InfiniteCombinations's recent activity
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Comment on Love songs about established, long term relationships in ~music
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Comment on Winter is near for some of us. Any suggestions on improving health or mitigating flu and colds in ~health
InfiniteCombinations Link ParentFor those who don’t feel great about injections, here’s a reminder that needle-free flu vaccines are available. There’s a nasal spray as well as a needle-free jet injector. These don’t seem to be...For those who don’t feel great about injections, here’s a reminder that needle-free flu vaccines are available. There’s a nasal spray as well as a needle-free jet injector. These don’t seem to be advertised widely, but if discomfort around needles is what stands between you and the flu shot, it’s well worth asking about.
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Comment on Gardeners of the northern hemisphere, how did it go this year? in ~hobbies
InfiniteCombinations Link ParentIf you don’t have the room for a second tree or don’t need that much fruit, some cherry varieties only grow to 6-8 feet. They’re usually marketed as “cherry bushes.” The pollen works just fine for...If you don’t have the room for a second tree or don’t need that much fruit, some cherry varieties only grow to 6-8 feet. They’re usually marketed as “cherry bushes.” The pollen works just fine for the full-sized varieties, although I believe cherries, like apples, don’t all blossom at the same time, so you want to get a variety with compatible timing for the one you have. Assuming you know what you have, you can look up compatible varieties online.
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Comment on Do you think dreams have meaning? in ~talk
InfiniteCombinations Link ParentI think this is spot on. Trying to interpret your own dreams is simply an avenue for expressing your concerns. No one I’ve ever seen thinks their dreams are about some issue they’re not worried...I think this is spot on. Trying to interpret your own dreams is simply an avenue for expressing your concerns. No one I’ve ever seen thinks their dreams are about some issue they’re not worried about and haven’t spent any time on. I think this is also why it’s a cliche that listening to other people recounting their dreams at length is boring: Dreams aren’t usually all that interesting or insightful outside of the framework of the brain that generates them. I’d listen to a significant other talk about their dreams as a way to talk about their worries, but I couldn’t care to hear a coworker’s or a random stranger’s.
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Comment on Graduated and moving to an apartment in a major city in the US, advice/tips? in ~life
InfiniteCombinations Link ParentOne major part of it is that evicting people is a lot of work and cost on the landlord’s part. I’ve seen estimates around $7,000 per case, and tenant protections in different states make it harder...From our side, this sounds reasonable, but I believe there are accounting reasons that may make them uninterested in doing this. It's not illegal, but it's potentially more work and stuff to keep track of on their end. I'm not a lawyer, but I can even imagine some legal issues that could arise if the tenant were to break the lease and want their prepaid money back.
One major part of it is that evicting people is a lot of work and cost on the landlord’s part. I’ve seen estimates around $7,000 per case, and tenant protections in different states make it harder to get a non-paying tenant out. I’d say that’s a good thing from a societal perspective, but from the point of view of someone trying to make rental income, it obviously discourages allowing people with finite resources to move in. There is (again, rightfully so) obviously also bad press associated with evicting people. Sure, having an eviction on your record will make it tough for you to rent anywhere again, but that doesn’t buy the landlord you didn’t pay very much.
If you evict a non-paying resident and succeed at getting them out, you’re likely also out a bunch of money. In theory, you can send them to collections, but in practice, it’s hard to collect money from someone who doesn’t have any money. So allowing someone with a finite amount of money to move into your rental unit is a very high-risk proposition from the landlord’s standpoint.
Different legislations also have often complex rules for handling money prepaid by a resident. In some locations, landlords have to pay interest on security deposits as if they were a savings account; in many others, they have to provide detailed statements of what they did with the funds paid, and the resident may have the right to dispute them in various ways. Prepaying rent isn’t common anywhere in the US, so landlords typically aren’t set up to handle this process easily and automatically, as they are with monthly rent payments. It’s some amount of giant hassle for them. And don’t forget that OP is shopping for low-cost units in safe neighborhoods here, which are in high demand almost everywhere. If they were shopping for exclusive luxury units in a place where such units aren’t in demand, a landlord might be more motivated to work with them. As it is, they would be asking someone to take on a large risk and a bunch of effort to rent out an apartment they may already have waitlists for.
