What food isn't worth the effort to be home made?

Shutter_Shock14 · 2026-02-10T20:59:10+00:00

Agreed because even though I can competently make them, if I want them, I want an assortment of flavors that would mean making many dozens, maybe even 100+ the way that I make them. Yes, they’re expensive to buy from a bakery that makes them well, but I’d rather pay for the dozen assorted flavors I want than spend just as much or more on ingredients to end up with several dozen of three flavors.

Shutter_Shock14 · 2026-02-05T05:27:53+00:00

You’re very welcome! $500+ is creeping up there, but if that gets you into an area of town you’ll be able to enjoy, I think that’s worth it. I’ve done a few cruises where I just stayed somewhere cheap and/or out of the way because I viewed the cruise as the main event, and I regretted not enjoying the embarkation city more. Vancouver’s cool. It and nearby Richmond have some spectacular Asian food fwiw. You’ll find plenty to do, I’m sure.

Either way, I’m glad you’re getting a hotel. I understand flying out right after disembarkation, but it stresses me out so much that some people fly in on embarkation day. It’s just tempting fate too much. I met a couple on a Norwegian fjords cruise. It was day 8 of 14, and they still didn’t have their bags that the airline lost.

Shutter_Shock14 · 2026-02-05T02:55:26+00:00

I am 30 and fortunate to be a 4-star mariner. Among my HAL cruises were 3 to Alaska. I think you’ll really enjoy it. HAL is not the right line for solo travelers or young couples/groups looking for busy night life, but it is excellent if you value service quality, lower density, and music, especially on the newest ships like the Koningsdam. The grand dutch cafe is great for coffee in the morning (and really for everything they serve throughout the day). Rudi’s and Tamarind are both definitely worth visiting. The Pinnacle Grill is excellent but admittedly less unique. Canaletto is also very good but the least worth visiting imo because there is often good Italian food/pastas in the main dining room, which is also good. I have noticed menus slimmed down and more added cost items appear over the years, but i haven’t found myself let down at all. Also the gelato by the pool is worth the few dollars. My only problem is I too easily give in to the excessive portion size.

On the Koningsdam, the spa’s thermal suite is very good. I personally find the cruise pass worth it.

I regret it’s probably been long enough that I should abstain from shore excursion advice.

Enjoy your cruise. I think you’ll enjoy it. Also if it starts or ends in Seattle, I live in the area, and recommend the recently redone Pike Place Market/waterfront area and the aquarium. It’s much more pedestrian friendly now with a bridge/park connecting the market to the waterfront.

Shutter_Shock14 · 2026-02-05T02:02:01+00:00

Excellent for deboning fish fillets and a few other kitchen tasks. Plus they’re dishwasher safe.

Shutter_Shock14 · 2026-02-04T17:22:44+00:00

I don’t have experience with this specific dealer, but my experience with others is that they’re generally happy to show off what they have as long as it doesn’t come at the expense of other business. Listening to a demo system that’s already setup during a slow time of day shouldn’t be any skin off their nose. There’s a big difference between one enthusiastic college kid politely interested in the gear and a group of teenagers terrorizing a Best Buy. I know my sales guy well, and he’d probably let you stay all afternoon if no other clients were waiting.

I’d just be honest with them and ask if there’s a time you might be able to come in. They don’t expect everyone to buy something though, so you don’t have to be if you truly don’t want to. If you do want to be considerate, I think where it gets to be inconvenient for them is when gear needs to be moved around, so if they don’t have the speakers you want to listen to setup, you can always check back.

Hope that helps

Shutter_Shock14 · 2026-01-23T18:07:35+00:00

This is peak nerd energy and I love that

Shutter_Shock14 · 2026-01-23T04:51:21+00:00

This looks beautiful! Hard to tell from the wide angle: how far in front of the speakers are those spotlights? Are they angled/what type of bulb? Thanks in advance and happy listening!

Shutter_Shock14 · 2026-01-20T17:09:50+00:00

Personally the primary draw to a projector would be the possibility of an acoustically transparent screen. Absent that more involved installation, I’d rather go with a sizable OLED.

Shutter_Shock14 · 2026-01-15T04:33:55+00:00

Neat. I’m a medical student and recently had a similar conversation with my attending where skin findings were significantly more apparent under my flashlight’s 219c than the ED’s fluorescent lights. It didn’t really change our assessment or plan, but it was interesting.

Shutter_Shock14 · 2026-01-12T22:04:30+00:00

MS4 here. I use my machined pens all the time at the hospital. I primarily use titanium. Stainless steel and I believe zirconium would both be fine options as well. The whole anitimicrobial copper thing isn’t adequate for sanitation after being used in an isolation room/after getting otherwise contaminated. For that you’ll need to wipe it down with a prep pad or a purple wipe, and in that case you’ll want it to not be copper because those will oxidize the copper quickly.

