed by inserting the end near the handle of the knife into the seed. Twist and the seed should lift right out (be careful, it may take some practice). 2.   Scoop out the flesh and place it in a medium size mixing bowl. At this point I like to squeeze the lime juice in the bowl  (to keep the avocado from oxidizing and turning it more brownish then the neat green color it has already), mix. 3. Remove the stem from the tomato by cutting a circle with the tip of the knife around the stem and discard. Cut the tomato in half and take to the sink. Softly squeeze and rinse to remove the seeds and the membrane from the tomato. Cut the tomato and the rest of the vegetables in ¼ inch cubes. Add to the bowl. julian the cilantro and toss it in, season with salt and pepper, and incorporate all of the ingredients by folding.  Serve with chips and garnish with a sprig of cilantro if desired.

Thank you very much! Eric M. Rangel

My Vegan Story

 Hello. It was the end of the school year in 2000. I was hanging with older friends whom skateboarded, drawn art, and talked. We ate of course. One of my friends was Vegan. I was not aware at first. His folks had a party once with tons of  hot dogs and burgers. They did not eat it all so he gave it to me. I did not want it to go to waste. I ate so much! I felt so lethargic. This was an eye opener for me. Especially being a very active person. I knew it was time for a change.  Then we had to go buy some food goods for a BBQ we were having. We went to whole foods. I noticed all of the wonderful choices one had to choose from. We gotten portabella mushrooms for a burger and salsa fixins. I loved seeing that there are more to chose from then what was the norm. I also was more an earthly hippie kind of person. I liked the vegan culture from what I had seen. I was able to borrow some literature and read up on the facts from such books as Fast Food Nation and Vegan:The New Ethics of Eating. Also cook books such as How it all Vegan!: Irresistible Recipes for an Animal Free Diet and Vegan Cooking (Eva Batt). The Vegan Cooking book is a real great one because it has all of nutrients one would need to have as a vegan such as Iron, B12, and Calcium. I love to cook as well and I have always cooked for myself since I was 14. I also love nutrition. So the two went hand and hand and made the transition from carnivore to Vegan. It took me about three weeks to get the animal based foods completely out of my diet. Vegan-ism makes one be creative. I love to be creative. I would be more difficult if one does not like any of the three: nutrition, cooking, and being creative. There are conventional ways to eat food and not technically consume animal by-products. I.e. One might go to a non-vegan restaurant but order something that does not contain animal by-products. I try to not ever buy animal by-products. I feel it is wrong. My Mom likes goats milk. I used to by it for she and fell guilty. Now I do not buy it and opt for a soy milk instead. The only time I buy dairy is ice-cream or snacks for kids because they do not really understand their options and they are just kids. I try and make them happy. Most vegan food seems too complex for their palate. (though there are plenty of snacks for kids that are vegan).
 My reasons for Vegan-ism are: Social, Environmental, Political, economical, Health, For the Animals. There might be more. On the social level, most of the people whom I have spoken with are very nice and sane. They are more a compassionate people. Compassion for life is, I think, the basis for Vegan-ism and the underlying principal. On the Environmental, front mass production of industrial housing of animals cause an estimated amount of methane gas that contribute to 14% of the worlds green house gases. The waste of an animal contains disease-causing pathogens and nitrates, that in excess are very hazardous to our water and environment. Concerning a political view is about reform and lobbying for a better way to nourish this countries peoples, lowering health care costs, and educating people about the pros and cons of a vegetarian diet, especially in schools. An economical perspective is that the more local commerce is accrued, the more money there is for spending and improvement that could be used for a specific purpose such as education and extra curricular activities such as carnivals or sports for all ages. That brings me to health. It is more healthier a choice to be Vegan because there are not any hormones, sodium nitrate, and is not linked to a number of diseases as well as obesity. Last but not least, the Animals. I do not like to harm any life. The only time it is necessary is to protect a life from evil or wrong doing. When I was very little, my family went to Mexico(where my father is from). We have a ranch and an animal corral. I have seen some gnarly stuff there regarding live animals for food. They wanted me to "do in" some poultry, to eat, with a big knife. I tried but could not. I felt is was wrong. I understand the Native Americans lived off the land. They however have more reverence for the life and the land then modern Americans. They used everything and did not abuse the land or its life. If some one wanted to eat meat I feel that they should do all the preparation them selves. I could imagine most people would not want to do that. Most people will even waste there meat food not even realizing that that animal gave up its life so that they could eat and be feed. So if it is not absolutely necessary to to harm a living animal to survive, then I, personally chose not to. Some people debate with me that vegetables are alive. They I think vegetables are more of a synthesis and do not have much complex systems such as animals. They only way to eat and not "kill" is being a Fruitarian, they even eat vegetables sometimes. Fruitarian-ism is more a "Raw" route(I would like to go that route one day).
 In conclusion try Vegan-ism for yourself if you would like. Look up the facts. Think about sustainability of our environment and the health and well being of our planet as well as its inhabitants. If we eat more healthy then we are able to run more efficiently, have more energy, and hence are happier! Thank you very much! Eric M. Rangel

