GobiasIndustries's recent activity
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Comment on No knives, only cook knives in ~hobbies
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Comment on An acquired taste - Gourmet magazine relaunching as worker-owned cooperative after Condé-Nast lets trademark elapse in ~food
GobiasIndustries LinkWow, count me as cautiously optimistic for this! I was just mourning the loss of Lucky Peach, another iconic food magazine started by David Chang while he was starting to build his brand/empire,...Wow, count me as cautiously optimistic for this! I was just mourning the loss of Lucky Peach, another iconic food magazine started by David Chang while he was starting to build his brand/empire, and just the feeling of excitement that used to come when a new issue of any magazine would show up in my mailbox.
I was a Gourmet subscriber right up until the end of their original run, but as a young, broke culinary student it was clear that I wasn't the demographic they were writing for. Like @patience_limited mentioned, Gourmet's audience leaned more towards "wealthy foodie" and most of the content didn't resonate with me. Lucky Peach on the other hand, had more of an independent, DIY, almost punk vibe to it when it was first introduced and was written for industry professionals first and foremost. For a little while in the early 2010's, it felt like every professional kitchen had at least one subscriber and the day that they brought the latest issue into work to share with the brigade was an event.
Reading Gourmet felt more like aspirational fantasy with guides to dining out in all the places that I'd never be able to afford while Lucky Peach gave me stories and articles that were way more practical. The original Gourmet might have written a story about ramen by giving you reviews of some Michelin-starred restaurants in Tokyo, but Lucky Peach would have had a centerfold with a hand-drawn map of Japan explaining the differences in regional ramen styles and interviewed a few working chefs in the kinds of hole-in-the-wall places that weren't on Michelin's radar yet, for example. I'm excited to see where the newly revived Gourmet lands on that spectrum.
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Comment on US households using Ozempic spend less on groceries in ~health
GobiasIndustries Link ParentI always have to remind myself that even though I've got my own hang-ups about food, I'll never really be able to understand what it's like to look at food as a source of comfort. If anything, my...I always have to remind myself that even though I've got my own hang-ups about food, I'll never really be able to understand what it's like to look at food as a source of comfort. If anything, my former career as a chef makes food more of a source of stress and something that's only meant for paying customers.
You're right that it takes permanent lifestyle changes to keep the weight off permanently, but beyond just being overwhelmed trying to learn what a healthy diet and activity level looks like, the root issue might come down to a deeper relationship with food and how someone copes with stress, likes to show or be shown love, etc.
With so much conflicting information and downright misinformation in the health and fitness industry, it's easy to see why nobody wants to listen to boring advice like "just do a bit of activity every day and try to eat healthy most of the time" and chases the quick fixes instead. It's easy for me to say that, but how does someone who might have been surrounded by disordered eating their whole life learn those things on their own?
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Comment on Regarding travel agency exoticca.com in ~travel
GobiasIndustries Link ParentDocument every conversation you've had with them and get it ready to send to your credit card company's fraud department. Their legal department has way more oomph behind it than you do. If you...Document every conversation you've had with them and get it ready to send to your credit card company's fraud department. Their legal department has way more oomph behind it than you do.
If you didn't buy this trip with a credit card, you've probably got a much harder road ahead of you and you might have to chalk it up to a very costly lesson.
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Comment on The "why does this movie exist" scene in ~movies
GobiasIndustries LinkThe "I've had it with these motherfuckin' snakes on this motherfuckin' plane!" line from Snakes on a Plane feels like it fits here just because you can't make a movie starring Samuel L. Jackson...The "I've had it with these motherfuckin' snakes on this motherfuckin' plane!" line from Snakes on a Plane feels like it fits here just because you can't make a movie starring Samuel L. Jackson called Snakes on a Plane and not have him say that.
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Comment on Regarding travel agency exoticca.com in ~travel
GobiasIndustries Link ParentVery valid take, and I didn't mean to simplify my position down to "spending more money = better trip" since everyone travels differently. The underlying idea is to not cut corners on the the...Very valid take, and I didn't mean to simplify my position down to "spending more money = better trip" since everyone travels differently.
The underlying idea is to not cut corners on the the things that can make or break your trip. If the cheaper, slower option gives the experience you want, then choose it. Don't gravitate to the cheapest option if you need reliability.
