zipf_slaw's recent activity
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Comment on Upcoming solo trip to San Diego - any advice? in ~travel
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Comment on A global explosion of absurdly spicy foods in ~food
zipf_slaw Link ParentOh yes, I'm well aware of the commonality of the misuse of the term 'flavor'. But when you talk about "distinctive differences" between pepper perception there are only three categories: spice...Oh yes, I'm well aware of the commonality of the misuse of the term 'flavor'.
But when you talk about "distinctive differences" between pepper perception there are only three categories: spice level (so obviously different among varieties that it is not worth including in this convo), basic tastes (minimal, also not worth discussing), and that only leaves aroma.
So we don't even need to get into the granularity that descriptive profiling would offer, since I'm just trying to properly bucket the types of experiences into the proper categories.
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Comment on A global explosion of absurdly spicy foods in ~food
zipf_slaw (edited )Link ParentAs a sensory scientist, I can assure you it is. Though the perceived heat does interfere to some extent, trained tasters can distinguish them. Edit: to elaborate, most of flavor is actually aroma,...As a sensory scientist, I can assure you it is. Though the perceived heat does interfere to some extent, trained tasters can distinguish them.
Edit: to elaborate, most of flavor is actually aroma, so if the pepper variety flavor variations extend beyond the five basic tastes, then we are studying their aroma, which means we can avoid the heat in our sensory panel testing by not putting the samples in our mouth.
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Comment on A global explosion of absurdly spicy foods in ~food
zipf_slaw Link ParentI'll push back on this, as I believe spice heat is a mouthfeel that travels via the trigeminal nerve as opposed to a basic taste (sweet, sour, salty, bitter, umami) which are triggered by a loss...Heat is one of the basic flavors
I'll push back on this, as I believe spice heat is a mouthfeel that travels via the trigeminal nerve as opposed to a basic taste (sweet, sour, salty, bitter, umami) which are triggered by a loss of the electro-chemical gradient across taste cell membranes, either because of exposure to the ions themselves (in the case of salty or sour) or the triggering of G-protein coupled receptors (sweet and bitter).
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Comment on I recently finished the Cradle series by Will Wight and have post series depression. What shall I read next? in ~books
zipf_slaw LinkIf you want more stories to give you a post-finishing depression, try the Hyperion Cantos. One of my genie-in-a-bottle wishes might just be to be able to read it for the first time again. Maybe...If you want more stories to give you a post-finishing depression, try the Hyperion Cantos. One of my genie-in-a-bottle wishes might just be to be able to read it for the first time again.
Maybe I'll acquire amnesia at some point.
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Comment on What creative projects have you been working on? in ~creative
zipf_slaw LinkI've purchased a blue MA-1 jacket and am adorning it with NASA mission patches. To go with the meatball and shoulder flag, I've added STS-3 (the one launch I saw in person), and Apollo 1, STS-51,...I've purchased a blue MA-1 jacket and am adorning it with NASA mission patches. To go with the meatball and shoulder flag, I've added STS-3 (the one launch I saw in person), and Apollo 1, STS-51, and STS-107, so this is mostly a memorial jacket to those astronauts we've lost.
All the patches are attached as of a few minutes ago, now I only have to close up the pockets / 'access hatches'.
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Comment on TV Tuesdays Free Talk in ~tv
zipf_slaw LinkJust finished Masters of the Air (Apple TV series about WWII 100'th bomber group). Setting aside the occasional cringy CGI (producers rarely get relative speeds right in their 'flyover' scenes,...Just finished Masters of the Air (Apple TV series about WWII 100'th bomber group). Setting aside the occasional cringy CGI (producers rarely get relative speeds right in their 'flyover' scenes, always looks super awkward), and some of the aerial combat scenes were a bit over the top, it was a very good show and that sort of thing is always a tear jerker when based on real stories and events.
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Comment on José González – Against the Dying of the Light (2026) in ~music
zipf_slaw Link ParentVestiges and claws. Fight for a common cause. -Lyrics from "What Will", track 7. Also, I didnt know JG was Swedish...Vestiges and claws.
Fight for a common cause.-Lyrics from "What Will", track 7.
Also, I didnt know JG was Swedish...
