Octopus Overlords

Does anybody in France speak Scottish?

dbt1949 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 26, 2022 8:56 pm Does anybody in France speak Scottish?

Only a true Scotsman.

i've got one of these Wear Ever Popcorn Pumpers from the late 70s/early 80s i inherited from the parents. this thing has been going for 40 years, but the plastic chute top is starting to degrade - like it liquefies when it gets hot from the popcorn maker itself. not good. i have a few options:

1) smear the inside of the chute with silicone. that should be heat-resistant enough, right? Right?
PROS: i have the silicone glue here
CONS: will this even work?

2) get a replacement old-stock part on eBay
https://www.ebay.com/itm/363702676241
CONS: kinda expensive, and won't the plastic on this old part start liquefying sooner than later from age? also not precisely the exact replacement part

3) get a completely new machine
PROS: it's new
CONS: unknown performance and quality/manufacturing

4) resort to stove-top popping
PROS: it's free
CONS: too much labor in swirling the pan while heating it up

what to do.

hitbyambulance wrote: ↑Thu Jan 27, 2022 1:55 am 3) get a completely new machine
PROS: it's new
CONS: unknown performance and quality/manufacturing

4) resort to stove-top popping
PROS: it's free
CONS: too much labor in swirling the pan while heating it up

what to do.

Split the difference, and treat yourself to a Whirley-Pop Stovetop Popcorn Popper:



If you want one built for maximum durability, I'd suggest opting for the stainless steel version. But if you prefer something cheaper, go with a nylon gears model. Either way, I believe all of their stovetop poppers include a 25-year warranty. Clean-up could not be much simpler, and it only takes around three minutes to get a 6-quart batch of kernels popped.

More importantly, chewy air-popped popcorn pales in comparison vs. proper oil-popped corn. Nothing beats popcorn made with coconut oil IMO, though it's not the healthiest oil around. Fortunately, oil-popped corn made with healthier monounsaturated fats like olive oil, avocado oil, or walnut oil still tastes vastly superior to bland air-popped corn.

that's worth considering. i was reading reviews and many say the new models aren't made nearly as well as older, which is unfortunate.

You have an option 5: resort to microwave popping.

Pros: super-convenient; even easier than an air popper; microwave popping bowls are less than $20 on Amazon.

Cons: unlike an air popper, there's a risk of burning some kernels, because they keep cooking after they've popped. To avoid this, you generally have to stop the microwave while there are still some unpopped kernels in the bowl.

I'm pretty sure you can put oil in the bowl when microwave popping, but I've never tried it.

Such a disappointing day and its only 1pm

AWS260 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 27, 2022 8:16 am You have an option 5: resort to microwave popping.

Pros: super-convenient; even easier than an air popper; microwave popping bowls are less than $20 on Amazon.

Cons: unlike an air popper, there's a risk of burning some kernels, because they keep cooking after they've popped. To avoid this, you generally have to stop the microwave while there are still some unpopped kernels in the bowl.

I'm pretty sure you can put oil in the bowl when microwave popping, but I've never tried it.

i am not familiar with this technology of the 2000s. going to look it up

You can also use a simple brown paper bag (like we used as kids for our lunches). But it does tend to end up with a lot of un-popped kernels. Or burned popcorn if you wait too long.

I've used one of these for years, and it works great with no oil required.

hitbyambulance wrote: ↑Thu Jan 27, 2022 2:21 pm

AWS260 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 27, 2022 8:16 am You have an option 5: resort to microwave popping.

Pros: super-convenient; even easier than an air popper; microwave popping bowls are less than $20 on Amazon.

Cons: unlike an air popper, there's a risk of burning some kernels, because they keep cooking after they've popped. To avoid this, you generally have to stop the microwave while there are still some unpopped kernels in the bowl.

I'm pretty sure you can put oil in the bowl when microwave popping, but I've never tried it.

i am not familiar with this technology of the 2000s. going to look it up

Whether it originates from a paper bag or a piece of cheaply manufactured Chinese plastic, microwaved popcorn still won't hold a candle to the quality of cooking and stirring adequately in oil. After all, this is the fundamental method used by pretty much any and every cinema capable of producing decent-tasting popcorn. Also, the notion that using oil is inherently unhealthy or necessarily bad for one's health is antiquated flapdoodle.

