solemn_fable's recent activity
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Comment on What are your go to fast but tasty meals? Is there prep you do on weekends to make meals faster? in ~food
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Comment on What surprised you the most about becoming a father? in ~life.men
solemn_fable Link ParentWords that ring true to my ears! However, you can absolutely make time for yourselves if you make a goal of it. At least, it's what my wife and I have experienced ourselves. In the daytime, my...Words that ring true to my ears! However, you can absolutely make time for yourselves if you make a goal of it.
At least, it's what my wife and I have experienced ourselves. In the daytime, my wife prefers a good nap over anything else lately, so she's implemented a full hour and a half of "quiet time" with the kids, in which they can do whatever they like as long as they do it very quietly. Half the time they just keep playing quietly with their toys, or draw or watch a cartoon. The other times they just opt to join her on her nap.
I've also been slowly scheduling myself some "daddy time" in which I can read a book, do my hobbies, or just play video games. I often begin about a half hour before their bedtime, and I give them the option to join me until their bedtime, then once it's bed time I push them through their night routine, and then the rule is they must stay in bed quietly.
I used to feel some guilt about putting them to bed while I stayed up playing games or doing something recreational, but two realizations dulled the sting: firstly, we are fulfilling NEEDS. Kids need a lot of sleep, so they must sleep longer (i.e, earlier than me). Parents need recreational time and space, so they must make time for their own mental health.
Secondly: a lot of my personal guilt centered around my quantity of time spent with my children, but not the quality, which is what matters the most. If I spent their waking hours making them feel loved, wanted, safe and understood... if I gave them a fond memory in the day, with excellent play time or a little adventure, then I have fulfilled my duty.
Although I have absolutely, as you said, fallen asleep while trying to accomplish my daddy time more often than not... don't feel bad! You'll get some time for yourself again before you know it.
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Comment on Chefs of Tildes, what’s one simple cooking trick that can vastly improve the flavour of a dish? in ~food
solemn_fable LinkI’ve got some BBQing tips, if those work for you OP! Firstly… the quality of the fire matters. If you’re used to just using charcoal bricks and lighter fluid, or pure propane, I HIGHLY recommend...I’ve got some BBQing tips, if those work for you OP!
Firstly… the quality of the fire matters. If you’re used to just using charcoal bricks and lighter fluid, or pure propane, I HIGHLY recommend experimenting with wood in the mix. Look around and see if anybody is selling some logs of Oak, Mesquite, Hickory, etc. Try natural charcoal instead of the bricks. The smoke from the wood DRASTICALLY changes the flavor of the food for the better. If you only have charcoal bricks, see if you can find some apple wood or hickory pellets and sprinkle them over the coals right before cooking. Avoid using lighter fluid if you can, or be mindful to only use a tiny bit and be careful to ONLY get it on the charcoal and not the grates, or else your food will taste nasty. (I highly recommend investing in a bbq chimney starter).
Second… learn to control the fire. Don’t dump all the charcoals or fire logs in the middle of the grill. Pick one side and pile everything there. This way, half your grill gets direct flame and the other half doesn’t. This way you can just strategically move your steaks around the grill and cook everything better.
Third… practice seasoning properly. Learn to use salt and pepper first, then experiment with other spices. Try herbs like rosemary. Try chipotle. Marinade with beer. Try red wine. Don’t just rely on the premixed packets from the store otherwise you’ll feel lost when you run out of it.
Fourth… learn to judge doneness the old fashioned way. Memorize what the color and feel of the meat should be. It takes practice but eventually you’ll be able to tell how far along a steak is by pressing it with your tongs or fingers. You can judge the doneness of almost anything without a thermometer with enough practice.
Fifth… learn the basics of higiene. Don’t cross contaminate by using the same surfaces, utensils and plates with everything. Learn how to store raw and cooked separately. Learn what bad or old raw meat smells like, and what good raw meat should smell like. If you don’t trust it or aren’t sure, trust your gut and don’t cook it.
