Kerry56's recent activity
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Comment on Sam Neill, Jurassic Park star, dies at 78 in ~movies
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Comment on Midweek Movie Free Talk in ~movies
Kerry56 LinkI watched Backrooms recently. It was odd and unsettling, but ultimately it just didn't deliver a good payoff. The reveal near the end was hokey at best.I watched Backrooms recently. It was odd and unsettling, but ultimately it just didn't deliver a good payoff. The reveal near the end was hokey at best.
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Comment on Do you cook with cast iron? Is it the hassle everyone says it is? in ~food
Kerry56 LinkI don't have many preferences in cookware materials. Over the years, I've tossed out most of the cast iron pans I had, due to them warping. I bought a carbon steel skillet and hated it. The...I don't have many preferences in cookware materials. Over the years, I've tossed out most of the cast iron pans I had, due to them warping. I bought a carbon steel skillet and hated it. The seasoning would pop off that thing if you said a cross word to it. And it warped even on medium heat. It's long gone in the trash.
What I'm left with is a hodge-podge of cookware I've bought or inherited. Most of my pans and skillets are stainless steel, with copper bottoms. Some of them date back to the 1960's. I don't have any issues with them, since I don't expect them to have much, if any non-stick properties. They're not hard to clean.
The two cast-iron pans I have left are a small skillet, which I use to bake cornbread, and a round griddle, which would be great for making pancakes, if I liked pancakes, which I don't. So, I pull it out to warm tortillas, or make grilled-cheese sandwiches.
I also have a heavy aluminum sauce pan, 10" across, which I use quite often. It is anodized, so no weird tastes added due to the aluminium, and it works just fine with acidic sauces.
For eggs, or sauces that will stick easily (honey and soy sauce is a common culprit), I use non-stick cookware from Tramontina. Since I use them sparingly, the non-stick coatings are holding up quite well. By the way, why not clean non-stick in a dishwasher? It's not like the other dishes and silverware are going flying around in there. The soap is not harsh, and the temperatures in the dishwasher don't come close to what the pans face on the stovetop. It's a bit of advice that makes no sense to me.
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Comment on Re-watched the Bourne Trilogy after several years, I understand now why it was so influential in ~movies
Kerry56 (edited )LinkFor some people the shaky cam got to be too much, especially in the second movie. I know several who even became a little nauseous in the fight scenes. I watched the first John Wick movie and...For some people the shaky cam got to be too much, especially in the second movie. I know several who even became a little nauseous in the fight scenes.
I watched the first John Wick movie and disliked it intensely, so I haven't bothered with the others. But I find the Bourne movies to be vastly superior to that first Wick movie. They feel more focused and less super-hero inspired.
Even the last two Bourne movies are better than John Wick, though the quality does drop off from the original trilogy.
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Comment on To pay rent in Medieval England, catch some eels in ~food
Kerry56 LinkI wonder if they accepted shrieking eels as payment?I wonder if they accepted shrieking eels as payment?
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Comment on Midweek Movie Free Talk in ~movies
Kerry56 Link ParentI agree with your ranking of 40 Year Old Virgin. I'm not a fan, of the movie or the main actor in general. Been a long time since I watched The General, but I was impressed by Keaton, and felt...I agree with your ranking of 40 Year Old Virgin. I'm not a fan, of the movie or the main actor in general.
Been a long time since I watched The General, but I was impressed by Keaton, and felt this was a classic silent film. I've never seen 3 Ages. I should look it up.
Your ranking of Vertigo is interesting. It's not my favorite Hitchcock film, not even close, and not a favorite performance from the usually outstanding Stewart, but many consider this film one of Hitchcock's best.
I do not share your opinion of The Hunt for Red October. A pedestrian effort, mostly phoned in by Connery.
As for newer movies, I haven't found many I've wanted to watch. Pressure was ok, a half-step up from mediocre. I could barely make it through Kpop Demon Hunters last year, and Project Hail Mary was terribly disappointing.
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Comment on Brave Origin, a paid, premium version of Brave is now available in ~tech
Kerry56 Link ParentI am one of those weird people who almost never get online with my phone. My close-up vision is poor, and I rarely have reading glasses with me, so using a phone for the things most people do is...I am one of those weird people who almost never get online with my phone. My close-up vision is poor, and I rarely have reading glasses with me, so using a phone for the things most people do is just not convenient or comfortable for me. I do use Firefox on Android, but so infrequently, it hardly counts.
My opinions about browsers are based on useage on my desktop computers, and most of those are running Linux Mint.
