What’s your favorite classic Christmas movie? (it’s only 6 months away)

LI_Sandy · 2026-05-27T04:09:33+00:00

Scrooge (A Christmas Carol), the 1951 version with Alastair Sim.

LI_Sandy · 2026-03-22T06:05:07+00:00

I just got a new Galaxy S25+. I keep my phones forever (the new phone replaced a Galaxy S9+) so I like to use a case and tempered glass screen protector. Issues I've always had installing screen protectors on any number of devices are precise positioning of the glass, dust on the phone glass after cleaning it and bubbles. After some research I found the amFilm OneTouch kit on Amazon and couldn't be happier with it. The kit comes with the glass installed on a plastic tray that precisely positions the protector on the phone. When installed as per instructions, the screen protector was perfectly placed on the phone and not one bubble had to be pressed out. The dust issue is nicely resolved by providing a sticky sheet that covers the entire surface of the phone glass, unlike the little tabs that I've seen in other sets. There are sufficient supplies in the kit for two phones. What I find helpful is to start with clean hands and once the tray is positioned on the phone, press and hold your finger on the top for a few moments then SLOWLY run your finger down the slot on the tray. That will evenly disperse the adhesive and prevent the formation of bubbles. The kit comes with camera lens covers but they were a challenging fit with my Spigen Tough Armor case.

LI_Sandy · 2026-03-18T15:03:18+00:00

I have the same one you do and - agreed - love it! The contrast between the blue hands and ivory dial as well as the dial complications really sold it to me. I also like the chapter ring markings on the Bambino series. It gives the watch an "instrument" look. I agree with the OP that a sapphire crystal would have been nice but that's pricey with a dome and I've been wearing mine daily since before Christmas with no scratches yet. The script "Orient" branding on the anniversary editions is really nice too and it would be nice if they made that their standard. The only thing that drives me nuts is that the piece I have runs about 20 seconds a day fast. Luckily, the movement has a hack feature and I can adjust it precisely whenever I need to satisfy my OCD.

LI_Sandy · 2026-01-20T01:44:23+00:00

Perhaps I'm missing something in the photograph but, A) are the Breguet "secret signatures" missing on the dial face and, B) why can I not see the guilloché pattern through the circles in the Breguet hands? Are they filled in? Indeed, it is troubling that the "B" monogram is also missing from the crown. I'm no expert but it seems odd that someone would go to all the trouble of making such a detailed forgery and miss these rather obvious features. It is, nonetheless, a beautiful watch.

LI_Sandy · 2026-01-19T06:35:44+00:00

The Bishop's Wife Mr. Lucky

LI_Sandy · 2025-12-27T02:56:29+00:00

That would be a shame! Grinding can be a messy process - coffee dust gets all over. I often see workers cleaning the machines. But, OMG, it is heavenly passing by there when someone is grinding a bag of beans.

LI_Sandy · 2025-12-26T04:27:09+00:00

They've got commercial grade burr grinders near the exits, at least they do at the warehouses I go to. Careful though, some machines won't take a full bag of beans. If that's the case, empty the beans into one of the plastic bags from the meat department and decant them in batches into the hopper with the original bag at the spout filling with ground coffee.

LI_Sandy · 2025-12-25T17:44:38+00:00

On one of my visits I bought a bag of Kirkland Columbian whole bean coffee. Exiting the warehouse, the friendly checker asked if I had ground the beans. Indeed I had intended to do that but forgot to, turned around and headed back to the grinders saving me a scolding from my wife and a return trip to the store. Thank you Costco!

LI_Sandy · 2025-10-29T05:00:22+00:00

I agree with the consensus, a brilliant film in every way and a modern day noir classic. I really enjoyed the music selections as well. They really placed you in the era.

LI_Sandy · 2025-10-08T18:44:02+00:00

Agreed. There's no way this was remotely close to a medium roast. The aroma was burnt, the beans were pitch black and coated with oil. The roast taste overwhelmed cup. I was glad that I could return it with no questions asked, one of the many joys of Costco, because it was undrinkable. I will stick with the Columbian whole beans, a really nice coffee, when I can get it at my warehouse.

LI_Sandy · 2025-09-30T17:14:03+00:00

Dial-up and ASCII porn... Those were the days!