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Comment on Gardeners of the northern hemisphere, how did it go this year? in ~hobbies
InfiniteCombinations Link ParentI need to speak for the best basil for a moment here. I’ve been planting basil for probably 25 years, across radically different growing zones and in different conditions. Every last one was an...I need to speak for the best basil for a moment here.
I’ve been planting basil for probably 25 years, across radically different growing zones and in different conditions. Every last one was an exasperating letdown of a plant that couldn’t decide whether to wilt at the first ray of sun or just bolt straight away.
This year, I happened to pick up an Ajaka or African basil at a plant sale. I’m now in USDA zone 4, which is not exactly your optimum growing zone for basil, or just about any plant with “African” in the name. And this thing is the basil I’ve always wished for.
It grew gigantic and never once tried to go to seed all year. Even when I wasn’t on top of watering, it never wilted. It’s the most gorgeously fragrant, vivid green basil I’ve ever seen. In mid-October, the nights are almost down to freezing, and this plant is still flourishing.
My freezer is filling up with homemade pesto, 95% from this one plant and 5% from the “regular” basil I planted, which was a sad excuse for an herb as usual.
I’ve seen this stuff in specialty online seed stores, but I’d never seen a plant in a store. I’m not sure I even knew before this year that there are basil varieties beyond the crappy kind every home improvement store carries. I’m going to go around recommending this basil to people way too fervently for the next few years.
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Comment on Graduated and moving to an apartment in a major city in the US, advice/tips? in ~life
InfiniteCombinations Link ParentSmaller landlords usually only offer one or two lease length options. Larger companies may have more, but you can expect to pay significantly more per month for a shorter lease term. Finding a new...Smaller landlords usually only offer one or two lease length options. Larger companies may have more, but you can expect to pay significantly more per month for a shorter lease term. Finding a new tenant and getting the unit ready again costs money and effort, and companies almost universally recoup some of the unit turn costs by increasing your cost per month. With a shorter lease term or poor/limited credit, you can also expect to pay an increased security deposit. Some companies offer the option of a security deposit alternative, where you pay an additional, non-refundable monthly fee instead of the larger but refundable deposit.
Like @JCPhoenix said, most landlords will not allow anyone to sign a lease without showing ongoing income that can cover the rent. Nearly all but the smallest landlords perform a credit check and/or income verification as part of the application process in the U.S., even if they don’t mention this in the listing. Offering to prepay, especially for only part of the lease term, usually doesn’t remove this requirement. The reason is simply that evicting a tenant costs a lot of money and effort, and sending a person with no income to collections is usually a waste of money from the landlord’s point of view.
A few property managers may also offer the option of adding a guarantor to your lease, who has adequate income and agrees to pay your rent when you cannot. This is most common (of course) in student housing or cities with large student populations. If you have a close relative (this usually has to be direct family) who is willing to help you in this way, that may be the most practical option for achieving what you’re envisioning.
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Comment on Grassy, herbal and sweet: How peas on toast is edging out avocados for brunch in ~food
InfiniteCombinations Link ParentPeas seem like just about the least objectionable vegetable out there. Some of the variants mentioned in the article sound creative, but at its base, this is putting green-colored sugar on bread....Peas seem like just about the least objectionable vegetable out there. Some of the variants mentioned in the article sound creative, but at its base, this is putting green-colored sugar on bread. Many a toddler likely wouldn’t say no.
Given the quality (and cost) of avocados much of Europe gets, it also seems predictable, and reasonable, for more local produce to appeal to people. Palates aside, avocados travel poorly. I haven’t tried buying them in the UK, but the avocados in colder parts of mainland Europe are consistently a sad affair.