Max Peck wrote: ↑Thu Jan 27, 2022 3:04 pm I've used one of these for years, and it works great with no oil required.

Me too, although when I use my microwave's "Popcorn" preset it does burn a little. I should experiment with different manually entered times.

I know this was discussed before but I don't remember the outcome.

I got one of those $18.90 milk settlements in the form of a virtual debit card. "Your Virtual Prepaid Mastercard can only be used for online purchases or mail/phone orders where Debit Mastercard is accepted." Apparently Amazon is not such a place. How/where can I use this thing? I put together an $18.61 Amazon order and it wouldn't take the debit card or add it to my list of payment methods.

Steam wallet

TheMix wrote: ↑Thu Jan 27, 2022 2:34 pm You can also use a simple brown paper bag (like we used as kids for our lunches). But it does tend to end up with a lot of un-popped kernels. Or burned popcorn if you wait too long.

yes, i have tried this, and have run into these exact same issues.

i'm thinking of the Whirley-Pop now, but the question is: aluminum or stainless steel?

Issie...

Where are you seeing that? I only see fixed options. I did find instructions for how to edit the form in the browser to take a different amount. But I've never seen an actual Custom Amount option.

Kraken wrote: ↑Thu Jan 27, 2022 5:35 pm I know this was discussed before but I don't remember the outcome.

I got one of those $18.90 milk settlements in the form of a virtual debit card. "Your Virtual Prepaid Mastercard can only be used for online purchases or mail/phone orders where Debit Mastercard is accepted." Apparently Amazon is not such a place. How/where can I use this thing? I put together an $18.61 Amazon order and it wouldn't take the debit card or add it to my list of payment methods.

I've had the same problem. What I had to do was buy Amazon balance with the card, via Account/Gift Cards/Reload Balance (or something like that.)

I didn't try Amazon but used it all over like Steam and other games sites. My trouble is I have like $1.something left on each one and no idea where I can spend a buck lol. Guess it will waste away. Ironically I cant even buy milk for that.

Blackhawk wrote: ↑Thu Jan 27, 2022 6:47 pm

Kraken wrote: ↑Thu Jan 27, 2022 5:35 pm I know this was discussed before but I don't remember the outcome.

I got one of those $18.90 milk settlements in the form of a virtual debit card. "Your Virtual Prepaid Mastercard can only be used for online purchases or mail/phone orders where Debit Mastercard is accepted." Apparently Amazon is not such a place. How/where can I use this thing? I put together an $18.61 Amazon order and it wouldn't take the debit card or add it to my list of payment methods.

I've had the same problem. What I had to do was buy Amazon balance with the card, via Account/Gift Cards/Reload Balance (or something like that.)

Thanks, I'll try to figure that out the next time I have to buy something (which I don't do very often). I wonder if I can donate it to a charity/fundraiser.

Isgrimnur wrote: ↑Thu Jan 27, 2022 6:19 pm https://store.steampowered.com/steamaccount/addfunds

Thanks. Didn't help though. That's where I was. Both in the app and in the browser. I only see $5, $10, $25, $50, and $100 options. No custom.

TheMix wrote: ↑Thu Jan 27, 2022 9:49 pm

Isgrimnur wrote: ↑Thu Jan 27, 2022 6:19 pm https://store.steampowered.com/steamaccount/addfunds

Thanks. Didn't help though. That's where I was. Both in the app and in the browser. I only see $5, $10, $25, $50, and $100 options. No custom.

Ditto. But I haven't bought a new game in years anyway.

Apparently it's an Augmented Steam plugin addition

I think Good Old Games allows you to enter an amount but theres a $5 minimum.

Isgrimnur wrote: ↑Fri Jan 28, 2022 12:11 am Apparently it's an Augmented Steam plugin addition

There must be because when I bought content for cardhunters it took me to link where I could select how much money I wanted to add to my wallet before steam paid for that content.

