Waveform’s Top 5 Apps of All Time

The Waveform Podcast hosts – Marquez, Andrew, David, and Ellis – recently took on a fun challenge: each of them had to name their top five mobile apps of all time. No desktop software, no web apps. Just the apps on your phone that you actually reach for, day in and day out.

What came out of it was a surprisingly diverse list – part utility, part nostalgia, and definitely a little unexpected in places. Here is a breakdown of every host’s top five, with links so you can check them out yourself.

Marquez’s Top 5

Marquez came prepared with a ranked list and a stack of honorable mentions, which tells you everything about how seriously he took this. His picks lean practical and polished – the kind of apps that have quietly become indispensable over years of daily use.

Carrot Weather – His undisputed number one. Carrot lifted the layout directly from the beloved (and now defunct) Dark Sky, and nobody else has really replicated it. Accurate data, solid radar, multiple sources. iPhone only, but if you are on iOS, it is hard to argue with it.
TickTick – He has tried switching to other task apps repeatedly, and he keeps coming back to this one. It just works.
Flighty – The app that started the whole conversation. Flighty is a flight tracker that will notify you of delays before the airline does – sometimes 45 minutes before everyone at the gate finds out. If you fly even occasionally, it is worth a look.
Waze – Crowdsourced navigation that still edges out Google Maps for granular road condition reporting. Potholes, closed roads, flooding – Waze surfaces things Google Maps does not always catch.
Relay for Reddit – The best Android Reddit client, full stop. It has a paid tier, and it is worth it.

Andrew’s Top 5

Andrew announced upfront that he had no honorable mentions – if an app is not on his list, it is “dog water.” Respect the conviction. His picks are the most eclectic of the group, and he fully owns it.

UDisc – A disc golf app that doubles as a community-building platform. It has course finders, scoring, and even tools for requesting new courses from local townships. The free version gives you most of what you need; a $30/year subscription unlocks smartwatch integration and premium features.
Google Tasks – Andrew says this one legitimately changed his life. Dead simple, no friction, and it works natively with Android Auto for hands-free task entry. Sometimes the simplest solution is the right one.
Blip – A cross-platform file transfer app that the whole team has become obsessed with. No file size limits, no fussing with the same Wi-Fi network, and it hits 50-60 MB/s transfers across the country. Think AirDrop, but it actually works between different platforms.
Old School RuneScape – A nod to the grind-friendly classic MMO. The mobile app is perfect for grinding XP while doing literally anything else. Andrew admits he mostly just watches content about the game rather than playing, but the app earns a spot on legacy alone.
Taco Bell – No judgment. He makes the case that it is the only fast food app that works reliably every time, with no upsell pop-ups and no glitches. Given what the McDonald’s app puts people through, it is hard to disagree.

David’s Top 5

David recently switched back to Android after a long stretch on iPhone, which shaped his list considerably. His picks skew toward apps that work across ecosystems – tools built to last regardless of what phone you are holding.

Obsidian – A local-first note-taking app available on Android, iOS, and desktop. David uses it as a full knowledge base, linking notes together in a way that replicates what he had built in Apple Notes – but without the ecosystem lock-in. He was surprised by how capable the mobile app is, especially in DeX mode.
StoryGraph – Goodreads, but run by an independent developer and actually updated. Amazon bought Goodreads over a decade ago and has barely touched it since. StoryGraph’s recommendation algorithm is legitimately excellent.
Stellarium – A star and planet viewer that uses your phone’s accelerometer to map the sky in real time. The pro version adds high-resolution images of planets, so as you pan around the sky, you can zoom in and see actual photos. It has been making the rounds on TikTok, and for good reason.
Duolingo – The app that made gamification a standard design pattern. David acknowledges he still is not fluent in anything, but it changed how language learning apps work, and that counts for something.
KWGT – A custom widget builder for Android with a strong community behind it. There is a learning curve, but you can import widgets other people have made and customize from there. If you have ever looked at someone’s Android home screen and wondered how they made it look like that, KWGT is probably involved.

Ellis’s Top 5

Ellis got a new phone in December 2025 after years on an iPhone 12 mini, which he notes was too old to run most apps properly. So this is effectively a top five from someone who experienced mobile apps with fresh eyes, and the list reflects that – specific, personal, and genuinely interesting.

Brooklyn Public Library – His number one, and he makes a compelling argument for it. Free ebooks, free audiobooks, and the app is fast and frictionless in a way most apps with budgets ten times the size are not. If you are not near Brooklyn, look up your own library system – or get a Brooklyn library card online.
Moment Pro Camera – A manual camera app for iPhone that lets you lock in settings and save profiles. Ellis loves forcing the camera into a specific ISO range to get a flattering, slightly grainy look that the default iPhone camera actively tries to avoid. One-time payment, no subscription.
See Saw – A gallery guide app for New York, Los Angeles, Berlin, London, and Paris. It maps current exhibitions, lets you filter by neighborhood, and tracks openings and closings. Ellis loves that it does exactly one thing and does it well.
Fog of World – A location-tracking app that fills in a map as you travel, revealing everywhere you have ever been. Ellis included it for nostalgia but specifically said not to download it, citing significant privacy concerns. Noted.
Discogs – Goodreads meets eBay, but for music. You can log your record collection, browse a marketplace for buying and selling vinyl, and read articles from staff writers and community contributors. Ellis once uploaded an album so rare that he was the first person to ever log it – which he described as a big day.