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Comment on What’s in your go bag for the apocalypse? in ~life
InfiniteCombinations Link ParentIf major supply chains ever break down, I strongly suspect we’re all kidding ourselves that friendly country folks with full larders will welcome us into their homes and communities. Any resupply...If major supply chains ever break down, I strongly suspect we’re all kidding ourselves that friendly country folks with full larders will welcome us into their homes and communities. Any resupply that might happen will favor cities, simply because you can sell more product for more money in a city than some small town. Maybe people in the country wanted to help out people from cities 70 years ago when my parents lived in a war zone, but I would bet nothing on that happening today almost anywhere. If you take your “go bag” and go, you’ll mostly encounter people who are worried about their own supply chains and who have been told that city people are Bad and want to Take Their (resources, jobs, spouses, land…) for 2+ generations. Maybe someone somewhere will help you out, but it’s hard to come up with a realistic scenario where leaving our homes for another place not owned by our own relatives would be a good idea for most of us in any serious emergency.
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Comment on Is there a vegetarian or vegan recipe that you think is better than the meat based version? in ~food
InfiniteCombinations LinkYou’re going to read this and roll your eyes, but hear me out. Vegan baking can be amazing. Yes, the wannabe virtuous hippie baked goods you’ve had taste like sad, flavorless grit. No part of that...You’re going to read this and roll your eyes, but hear me out. Vegan baking can be amazing.
Yes, the wannabe virtuous hippie baked goods you’ve had taste like sad, flavorless grit. No part of that is a necessary aspect of veg baking, just like veg cooking in no way precludes the use of spices and salt and oil. It’s a choice, not a necessary limitation.
I mostly learned to bake from authors like Isa Moskowitz and Hannah Kaminsky. When I started branching out into non-vegan baking more, I was surprised a) how much pointless work it is and b) how quickly most items go bad. Most of the recipes I was used to can be thrown together with a fork, taste perfect for a week or more (if they don’t get eaten first), and usually have a better, lighter, moister texture than a lot of butter-and-egg equivalents. I haven’t been veg in many years, but I still default to vegan recipes for cake-type desserts, pie crusts, and many cookies. They’re drastically less work, last longer, and aren’t nearly as greasy as the “traditional” recipe styles.
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Comment on Chick-fil-A plans UK restaurants opening after previously facing backlash from LGBTQ+ rights activists in ~food
InfiniteCombinations Link ParentOne of the upsides of capitalism is that we’re up to our eyeballs in options for most basic consumer goods. If a company publicly goes out of its way to make the world a worse place, it takes zero...One of the upsides of capitalism is that we’re up to our eyeballs in options for most basic consumer goods. If a company publicly goes out of its way to make the world a worse place, it takes zero effort to spend our money elsewhere. If I want a crappy fast-food chicken sandwich, I have at least half a dozen options almost anywhere and probably 20+ in a city, their products all but indistinguishable. Not giving my $10 to a company that’s on record for doing things I find awful is as easy as making a left instead of a right in the same strip mall parking lot. Sure the next giant corporation probably isn’t sparkly clean, but if you’re gonna go out of your way to publicize your toxic opinions the way Chick-Fil-A has for a long time, I’m happy to give my disposable income to the other jerks.
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Comment on Abortions rose in most US states this year, new data shows in ~life.women
InfiniteCombinations Link ParentAnd here’s a direct link to the Guttmacher Institute’s publication. It discusses sources, methods, and additional data.And here’s a direct link to the Guttmacher Institute’s publication. It discusses sources, methods, and additional data.
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Comment on Healthier alternative to Better Than Bouillon? in ~food
InfiniteCombinations LinkIf you’re able to see a doctor for checkups, it would be worth asking about how concerned you personally need to be about cutting back on salt or other things. People can vary widely on this. If...- Exemplary
If you’re able to see a doctor for checkups, it would be worth asking about how concerned you personally need to be about cutting back on salt or other things. People can vary widely on this.