Sixth… research the art of Sous Vide. Perfect steaks every time.
There’s way more to all this of course, but those are just some basics off the top my head.
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Comment on Napoleon | Official trailer in ~movies
solemn_fable Link ParentI know that at some point, Stanley Kubrick was completely obsessed with making a film about Napoleon. He owned a huge archive of notes and material to make it, and I think there’s even a...I know that at some point, Stanley Kubrick was completely obsessed with making a film about Napoleon. He owned a huge archive of notes and material to make it, and I think there’s even a documentary about that. I was hoping to see a glimmer of that in the trailer.
Instead I got “DC presents: Zach Snyder’s Captain Bonaparte”. I truly hope the trailer isn’t representative of the actual film.
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Comment on Could we get a ~jokes, ~humor or ~funny group on Tildes? in ~tildes
solemn_fable LinkHumor is the spice of life, but it's not the entire goddamn meal. A lot of people don't get that. These dudes will eat spoonfuls of chipotle and then pat themselves in the back because "spice is a...Humor is the spice of life, but it's not the entire goddamn meal. A lot of people don't get that. These dudes will eat spoonfuls of chipotle and then pat themselves in the back because "spice is a part of life and we need an outlet, therefore pass me that goddamn tub of cayenne and a bigger spoon". I think there's plenty of ways we can incorporate more humor here without necessarily devolving into 9gag, reddit etc.
If we want to continue with the spice analogy, then we can leave things as they are and not build spaces around humor. Just let humor be a spice. It will find its way into our comments and submissions (as it currently does) but never actually try to outdo the meat and potatoes.
If we see humor more as an unstoppable reflex, like a sneeze or taking a shit, something inevitable that needs an "outlet", then maybe we need to treat this site like a road trip where the strongest bladder decides when to pull over for a rest stop so everyone can get it out of their system. Maybe we can have a weekly scheduled topic "just shit it out and make it snappy" type threads where voting is disabled and you can post whatever you want. You want your damn pun threads? You want your ooole switcheroos (I dropped my coffee cup and it sucked > can confirm, I'm the coffee cup durrhurr)? You itching to drop that one "guy walks into a bar" joke? All good here, drop that load. Post that link to the goddamn meme you've been desperately wanting to share. Post that single word reply. Shit it out. @ mention that dude who left a comment that left you sour and have your fisticuffs / slap fight. Hell, even Peruvians have an annual festival where you can get as drunk as you want, find the guy that pissed you off that one day and then just pummel the everloving shit out of each other to settle your differences, and then be happy that it's out of your system. We can be this way about humor, maybe?
Or if we were to build a community section around humor, though, I would like to see heavy moderation to shape a much different kind of submission (as well as maybe hiding the votes). Give me humorous essays. Give me "stand up style" observations on a subject. Ask us how to get you out of a stupid predicament. Get creative. Get ORIGINAL. Get us involved in stupid, hilarious mental experiments, or treat it like a campfire roundup where everyone is encouraged to contribute and participate. I don't mind the "ask Tildes" style storytime prompts centered around humorous experiences either (in fact, I love those).
The internet has plenty of outlets for youtube videos and single image submissions, one liners and punchline bits. Let's not cultivate that here.
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Comment on The original fettuccine alfredo with no cream in ~food
solemn_fable LinkI can attest to this recipe being delicious, on top of being dead simple.I can attest to this recipe being delicious, on top of being dead simple.
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July 2023 Tildes Fundraiser
Enshittification: begone!! Let us celebrate our newly found freedom from crap social media giants and sponsored goons by donating a few dollars to Tildes so they can keep the lights on and the...
Enshittification: begone!! Let us celebrate our newly found freedom from crap social media giants and sponsored goons by donating a few dollars to Tildes so they can keep the lights on and the fireworks popping 🎉
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Comment on How many of you feel yourselves being drawn back to Reddit for the sake of niche communities and discussions? in ~talk
solemn_fable Link ParentIn middle school, I remember having friends go through their first breakup with their first girlfriends. This reminds me of that, except instead of two friends, it’s thousands of them. And they...In middle school, I remember having friends go through their first breakup with their first girlfriends.