A few patterns worth noting

Blip showed up on two separate lists (Andrew at #3, and Ellis called it phenomenal before leaving it off his final five), which is a strong signal that it is worth downloading. Relay for Reddit appeared independently on both Marquez’s and David’s lists. And Flighty – which sparked the whole conversation in the first place – landed at #3 for Marquez and as an honorable mention for David, who said he missed it after switching to Android.

The most divisive pick is probably Andrew’s number one: a disc golf app. But honestly, a great niche app that someone uses every single week probably belongs on a top five list more than a utility people open out of habit.

You can watch the full episode on the Waveform YouTube channel.

Long-form Narrative Podcast Recommendations

There is a corner of the podcast world that doesn’t get nearly enough attention: long-form audio fiction that commits fully to its premise, trusts its listeners, and builds the kind of slow-burn dread you can’t stop thinking about. These shows are not interview podcasts. They are not true crime. They are meticulously produced audio dramas, many presented as if they’re actually happening: found recordings, investigative journalism, field dispatches that pull you into mysteries with no easy answers.

If you’ve ever lost sleep because you couldn’t stop listening, this list is for you.

The Lost Tapes

One of the original favorites that inspired me to create this list, a show that fits perfectly with everything below. (If you’re looking for this one, search for it directly in your podcast app; links vary by platform. The original website is no longer live.)

The Pacific Northwest Stories Universe

This trio of shows shares a fictional universe and a signature style: pseudo-documentary storytelling presented as real, Pacific Northwest settings soaked in fog and dread, and conspiracies that feel just plausible enough to be unsettling. Start with any of them; they’re interconnected but each stands alone.

Rabbits

When Carly Parker’s best friend Yumiko goes missing, her search leads her to an ancient, dangerous underground game known only as “Rabbits.” Equal parts ARG, conspiracy thriller, and cosmic horror, this show rewards obsessive listeners who want to follow the rabbit hole as far as it goes. Listen to Rabbits

Tanis

Journalist Nic Silver investigates a mysterious location, possibly a place, possibly a concept, that has appeared throughout history under different names. Think of it as a conspiracy podcast where the conspiracy might be woven into the fabric of reality itself. Listen to Tanis

The Black Tapes

Reporter Alex Reagan profiles paranormal investigator Dr. Richard Strand, a committed skeptic with a collection of unsolved cases (the “Black Tapes”) that he cannot debunk. Begins as a contained mystery and expands into something much larger and darker. Listen to The Black Tapes

Isolation Horror

Some of the best audio fiction takes place in remote, confined spaces where the world closes in slowly. These two shows excel at that particular brand of creeping dread.

Tower 4

Mike Archer is a newly appointed fire watcher in the Wyoming woods, alone in a tower above the trees, hoping for solitude and time to write. Instead, strange radio interference crackles at night and inexplicable sounds drift up from the forest below. Beautifully paced, with exceptional sound design and voice acting. Listen to Tower 4

The White Vault

A remote repair team is dispatched to a resupply station in the Svalbard archipelago, deep in the Arctic. What they find there, presented as found recordings, is among the most atmospheric and genuinely frightening audio fiction produced in the medium. Best experienced with headphones in a dark room. Listen to The White Vault

The Magnus Archives Universe

Produced by Rusty Quill in the UK, The Magnus Archives and its successor show are a towering achievement in long-form audio horror. Together they represent one of the most ambitious and beloved stories in podcast fiction.

The Magnus Archives

The new head archivist at London’s Magnus Institute begins recording a backlog of strange and unsettling statements from members of the public: encounters with the impossible, the horrifying, the inexplicable. Each episode stands alone as a horror vignette, but the threads between them slowly build into something much larger. Over 200 episodes of some of the finest horror writing in any medium. Listen to The Magnus Archives

Lovecraftian & Cosmic Horror

Malevolent

Arthur Lester wakes up to discover he is sharing his body with an entity that has no memory of what it is or how it got there. Together, reluctantly, they are pulled into a world of cults, monsters, and cosmic horror drawn directly from the Lovecraft tradition. Outstanding voice acting and a plot that keeps escalating in genuinely surprising directions. Listen to Malevolent

Narrative Journalism & Mystery

Limetown

In 2004, over three hundred people vanished from a research community in Tennessee. Ten years later, journalist Lia Haddock investigates and discovers the story is not over. Tight, brilliantly produced, and one of the shows that helped define what audio fiction could be. Listen to Limetown

Atmosphere & Dread: The Slow Burn

Old Gods of Appalachia

An anthology series rooted in Appalachian folk horror, presented as oral history. The narrator’s voice alone is worth the listen: rich, unhurried, and deeply unsettling. Each season tells a different story about the mountains and the old, dark things that live within them. Listen to Old Gods of Appalachia

Within the Wires

Presented as a series of relaxation tapes from an alternate history, Within the Wires is unlike anything else on this list. Calm, ambient, and lulling, but with a narrative underneath that reveals itself slowly across a season. If you’re listening late at night and want something that might actually let you drift off, while still leaving you thinking: this is the one. Listen to Within the Wires

All of these are available wherever you listen to podcasts, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most independent apps. Several have official websites linked above where you can find episode guides and more information. Happy listening, and try not to stay up too late.

