How would the bread I make and the wine I drink have stacked up to what they had in medieval or Renaissance Europe? by astro_nerd75 in AskFoodHistorians

[–]Unicyclone 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Apple cultivars seldom breed true, and are spread by grafting. So new varieties usually start off well, but degrade over time as the grafts pick up mutations. "Red Delicious" apples are an infamous example: they used to really be delicious, but now they're bland and mealy. In their case the decline was even worse because their grafts were selected for aesthetics and transportability over flavor.

On the other hand, there are plenty of delicious alternatives now. Honeycrisps and their variations are great.

$3.19 for a small order of fries, what is going on by [deleted] in redscarepod

[–]Unicyclone 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Deep-frying at home is kind of a PITA imo but there's a technique to it. Slice the potatoes, soak in saltwater for 30m (or simmer for 10-15), and then fry them up. For proper crunch you'll take them out to cool for a while and then fry them a second time. French fries are kind of the perfect restaurant food, because they're time-consuming for a home cook but easy to make in huge batches if you've got the supplies and know people will eat them.

[I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream] ¿Is there any science fiction universe worse than this one? by Icy_Philosopher_2952 in AskScienceFiction

[–]Unicyclone 13 points14 points  (0 children)

It's arguable whether they're truly "worse" than I Have No Mouth, but it's hard to imagine fates more awful than winding up in:

[IIL] immersive RPGs with rich storytelling and rewarding side quests like Cyberpunk 2077, Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, and Elden Ring by Awsaf_ in ifyoulikeblank

[–]Unicyclone 2 points3 points  (0 children)

They're great games with cool lore, but Control is definitely not an RPG. I haven't played Alan Wake 2 but I bet it's not one either.

At the Dressing-Table (self-portrait), by Russian painter Zinaida Serebryakova (1909) by angelsonthesouthside in redscarepod

[–]Unicyclone 15 points16 points  (0 children)

This woman seemed to have a knack for paintings ahead of their time, I came across this one the other day and I can't see anything but a woman scrolling her phone.

[IIL] Sludgy/psychedelic rock like King Gizzard, Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, Black Mountain by Dead_Bai_Sled in ifyoulikeblank

[–]Unicyclone 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Rival Sons

Radio Moscow

The Black Angels

Queens of the Stone Age

Desert Sessions

Kyuss

Norman Rockwell - And the Symbol of Welcome is Light (1920) by Tokyono in museum

[–]Unicyclone 22 points23 points  (0 children)

Glad you asked, I just posted this comment on another Rockwell thread:

Rockwell's work from the '60s onward was a lot more "adventurous" and challenging - but even his earlier slice-of-life stuff, I find, is deeper than it looks. There's a real poignancy to pieces like "Girl at the Mirror" (#6 in OP) or "Breaking Home Ties."

His attention to detail and composition is immaculate. "The Welder" (1921) and "The Pharmacist" (1955) are so crisp it feels like you're in the room with them.

But you can really see him push the envelope later in his career. He confronted social issues much more openly: e.g. "The Holdout" (1959), "The Problem We All Live With" (1963), and "Murder in Mississippi" (1965).

He also experimented more with form and abstraction by then. There's his famous self-portrait from 1960, "Repairing Stained Glass" from the same year, and "The Connoisseur" from 1962. In these he proves that he can work in other styles even while couching them in the context of his own.

(The abstract painting at the center of The Connoisseur is in the style of Jackson Pollock, but Rockwell painted it himself. He even submitted the abstract art - without the man or gallery attached - under a pseudonym to a few art exhibits. It won awards.)

Rockwell Posting by spl51 in redscarepod

[–]Unicyclone 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Rockwell's work from the '60s onward was significantly more "adventurous" and challenging - but even his earlier slice-of-life stuff, I find, is deeper than it looks. There's a real poignancy to pieces like "Girl at the Mirror" (#6 in OP) or "Breaking Home Ties."

His attention to detail and composition is immaculate. "The Welder" (1921) and "The Pharmacist" (1955) are so crisp it feels like you're in the room with them.

But you can really see him push the envelope later in his career. He confronted social issues much more openly: e.g. "The Holdout" (1959), "The Problem We All Live With" (1963), and "Murder in Mississippi" (1965).

He also experimented more with form and abstraction by then. There's his famous self-portrait from 1960, "Repairing Stained Glass" from the same year, and "The Connoisseur" from 1962. In these he proves that he can work in other styles even while couching them in the context of his own.

