Douglas Alpenstock

I've watched the sales and picked up a bit more extra virgin olive oil to keep us going in the veggie bake and stir fry department.

I've been using processed sunflower oil, in tiny amounts, as my "utility oil." It has no character, but it adds remarkable non-stick qualities to old ceramic or stainless steel pots and pans. These days I put a dab on my finger and rub the pan with sunflower, even if I'm frying with a different oil.

Christopher Weeks wrote:It was -28F when I got up this morning. On a day like this, I'm just glad it's not -38! But honestly, I'm useless if it's above 75F outside, so I guess we each live where we belong. :)

I'm much the same -- I can deal with cold (still a PITA) but too much heat and humidity knocks me flat.

-28F (-33C) is what  we refer to as "mighty fresh out there" in my household.

Derek Thille wrote:True enough, but we are both in an area that regularly experiences winter, so those items are available.  I was thinking back to the original question for those who may be in an area where snowy weather is less of a predictable occurrence, so there may not be the abundance you have available.

Cheers neighbour! Good point! Here's a thought -- I rarely have a full snow shovel in my car. Instead I always have a garden spade (not a shovel) with a sharp bevel. This is the do-everything tool, from moving snow and chopping ice, to moving wood chips and compost, to digging trees and chopping down weeds/saplings. In my world, it does all of these things. I suppose it could even be the basis of a few Klingon self-defence moves, at the risk of straining something.

Derek Thille wrote:Another thing to consider is seasonality of supply availability.  By that I mean the season snow shovels are available ...  

Depends on your supply source. It helps to be a contrarian -- in late spring/ early summer, during garage-clean-out season, I have my pick of free snow shovels that have a ding or two and need my attention for about 5 minutes. When I look at what big box stores charge for a hunk of plastic on a stick, I'm pretty sure I make more than a lawyer.

This is interesting. Apparently it works with lentils, certain soy, and some beans (avoid kidneys). I'll be interested to try cooking with these since it is said to be much easier to digest.

I also want to create a winter dog food supplement to cut down on costs -- sprouted peas could be part of the dog stew.

I call it "The Three Pleasures." (Dear Wife might call it "the unholy trinity.")

1. Pleasure in acquiring (esp. free stuff)

- I have great sources for free stuff, and a lot of good stuff comes home with me. This is much more fun that shopping on Amazon, because it's free. I know how to clean stuff and repair / reuse it. It does tend to pile up after a while.

2. Pleasure in repairing / regifting

- Snow shovels, for example. The blades get worn and people toss them out and buy a new one. I can repair one in about 5 minutes with a fine tooth wood saw. So I collect and repair them year round. At the first snow I thin out the collection and give away what I can't use.

- Recently I scrounged a whole box of reading glasses. Like, 40+ pairs. Obviously someone cleaned on their parents' house and set them out in the "free" section. I grabbed the whole box, cleaned them up with soap and water, repaired a few that were damaged, and kept the ones I could use. The majority went to the local thrift shop, where folks will get good quality readers for 10% of retail.

3. Pleasure in refocusing the collection ("making order" -- turning a jumble of chaos back into a reservoir of resources)

- Hello thing. I can still use you. I'm going to put you where I can find you.

- Okay, thing. Plans changed. Thanks for stopping by. Now off you go to entertain / irritate someone else.

- Sorry, thing. I'll never get around to repairing you, so off you go to the recycle / landfill.

As soon as I get the feeling my "stuff" is starting to own me, instead of the reverse, #3 is activated. It's easier to be ruthless when it was free in the first place.

I regret that my post has caused such a ruckus -- clearly I have struck a raw nerve. That is unfortunate, and unintentional. I still remain completely baffled as to how this could be considered an attack on Paul -- on his own site no less. Though perhaps semantics plays in -- I think of Paul as an advocate for positive change, and therefore more credible than fly by night I-types.

I will stand down a while and consider what is appropriate to post. Cheers.

Ah! I see we've had a misunderstanding. I had assumed that "influencer" was commonly understood these days to mean online marketing influencers (i.e., essentially paid corporate shills and hucksters, hawking fast fashion and consumerist crapola that nobody actually needs). It's a marketing industry estimated to be worth $21 billion. Pushback is good.

The linked article is very much in synch with the conversations we have on this forum.

'Maybe you'll realise what you have is good enough': Why influencers are facing a pushback

Rejecting the "haul" culture of excessive shopping and promoting conscious consuming, the de-influencer movement is going mainstream – here's why.

Yes, this.

https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20250107-why-the-pushback-against-influencers-is-growing

I wonder if the disappearing trap has a rabbit in it? Maybe somebody thinks they are doing the right thing, relocating the poor darling innocent bunny. Or maybe they're putting it in the stew pot.

Is your property line clearly marked as "private property?" Maybe somebody thinks they are preventing private mischief on public land. People get strange notions sometimes.