Cannonball's recent activity
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Comment on What's a new skill that you've picked up recently? in ~life
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Comment on What's a new skill that you've picked up recently? in ~life
Cannonball LinkBaking bread! A chipped enameled dutch oven actually prompted this adventure because I was researching uses for it before it had to tossed. Turns out bread baking is a great application. I started...Baking bread! A chipped enameled dutch oven actually prompted this adventure because I was researching uses for it before it had to tossed. Turns out bread baking is a great application. I started at the end of April and after some sad-shaped (but tasty!) loaves, I feel like I really have the hang of baking basic boules
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Comment on How do you celebrate your birthday? in ~talk
Cannonball LinkI like to bake a treat to take to work. I'm not really into celebrations, but I don't mind going out to dinner at one of my favorite restaurantsI like to bake a treat to take to work. I'm not really into celebrations, but I don't mind going out to dinner at one of my favorite restaurants
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Comment on What are you growing in your garden this year? in ~hobbies
Cannonball LinkI am living vicariously through this thread ❤️. I'm stuck in an apartment and can only have a couple of outside plants by the door, so I usually do flowers and a small veg. I've grown and dried...I am living vicariously through this thread ❤️. I'm stuck in an apartment and can only have a couple of outside plants by the door, so I usually do flowers and a small veg. I've grown and dried cayenne peppers the last few years and decided to try cherry tomatoes this year. The peppers always did well, but I'm not sure if there's enough light for tomatoes. At least my petunias are popping off
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Comment on What are the most iconic songs? in ~music
Cannonball Link"We Will Rock You" by Queen. Stomp stomp clap is all it takes. I'm also tempted to nominate "I’ll Make a Man Out of You" from Mulan, but that may be too niche"We Will Rock You" by Queen. Stomp stomp clap is all it takes. I'm also tempted to nominate "I’ll Make a Man Out of You" from Mulan, but that may be too niche
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Comment on If you could travel back in time and bring one thing back to the modern day, what would it be? in ~talk
Cannonball Link ParentI read a book about them recently and it included an example of how big their footprint would be based on a preserved foot, and it is pretty sizable! They definitely still fall in the chonker categoryI read a book about them recently and it included an example of how big their footprint would be based on a preserved foot, and it is pretty sizable! They definitely still fall in the chonker category
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Comment on If you could travel back in time and bring one thing back to the modern day, what would it be? in ~talk
Cannonball Link ParentFun fact! Most depictions of dodos are based on old drawings of very overstuffed museum models. They were definitely large and round, but not as grotesquely swollen as they often look. Sadly, no...Fun fact! Most depictions of dodos are based on old drawings of very overstuffed museum models. They were definitely large and round, but not as grotesquely swollen as they often look. Sadly, no real taxidermied versions of the whole bird still exist (that we know of)
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Comment on How would I meet you outside of Tildes? In the flesh, so to speak. in ~life
Cannonball LinkPlaying in a local community band is how I meet lots of neat people. It's a fairly robust group for the area, so we draw in music teachers from all around as well as retirees, college kids, and...Playing in a local community band is how I meet lots of neat people. It's a fairly robust group for the area, so we draw in music teachers from all around as well as retirees, college kids, and enthusiastic hobbyists. I'm the weirdo hanging out after every rehearsal to help pack up percussion equipment and gab.
I also run into some insanely cool folks by volunteering with the Girl Scouts. I pop out to the camps to do clean up and trail maintenance when they need help, and it's great shooting the shit with everyone while hacking away at the brush. I also got certified to belay so that I can help out with their climbing tower/rock walls on random weekends when they could use an extra hand.
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Comment on Question and tip thread for those looking to get into a new hobby in ~hobbies
Cannonball Link ParentThank you for the info! I used a basic AP flour so that might explain the soggy dough. Bread flour is on the grocery list for the next attempt. I did my best to score the top with a knife, but it...Thank you for the info! I used a basic AP flour so that might explain the soggy dough. Bread flour is on the grocery list for the next attempt. I did my best to score the top with a knife, but it was difficult with the wet dough. I think I'll get a cheap lame because the knife pulled more than it cut. I keep a decent working edge on my knives but they can't compete with a razor blade
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Comment on Question and tip thread for those looking to get into a new hobby in ~hobbies
Cannonball Link ParentThank you! I took a pic before the proof to help me keep track of size but didn't think to grab one afterward. I used a scale for the flour but not the other ingredients, so maybe that was the...Thank you! I took a pic before the proof to help me keep track of size but didn't think to grab one afterward. I used a scale for the flour but not the other ingredients, so maybe that was the issue. The dough was sticky and hard to shape, but the baked loaf actually turned out pretty good! Not sure what caused the big crack on the side - maybe steam escaping after the crust set? The inside was decent, but I definitely cut into it too early. I only gave it about 40min to cool because I wanted to have some with supper (it was delicious). I'll make sure to plan more time into the process so it can properly rest. Lots to learn but I'm having fun so far!