This reminds me of that, except instead of two friends, it’s thousands of them. And they just refuse to move on and not mention her for one day.
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Comment on What are some antiquated things that most people still do out of a force of habit, or that are now unnecessary but have lasted culturally? in ~talk
solemn_fable LinkCommuting to work for 8 hours a day at a desk job that could be done more effectively from home. I’m glad COVID opened up everyone’s eyes to see how non-essential a lot of these work related...Commuting to work for 8 hours a day at a desk job that could be done more effectively from home. I’m glad COVID opened up everyone’s eyes to see how non-essential a lot of these work related staples really are, and how important a work life balance is.
There are some things I also do socially just out of habit that have changed contextually through the years. I grew up as a teenager who would spend hours hanging out with friends over the phone. Then phone calls turned to very informal “hey, question, answer, k thx bye” and text messages were the new email. “Call me when you get this”. Today, phone calls are reserved for damn near emergencies or planned events, and calling outside that threshold can leave the person you’re calling answering the phone wondering “what happened? I hope it’s not an emergency!” And messaging is the default way to talk.
I’m thankful that my colleagues are starting to see the value in just calling for a quick chat more often. It turns a 15 minute messaging affair into a 3 minute phone call and I love it.
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What browser extensions do you absolutely love to use?
I have two that I will highly recommend: Vimium has completely changed the way that I use my browsers. They have extensions for firefox and safari as well, but the link I provided is for chrome....
I have two that I will highly recommend:
Vimium has completely changed the way that I use my browsers. They have extensions for firefox and safari as well, but the link I provided is for chrome. If you are used to vim keybindings, it makes websites almost completely navigable using only your keyboard! Here's a video demonstration of it in case you're interested.
My other is SponsorBlock for youtube. This one makes using youtube a little more bearable by automatically skipping the baked-in sponsorships and advertisements. It has literally cut down my viewing times of some channels by like 20%.
Are there any other extensions that you absolutely love?
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Comment on Is there any book that you keep trying but can not get through? in ~books
solemn_fable LinkI have a few books like these on my shelf of shame, but the one that kinda stings the most is Catch 22. I was told it was one of the funniest books of all time, and on top of that, one of the best...I have a few books like these on my shelf of shame, but the one that kinda stings the most is Catch 22. I was told it was one of the funniest books of all time, and on top of that, one of the best books of all time. I was so excited when I bought it.
I read like 30 or 40 pages and I felt like a moron. Read them again. I gave up after that. I thought then maybe the comedy was hidden in military jargon or something, or that I wasn’t smart enough to figure it out.
I figured it was maybe a dark comedy. Historically, I’ve had huge trouble understanding dark comedies as films, too. For example, I hated “Dr Strangelove” the first time I saw it, but it grew on me as I aged.
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Comment on Is there any book that you keep trying but can not get through? in ~books
solemn_fable Link ParentSame. It’s such a beautiful book and it haunts my bookshelf. I feel a bit of shame every time I see the cover at book stores.Same. It’s such a beautiful book and it haunts my bookshelf. I feel a bit of shame every time I see the cover at book stores.
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Comment on Is there any book that you keep trying but can not get through? in ~books
solemn_fable Link ParentOh man I felt so alone with LOTR! Im sad that I couldn’t get through it. It felt like trying to read an encyclopedia and not a story. Lots of friends told me it was fantastic, but I gave up after...Oh man I felt so alone with LOTR! Im sad that I couldn’t get through it. It felt like trying to read an encyclopedia and not a story. Lots of friends told me it was fantastic, but I gave up after not being able to get through the first 50ish pages for the third time.
I will admit that my last attempt was ages ago. Maybe it’s just one of those things that will grow on me with age.