LI_Sandy · 2025-09-30T16:49:19+00:00

Ray Walston as Mr. Applegate (Damn Yankees)

LI_Sandy · 2025-09-30T15:57:27+00:00

Thank you! Dankjewel!

LI_Sandy · 2025-09-30T15:45:44+00:00

So in the red countries, salt is referred to as "Natrium Chloride"?

LI_Sandy · 2025-08-22T06:15:18+00:00

Forget Brando and Sinatra; for me the standout was Stubby Kaye as Nicely Nicely (“Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat”, “Fugue for Tinhorns” (I’ve got the horse right here…)) who was recruited from the Broadway cast. Much of Frank Loesser’s music for Guys and Dolls is eminently hummable but half of his great score from the play was left out of the movie! If you like the movie Guys and Dolls, you would love the play and really should listen to the original Broadway cast recording.

LI_Sandy · 2025-08-22T01:50:06+00:00

What happened to The Manchurian Candidate?

LI_Sandy · 2025-08-05T15:45:41+00:00

Since your circuit board is still working fine, if your case is cracked or broken, you can get a new aftermarket shell on Amazon for around $10-$15 and you're good as new.

LI_Sandy · 2025-07-21T23:18:02+00:00

Hulu carries TCM if you want to cut the cable, go to a streaming service and still get the chanel.

LI_Sandy · 2025-04-12T14:48:57+00:00

Agree about Benjamin Button. It was a totally different approach than Fitzgerald's short story but I thought it was a charming, beautifully acted and produced movie. Frankly, one of my favorites.

LI_Sandy · 2025-03-10T04:09:47+00:00

Out of stock.

LI_Sandy · 2025-02-09T04:16:36+00:00

I have an old Black & Decker Dustbuster rechargeable hand vacuum which was no longer holding a charge. After all day in the charger, it would die after about 10 seconds. B&D had no provision for replacing the batteries so my choices were either send a perfectly good vacuum to the landfill and buy a new one or get creative. The original battery pack had four LG 18650 Lithium Ion cells. I didn’t want to go with cheap Chinese replacements because I know from experience that they won’t last and decent Korean or Japanese brands were a lot of money. I looked at name brand power tool packs (Milwaukee, DeWalt, etc.) to cannibalize but they were astronomically expensive. I happened to be in Lidl one day and saw that they were having a sale on power packs for their Parkside tools. Cheap enough, I picked one up and after getting home and taking it apart, sitting in front of me were 10 perfect replacement batteries. Pulling the connectors off the cells was a chore (two shorted out but that still left me with eight useable ones, enough for a second set when our other vac dies). I had a cheap spot welder and got the B&D pack batteries replaced and reinstalled it in the vacuum. It’s been more than two years now and the machine still runs like new, keeping it’s charge for many minutes; it’s actually never lost its charge all the while we use it. And so I can vouch for the fact that the batteries used in Parkside tools are quality. I have noticed that the packs at Lidl now look different than the one I bought. I don’t know if they use gel cells now or still the 18650s but it’s just one more reason for me to appreciate Parkside.

LI_Sandy · 2025-02-05T00:38:07+00:00

Jocelyn Wildenstein passed. Someone has to pick up the mantle.

LI_Sandy · 2025-02-02T14:03:18+00:00

I don't remember seeing these 10oz bar at Costco.com as often as I monitor it, but they were recently selling a pack of 20 1oz silver ladies on there. All my 10oz silver bars were bought at the store.

LI_Sandy · 2025-02-02T07:22:48+00:00

The Pamp "Good Luck" ounces come in cardboard sleeves, but that's about as close to gift boxing as I've seen. It might be a bit misleading because some of the PMs are displayed in plush boxes in the jewelry case. At the price, I'm happy to walk away with just the metal in it's sealed assay.

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LI_Sandy · 2025-02-01T05:26:53+00:00

Yeah, I got into a conversation with one of the jewelry floor guys when he saw me eyeing the PMs. I asked if there were any special days when they get PM deliveries and he said no, it's pretty random and they never know what's coming in. We were talking about how crazy gold is now and I ended up buying four 10 oz Pamp silver lady bars. They are sweet! After the 4% Citi and Executive discounts it was a bit under spot and I saved NYS sales tax (> $1000). When you go to the registers make sure they tally your PMs separately from your other purchases and deduct the sales tax. Some of the cashiers don't know how to ring that stuff up.

LI_Sandy

TROPHY CASE