Photo Journal: 9/28/2025

Crystal and I recently took a weekend away to visit the redwoods in northern California, a place that never fails to make you feel both small and deeply connected to the earth. Our last trip to Humboldt County was way back in 2008, and stepping back into that landscape after so many years was surreal. The world feels like a very different place now, yet the redwoods, as always, seemed unchanged, calm, ancient, and immense.

This time, instead of staying in Eureka, we made Arcata our home base. We found a charming little cottage on Airbnb tucked into a quiet neighborhood surrounded by redwoods. Arcata immediately felt welcoming, artsy, progressive, and grounded in community. Compared to our tiny coastal town, it was incredibly diverse in both culture and age. There was an energy in the air that reminded us of college towns, a blend of creativity, activism, and local pride.

On our first evening, we wandered downtown in search of dinner and stumbled upon the Friday Night Market. The entire town square had been transformed into a lively gathering space filled with live music, the smell of wood-fired pizza, and people chatting under strings of lights. Local artisans had set up a couple dozen booths around the inside of the square, while food trucks and vendors lined the perimeter. We grabbed a bite to eat and people-watched for a while, soaking in the mix of students, families, and long-time locals. It was one of those moments where you feel instantly part of a place.

The rest of the weekend was spent exploring trails and wandering through the endless cathedral of redwoods. Every path seemed to lead to something new, a grove filled with soft filtered light, a creek winding between moss-covered trunks, or a sudden view out to the misty coastline. Between hikes, we browsed the local shops in both Arcata and nearby Eureka, finding a few small treasures to bring home.

Now that we live so close, this feels like the perfect spot for quick weekend escapes. Everything is within reach, great food, art, and trails that could take a lifetime to explore. Within an hour’s drive, you can find dozens, maybe even hundreds, of trails through some of the most beautiful forests in the world.

We’re already planning our next trip, and this time, it definitely won’t take us another seventeen years to get back. The redwoods have a way of reminding you what matters most, and we can’t wait to return.

Project: Breadmaking

have been maintaining my mental health like many people have since the pandemic—sourdough. Last year, I experimented with active yeast breads and rustic breads but, once I tried sourdough, I was hooked forever. I absolutely love the discipline and practice of the hobby. It feeds my friends and family (I rarely eat much of what I bake) and it feeds my soul. I love the science, and taste, of baking but the feeling of giving baked goods to friends is even more filling. I have even made two batches of dehydrated starter from my starter, Gwendoughlynn, and send her all over the country to friends and family to spread the gospel of sourdough. 😂 ❤️

Here’s a sample of my sourdough babies from this Summer.

The Legend of Ochi: A Quiet Wonder Forged by Hand

There’s something rare about stumbling into a film that feels like it was made not just with care, but with hands—hands that built forests from felt, stitched fur onto creatures, and pressed meaning into silence. The Legend of Ochi, the debut feature by Isaiah Saxon, is that kind of film. And it’s exactly the kind of story that speaks to those of us who believe magic is still best conveyed through craft, not pixels.

Set in the fictional land of Carpathia, the film follows a quiet girl named Yuri (played with soft strength by Helena Zengel) who discovers a wounded baby ochi—one of the elusive creatures her community fears. What unfolds is a journey both literal and emotional: a trek across strange, sublime landscapes in search of connection, family, and truth buried deeper than myth.

But what sets Ochi apart isn’t its plot—familiar in beats, like the bones of a fable—but the way it’s told. Saxon, co-founder of the art collective Encyclopedia Pictura, brings a singular visual imagination to life. Every frame feels painterly, rooted in tactile beauty. The ochi itself isn’t CGI, but an animatronic puppet operated by seven performers. That decision alone elevates the film—its weight, its presence, its believability. You feel it breathe. You believe it blinks.

The film’s visual allure owes much to the work of cinematographer Evan Prosofsky. The production employed a large-format ARRI ALEXA digital camera paired with 1930s Baltar lenses—the first lenses ever manufactured in the U.S. The result is a dreamy, softened look that evokes early cinema while retaining the precision of modern filmmaking.

Director Isaiah Saxon explains:

“We shot on large format ALEXA, our acquisition medium, but with 1930s glass, the original Baltars, which were the first U.S.-produced lenses. And then, at the very end, we print to film, after all the matte paintings and everything, we print film stock and rescan it. And that’s the look of the movie.”
— Isaiah Saxon (source)

This analog-digital hybrid workflow gives Ochi its unique texture. More than 200 hand-painted matte paintings were used to enhance backgrounds, blurring the line between realism and storybook surrealism. It’s a feast for the eyes, and a love letter to cinema’s tactile past.

The score, composed by David Longstreth of Dirty Projectors, wraps the world in strings, flutes, and wordless longing. There’s a track that played during Yuri’s descent into the ochi forest that I haven’t stopped thinking about. It reminded me of the first time I watched The Dark Crystal as a kid—half terrified, half entranced, and fully lost in a place I didn’t want to leave.