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Comment on Regarding travel agency exoticca.com in ~travel
GobiasIndustries Link ParentA rule of thumb to go by when travelling: you're most vulnerable to getting scammed when you're too: Drunk, Horny, or Cheap The first two are easily avoided, assuming that you don't go looking for...A rule of thumb to go by when travelling: you're most vulnerable to getting scammed when you're too:
- Drunk,
- Horny, or
- Cheap
The first two are easily avoided, assuming that you don't go looking for them, but a lot of people fall prey to the last one.
There are a lot of ways to hamstring your trip in the interest of pinching pennies. While it's important to find good prices for things, don't skimp on things that will actually matter on your trip like taking a cheaper, slower train to another city that saves you $20, but you lose 3 hours of exploring time for example.
Don't forget to budget for food if you haven't taken it into consideration. You can eat well at even a shoestring budget, convenience store food is famously good for the price and grocery stores always make for an interesting visit and help keep you from eating at restaurants for every meal, which adds up fast. Without having been to Japan in about 5 years, I'd plan for $25 per person per day at the low end. You could also spend that on a bite of sashimi if you were so inclined.
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Comment on Regarding travel agency exoticca.com in ~travel
GobiasIndustries LinkI would suggest not using a travel agency at all and making your own arrangements directly through a hotel/airline whenever possible. Even as a novice traveller and assuming no other special...I would suggest not using a travel agency at all and making your own arrangements directly through a hotel/airline whenever possible. Even as a novice traveller and assuming no other special circumstances since you didn't mention any, Japan is a pretty straightforward place to plan a trip to on your own. Even if you don't speak the language, booking flights, hotels, and navigating the train system are all possible in English.
You didn't mention how experienced the two of you are as travellers. If you've never planned a big international trip, it can be daunting for sure. As long as you have the time, it's worth making your own arrangements though. The biggest risk you run into when you introduce any discount third party into your plans is if there's any mistake or hiccup whatsoever, the agency will pass the buck to the hotel/airline, who will pass it right back to the agency, leaving you stranded in the meantime.
The travel boards on Reddit are full of stories of people who tried to save a few bucks on their plans, only to find out that there's no reservation in the hotel's system and the company they made the reservation through won't do anything for them. Even if booking through a hotel costs a bit more, knowing that there's no chance of being stranded after your transpacific flight is pretty valuable.
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Comment on Avengers: Doomsday | X-Men teaser in ~movies
GobiasIndustries Link ParentIf they follow the Endgame model, half the movie will be a fight scene where 40 characters each get a moment to do something cool and that'll be it. The next Avengers movie will apparently be...If they follow the Endgame model, half the movie will be a fight scene where 40 characters each get a moment to do something cool and that'll be it.
The next Avengers movie will apparently be based on Secret Wars which lends itself to that format pretty well since the premise is essentially an omnipotent being captures all the Marvel heroes and villains, traps them in a place called "Battleworld" and makes them fight for... reasons.
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Comment on What's the coolest thrift store find you've ever scored? in ~talk
GobiasIndustries Link ParentShe's torn. On the one hand (no pun intended), they're incredibly comfortable. On the other, it rarely gets cold enough to justify heavy-duty mittens around us and I kind of want to see if I can...She's torn. On the one hand (no pun intended), they're incredibly comfortable. On the other, it rarely gets cold enough to justify heavy-duty mittens around us and I kind of want to see if I can learn anything else about them before she does anything to them.
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Comment on What's the coolest thrift store find you've ever scored? in ~talk
GobiasIndustries LinkMy wife just came home from thrifting last week with a pair of Inuit-made felt and seal fur mittens with the tags still attached. The tag notes that the mitts were made in 1980 in Spence Bay,...My wife just came home from thrifting last week with a pair of Inuit-made felt and seal fur mittens with the tags still attached.
The tag notes that the mitts were made in 1980 in Spence Bay, Northwest Territories, Canada. The name alone would be enough to date the mitts back to before 1992, when the place was officially given the name Taloyoak. Never mind that the tag makes liberal use of the word Eskimo, which didn't really start falling out of use until maybe the late 80s.
She paid $20 for them, which I suspect is even less than they would have cost brand new almost 50 years ago.