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Comment on Brave Origin, a paid, premium version of Brave is now available in ~tech
Kerry56 LinkI use Firefox as my daily driver and see no reason to change, especially since I have all the extensions I need installed and working well. Eight extensions... is that a lot compared to you guys?...I use Firefox as my daily driver and see no reason to change, especially since I have all the extensions I need installed and working well. Eight extensions... is that a lot compared to you guys?
I have Waterfox as a backup, and have it set up in as complete a privacy mode as I can, with nothing saved from each session.
On the off chance I run into a site that requires Chrome or a Chromium based browser, I keep Ungoogled Chromium installed, but rarely use it.
Not sure I see the need for a paid browser.
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Comment on What's a game you're dying to play that doesn't exist? in ~games
Kerry56 Link ParentI liked the original Freelancer, but I played the Frontierspace mod until I had every section memorized. The Frontierspace mod was different from others in that it had a built-in quest. Of course,...I liked the original Freelancer, but I played the Frontierspace mod until I had every section memorized.
The Frontierspace mod was different from others in that it had a built-in quest. Of course, the mod expanded the number of systems and added other groups as well. The biggest problem with the mod was that it was developed by one guy, and he never got around to fixing all the bugs. But it was still very fun to play.
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Comment on Are there any games that had their development abandoned that you followed where you wish that continued/completed development? in ~games
Kerry56 LinkThe ending in Anachronox was satisfying in some ways, but the game was obviously set up for a sequel, which we never got. I'd love to see a continuation, with the same quality writing, and more...The ending in Anachronox was satisfying in some ways, but the game was obviously set up for a sequel, which we never got. I'd love to see a continuation, with the same quality writing, and more modern game-play and modern graphics. It will never happen, of course.
Outcast is another action/adventure game from the late Windows 98, early XP era that deserved a sequel, or even a remake. The voxel based graphics were blurry in the original. Great music in Outcast though, some of the best.
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Comment on Fortunately, there appear to be enough post oak trees to sustain Texas barbecue in ~enviro
Kerry56 LinkOut in West Texas, we use mesquite, which I prefer. It has a spicier flavor, with just a bit more bite. Huge numbers of mesquites in the state, but many are too small for use in BBQ pits.Out in West Texas, we use mesquite, which I prefer. It has a spicier flavor, with just a bit more bite.
Huge numbers of mesquites in the state, but many are too small for use in BBQ pits.
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Comment on Looking for headphone recommendations in ~music
Kerry56 LinkI don't use wireless headphones, else I would try to help. If you don't find answers here, try this subforum at Headfi. https://www.head-fi.org/forums/introductions-help-and-recommendations.7840/...I don't use wireless headphones, else I would try to help. If you don't find answers here, try this subforum at Headfi. https://www.head-fi.org/forums/introductions-help-and-recommendations.7840/
Headfi is dedicated to audio, mostly headphones, and they will know the subject.
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Comment on What have you been listening to this week? in ~music
Kerry56 LinkYesterday, June 4th, Mamamoo came back after almost four years and released a single, called 4 Flowers. Most of you probably don't know this group, but they are a Korean girl group formed in 2014,...Yesterday, June 4th, Mamamoo came back after almost four years and released a single, called 4 Flowers. Most of you probably don't know this group, but they are a Korean girl group formed in 2014, and are some of the most respected vocalists in K-pop. Known for singing live, in an industry drowning in lip sync and autotune, they are exceptionally good performers. They also write and compose many of their songs, including this new one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVzSI9PpkXc&list=RDPVzSI9PpkXc
Their world tour starts in Seoul on June 19th, and they have seven stops scheduled for the US in August. I have tickets, and I can't wait. They are a bucket list group for me.
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Comment on Breadmaker update: one year in! in ~food
Kerry56 LinkGood to hear that you are happy with the machine and your results. I recently bought an inexpensive bread maker, just to experiment. I've been making bread that isn't entirely whole wheat... the...Good to hear that you are happy with the machine and your results.
I recently bought an inexpensive bread maker, just to experiment. I've been making bread that isn't entirely whole wheat... the recipe calls for half white flour and half whole wheat flour. I've amended that successfully and now use one cup white flour and two cups of whole wheat flour. This makes a 1 and 1/2 lb loaf. I freeze the bread and thaw out a slice or two as needed.
Until I read the instructions for the machine, I wasn't aware that it could make jam as well. My experiments in this have been interesting, but not entirely successful. Starting with fresh strawberries, and following the instructions, I got something that tasted delicious, but was more along the lines of a strawberry topping. Great on ice cream, but not really a jam. Second batch, this time with pectin, gave the same results. I'm going to try with some blackberries next.