Willem Dafoe, Finn Wolfhard, and Emily Watson round out the cast, but wisely, the film keeps its focus narrow. This isn’t about world-saving; it’s about world-understanding. A slower, stranger kind of quest.

Is it a perfect film? No. Its pacing may frustrate viewers raised on franchise polish, and its lore is deliberately opaque. But The Legend of Ochi doesn’t beg for your attention—it earns it, slowly. It invites you in like an old forest path, and asks you to look closer. To listen. To remember.

If you’re someone who loves handcrafted work, storytelling that honors ambiguity, and films that whisper instead of shout, I can’t recommend this enough. It’s not just a movie—it’s a stitched-together dream.

The Legend of Ochi is currently streaming on most major platforms. But if you can catch it on a big screen—or better yet, with a child who still believes in hidden worlds—do it. You won’t regret walking into the woods.

Photo Journal: 12/15/2024

King tides this week and we actually got some beautiful weather. It was a little more hazy than I would have liked, but we were able to explore most of the central coast today and get some decent shots. We’ve ordered a few of these as prints for friends, so I am excited to see how they come out!

Photo Journal: 11/03/2024

Mushroom season is in full swing on the Oregon Coast. We explored our local area today so that Crystal could try out her Nikon with her new macro lens. The results look great! The lighting couldn’t have been in better in the forest. It was slightly sunny and that light filtering down to the forest floor created such vibrant, well-lit photos. Crystal also saw on TikTok that you could take a reading light with you to the woods and use the tiny LED to illuminate the mushrooms for even better effect. I think it turned out great!

Photo Dump: June – August 2024

After a long break, I’m finally getting around to processing images I took while I was getting my health back on track. Here are some photos I took from June to August this year. Hopefully, my photo journals will be completed on time from here forward. Fingers crossed for a much better Winter than last year. The King Tides are coming!

Finally getting back to normal.

After just over ten months of some major health issues, things are finally getting back to normal. I’m down almost 50lbs since October, my frozen shoulder has finally healed, and my other issues are under control as well.

I have at least three months worth of photos to download and edit. That will feel great to catch up and plan new outings, post new photos and designs I have been working on, and I’m already looking forward to this year’s King Tide season.

We upgraded to a 2024 Subaru Forester Wilderness a few months ago, so that has enabled me to adventure much further into the wilderness than before, since I’m unable to hike any more than a mile now due to my pinched nerve in my back. We’re still working on upgrades, but here’s what it looks like so far (ignore the messy garage – I need to clean up after all the recent projects). Meet Nova:

10 Google Fonts Perfect for Logo Design

1. Montserrat

Creator: Julieta Ulanovsky
About: Montserrat is inspired by the signage and typography found in the Montserrat neighborhood of Buenos Aires. Its geometric forms and multiple weights make it a versatile choice for contemporary logos.

Pair With: Raleway for sophistication or Roboto Slab for contrast.
Link: Montserrat on Google Fonts

2. Playfair Display

Creator: Claus Eggers Sørensen
About: Playfair Display draws inspiration from 18th-century European printing, embodying elegance and a sense of tradition. It’s a great choice for logos with a luxurious or editorial feel.

Pair With: Lato for modern simplicity or Open Sans for readability.
Link: Playfair Display on Google Fonts

3. Poppins

Creator: Indian Type Foundry
About: Poppins is a rounded sans-serif with a geometric design, offering a friendly and approachable vibe. Its wide range of weights works well for logos with various dimensions.

Pair With: Merriweather for contrast or Source Sans Pro for balance.
Link: Poppins on Google Fonts

4. Lora

Creator: Cyreal
About: Lora is a contemporary serif font that blends well-balanced proportions with calligraphic roots. It’s perfect for logos with a natural or creative aesthetic.

Pair With: Work Sans for minimalism or Nunito for a rounded style.
Link: Lora on Google Fonts

5. Raleway

Creator: Matt McInerney, Pablo Impallari, Rodrigo Fuenzalida
About: Originally designed as a single thin weight, Raleway has evolved into a versatile sans-serif font with distinctive glyphs. It’s ideal for logos in the tech or luxury sectors.

Pair With: Cardo for classic contrast or Alegreya Sans for a softer pairing.
Link: Raleway on Google Fonts

6. Oswald

Creator: Vernon Adams
About: Oswald is a condensed sans-serif font optimized for digital use. It conveys boldness and efficiency, making it ideal for logos with a minimalist or urban vibe.

Pair With: Open Sans for readability or Roboto for a cohesive sans-serif combination.
Link: Oswald on Google Fonts

7. Merriweather

Creator: Eben Sorkin
About: Merriweather is a serif font designed for readability on screens. Its timeless style makes it suitable for logos in publishing, education, or traditional industries.

Pair With: Montserrat for a modern twist or Quicksand for a playful look.
Link: Merriweather on Google Fonts

8. Nunito

Creator: Vernon Adams, Jacques Le Bailly
About: Nunito is a rounded sans-serif font that’s friendly and modern. It’s excellent for logos that aim to be approachable and versatile.