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Comment on Question and tip thread for those looking to get into a new hobby in ~hobbies
Cannonball Link ParentThank you! My loaf turned out pretty good but there are definitely things that could be improved. The dutch oven worked great and I'm happy to have a new use for it to extend its working life. I...Thank you! My loaf turned out pretty good but there are definitely things that could be improved. The dutch oven worked great and I'm happy to have a new use for it to extend its working life. I watched that video and will try Patrick's recipe next (and agreed, 10/10)
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Comment on Question and tip thread for those looking to get into a new hobby in ~hobbies
Cannonball (edited )LinkBread making! Not sure why, but I've always found it intimidating compared to other types of baking. I finally took the plunge this weekend and tried out a basic no knead recipe, which is...Bread making! Not sure why, but I've always found it intimidating compared to other types of baking. I finally took the plunge this weekend and tried out a basic no knead recipe, which is currently in the oven. The dough seemed a bit wetter than it should have been, but I was hesitant to go off script for the first attempt. Baking it is making my apartment smell good, so I'm hopeful.
This project started because the finish on my old enameled cast iron dutch oven is starting to get sketchy. I'd hate to toss it if I don't have to, and bread making was suggested as a good use for it. However, I also see a lot of suggestions to use plain cast iron as high baking temps can damage enameled pots over time. Anyone have any experience or thoughts about baking vessels? And is there any other equipment you'd recommend for casual bread making?
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Comment on How did you learn to read? in ~humanities.languages
Cannonball LinkI have no memory of learning, but I was very young and was reading books before I started school. I know that my mom read to me before bed, and I have a very, very fuzzy memory of sitting with her...I have no memory of learning, but I was very young and was reading books before I started school. I know that my mom read to me before bed, and I have a very, very fuzzy memory of sitting with her and following along the story with my finger, but I do not know how she actually taught me. I should ask her! I absolutely devoured any book I could get my hands on as a kid, so she did a good job of instilling a love of reading early on. As far as official schooling, all I really remember is learning stuff like diagraming sentences.
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Comment on What's something that makes you feel like we're living in the future? in ~talk
Cannonball Link ParentI recently discovered squeeze tube tomato paste and was similarly impressedI recently discovered squeeze tube tomato paste and was similarly impressed
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Comment on Which challenging book was worth the effort for you? in ~books
Cannonball Link ParentI read Frankenstein recently and it also had lots of looong sentences that occasionally spanned multiple pages (at least with the scaling on my e-reader). Shelley was very fond of semicolons....I read Frankenstein recently and it also had lots of looong sentences that occasionally spanned multiple pages (at least with the scaling on my e-reader). Shelley was very fond of semicolons.
Also, I love that excerpt lol. Moby Dick has been in my TBR pile for a while and I think it's time to move it to the top
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Comment on What did you do this week (and weekend)? in ~talk
Cannonball LinkI spent several hours practicing clarinet this week after neglecting it for months. Saxophone is my main instrument but I'm determined to learn clarinet well enough to be able to double on it when...I spent several hours practicing clarinet this week after neglecting it for months. Saxophone is my main instrument but I'm determined to learn clarinet well enough to be able to double on it when the occasion arises. It's a cramped, squeaky little thing, but it feels like I'm finally starting to grasp it. I'm so spoiled by the modern design of the saxophone. I've hit the point where I really need to hire a private lessons teacher to make sure I'm not cementing bad habits, but funds are tight so I'm sticking to youtube and books for now
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Comment on Monster Hunter: Wilds reviews – Top Critic Average: 90 in ~games
Cannonball Link ParentI'm hopeful that the gathering hub they've announced for title update 1 will include a feline chef of some sortI'm hopeful that the gathering hub they've announced for title update 1 will include a feline chef of some sort
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Comment on Monster Hunter: Wilds reviews – Top Critic Average: 90 in ~games
Cannonball LinkNow that it's been out a couple of days, I thought I'd check back in on this thread. I've been having a blast! The new monsters are an absolute delight and I've really enjoyed the reworked fights...Now that it's been out a couple of days, I thought I'd check back in on this thread. I've been having a blast! The new monsters are an absolute delight and I've really enjoyed the reworked fights of returning monsters. And those armor designs! I love just running around watching endemic life (although witnessing a giant venus flytrap eat a dapperwing was slightly tramatic). I am lucky that the game runs fine on my pc. It's disappointing that it released in such a wonky state, but I guess that's just the frustrating reality of AAA games these days. The gameplay was enough to overcome any detrimental visual jank for me but I completely understand why people would avoid the game until it's fixed.
And for anyone who's made it to the end of the low rank story:
What about that boss fight! That thing was giving me biblically accurate angel vibes -
Comment on Monster Hunter: Wilds reviews – Top Critic Average: 90 in ~games
Cannonball Link ParentI'm avoiding the monster hunter subreddits and youtube like the plague after having a couple of big reveals spoiled, so thank you for keeping your comment brief. Glad to hear that it's scoring...I'm avoiding the monster hunter subreddits and youtube like the plague after having a couple of big reveals spoiled, so thank you for keeping your comment brief. Glad to hear that it's scoring well and that at least some of the performance jank has been improved. Hopefully they're able to clean it up even more with post-release updates like they did for World. Can't wait until Friday!
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Comment on What are some traditional internet forums that you still use? in ~tech
Cannonball LinkGarden.org is a pleasant one. The forums are great if you have any interest in plants/gardening and they send out a nice newletter every week or twoGarden.org is a pleasant one. The forums are great if you have any interest in plants/gardening and they send out a nice newletter every week or two
Parchment paper that's rated for high heat works well. I use a silicone bread sling to make it easier to lower the dough into the preheated dutch oven, but it only protects the bottom. Honestly, my bread doesn't usually reach the sides of the pot, which at 5 quarts is admittedly overkill for most home breads. Finding a smaller recipe or scaling it down might help, or using a larger dutch oven if you have access to one.