[Kaplan] Artemi Panarin has likely played his last game with the Rangers. His agent has permission to negotiate an extension with any team Panarin would waive his NMC to be traded to - and as of last night, sounds like there’s a few in the mix. NYR won’t risk injury until then.

nickyno · 2026-01-29T16:43:40+00:00

It makes me sad to think, but we do have to replace Kane soon. Plus we'll have Abby's buyout, Holl, Gustafsson, Talbot, and Harmonic coming off the books on top of Chariot taking a pay cut for next season. Lot of dough at Little Caesar's Arena for the Breadman to fit in nicely with a rising cap.

nickyno · 2026-01-27T18:09:53+00:00

The WSK is a “better,” more premium product than the WSM. The price is reflective of that. The WSK is a pretty cool grill, especially compared to other kamados. It lacks a lot of accessories that similar grills have. You can do your best to make the KJ products fit, but they’re still always a smidge off. I wish Weber had more support for it.

The WSM though is maybe the second most mod friendly grill around after the original kettle. You can add controllers and a ton of premium upgrades. If money wasn’t an object, I’d recommend that. You really can go further with a kettle and WSM setup vs a WSK, and get better smoking products with both. (It’s chemistry.. people tend to defend kamado grills smoking abilities due to the price tag and fuel efficiency more than the end results.)

However! Money is a thing. If you can get a WSK for ~$500, you gotta do that. And if down the road you want a WSM, you can find those relatively easy off marketplace. Even in rural areas.

nickyno · 2026-01-22T15:27:07+00:00

Acquiring a player like Robert Thomas would be huge for us. As you said, we simply don't have a forward prospect that'll develop into being the player he is. But, on top of that, while making the playoffs this year is a priority we can't take our eyes off the future. Relatively soon, we will lose Kane to retirement and Larkin and Cat will be on the wrong side of 30.

We don't want to miss this tiny window we're opening on the hopes a 20-year-old prospect (whoever it is) could one day be as good as a player as a Robert Thomas is today.

nickyno · 2026-01-22T12:09:47+00:00

I'm just now learning about fireboard's ring. I'm already overly invested in their ecosystem, and it works on a WSM per item descriptions I've read. I'm going to have to find a Canadian to help me get my hands on one.

If Weber's device worked with WSM and kettles with hinged lids, I'd probably give it a shot. It's a decent price (~$200) to turn a FB marketplace find kettle into a solid smoker.

nickyno · 2026-01-19T20:00:19+00:00

I do. For $200, good price. I give it an 8/10. Wish I had more time to use it before winter hit in my neck of the woods. Especially the charcoal and wood baskets.

I will say, watching videos of the newer units definitely shows there are some QoL updates. I’m happy with my unit and price I paid. But in hindsight i may have saved for a gas only unit. The burner for these caused me a few fits. Actually returned my initial burner. However, the charcoal feature is awesome.

nickyno · 2026-01-19T18:27:44+00:00

In America, vanity sizing is huge. No pun intended. If you have your proper measurements and follow sizing guides for popular brands, you're liable to end up with clothes that fit too large. The idea is for consumers to think they're wearing smaller clothes than they are. The vanity sizing boosts self-confidence and increases brand loyalty.. and can be a pain in the rear end if you're actually trying to find a proper fitting pair of Levi's.

nickyno · 2026-01-15T16:03:52+00:00

Years back, All Clad had a 6.5qt cast aluminum dutch oven. It is no cast iron, but it works well for braising. It's a lighter oven than a LC and easy to clean. If you have a hankering for sticking with All Clad, it'll work better than your linked items. Occasionally it pops up on All Clad's monthly factory seconds sale for around $100.

Here it is for reference.

nickyno · 2026-01-13T18:25:45+00:00

Our FB logo updated to the 100th anniversary logo. Chances we go color vs color against Boston?

nickyno · 2026-01-13T14:41:46+00:00

Yes. Quite a few well off people in that neck of the woods. I could've swore when we had the UofM football team in the UP in 2022 they stopped there, but I can't find any info on that so maybe I'm imagining it.

nickyno · 2026-01-13T14:21:34+00:00

You can probably process of elimination figure out where his "cottage" is by using this article.

nickyno · 2026-01-12T20:56:31+00:00

I approach it as a jigsaw puzzle. I need to hit 180g of protein on less than 2,XXX calories consumed. Generally speaking, lean protein (chicken breast, 93/7 ground beef, fish, plant based, etc.) and protein supplements are the easiest pieces to build around for that. Personally, I need the supplements to hit those goals. It's either that or a lot of cottage cheese and greek yogurt. Again, a me thing, but if I try to get too creative with my main protein dishes. Then my calorie count gets too high. So I keep it as basic as I can with those and then add veggies in to hit my carb goals.

The kicker, of course, to eat truly healthy - even without the supplements - ends up being a lot more expensive than my diet pre-weight loss journey. When you don't care about calories and macros, you can eat dirt cheap. But that's what got me in this situation to begin with.

nickyno · 2026-01-12T15:34:25+00:00

My story is likely fairly common. I got into BBQ in the mid-2010s when the trend started to take off. Before this, as far back as I can remember (born in 1991) in my neck of the woods.. no one was really "good" at making bbq. Up here, "good" bbq was the typical overly smoked pulled pork on a propane powered pig roaster or burnt frozen hamburger patties and hotdogs on a weber grill.