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Comment on What is one food item that you absolutely hated initially but it slowly grew on you? in ~food
solemn_fable Link ParentMy relationship with broccoli changed completely the day I decided to try it raw with a bit of ranch. It tasted great and then I thought, “wait… why is this tasty, but boiling it tastes nasty?”...My relationship with broccoli changed completely the day I decided to try it raw with a bit of ranch. It tasted great and then I thought, “wait… why is this tasty, but boiling it tastes nasty?”
Overcooked broccoli blows. And it’s practically all I’d been served all my life. Same with asparagus.
Experiment with the cooking times and you might find yourself enjoying it way more! Try different seasonings, under a broiler with tiny bits of oil and chili flakes, garlic powder, a squeeze of lime once it’s on the table. Good stuff!
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Comment on Favourite audio dramas/fiction podcasts? in ~hobbies
solemn_fable LinkI haven’t heard it yet, but I’ve heard amazing things about the Sandman radio drama from audible! The Sandman comics are probably my favorite of all time, and I really enjoyed the Netflix...I haven’t heard it yet, but I’ve heard amazing things about the Sandman radio drama from audible! The Sandman comics are probably my favorite of all time, and I really enjoyed the Netflix adaptation, so I’m excited to finally get to the audio plays.
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Comment on Weirdest films ever? in ~movies
solemn_fable Link ParentI’ve never seen this one because I’ve avoided it, but my understanding is that it’s more disturbing than ‘weird’.I’ve never seen this one because I’ve avoided it, but my understanding is that it’s more disturbing than ‘weird’.
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Comment on Weirdest films ever? in ~movies
solemn_fable Link ParentI’m very surprised I didn’t find this in OP’s list. You want weird? This one will do the trick.I’m very surprised I didn’t find this in OP’s list.
You want weird? This one will do the trick. -
Comment on Google warns its own employees: Do not use code generated by Bard in ~tech
solemn_fable Link ParentI’m not sure if that was your intent, but medicine is still highly regulated even if we don’t know how all those drugs work, exactly. Regulation doesn’t mean banning, it means establishing and...I’m not sure if that was your intent, but medicine is still highly regulated even if we don’t know how all those drugs work, exactly. Regulation doesn’t mean banning, it means establishing and enforcing rules and guidelines that are relevant to ensure safety and predictability.
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Comment on How do Tildes users feel about an OP that takes part in their own thread? in ~tildes
solemn_fable Link ParentI’m still new to Tildes but here is my understanding on “noise”… having your comment labeled as noise is NOT a bad thing. I think you can still say your thank you’s so the person you’re replying...I’m still new to Tildes but here is my understanding on “noise”… having your comment labeled as noise is NOT a bad thing. I think you can still say your thank you’s so the person you’re replying to gets the affirmation and a reply notification. If your comment gets labeled as noise it will just be auto collapsed.
If I’m being honest, maybe “noise” isn’t the best label for things like that. I think a sort of “kudos” label sounds more appropriate, as it’s distinguished from actual noise like “this, exactly, bump” etc. But in the end if those labels aren’t visible to the commenter then I suppose it doesn’t matter?
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Comment on Terrible, terrible movies? in ~movies
solemn_fable Link ParentTo this day, my friends and I throw KP quotes at each other. “Why don’t you respect me? I’m a man too, you know; I go peepee standing up!”To this day, my friends and I throw KP quotes at each other. “Why don’t you respect me? I’m a man too, you know; I go peepee standing up!”
I figured out a recipe that is easy, cheap, and astonishingly delicious: baby bok choy!
Take a pot and fill it half way with water. Set it to start boiling. Add a couple spoonfuls of Better Than Bouillon, a drizzle of sesame or avocado oil, and optionally any dried herbs and spices that you like. Grab some baby bok choy, cut them into quarters, wash them thoroughly, then put the quarters into the pot for ten minutes tops. Feel free to add a brick of ramen noodles (optional). Serve and eat like soup.
It is incredibly tasty and filling. Even my toddlers love it.