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
zipf_slaw LinkI just finished Neuromancer audiobook. Didn't know it was in production as an Apple series when I started it. I payed about 90% of attention as I listened (didnt't help that Spotify can't keep...I just finished Neuromancer audiobook. Didn't know it was in production as an Apple series when I started it. I payed about 90% of attention as I listened (didnt't help that Spotify can't keep track of progress when listening intermittently). I found it reasonably enjoyable, a bit hard to follow here and there, but maybe I need to read the rest of the Sprawl before finalizing an opinion.
Now reading paperback Gentleman Bastard book 2. Quite enjoyed #1
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Comment on Gadgets for people who don't trust the government in ~tech
zipf_slaw Link ParentNodes are just the meshtastic receivers/transmitters themselves. They act as relays to move the messages from sender to recipient. So you need a certain density of them in an area to be able to...Nodes are just the meshtastic receivers/transmitters themselves. They act as relays to move the messages from sender to recipient. So you need a certain density of them in an area to be able to have reliable transmission success.
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Comment on Gadgets for people who don't trust the government in ~tech
zipf_slaw LinkNever heard of meshtastic, but that sounds fantastic. I ordered two, even though we dont have a huge amount of nodes around us.Never heard of meshtastic, but that sounds fantastic. I ordered two, even though we dont have a huge amount of nodes around us.
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Comment on Avengers: Doomsday | X-Men teaser in ~movies
zipf_slaw Link ParentYes, he can definitely actbecause he loves acting. And he can definitely still do that.
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Comment on I am kinda curious about the demographics of Tildes in ~talk
zipf_slaw Link ParentWe aren't really breeding any of the animals. The goats are for fiber, and they and the sheep help manage brush and pasture. The ducks were for wife's egg business, but we're scaling back now....We aren't really breeding any of the animals. The goats are for fiber, and they and the sheep help manage brush and pasture. The ducks were for wife's egg business, but we're scaling back now. Geese are pasture guardians / alarm systems and grass mowers. shrug
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Comment on I am kinda curious about the demographics of Tildes in ~talk
zipf_slaw LinkLate Gen-X, food scientist, western US. We own some goats, sheep, ducks, and geese. And a couple cats. And joint-custody of a dog.Late Gen-X, food scientist, western US. We own some goats, sheep, ducks, and geese. And a couple cats. And joint-custody of a dog.
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Comment on Two visions for the future of AR smart glasses in ~tech
zipf_slaw Link ParentBut what about eye strain, focusing on things only an inch away? Are there ways to mitigate that?But what about eye strain, focusing on things only an inch away? Are there ways to mitigate that?
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Comment on What are some good stories told from non-human perspectives? in ~books
zipf_slaw Link ParentHoly smokes, I've already responded in this thread, lol.Holy smokes, I've already responded in this thread, lol.
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Comment on What have you been listening to this week? in ~music
zipf_slaw LinkI dislike Christmas music in general, but Los Straightjackets make it more palatable. So that makes up a large portion of my heavily curated Xmas playlist.I dislike Christmas music in general, but Los Straightjackets make it more palatable. So that makes up a large portion of my heavily curated Xmas playlist.
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Comment on Gift recommendations in ~life
zipf_slaw Link ParentThose can openers do actually cut the metal, they cut horizontally across the double-seam, which is actually more layers cut than the standard can opener.Those can openers do actually cut the metal, they cut horizontally across the double-seam, which is actually more layers cut than the standard can opener.
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Comment on Books: Your personal year in review for 2025 in ~books
zipf_slaw Link ParentI read it last month. Good book, but I never really noticed that Kern's mission's intent was not to terraform a new world for humans, so the decision to try to use monkeys to seed the world was...I read it last month. Good book, but I never really noticed that Kern's mission's intent was not to terraform a new world for humans, so the decision to try to use monkeys to seed the world was puzzling throughout.
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Comment on Lord of the Rings Extended Editions returning to theaters with a 4D twist in ~movies
zipf_slaw Link ParentI went to a 4D show at the Shed Aquarium some years ago I think, and it was awful. Fucking seats sprayed water in your face and poked you in the back to simulate a dino bite or something. It was...I went to a 4D show at the Shed Aquarium some years ago I think, and it was awful. Fucking seats sprayed water in your face and poked you in the back to simulate a dino bite or something. It was not a pleasant experience.
Rei do Gado is an amazing Brazillian steakhouse just a few blocks away. I was there in '04 and experienced that type of restaurant for the first time. And fell in love with the Caipirinha at the same time.