Isgrimnur wrote: ↑Fri Jan 28, 2022 12:11 am Apparently it's an Augmented Steam plugin addition

Ah. Danke. I'll look into that.

Anyone up for zero carb beer? It took 10 years for them to figure it out but Bud Light Next is the answer. I think Ill pass.

https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/27/business ... index.html

Tiny houses have changed over the years and now seem a little bigger and are pretty cool. Granny pods

I Never Thought I Wanted To Live In A Granny Pod Until I Saw These Photos

What's up with gmail? Have not been able to log in for a day.

Edit: Looks like it is. A search resulted in a full page of the same question.

Jaymann wrote: ↑Sat Jan 29, 2022 12:20 pm What's up with gmail? Have not been able to log in for a day.

Edit: Looks like it is. A search resulted in a full page of the same question.

Mines working fine.

Decided to get a bit more serious about losing weight, bought a stepper off Amazon, specifically says "rated for 330 lb" (I'm quite a bit under that... last I checked) Unfortunately, the box looks pretty beaten up, and opening it confirmed my suspicions... One of the steps is cracked and broken off in a large chunk, and the retaining bolt under the step had came loose completely (I thought these are plastic lined nuts, that shouldn't come loose?) I am NOT taking a chance on this item. Unfortunately, it's Saturday, and my closest UPS Store is closed for returns. I'll have to return it Monday. My replacement item may be here by then.

Amazon is changing their return policy again. They used to make us print the label at home, but it seems they'll make the UPS Store print it instead. We're still expected to sanitize the box of any extra shipping labels and seal the box though.

Daehawk wrote: ↑Fri Jan 28, 2022 1:55 pm Anyone up for zero carb beer? It took 10 years for them to figure it out but Bud Light Next is the answer. I think Ill pass.

https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/27/business ... index.html

Back when I first starting trying to eat low carb, I needed to find a low-carb beer. I chose whisky. It's low carb as long as it's unflavored, although I've read that it does interfere with weight loss a little because it gets metabolized before your fat.

Jaymann wrote: ↑Sat Jan 29, 2022 12:20 pm What's up with gmail? Have not been able to log in for a day.

Edit: Looks like it is. A search resulted in a full page of the same question.

I can no longer access gmail.com with Firefox. It works fine with Chrome. Bastages!

Jaymann wrote: ↑Sun Jan 30, 2022 3:32 am

Jaymann wrote: ↑Sat Jan 29, 2022 12:20 pm What's up with gmail? Have not been able to log in for a day.

Edit: Looks like it is. A search resulted in a full page of the same question.

I can no longer access gmail.com with Firefox. It works fine with Chrome. Bastages!

firefox and google properties have been a problem with me for a while. I can open the fine in other chromium based browsers and I can open them fine if I do "private browsing" in FF but FF sometimes works and sometimes doesn't for FF. I think it has to do with filtering by my fortinet but I gave up.

Yeah, I thought maybe it was Duck Duck Go that was the problem, so I opened Google with Firefox, but gmail was still no go. I can't help but think it's intentional.

FWIW, Gmail is working fine in Firefox for me. Could it be an addon that got an update and is causing issues? Try opening the menu, hitting 'help' and 'Troubleshoot Mode'. If you can get in to gmail, it's an addon or custom setting.

More strangeness. I got to the login with Firefox, and put it my (new) password. It wanted to confirm my recovery email (I'm not giving them my effing phone number) and then it froze. I don't think Firefox is the problem.

We put out seeds for the birds in the winter. It's odd that they don't seem to be as hungry in the warmer weather.

dbt1949 wrote: ↑Sun Jan 30, 2022 3:37 pm We put out seeds for the birds in the winter. It's odd that they don't seem to be as hungry in the warmer weather.

Easier and more plentiful foraging in the warm times. I also keep seeds out when i can afford them in the winter. I also toss them my old bread and food scraps. Food banks gave me bags of nuts and fruit which were right on the date and i cant chew anyways so today Im using that in the feeder. Birds and chipmunks love that.