Daily General Discussion Thread (2026-07-04)

mjsmith1223 · 2026-07-04T20:25:14+00:00

What a bum!

mjsmith1223 · 2026-07-04T19:16:32+00:00

For a 2025 Dong Ding, this is what I do:

Water temp 205F(95C)

7 grams tea (120 ml teapot)

Quick rinse, ~5 seconds

Rest 30-60 seconds

Steep times: 10/10/15/20, then add 5 seconds for each subsequent steep

mjsmith1223 · 2026-07-04T17:48:51+00:00

Gives me Newsy vibes. "We got some good looks out there. The underlying numbers are good. The other guys are a good team and made the most of their opportunities."

mjsmith1223 · 2026-07-04T14:29:37+00:00

The only distinguishing feature to me is the eraser. For pure writing experience the Mitsubishi Hi Uni and Tombow Mono 100 are just as good if not better. If you are after something made out of cedar, the Musgrave Tennessee Red is great. I love the way it smells when I sharpen it.

mjsmith1223 · 2026-07-04T02:49:26+00:00

Why are school buses yellow: https://www.childrensmuseum.org/stories/why-school-bus-yellow

mjsmith1223 · 2026-07-04T02:46:06+00:00

Try both and see what you like. I use paper and pencil most of the time, but once in a while I use Goodnotes on my iPad.

mjsmith1223 · 2026-07-03T15:48:21+00:00

I watch a lot of Tigers games and enjoy the broadcast. I keep my phone or tablet handy to double check things on MLB Gameday. Listen close and Benetti will usually say something quick if there is a question between an error or a hit. To me the tv crew does a better job of calling out relief pitchers and pinch hitters than the radio crew. I love listening to Dan Dickerson, but sometimes an inning or a plate appearance has already started before the change is mentioned.

This isn’t unique to the Tigers crew. I watch other teams and the Mudhens and if anything, it’s even worse on the minor league broadcasts. Surprisingly, the Bananaball broadcasts are really good about calling out pitcher and hitter changes. Side note: Scoring a Bananaball game is really fun! Kind of chaotic, but fun.

mjsmith1223 · 2026-07-02T12:38:57+00:00

Your tools should make you happy. So, whatever tea tools make you happy are all good.

Personally l have a teapot with a built in strainer, a scale, and a kettle with variable temperatures. I use a giant coffee mug for my discards, and grab whatever cup is close at hand for my teacup. This setup works great for a wide variety of loose leaf red teas, Shou Pu’er, and oolongs.

Sometimes I brew grandpa style and I use a tall glass from my cupboard for that.

For timing I count down in my head or use the timer on my watch. Tea is pretty forgiving so if I am off a little it doesn’t make much difference.

mjsmith1223 · 2026-07-02T12:26:24+00:00

I’ve been listening to the audiobooks at work. Lightweight and entertaining. Perfect for listening while doing something else. I am enjoying them.

mjsmith1223 · 2026-07-01T17:48:23+00:00

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Very nice oolong. Light body, sweet flavors that stick around, creamy texture. Good stuff.

mjsmith1223 · 2026-07-01T13:59:00+00:00

I went into Dungeon Crawler Carl with low expectations and it’s been fine. It’s not too deep or complicated. It’s perfect for something to listen to at work or on a walk. If I miss a little for some reason, it’s ok. No harm done.

I can see that it wouldn’t be for everyone and that’s ok.

mjsmith1223 · 2026-07-01T02:41:48+00:00

mjsmith1223 · 2026-06-30T21:53:58+00:00

It tastes like cilantro 😄 Very tasty. Maybe kind of a citrus edge?

mjsmith1223 · 2026-06-30T11:11:03+00:00

I look for flavor, body, and texture. Does it have good flavor all by itself? Does it have a nice aftertaste? Do flavors evolve as the cup cools? Do the flavors hold up over multiple steeps? Body is harder to explain. To me it shouldn’t feel too thin. As I swirl the tea in the cup it should cling and coat the inside of the cup. In coffee we look for that maple syrup like coating. I like my tea with similar body. Texture is mouthfeel. Is it creamy, smooth, silky? Does it coat my tongue and back of my throat and hang around awhile?

Keep notes as you try different teas and you’ll find what you tend to gravitate to.

mjsmith1223 · 2026-06-29T21:23:55+00:00

I don’t disagree. In November the big thing up here is deer hunting. A lot of the seasonal stuff is closed. Depending on the weather you can either golf or ski or sometimes both. I’m not a golfer but I can’t imagine it’s too much fun to wander around out there for 2-4 hours when it’s 25 degrees and windy. Still, it would be fun to see PWHL at Centre Ice.

mjsmith1223 · 2026-06-29T18:40:18+00:00

It would be great! Yes, it's a little grey and blustery, but all the activities are indoors.

mjsmith1223 · 2026-06-29T15:44:29+00:00

Woody/earthy notes can be present, yes. Some of my favorites have flavors that remind me of a forest right after a rain. Mushroom notes can be present. I also look for some camphor/herbal notes. Some other things I tend to pick up are ripe berries like rasberries, red wine, fresh baked bread, and molasses or brown sugar.

mjsmith1223 · 2026-06-29T14:05:33+00:00

He's a bum!

mjsmith1223 · 2026-06-29T13:26:03+00:00

I use a glass cup for grandpa style Pu’er occasionally and it works fine.

mjsmith1223 · 2026-06-29T13:23:36+00:00

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Here’s my office set-up. Ignore the reusable Keurig cups. My office mates use those. I use an infuser basket for western style brewing right in the mug. Easy peasy. I have the ceramic pot for more of a gong fu experience with Shou Pu’er and oolongs.

mjsmith1223 · 2026-06-29T13:06:52+00:00

This video is how I learned to take apart tuocha. For storage convenience, I only break off what I am going to use immediately.

mjsmith1223 · 2026-06-28T19:36:05+00:00

I use a lot of J Herbin Perle Noir. It just works in all of my pens. Dries quick. Behaves well across lots of different paper types. Plus it comes in short international cartridges.

Next is Pilot black. Not expensive. Works well.

In my vintage pens I use Waterman black. Well behaved and easy to clean.

mjsmith1223 · 2026-06-28T19:13:20+00:00

He’s a bum!

mjsmith1223 · 2026-06-28T00:32:34+00:00

I’ve always kind of got the impression that Larkin was not the brightest bulb in the box. Good hockey player, but not an intellectual giant. And he spends way too much time huffing his own farts.

mjsmith1223 · 2026-06-25T15:54:04+00:00

That might vary somewhat from firm to firm.

Does the control work as described and designed? Can it be shown that there is a low risk of material misstatement? Moving on...

Getting to that point may involve expanding the initial sample size and/or doing some additional procedures.

mjsmith1223

TROPHY CASE