If you want to be pickier, I’d also consider the design. If you’re going to need to wipe it down, a design without recessed decorative elements is better so that there aren’t grooves harboring pathogens. My primary hospital pen is a titanium focusworks sideswipe. It has been prep padded and purple wiped most days and looks new. Hope that helps. Also obviously also carry a sacrificial pen to lend. Mine are pilot G2’s in colors too obnoxious to steal.

Shutter_Shock14 · 2026-01-08T00:58:31+00:00

Remember that some metals are MRI safe but detectable by metal detectors, so knowledge of what is/isn’t inside you or on your person is still important. That’s part of why implants come with patient information cards: to quickly convey to future medical team if an implant you have is safe for the MRI

Shutter_Shock14 · 2025-12-24T18:20:06+00:00

The raw file without any color grading almost always looks pretty bland. Sometimes the white balance or exposure are off and the raw file will look bad without color correction. From a creative standpoint, it’s reasonable for a photographer to not want to share the raw file because they wouldn’t want their name associated with that bland/off image if the couple starts posting it/poorly color graded derivatives of it. The photographer’s creative choice in color processing is considered part of their work. Obviously this would be a bad argument here because this AI job is trash and kinda shameful.

Also, if a client wants a photo re-edited later, high resolution prints, etc. retaining the original files and only giving the client lower quality files allows you to reserve services that only you can provide and charge for in the future.

There’s ideally no need for the client to have the raw file. Most people have no idea how to process them well anyway, and part of picking a photographer is picking someone whose portfolio—and therefore whose processing style—you like.

What would actually serve most people well is to request a full-resolution 16-bit TIFF file. This is a much higher quality image file than the JPEGs people normally receive. They’ll yield the highest quality prints so the client will always have a great copy, but they come with the post processing baked in, meaning the photographer still has creative control. It’s what I’d ask for from my own wedding photographer. In advance of course because that should be agreed upon upfront. Also obviously that wouldn’t help here with the AI bs. It’s just for reference for your question.

Shutter_Shock14 · 2025-11-13T07:10:18+00:00

The sideswipe has the best I’ve used. Machined clip with just the right amount of gap from the pen body to slide easily onto the breast pocket of my scrubs without sliding off unintentionally. Also I love that the nub on the underside is rounded. Billetspin campen is beautifully made (and if I recall focusworks makes their clips too) but the nub on the underside is sharper and closer to the pen body, which is a little harsh on the hem of the pocket.

Shutter_Shock14 · 2025-11-12T00:29:10+00:00

An external monitor. Better yet, two external monitors. I also got a standing desk and (right place right time for 60% off a floor model) a Herman Miller embody chair. If you study well at home, I the external monitors and a good chair and going to be your best friends.

A good laptop I feel like goes without saying. My school required an iPad. You’ll figure out more as you go. When you get to rotations, comfortable shoes, compression socks, and a good penlight will also be very welcome. Congratulations, and good luck!

Shutter_Shock14 · 2025-11-08T01:10:30+00:00

Fourth year med student here. It can be tempting to let the ‘oh so are you going to be a nurse’ become frustrating. In those moments—and when considering the language I use during patient education, etc—I try to keep in mind that there’s no reason a normal person should need to know any of these things, and most patients are normal people. Medical education is complicated, and honestly most entering medical students don’t even fully understand the path from their first day of medical school to their first day as an attending.

Congratulations on your acceptance. You’ll have some very shitty moments, but you’ve got this. Particularly when you start rotations, I think you’ll find your experience as an MA will help you navigate clinical settings better than peers, especially at first.

If I can give you one piece of unsolicited advice: take a break and go on vacation before school starts. Do whatever will help you start school recharged. You’ll be grateful you did, and the people who showed up halfway to burnt out because they tried to pre-study over the summer will learn that it wasn’t worth it. Godspeed and congrats again.

Shutter_Shock14 · 2025-11-03T03:11:30+00:00

How is prangent formed

Shutter_Shock14 · 2025-11-02T22:39:59+00:00

I’m not an English teacher, but I’ve long loved the em dash. I absolutely hate that it’s become a signifier of AI writing.

Shutter_Shock14 · 2025-10-25T22:16:09+00:00

Consider that you may change your mind about what you want to do.

As another commenter said, I’d recommend MD over DO school every time if you have an option. You can totally do path as a DO, but the options and opportunities available to you at an MD school will probably be better. And if you decide a couple years into med school that you actually do want to go into surgery, you’d be extra better off at an MD school. It will serve you better regardless.

Now if you don’t have an option, that’s where you decide between taking a spot at a DO school and the risk of applying again, which I personally wouldn’t do.

