Some Thoughts
Here are some thoughts:
### Peanuts are far better than cashews. It took me a long time to get there after so many years of bad or boring peanuts and noticing cashews as an interesting alternative. Obviously, nut companies and non-specialist outfits have used this idea to produce peanut-free mixed nut products by replacing the 49.9999% peanuts with a similar proportion of cashews. But the fact remains that cashews are too sweet and boring while peanuts – when properly roasted and seasoned – have a flavor that can keep one interested. This is not an attempt at all drupe-based nuts. Almonds and pistachios have the respect of this entry. That being said, mixed nuts would be better without cashews and with about 40% of the salt they currently put in there. It also doesn’t mean that I like peanut butter. It often looks appealing and can be used as an ingredient in good food but it never tastes good by itself or with bread and adds a terrible aftertaste to preserves.
### I’m a consumer? For the vast majority of my life, I’ve been too powerless and impoverished to accumulate any worthwhile possessions. I also avoided spending any unnecessary money because I wasn’t that interested in anything in what was my price range. Now that my price range has been extended (upward), I feel a slight obligation to contribute economically. The act generally provides for the passing of time and occasionally some purchase-related satisfaction. I now own more pairs of shoes than one can count on a single hand. Of those pairs, one is simultaneously blue and suede. I even acquired some gray market sports memorabilia that did not seem worthwhile in the past. I have increased my technical book possessions by a fair sum.
One area in which I have not adjusted is with non-_zapatist_ wearables but that is due to the fact that I can’t find anything I’m willing to put on. The stuff they sell these days either says the stupidest shit, has the stupidest shit depicted on it, or has fringes coming out of the sides. Then there’s the whole phenomenon of unheralded cuts and high-visibility colors being re-imagined into hyper-insulting urban wear.
Additionally, there seem to be odd sizing issues with clothes these days, namely shoes and shirts. Over the past few years I moved from a size XL in shirts to a size M and occasionally to S. While recently getting a sense of how big my size M shirt was, I estimated that the bottom opening was about 20″ larger in girth than me. I even have a size L shirt from about 3 years ago that is smaller than a size M shirt from last year and about the same size as a size S shirt from last year. What’s possibly even worse is that I bought a size S shirt from another country and it is somewhat too big for me. With regard to shoes, I wore items as large as US size 10.5 in the past but over the last few years I’ve gone down to US size 8.5.
### Unspecified A month or so ago, I was disappointed at the lack of low-cost, premium-quality shortbread in local stores. I looked around for some recipes by people who at least put on a Scottish accent. The first couple times they didn’t come out that good for a few reasons. First, the recipes were for rounds and I made fingers. Fingers require at least twice as long baking time at about 60% of the heat. Second, none of the recipes called for salt. It really needs salt to taste right but maybe those people buy salted butter, which is unappetizing, artificially restricted in usability, and slimy. The last time I made them they were almost the way they needed to be but not sugary enough and not baked long enough.
End of thoughts.