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Comment on Avengers: Doomsday | Teaser in ~movies
GobiasIndustries Link ParentMostly because nothing they've done in this arc has landed with the fans the same way that the original heroes did. Cutting ties with the actor you've spent time building up into the next big...Mostly because nothing they've done in this arc has landed with the fans the same way that the original heroes did.
Cutting ties with the actor you've spent time building up into the next big villain (Johnathan Majors) didn't help. They didn't have a clear plan to build up Dr. Doom the same way that Thanos got introduced either.
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Comment on Bowen Yang is leaving Saturday Night Live after tonight’s episode in ~tv
GobiasIndustries Link ParentI don't watch SNL as much as I used to either and feel the same way. Bowen was one of my favourite cast members, but a lot of his material was either being flamboyantly gay or being a gay man...I don't watch SNL as much as I used to either and feel the same way. Bowen was one of my favourite cast members, but a lot of his material was either being flamboyantly gay or being a gay man doing an impression of a straight person. He's really, really good at it though and I'm sure that there's always going to be work for him if he wants it.
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Comment on Oscars shock: YouTube wins TV rights to host Academy Awards from 2029 in ~movies
GobiasIndustries Link ParentI think there's still a pretty clear line between what counts as TV and what counts as film. The only real casualty is the made-for-TV movie, which merged with the straight to VHS/DVD movie to...I think there's still a pretty clear line between what counts as TV and what counts as film.
The only real casualty is the made-for-TV movie, which merged with the straight to VHS/DVD movie to become the direct to streaming movie and most of those aren't going to have any place in a discussion about awards.
I'm not a huge cinephile, but there's no doubt that the theatrical release is usually how a director intends for their work to be seen. If a streaming service made an Oscar-worthy movie, would it mean that it was made for the small screen to be the "true" experience?
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Comment on Oscars shock: YouTube wins TV rights to host Academy Awards from 2029 in ~movies
GobiasIndustries Link ParentInstitutions like the Academy are very slow to change. I don't know what it takes to change the eligibility requirements, but the Academy's governors are a mix of creative talent, producers,...Institutions like the Academy are very slow to change. I don't know what it takes to change the eligibility requirements, but the Academy's governors are a mix of creative talent, producers, executives, SFX/video/audio technicians etc. I imagine that it would be hard to get enough of them to agree to change the status quo.
That being said, a theatrical release seems to be more of a technicality nowadays. A lot of Oscar bait movies seem to get a limited theatrical release around this time of year to satisfy the requirement and then go for a wider release or head to streaming shortly thereafter.
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Comment on How do you plan out your meals for the week/meal prep? in ~food
GobiasIndustries Link ParentYou touched on a bunch of what I was going to say as former professional chef. I imagine that our work experience makes it a lot easier to say, but the secret really is to stop being so precious...You touched on a bunch of what I was going to say as former professional chef. I imagine that our work experience makes it a lot easier to say, but the secret really is to stop being so precious about what you eat. Making delicious, healthy food for yourself and a family is a big job, even for a very skilled cook, I have a hard time doing it without making concessions.
Project managers call it the triple constraint of time, cost, and scope. You can't always have all three, so either let go of the idea of having a wide variety of new, exciting things to eat every day, spend a fortune on meal prep, or resign yourself to spending a lot more time in the kitchen.
I've never really eaten much for pleasure, cooking for a living takes a lot of the joy out of food. The guests are meant to enjoy the food, the cooks just have to find whatever scraps and leftovers they can in the five minutes they get for lunch. On the plus side, all my experience gives me a huge repertoire to work from. I don't really use recipes and just rely on experience and my personal preferences to grab what looks good at the grocery store and figure out how to combine it into a week's worth of meals. Anyone can learn to do it with consistency and the willingness to not follow recipes as strictly.
When I say I don't use recipes, I mean that most of my meals are a combination of vegetables, grains, and protein with some sort of sauce or garnish rather than an actual named, composed dish. If you let go of the idea of having a fully defined plan with fresh meals every week, you can make your life a lot easier. I always try to plan for leftovers and make extra sauces or things that can be easily frozen to serve as a base for other meals. For example, I made a coconut/mango seafood curry a few weeks ago. I made twice as much sauce as needed and froze half. The next time I needed a fast, but good homemade meal, I already had a lot of the work done.