If you do need to reduce your salt intake but not so much that shelling out for the various salt alternatives on the market makes sense, I would try two things:
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Replace some of the broth with a small amount of acid, like lemon juice. In most circumstances, you obviously won’t want to replace all of it, but this is an easy way to get a similarly intense flavor with less salt.
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In the longer term, you can habituate to simply using less salt. How much salt we think tastes “right” largely depends on what we’re used to. Using good spices and herbs can go a long way towards making flavorful food that isn’t very salty. Umami flavors can help too, like the nutritional yeast that @elight suggested.
When you add salt can also make a difference in the flavor you get. Samin Nosrat’s Book Salt Fat Acid Heat is a great resource on this topic, and if your local library carries cookbooks, they probably have a copy.
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Comment on Where have all the girlbosses gone? in ~life.women
InfiniteCombinations LinkThe people in this article all seemed to aspire to be, or at least marketed to be, celebrities more than businesspeople. If your success state is appearing on magazine covers, not doing the same...The people in this article all seemed to aspire to be, or at least marketed to be, celebrities more than businesspeople. If your success state is appearing on magazine covers, not doing the same thing for too long is usually the right approach. Running a business (well) is usually a fairly dull, long-term process. Only very high-profile figureheads—the Lagerfelds, Versaces, and Tim Cooks of the world—can expect to be in the spotlight when they release some new collection. If your skincare company puts out a new line, it may get picked up by bloggers and the kinds of publications that run on rewriting corporate press releases, but the CEO isn’t likely to get TV coverage each time it happens.
For consumers, the “girl boss” concept was marketed primarily as a vehicle for MLMs and similar business models that aim to make money for someone other than the person ostensibly running the business. I’m guessing much of the attrition in that market is due to people realizing that they’re not actually making money, and/or the job sucks, and/or the benefits don’t offset the risks.
The term itself is, like the author points out, cringy, and like most identity concepts marketed to women, the cultural perception has increasingly been one of ridicule and distaste. Most women entrepreneurs out there in 2023 probably won’t use the term for themselves if they’d like to be taken seriously.
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Comment on Please suggest me some books from past decades and centuries that are not widely known classics but you value and would like people to discover in ~books
InfiniteCombinations Link ParentDouglas Coupland doesn’t write much anymore, but he’s well worth getting into. I’m a lifelong fan and have largely followed along with his releases. I admit I’ve had one of his later works, The...Douglas Coupland doesn’t write much anymore, but he’s well worth getting into. I’m a lifelong fan and have largely followed along with his releases. I admit I’ve had one of his later works, The Age of Earthquakes, sitting on the shelf waiting to be finished for a while now. It captures the mounting, overwhelming dread of the last couple of decades a little too well. It’s odd that Generation X seems optimistic now by comparison. I remember reading it for the first time in college and thinking it was full of angst.
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Comment on Help identify these plants and watering schedule? in ~hobbies
InfiniteCombinations Link ParentI like PlantNet. I use both that and Seek, and the former gives me useful results more consistently. Seek tends to strike out in any setting where I can’t access the entire, mature plant up close....I like PlantNet. I use both that and Seek, and the former gives me useful results more consistently. Seek tends to strike out in any setting where I can’t access the entire, mature plant up close. It’s also slower and needs solid connectivity, while PlantNet just seems to transmit a single still image, so it usually still works when I’m out hiking.
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Comment on I don’t know if I am right to be upset in ~life
InfiniteCombinations LinkOthers have covered the situation with the SIL's MIL, so I wanted to talk about addressing the issue with the SIL not bringing food to the event. It's clear that this bothers you (and I understand...Others have covered the situation with the SIL's MIL, so I wanted to talk about addressing the issue with the SIL not bringing food to the event. It's clear that this bothers you (and I understand why), and I suspect you think you have to put up with it now, because you didn't say anything the last X times.