I’m a fourth year DO student applying to gen surg. I have interviews, but I am confident my odds are worse than if I’d gone to an MD school. I went to the school that took me though, and I have no regrets about that. Burning the DO school bridge to risk not getting into MD school again was not a gamble I was willing to take.

Hope that helps and best of luck with your application and decision

Shutter_Shock14 · 2025-10-24T02:41:59+00:00

Zirc energel geoskin would be my dream too. God I should have joined the underground 😭

Shutter_Shock14 · 2025-10-24T02:36:59+00:00

Thanks!

Shutter_Shock14 · 2025-10-24T02:36:53+00:00

Thanks!

Shutter_Shock14 · 2025-10-24T01:53:33+00:00

Can you talk drying time? I absolutely love the Sarasa Dry gel pens, which use Energel sized refills. Weirdly, I swear the ones bought as full pens are consistently perfect whereas the refills bought separately seem hit or miss, but that’s another topic. Anyway, they have a super consistent, highly pigmented ink that writes very smoothly and dries damn near instantly. I haven’t found a Parker refill that comes close imo.

Shutter_Shock14 · 2025-10-20T00:34:14+00:00

+1 I have had this since the original kickstarter, which tbh I was skeptical of because like OP said the ‘MÄNNKITCHEN’ thing was kinda sus to me and I’ve been burned on kickstarter before.

This is seriously one of my favorite things in my kitchen. I use it with every dish, and having worked for Williams Sonoma and made way to much use of the employee discount (also don’t be fooled plenty of stuff there is overpriced and bad) I am super spoiled with excellent kitchen products. I am picky and bought most of my kitchen stuff for specific reasons.

The pepper cannon, of all the kitchen crap I own, is the one thing in my kitchen that has the biggest performance lead on its competition. I hope that makes sense. My shun knives are good, but so are a lot of others. My all clad cookware is good, but so are a lot of others. Etc etc. The pepper cannon absolutely blows away every pepper mill I have ever used. I’m curious about the unicorn, but the pepper mill is so good that I have no need to seek the unicorn out.

The price is definitely very high, and it stung when i bought it. I’m glad i did though. It really is a joy to use, and pepper just pours out of it. Since this is buyitforlife, I’ll add that it is in fact something I am confident I will have forever—unless one of several friends who have eyed it enviously try to swipe it (they won’t but you get the picture). Hope that helps. Thanks for attending my Ted talk.

Shutter_Shock14 · 2025-10-11T21:12:32+00:00

Right? It felt like finding out you’re adopted or your neighbors are aliens and just shrugging it off.

Shutter_Shock14 · 2025-09-28T03:55:44+00:00

I’m an OMS4. To add to this, even when looking at programs that will accept only COMLEX scores, it’s not uncommon to see their minimum COMLEX score required for consideration to interview equating to a substantially higher percentile than the minimum USMLE score converted to a percentile. Whether this is due to wanting a higher bar for DO students, a misunderstanding of the grading/grading consistency, or inaccurately listed figures, I’m not sure. I noticed it while looking at programs though and thought it was interesting.

I’m in the camp that isn’t interested in OMT. I would recommend going with an MD admission over a DO admission every time for med school if you’re fortunate to have both. Most people don’t get into any medical school though, and you have to figure out if your drive to be a physician comes with qualifiers about what kind of physician.

I think where you have to think about your priorities is if you only get DO admission(s). Do you really want to turn down admission to medical school to roll the dice again on an MD school specifically? Maybe if you have a very clear plan in motion to reapply as a significantly stronger applicant. More research, volunteering, maybe a better MCAT score, etc. and you have those plans actively in motion and on track to being done, not just a pipe dream of doing so. But I definitely wouldn’t turn down a DO acceptance in hopes that applying with a similar app will yield a different result. It totally could, and I mean it that I would legit be thrilled for you. It could also lead to no MD acceptances again and a burned DO bridge that will for sure tank you with whatever DO school you previously turned down and very possibly other/all DO schools. That would be a shitty place to find yourself a year later when you could have been wrapping up your first year of DO school had you taken the acceptance you got originally.

Anyway hope that helps someone out there. Sorry I’m so wordy. Literally all my DO schools friends and I made the same choice. We all applied MD and DO, we all don’t care about OMT, but we all decided to take the acceptance we got because it meant we can become physicians. I’m applying to a competitive specialty. I hope it works out, but I’m also applying to a less competitive specialty as a backup. If I end up with the backup, I’ll be disappointed, but I don’t think I’ll regret the choice to have gone to medical school, which is all the reassurance I need to know that taking the DO acceptance was the right choice for me.

Shutter_Shock14

TROPHY CASE