The Music Me

 

 Hello. This is a song I have 100% produced. I produced it several years ago. I was being introduced to a number of different genres of music such as hip hop, rap, popculture, and alternative music alike. Friends introduced me to a production application studio (virtual) and I began to experiment! I also like science fiction and horror genres as well. These are my influences as well as specific individuals that are super startastic! I written, performed, produced and mix recorded a bunch of songs during the Halloween season. For some reason, the Halloween season makes me want to be creative in a characteristically sense. I have not made anymore albums similar to this. I like to play real live instruments to achieve a organic effect. My songs that I produce now are less complex. They are that way because my actual song writting skills have to be in line with my playing skills and vice versa. This is however my favorite track. I had a lot of fun working on this song, "Relativistics".
 
 Thank you very much! Eric M. Rangel

C.A.S.L #3



 

 Hello. On most saturdays I host a radio slot, at except for one Saturday in the month. That Saturday I skate California amature skateboard leauge competitions. I usually get prepared the night before with all of my snacks and essentials that I will need for the trip. Most of the locations so far have been about an hour to up to two and a half hours to get to my destination. Though I like to look at the travel as more, "it is the jorney not the destination". I had gotten up around 7:30 wich is not particularly early and I went to sleep the night before around midnight. I little earlier then the norm. By this time in the circuit, I am not nervous the night before. That ment I was well rested and was off to a great start. This competition was held in Sonoma! Sonama is a nice place to visit because it is very beautiful and lots of vineyards. Something about any wine country that makes me super ecstatic! At times I seriously burst with laughter(I had not any wine either)!

I had a little difficulty finding the place as per usual because I am not that savvy at dirtections. Though I am getting better at it! :)

Once there I was relieved! The weather was a bit hot as we were in the Sun. I do not mind the Sun! I love it! :) I placed 3rd!

frontside smith grind

 

My mouth full of cookie.



 After the awards were given for the park competition, we were off to the skate shop "Old School", where the ramp skate competition was held. The skate shop is neat and even equiped with a super ramp! In that I placed 4th! :)

 

  I would like to have done better. I just have to keep practicing. I love skating in the C.A.S.L. circuit because the other skaters inspire me to do my best! I have the most fun when I am at my best! I progress further in to the realm of imagination, creativity, ability, and reality. When I skate I feel the momentum, weightlessness, and acumen of the moment. The sweat evaporating of my skin is very soothing and delightful as well of course. I appreciate nature and the great outdoors! Thank you Mother Earth! :)

Thank you very much! Eric M. Rangel

 

 

 

 

A super Simple Sushi

 Hello. This is a Super Simple Sushi creation process! Boil some rice by first toasting it in a pot with some olive oil stirring on a medium high heat. Pour water that is risen 1" above the rice. This measurement has always worked for me and easy to remember. Stir a couple of times until the water starts to boil. Reduce to low and half cover with a lid for 7 minutes. Turn heat off and let set. The filler ingredients are: cucumber, carrot, and avocado. Take a peeler and peel of the outer skin to remove and discard. Continue to peel the cucumber and carrot so there are strips of them by setting them on a cutting board  and turning after each peel stopping when close to the core (the core can be used for smoothies later!). Do not mix the prepared vegetables. Have an ice bath ready for a blanch of the vegetables. Blanching is the direct cooling of a food be submerging it in an "ice bath" in order to stop it from cooking further. This softens the vegetables and helps to keep its color. Boil a pot of water and place one vegetable at a time in it. "Fish" them out with a spoon with teeth or some tongs. Place them in an ice bath. Then cut the avocado in half, remove the seed and run a knife down through the avocado but not the skin. Scoop out the avocado meat and set aside.  Squeeze the excess water out of the blanched vegetables. Now we have the 2 blanched vegetables, avocado, and the toasted rice ready to fill the roasted sea weed wrap (if you are like me you could take a piece of see weed and eat it!). Take one sea weed wrap and on the bottom 1/4 spread rice the length of the wrap and place the avocado, carrot, and cucumber along on top of the rice.Roll the sea weed with the filler upward gently and slow until almost at the top. (It is important that the filler be evenly distributed along the sea weed so the roll stay proportioned and have not too much filler so it can close completely). Have a small cup of water for the use of "sealing" the roll. Take your finger and dip them in the water. Run damped fingers along the top. Finish the rolling and repeat. Make into about 1 1/2 inch size portions. Too big and less portions and too small and the sushi will fall apart (the ends are usually not suitable for plating). Use fingers to secure the circumference of the roll and with a serrated knife make long strokes so the blade cuts without to much pressure. It may take several back and forths. The key with Sushi is being gentle and not temperamental. I like to stack them like a pyramid. Tadaa!We have a Super Simple Sushi! Thank you very much! Eric M. Rangel