Pair With: Playfair Display for elegance or Libre Baskerville for a traditional serif.
Link: Nunito on Google Fonts

9. Roboto

Creator: Christian Robertson
About: Roboto is one of the most popular Google Fonts, known for its geometric forms and open curves. It’s a go-to choice for logos in modern, tech-driven industries.

Pair With: Roboto Slab for uniformity or PT Serif for contrast.
Link: Roboto on Google Fonts

10. Bebas Neue

Creator: Ryoichi Tsunekawa
About: Bebas Neue is a bold, all-caps sans-serif font with a clean and modern feel. It’s perfect for impactful logos with minimalist aesthetics.

Pair With: Lato for softer edges or Merriweather for a contrasting serif.
Link: Bebas Neue on Google Fonts

This enriched list provides more context for each font, making it easier for you to choose the perfect typeface for your next logo design.

Photo Journal: 03/30/2024

2024 Started Out Tough

The beginning of this year marked not just the onset of resolutions and fresh starts but also the emergence of an unforeseen challenge for me: dealing with a frozen shoulder on top of my chronic pain stemming from a previous thoracic spinal injury.

Frozen shoulder, or adhesive capsulitis, as I learned, is a condition characterized by stiffness and pain in the shoulder joint. It emerged unexpectedly, adding a layer of complexity to my already existing battle with chronic pain due to a spinal injury. The combination of these ailments presented a unique challenge, impacting not only my physical well-being but my mental and emotional resilience as well.

The initial stages were the hardest. My frozen shoulder limited my arm’s mobility, making it difficult to perform everyday tasks. The pain was constant—a sharp reminder of the physical limitations I was facing. Meanwhile, the chronic pain from my spinal injury, with its deep, aching throbs, served as a continuous background to my days and nights. Together, they formed a duo of discomfort that has been exhausting to a degree I haven’t experienced thus far in my life outside of when the repetitive hip surgeries were required years ago.

However, amidst this struggle, I realized early on that succumbing to frustration would only exacerbate my condition. Instead, I chose to embark on a journey of healing, armed with a combination of medical treatment, physical therapy, and an exploration of alternative pain management techniques.

The doctors have provided me with a roadmap for treatment, involving a combination of medications to reduce inflammation and pain, and physical therapy sessions aimed at restoring mobility to my shoulder. The therapy has been challenging, as the physical therapy needed for my shoulder has aggravated my thoracic injury, but it also taught me the value of incremental progress.

This journey has not been easy. There were moments of despair, times when I doubted my ability to overcome the challenges posed by the constant pain. Yet, these very challenges have also been a source of strength. They have taught me resilience, the importance of listening to my body, and the power of a positive mindset.

To those facing similar battles, know that you are not alone. The path to recovery may be long and fraught with challenges, but it is also filled with potential for growth and healing. Listen to your body, seek support, and hold onto hope. The journey may be tough, but it is also transformative, leading us to discover strengths we never knew we had.

Photo Journal: 03/16/2024

Project: Apothecary Projects

Podcast: “Dark Downeast”

“Dark Downeast” by audiochuck

Summary:

Dark Downeast: Maine and New England’s True Crime Podcast digs into the decades-old and modern day cases that prickle the history of Vacationland and beyond – the unsolved homicides, undetermined deaths, unexplained disappearances and other dark stories of New England.

Investigative journalist and storyteller Kylie Low gets straight to the story with a mix of narrated episodes and documentary style production featuring interviews with surviving family and friends and insight on the investigations from detectives and sources who know these cases best.

This is heart-centered, ethical true crime, bringing light to stories you’re not hearing on other podcasts. It is Dark Downeast’s mission to honor the legacy of the humans at the heart of each story and bring new attention to the cases still awaiting justice.

Trigger Warnings: Sexual Assault, Murder, Kidnapping, Serial Killers

Category/Genre: True Crime

Host: Kylie Low

Sleep Friendly: Pretty good listen as you drift off. There are a few ads but nothing loud enough to disturb you. Just catch up the next morning. You don’t want to miss any cases!

Seasons (as of this review): 1

More information & subscribe: https://darkdowneast.com/

Podcast: “Murder 101”

“Murder 101” by iHeart Podcasts

Summary:

In a small Tennessee town, a local serial killer was caught by the most unlikely investigators: A group of high school students, led by their teacher, Alex Campbell. Throughout the course of one school semester, the class pieced together a 30-year-old mystery and identified the killer behind at least six brutal murders.

Shockingly, while the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations publicly agrees with their theory, no charges have been filed against the murderer. While some sleuthing students already have graduated, they, along with a fresh crop of current high schoolers, still want to finish the assignment, once and for all.

Trigger Warnings: Murder, Kidnapping, Sexual Assault, Serial Killer

Category/Genre: True Crime

Host: Alex Campbell & his students

Sleep Friendly: Very good to listen to as you drift off. Just catch up the next morning.