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Comment on $700M stunner: Shohei Ohtani to Los Angeles Dodgers on biggest deal in sports history in ~sports.baseball
GobiasIndustries LinkIt was rumoured that Rogers Communications, the telecom company that owns the Blue Jays, were willing to give up their NHL broadcasting rights to write a check for Ohtani. Rogers has two years...It was rumoured that Rogers Communications, the telecom company that owns the Blue Jays, were willing to give up their NHL broadcasting rights to write a check for Ohtani.
Rogers has two years left on a 10-year, $500 million broadcast deal with the NHL which has apparently been a disaster. Apparently Rogers would have shifted pretty much all of the focus on their sports channels to the Jays and Ohtani had they managed to sign him.
At least they would have stopped talking about the Leafs.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
GobiasIndustries LinkA local drugstore had a random assortment of deeply discounted PS4 games so I picked up NHL '21 and Cobra Kai: The Karate Kid Saga Continues for $3 each this week. Cobra Kai is surprisingly fun...A local drugstore had a random assortment of deeply discounted PS4 games so I picked up NHL '21 and Cobra Kai: The Karate Kid Saga Continues for $3 each this week.
Cobra Kai is surprisingly fun for something out of the bargain bin. It's a fairly standard side-scrolling beat 'em up where you choose to play as either the Cobra Kai or Miyagi-Do dojos, each with different characters and play styles. You swap between party members on the fly during stages and can customize each character with a pretty robust upgrading system.
I like the cel-shaded art style and it was nice to hear a few of the actors lend their voices to the game, I just wish that the controls were more responsive. You have a wide variety of moves at your disposal, but actually pulling them off reliably is tough. Some of the enemy designs felt really out of place as well. I don't know why I'm fighting hippies and soccer moms. All in all, it's a pretty fun game that just needed a bit more polishing.
As a rule, I wait a few years before updating my sports games and even then, I stay a few years behind. The last version of 'chel I bought was '17, so I was due. I haven't spent any time with '21 yet, but knowing EA, I assume that nothing has changed except for team rosters and player ratings.
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Comment on The rise and fall of MuchMusic in ~music
GobiasIndustries LinkGoing to my school's MuchMusic Video Dance Party was probably the highlight of my time in junior high. I was never big on school dances, but I wasn't going to miss the chance to see Technotronic...Going to my school's MuchMusic Video Dance Party was probably the highlight of my time in junior high. I was never big on school dances, but I wasn't going to miss the chance to see Technotronic and C+C Music Factory on the big screen.
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Comment on The Rolling Stones are hitting the road next year on a tour sponsored by AARP in ~music
GobiasIndustries LinkI saw the Stones play in Ottawa, Canada almost 20 years ago. There was a retirement home across the street from the stadium and I remember thinking that the residents would probably be pretty...I saw the Stones play in Ottawa, Canada almost 20 years ago. There was a retirement home across the street from the stadium and I remember thinking that the residents would probably be pretty annoyed about having to hear loud music blaring into the night. Boy, was I wrong. Every unit that had a window overlooking the stadium was packed the entire time.
It made wonder which artists from my youth in the mid-90s would still be touring by the time I hit retirement age 20 years from now.
It's like any other tool or accessory, a good knife can make cutting safer, more comfortable, and easier but it's no substitute for skill and technique. There's no guarantee that a more expensive knife will help you produce better tasting food. Expensive doesn't always mean good either, chef's knives are just as vulnerable to marketing and brand recognition as any other product. There are a lot of brands that go for style over substance.
I'm no photographer. If you gave me the most expensive gear, I might be able to take slightly nicer pictures than I could using only my phone, but the best lenses in the world won't make up for my lack of fundamentals. On the other hand, a decent photographer would be able to take even sub-par equipment and take a photo that's at the very least technically proficient. Give them the best gear, and they'll know exactly how to get the most out of it. Cooking is the same way.
I've been cooking for about 30 years and have knives that cost anywhere from $80 to $1,700. The $80 one has been with me since school and if I had to guess, I've spent at least 20,000 hours with it. Most of my other knives can hold a sharper edge and I'll use them when I really need that little extra bit of precision, but the $80 knife is basically an extension of my arm at this point.
I guess the moral of the story is that the quality of the knife matters, but not nearly as much as the price tag can suggest.