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Comment on Movie fatigue in ~movies
Kerry56 LinkThe Lives of Others. ... German film, intense drama. Amelie ... Quirky French movie, romantic and with a unique style The Shawshank Redemption ... Brillant script, great acting in a prison movie...The Lives of Others. ... German film, intense drama.
Amelie ... Quirky French movie, romantic and with a unique style
The Shawshank Redemption ... Brillant script, great acting in a prison movie "Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things."
Unforgiven ... Clint Eastwood's best western, which is saying something.
Das Boot ... German WWII movie about submarine warfare. One of the best WWII movies ever made.
Blade Runner ... Sci-fi classic. Watch the director's cut.
Alien ... Sci-fi horror at it's best
Young Frankenstein ... Mel Brook's masterpiece of comedy/parody
Cool Hand Luke ... Paul Newman is outstanding in this prison/chain gang drama
The Apartment ... Jack Lemmon is just a cog in the machine, until he has enough
Lawrence of Arabia ... an epic movie that really should be experienced at a wide screen cinema, but well worth watching anywhere
To Kill a Mockingbird ... bittersweet, and my favorite performance from Gregory Peck
Roman Holiday ... Audrey Hepburn's first major role, and pure romance
Casablanca ... Often cited as one of the best movie scripts. Engaging, witty, romantic and has interesting side characters. Claude Rains steals every scene he is in. -
Comment on Why Japanese companies do so many different things in ~finance
Kerry56 (edited )LinkThere is a Japanese company called Taiyo Yuden, which made the best optical media in the world. They were instrumental in the development of cd's and dvd's, and anyone who was serious about...There is a Japanese company called Taiyo Yuden, which made the best optical media in the world. They were instrumental in the development of cd's and dvd's, and anyone who was serious about burning data to discs used their blank media. In 2015, they quit the optical media business cold turkey. They just walked away. They sold their patents to CMC, a Taiwanese company, and never looked back.
Those of us who only knew them through their media business wondered how they were going to survive, but a cursory look at their organizational structure showed that they had dozens of different products, in very diverse fields, and they are thriving even now.
I think this was the first time I became aware of how broadly based even the medium sized Japanese companies are. It wasn't just Sony, Toshiba and other large corporations with this type of business structure.
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Comment on What has changed as you've gotten older? in ~talk
Kerry56 (edited )Link ParentYour gasp was correct, but that wasn't why I chose the name. I've been using it for over twenty years on the internet in various forums, but originally it was in reference to my football jersey....Your gasp was correct, but that wasn't why I chose the name. I've been using it for over twenty years on the internet in various forums, but originally it was in reference to my football jersey. Just a coincidence that it was my birth year.
I wrote a story set in my hometown, with four characters who were loosely based on my friends and me in high school. I sent a copy to one of them, who I lost touch with years ago, and it led to us keeping in contact a little better. That was one of the happier results of my writing efforts. Never too late to reach out to others, not while you're both alive and kicking.
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Comment on What has changed as you've gotten older? in ~talk
Kerry56 LinkI'm older than most here, and one thing that strikes me is that my world has gotten much smaller. Many of the people that I cared about are gone now, both family and friends. With each loss, a...I'm older than most here, and one thing that strikes me is that my world has gotten much smaller. Many of the people that I cared about are gone now, both family and friends. With each loss, a whole network of other people disappeared as well, and it is virtually impossible to reconnect without that bridge created by a friend.
Make an effort to stay in touch with your closest friends for as long as possible. They aren't really replaceable.
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Comment on The 100 best novels of all time published in English in ~books
Kerry56 Link ParentContinuing with your opening line, "Because not all translations are equal", I think a more interesting list could have been made with the goal of highlighting the best translations to English....Continuing with your opening line, "Because not all translations are equal", I think a more interesting list could have been made with the goal of highlighting the best translations to English. The 100 best novel translations to English might be very helpful.
Poll foreign authors, scholars, publishers, and the translators themselves, and come up with the most highly regarded translations. Also point out why they are seen as outstanding. I would appreciate this type of effort far more than just another "best novels" list. -
Comment on The 100 best novels of all time published in English in ~books
Kerry56 Link ParentWhy not just call it a list of the 100 best novels then? Why include English as a qualifier at all?Why not just call it a list of the 100 best novels then? Why include English as a qualifier at all?
I really liked his performance in Hunt for the Wilderpeople. Reliably good acting from him, no matter the role.