Seasons (as of this review): 1

More information & subscribe: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-murder-101-140096221/

Podcast: “Up and Vanished” Season 4

“Up and Vanished: Under the Midnight Sun” by TenderfootTV

Summary:

Up and Vanished is an investigative documentary-style podcast hosted by Payne Lindsey. The series investigates missing persons cold cases by reviewing old leads, interviewing witnesses and townspeople, and on-site investigation. The show is produced by Tenderfoot TV.

Last observed on August 31st, 2020, 33-year-old Florence Okpealuk mysteriously disappeared from Nome, Alaska, a secluded subarctic town distinguished by its rugged Alaskan wilderness. Nome stands apart from the rest of the United States. Alaska experiences nearly constant daylight from mid-April to mid-August, suggesting Florence likely vanished in broad daylight — a rarity for missing persons cases.

Payne Lindsey ventures into Nome to delve into Okpealuk’s mysterious absence, conducting interviews with her family and witnesses, and embarking on undercover missions. His goal: to seek justice for the Okpealuk family and confront the stark reality of the disproportionately high number of missing and murdered Indigenous individuals in the U.S., particularly among Native Alaskans.

Trigger Warnings: Murder, Kidnapping, Sexual Assault, MMIP, MMIW

Category/Genre: True Crime

Host: Payne Lindsey

Sleep Friendly: Very good to listen to as you drift off. Just catch up the next morning.

Seasons (as of this review): 4

More information & subscribe: https://upandvanished.com/

Ham & Cheese Egg Bites

Looking for a delicious and satisfying breakfast or snack idea? These ham and cheese egg bites with the delightful addition of bell peppers, onion, and garlic are the perfect solution! Packed with flavor, protein, and a touch of veggies, these bite-sized morsels are not only incredibly tasty but also incredibly easy to make. Whether you’re preparing a quick morning meal or a tasty party appetizer, these ham and cheese egg bites are sure to impress. Let’s get started on this flavorful and simple recipe!

Ingredients

12 large eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided
1 cup of chopped ham or bacon (optional)
1/2 cup chopped bell pepper
1/2 cup of chopped white onion
2 tbsp cooking oil

Instructions

Optional: sauté the meat and veggies in an oiled skillet and set aside on a paper towel to cool & drain.
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Spray a muffin tin heavily with cooking spray. (Please note that a silicon muffin tin works best.) Set aside.
Whisk together the eggs, milk, and spices in a large bowl.
Stir in 1/2 cup of the shredded cheese, ham, and veggies.
Fill the muffin tins. I find it best to use a ladle and stir between each scoop to keep the ingredients evenly distributed across all the muffins.
Top with the remaining 1/2 cup cheese.
Bake for 30 minutes or until the eggs pull away from the side of the muffin tin and are set in the middle.
Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to four days.

Mexican Street Corn Pasta

This Mexican street corn pasta is simply the best! Packed with cherry tomatoes, black beans, sweet corn, a touch of bacon, and a wonderfully creamy sauce.

Ingredients

12 ounces dry pasta, gluten-free, if needed
4 strips bacon
3 cups corn, (see notes)
4 green onions, chopped (Greens and whites separate)
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon sea salt
15 ounce can of black beans, drained and rinsed
2 cups cherry tomato halves
½ cup sour cream
¼ cup mayonnaise
½ cup chopped cilantro
½ cup crumbled queso fresco or feta cheese
¼ cup lime juice

Instructions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the cooking water then drain the pasta. Return the pasta to the pot and toss with a little olive oil to prevent the pasta from sticking together.
While the pasta is cooking, cook the bacon in a large frying pan over medium heat until crispy. Remove from the pan and crumble when it’s cool enough to touch.
Remove all but 2 tablespoons of the bacon oil from the pan. Increase the heat to medium-high then add the corn and stir so that it is coated in the oil then let it cook undisturbed for 4-5 minutes, or until some of the kernels become golden on the bottom. Add the white and light green parts of the green onions, chili powder, pepper, and salt to the pan and stir.
3 cups corn, 4 green onions, 1 tablespoon chili powder, ½ teaspoon sea salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper
Add the black beans and cherry tomatoes to the pan and cook until they’re warm. Add the sour cream and mayonnaise and stir until warm, about 1 minute.
15 ounce can of black beans, 2 cups cherry tomato halves, ½ cup sour cream, ¼ cup mayonnaise
Add the corn sauce to the pot with the pasta and add the cilantro, cheese, and lime juice. Stir well then season to taste with more salt and pepper, if needed. If the pasta seems a little too thick, use some of the reserved pasta water to loosen it.
½ cup chopped cilantro, ½ cup crumbled queso fresco or feta cheese, ¼ cup lime juice

We usually use thawed frozen corn for this recipe. You can also use canned corn (drained well) or fresh corn cut off of 4 corn cobs.

Photo Journal: Jan 14, 2024

We experienced our first ice storm since moving to the coast, as well as the longest power outage we have seen. The commissioner’s board has decalred a state of emergency for Lincoln County. At one point this weekend over half the residents of the county were without power during very cold temperatures. So far, there haven’t been any serious accidents or deaths reported. The county, CLPUD, other local utilities, and ODOT are working as fast as they can to clear hundreds of downed trees, down or damaged transmission lines, and get fiber back up and running. Hwy 20 & Hwy 229 had to close due to downed lines and trees, which cut a lot of people off from returning home from work or venturing out for supplies.