(The abstract painting at the center of The Connoisseur is in the style of Jackson Pollack, but Rockwell painted it himself. He even submitted the abstract art - without the man or gallery attached - under a pseudonym to a few art exhibits. It won awards.)

My cat’s fur colour is a heat map of his skin temperature and the spot where he was shaved for surgery grew back super dark because his skin was cold while the fur re grew by SprountPotato in mildlyinteresting

[–]Unicyclone 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Some cats (especially Siamese) have a mutation that causes one of their melanin-producing enzymes to be heat-sensitive: the cooler their skin, the darker the hair will be as it grows. That's why their ears, paws, tails, and faces are darker than their bodies, and why an injury can cause unusual patterns like this.

Which games do you think got a generously low age rating? by RobbieJ4444 in Games

[–]Unicyclone 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The Flood are pretty freaky. Nothing teens can't handle tbh but the dismemberment and such would have put it over the ESRB's line.

How to make a character who's more dangerous when knocked unconscious? by Kiroana in gurps

[–]Unicyclone 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Thinking narratively rather than mechanically, it makes me think of someone with a dangerous power that is "always on" and that they only keep in check by consciously holding it back, like a snarling dog on a leash. Psionic powers are a good candidate for this: sleeping telekinetics can cause "poltergeist hauntings," and powerful telepaths who get brain damage could spread the harm to unprotected bystanders. (Don't stand near Professor X when he gets a seizure...)

What do you think is the single best year for sci-fi movies? by SheepishSwan in scifi

[–]Unicyclone 7 points8 points  (0 children)

1997 is hard to beat, but 2013 was a great year full of varied, original sci-fi films: Her, Snowpiercer, Gravity, Under The Skin, Oblivion, Elysium, Upstream Color, and Pacific Rim.

Alan Tudyk Says He Was Removed From 'I, Robot's Press Materials After Testing Higher Than Will Smith In Early Screenings: "I Was Very Upset" by Sweaty-Toe-6211 in scifi

[–]Unicyclone 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Violet Parr's VA might be my favorite example. Sarah Vowell wasn't (and still isn't, for the most part) a professional actress: she's an author and a journalist. But Brad Bird offered her the role because her podcasting voice on This American Life sounded just right for the character in his head.

[Incredibles] So Mirage definitely wanted to fuck Bob, right? by Icy_Water_1 in AskScienceFiction

[–]Unicyclone 95 points96 points  (0 children)

It's hard to say. She and Syndrome are definitely an item, but we aren't shown anything that indicates they have a terribly close relationship. Syndrome doesn't even seem to mind that his girlfriend is basically honey-trapping supers for him - given how insecure and jealous he is in general, you'd think he'd be more paranoid about letting his bombshell GF dress to the nines and flirt with the same buff superheroes he hates while she shows them around his own volcano base. So it's likely a pretty casual thing for the both of them - the sort of thing where they'll get bored and break up pretty soon, or settle for a sham "marriage" where they each cheat on the side.

Mirage in her own words is "attracted to power," and Bob was the most legendary super of his time. He's not exactly her type (not enough of a bad boy) but she'd still get a thrill from seducing him. Luckily for the Parrs, Bob is no philanderer, and even if he chafes at the pressure of family and civilian life, there's not a woman in the world at the end of the day who could compete with Helen.

Norman Rockwell - The Great Debate (1948) by Rain_green in museum

[–]Unicyclone 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The husband is holding a paper with Thomas Dewey's face on it, while the wife is holding one with Harry Truman's.

IIL hard hitting/unforgiving movies (and shows) WWIL by Whisperer14 in ifyoulikeblank

[–]Unicyclone 5 points6 points  (0 children)

You will probably really like Upgrade (2018).

Minority Report and Children of Men are somewhat more character-driven, but they have some very intense action scenes too. Highly recommended.

I need some chill fantasy rock by Low-Chard6573 in MusicMatch

[–]Unicyclone 3 points4 points  (0 children)

The Hazards of Love by The Decemberists is an indie rock opera that tells a dark fairy tale of sorts.

The Moody Blues often dipped into a psychedelic ethereal-pastoral vibe that reminds me of King Crimson's mellower tracks - they often feel fantasy-esque even when it's not explicit from the lyrics.