But you really don't. Thanksgiving has its traditions, but traditions change when they don't work anymore in a family. As with everything prior commenters said, it's valuable if your wife can be part of the conversation or handle it, but if you're the main cook, it is 100% normal for you to have this talk if she won't.
At least a couple of weeks before the event, I'd contact the SIL and anyone else whose contributions haven't worked well with your event in the past, e.g., the uncle who brings some awful dish no one but him touches. Say something like, "we'd like to formalize who brings what to make sure we can cover all the bases for the meal. This year, would you be able to bring specific item X or specific item Y?"
There's nothing rude about doing this. You're hosting a traditional dinner, and you need to make sure you don't wind up with four green bean casseroles and nothing else to eat. I'd offer at least one option that can easily be bought in case the person doesn't have the cooking skills, planning skills, or time to pull off a great version to bring. If you suspect SIL isn't bringing food because she can't/doesn't like to cook, rather than because she's selfish, suggest something like dinner rolls or cranberry sauce. Those are good options if the person may have limited funds, too.
If you allow them to bring the MIL, I'd clearly assign her a specific item to bring, too. I'd ask SIL's husband, who is related to the MIL, what she can/wants to bring. Maybe the MIL has a wonderful specialty dish and will make a great addition to the meal. In fact, including the husband on the conversation above is a good idea if you can swing it. If your belief that your SIL is "self-centered" is accurate, the husband may well be more invested in maintaining positive relations and/or not committing social faux pas with his wife's family, of which you're a part.
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Comment on Vegans of Tildes, what are your favourite sources of protein? in ~food
InfiniteCombinations Link ParentThe largest time sink isn’t the kneading but the rinsing, so I don’t know how much it would help. It’s good for the gluten to be fully developed when you start rinsing, but you still have to...The largest time sink isn’t the kneading but the rinsing, so I don’t know how much it would help. It’s good for the gluten to be fully developed when you start rinsing, but you still have to remove something like 80% of the solid matter from the dough, and that takes so. Much. Time. (And water.)
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Comment on Vegans of Tildes, what are your favourite sources of protein? in ~food
InfiniteCombinations Link ParentIsa Moskowitz’s books taught me to cook, and I default to her recipes for most things. Here’s a nice chicken-style seitan, but her site should have several others as well.Isa Moskowitz’s books taught me to cook, and I default to her recipes for most things. Here’s a nice chicken-style seitan, but her site should have several others as well.
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Comment on Vegans of Tildes, what are your favourite sources of protein? in ~food
InfiniteCombinations Link ParentMy ex-MIL had learned veggie cooking while living on a commune in the 1970s. Seitan was a beloved holiday meal in this family of vegetarians because making it took all day. You started with a...My ex-MIL had learned veggie cooking while living on a commune in the 1970s. Seitan was a beloved holiday meal in this family of vegetarians because making it took all day. You started with a 10-lb bag of flour and then had to knead, rest, and rinse out starch and bran for hours before you could even start on your recipe.
I got really into vegan cooking and eventually reverse-engineered the family recipe using plain gluten flour, which brought the prep work down to maybe 20 minutes of effort. My MIL still mentions the relief of not spending Thanksgiving mornings at the kitchen sink anymore.
What I actually meant to express here: Seitan is fun and versatile, and it's very much worth learning to make your own if you enjoy cooking at all. The storebought kind is usually expensive and not always all that good. When I was veg, I used to buy bags of wheat gluten in bulk and just make seitan once a month or so.
Billy Bragg’s Brickbat is a lovely instance of exactly this. It’s about a couple who really care about one another amidst the everyday bickering over mundane things, the errands, and the child rearing (Bragg’s son, Jack Valero, was a toddler when the album came out and is now a musician in his own right).