It looks like the worst of it has passed and the roads were pretty safe this morning minus a few black ice spots near Lost Creek. I went out early this morning to try to capture some of the icy scenes in Newport while the traffic was low. The bridge, while dangerous, was beautifully coated in almost an inch of ice.

No-Knead Rustic Herb & Cheese Garlic Bread

Looking to start making bread but not sure where to start or if you can even do it? You can, I promise. Let’s learn how!

Over the holiday break, I decided to try to learn how to make bread. I really enjoy adding a new practical skill to my dusty old merit badge sash from time to time. 😆 In my research, I found that a lot of people reported that starting with a no-knead bread was a great way to ease into the skill, while also learning about what bread is. The more you understand about the science of bread, the better you can adapt and create your own recipes that respond well to your home kitchen’s equipment, environment, and most importantly – your taste!

Here’s my go-to no-knead bread recipe that I have tweaked over the past few weeks. It turns out consistent every single time for me. Feel free to give it a try and make any tweaks you feel like it needs for your own use.

What do I need to get started?

You don’t need anything fancy for this recipe and don’t let the yeast intimidate you – it’s the easiest part of the whole recipe. I have included any relevant links and videos within the recipe for those of you who like to really dive in and research a hobby like I do. Happy rabbit-holing! 🐰

One more very important note: I have written the instructions with people like myself in mind. People who might have a little neuro-spicy situation going on and/or people who don’t fully read through instructions before starting a project, BUT, I really do encourage you to read the entire recipe first because I have also turned it into a little choose-your-own-adventure! You can use this same, simple recipe to make at least nine different types of bread and you can choose between two different cooking methods. Need some cheesey garlic bread to go with spaghetti? How about some rustic Italian bread for date night? Like our chosen families, bread can absolutely meet you where you are. Plus, cooking should be fun!

Is there something I can print? I really need to print.

Yep, I’ve got you covered. Just in case you like to print your recipes and put them on the fridge (or laminate them and store them in a magnetic file folder on the side of the fridge like me 😂), I created a two-page PDF that can be printed front and back. I couldn’t fit it on an index card, sorry.

So, what will my bread ideally look like at the end of this?

Remember, no two breads are alike. Some are innies, some are outies, some are brown, some are orange, some have dimples, some have beautiful curves, and some look a little small. Just don’t judge your bread too harshly until you cut it open, add a little butter, and have a moment to enjoy the aroma and texture of fresh, warm bread. A well-cooked bread will have a crust that has a good satisfying, hollow-ish “thump” when you give it a good thump with your fingers. Take notice of the sound it makes and remember that when you see how well done the center is. That will teach you to know when it is ready. You can also use a cooking thermometer to make sure the center is 210º if you really get into the geekery of it all. I prefer to feel my way around things since I’m more of a sensory learner.

The Ingredients:

Wet:

1 cup warm water (100-110º)
3 tbsp olive oil

Dry:

2.5 cups of bread flour (you can substitute all-purpose flour but allow for a longer rise time)
1 packet of active dry yeast (or 7 grams or 2 .25 tsp)
1 tbsp sugar
1 1/2 tsp salt (don’t forget the salt!)

Choose the garlic:

1 tbsp garlic powder + one head of roasted garlic (see below) OR
2 tbsp garlic powder OR
2 tbsp freeze-dried garlic (this seems to work best) OR
choose your own OR
none

Choose the herbs:

1 tbsp chopped fresh, freeze-dried, or dried rosemary OR
1 tbsp thyme OR
1 tbsp oregano OR
1 tbsp blend of rosemary, thyme, and oregano OR
choose your own OR
none

Choose the cheese:

1.5 cups of shredded cheese OR
1 cup of shredded parmesan cheese OR
a blend OR
choose your own OR
none

Instructions:

Never roasted garlic? Here’s how:

Chop off the top of a garlic head, drizzle olive oil onto the garlic cloves, season with salt, put the top back on, wrap in aluminum foil, and bake in the oven at 400º for 40 minutes.

The Yeast:

First, proof the yeast by mixing dry active yeast and sugar in a small bowl. Add in warm water and stir well. Allow to stand for 10 minutes. Yeast should activate and become frothy on top, if not, your yeast has expired and will need to be replaced.

The Dough:

While the yeast is proofing, in a larger bowl (cannot be plastic), mix dry ingredients, all of your garlic (if using), all of your herbs (if using), half of your cheese (if using), and create a well in the middle of the bowl. A well is a small indention in the middle of your dry ingredients, much like a bowl to pour your wet ingredients into. I like to use the underside of my one-cup measuring spoon to create it. Set this aside.

After the yeast proofing is complete, add the olive oil to the yeast mixture and stir gently, then immediately pour this into the dry ingredients. Use a rubber spatula to slowly combine the dry and wet ingredients, then switch to using your hands to press it all together.

Once everything is incorporated, the dough will be tacky but not sticky. If all of the dry mixture will not blend well, you can add a very small amount of water until it does. Remember, you want a tacky dough, but not sticky. Also, remember that the next step will add a bit of flour as well.

Sprinkle a light dusting of flour over a clean dry surface. Transfer the dough on top of the flour and form the dough into a boule (a dough ball) by folding the edges of the dough under the center. It’s not as complicated as it sounds once you do it the first time. Here’s a video of this process:

Use olive oil to lightly grease the same large bowl you used to mix the ingredients and drop the boule into it. Cover with plastic wrap or a lid and let the dough rise until it has doubled in size. Pick a warm, dry, and safe area for your bread to rise. You don’t want a kid or pet knocking into it and popping it.

This should take anywhere from 1 to 3 hours. The time it takes to rise will be affected by the altitude and humidity of your location, as well as which flour you use. (For reference, I live on the Oregon Coast and it takes a little less than an hour with King Arthur Bread Flour in a home with a constant 45% humidity.)

When the dough has doubled in size, uncover, smack to deflate (Hey, I meant like an encouraging attaboy smack, not a corporal punishment smack!), and transfer to a flat surface that has been lightly dusted with flour. Add the rest of your cheese (if using) and once again form into a beautiful boule.

Place an oversized sheet of parchment paper into a bowl so that the paper is larger than the bowl, drop the dough ball into the parchment-lined bowl, (cut a decorative slit or two on the top if you’d like), cover with a kitchen towel, and let rise a second time for 30-45 minutes. It won’t double in size this time but it will be noticeably larger. We are using parchment paper so that you don’t have to grease your cooking vessel. There’s a bit of an art to getting that right for bread and we can learn that later for making sandwich loaves and such where it is a more appropriate method. For now, let’s keep the number of steps, and dirty dishes, to a minimum.

Cooking:

With a dutch oven:

Note: while you don’t need to cook this bread in a dutch oven at all, I have found that it comes out better this way for me personally. The taste is not noticeably different, but it is the easiest of the two methods and I get a very consistent crust this way. The goal is to create an environment with steam so that the bread forms an amazing, airy texture and a hard, rustic crust that pops open due to the steam. With this method, you don’t have to add any extra water to the oven as the water within the dough will get captured by the dutch oven.

While the dough is rising again, preheat the oven with an empty dutch oven in it at 425º.

This is the dutch oven that I use.

Once the dough has risen a second time and the dutch oven is preheated, remove the lid with the pot holder, then use the parchment paper as handles to carefully put the dough into the dutch oven without burning yourself.

Put the lid back on with pot holders and place in oven to bake for 30 minutes covered.

After 30 minutes, remove the lid and decide if you want to let it bake uncovered a few minutes longer to achieve the desired level of golden brown. Do not overcook the bread!

Keep an eye on it, because it won’t take long. Five minutes makes a huge difference at this stage.

Without a dutch oven:

While the dough is rising again, place a bowl or tray of hot water at the bottom of the oven. This creates steam which in turn creates a wonderful top crust that this bread is known for. Preheat the oven with an empty pot, pan, or tray in the middle rack at 400º. You can use any cooking vessel that will allow room for the bread to expand.

Here are a few examples:

Once the dough has risen a second time and the oven is preheated, use the parchment paper as handles to carefully place the dough into the pan without burning yourself.

After 30 minutes, check to see if you need to add a few minutes longer to achieve the desired level of golden brown. Do not overcook the bread! Keep an eye on it, because it won’t take long. Five minutes makes a huge difference at this stage.

Cool, Cut, and Serve!

When you take the bread out of the oven, use the parchment paper to take it out of the pan, slide the bread onto a cooling rack, and let the bread cool at least 30 minutes before cutting into it. Do not cover or store your bread until it has fully cooled to the center or it will get soggy and spoil earlier than it should. A dry, room temperature bread is a very happy bread.

Enjoy with or without some salted butter! Welcome to bread making! It’s so much fun.

Photo Journal: Jan 9, 2024

Photo Journal: Jan 1, 2024

Favorite Photos of 2023

Photo Journal: 12/26/23

Crystal and I actually had more than a weekend off together for the first time in a long time, so we decided to go check out some local trails. The Sweet Creek Falls Trail in Mapleton, Oregon is so gorgeous. My main lens for my Fuji had to be sent in for repairs (got a dud), so most of these are taken with an iPhone or my cheap TT Artisans 27mm (which is very soft verging on out of focus most of the time), so this is not my best set of photos of the year for sure. However, the trail was breath-taking and we can’t wait to go back in the Summer to see what it looks like without so much water rushing through. The sound of the rushing water was so loud we could barely hear each other talking.

I also started learning how to bake bread. So far, I’ve made a loaf of rustic, roasted garlic & rosemary and a load of roasted garlic and cheddar. Both turned out really well. I’m not a garlic fan, so Crystal enjoyed them by herself. I found a recipe for a honey white sandwich bread that is supposed to be a perfect, low-sugar substitute for the grocery store stuff full of bad ingredients – and tons of sugar.

On the way back, of course, I stopped at Heceta to get a few shots of the lighthouse at dusk and the resident sea gull. He’s always there and has been the focus of many of my shots since we moved here three years ago.

I hope everyone had a happy holiday break. Crystal and I have had the most relaxing and recharging break we’ve had in a long while. Here’s to 2024!