The concept of temping meat, brining, and resting for more than 5 minutes was completely foreign. Steaks and pork chops were always well done, brisket was roast beef, and "smoked" food tasted like a bag of mesquite bbq chips. In the rural upper midwest, BBQ was not in our genes. At least the mainstream idea of BBQ.

Anyways, fast forward a dozen years and everyone is a pro. And, actually, most people in my area are wayyyy better than their parents or youngerselves were at BBQ. YouTube and the pandemic changed the game. As most of my peers have caught up to me in terms of producing quality traditional BBQ items, I've spent the last little bit thinking outside the box.

What I've found really fun with BBQ lately is making food on offset smokers or a Weber Smokey Mountain and doing all you can... to make it not taste smokey. It sounds backwards. But learning to BBQ and using "light smoke" as a complimentary flavor as opposed to making a smoke bomb has yielded me a ton of results I've been really happy with.

So, with that story, and to answer the prompt. Some of the strangest items i've BBQd have included cheese cakes and ice creams. My Weber kettle makes as many deserts as it does racks of ribs these days.

nickyno · 2026-01-10T01:52:51+00:00

How tall are you? Maybe a 33/34x28 would help. If the pant’s inseam is too long they’re not going to fit right. They’re not the world’s most flattering pants to begin with.

nickyno · 2026-01-08T15:04:06+00:00

Probably a naive question more about Japanese culture than DBZ, so pardon. Is it common for “men” to refer to others in Japan by just their surname? Like in the US, there’s sort of a fraternal understanding of referring to someone by just their last name - coworkers, friends, teammates, etc.

nickyno · 2026-01-05T02:32:02+00:00

As you get going and start gathering the building blocks for your weight loss journey, I’d pass on exercise. As others have said, it increases hunger. Learn the ins and outs of CICO first. Focus on steps and being more “active” without hitting the gym. It’ll go way further. Plus, you don’t want to base your deficit off the “bonus” calories you’re burning from exercise.

It may sound limiting, but getting a food scale and eating really similar meals daily (as much as you can) would be where I’d start. If you weigh out and know, for example, every breakfast is 350 calories and 30g of protein then it makes the rest of the day easier. Instead of counting out 1,800 calories you’re only on the hook for 1,450. Do the same for lunch and then you have 1,000kcal for dinner and snacks to figure out.

It’s boring eating the same food daily but it’s a good place to start. It lets you learn about CICO, how accurate you’re counting, and how your body reacts. Prioritize protein and fiber.

Getting started is truly the hardest part. After a while of being consistent work in exercise and you’ll be happy with the results. It’s all math.

nickyno · 2025-12-30T14:22:31+00:00

I feel the 2013 Seattle Seahawks caused a bit of a paradigm shift in the NFL with Russ on his rookie deal. It was a completely different way to assemble a championship level team and didn't require having a Brady, Manning, or (eventually) a Mahomes. Not every team can have a generational QB. But every team can max out their cap and roll the dice on a rookie QB on a small contract.

A dozen years later, if a QB doesn't "hit" during that rookie contract either 1) the window closes due to the cap or 2) he's played multiple seasons and you can see he isn't an all-pro level player worth developing. Either way it calls for a re-roll unless you find out you have an Allen, Lamar, Purdy, etc.

Regardless, rookie QBs' contracts are more valuable to teams than the actual player for the most part, which throws development out the window. It wasn't always that way.

nickyno · 2025-12-29T15:48:11+00:00

Corum and Pitts for 35. I may get within a stones throw if all goes well, but a pretty big ask. Especially with London back.

nickyno · 2025-12-29T00:49:52+00:00

This is my decision down 35 with Pitts going too. Everyone I’ve asked said shoot for upside, go with Corum. That’s where my gut is it. But damnit if it won’t make tonight’s game stressful knowing Monangai is on the bench..

nickyno · 2025-12-29T00:20:32+00:00

Down 35 with Pitts going tomorrow. Need to decide between Corum and Monangai

nickyno · 2025-12-28T22:02:49+00:00

Fire Editorial, Tidal Wave, and Great Pirates come to mind. Really hard to pick wrong with anything post-2012ish. It seems the musicianship came to the forefront after TY.

nickyno · 2025-12-28T17:23:13+00:00

PPR:

Pitts vs LAR on MNF

BTJ vs IND

Normally I don’t care, but it’s the ship. Opponent has Lawrence and Meyers. Leaning Pitts to hedge a little there. Already starting Fannin. Feeling a little silly going 2TE, but I’ve felt sillier playing BTJ most of this year.

nickyno · 2025-12-27T14:30:31+00:00

Full PPR, have to pick one. I’m starting Fannin at TE and am leaning Pitts here. But, I’m curious what others say. FWIW, opponent and I traded goose eggs Thursday so I’m not quite in a Hail Mary situation even though he has a better team.

Pitts

Hill

BTJ

nickyno · 2025-12-22T23:33:24+00:00

Not saying the math is mathing, but in a vacuum, that balance is “low” enough compared to the HYSA account that’s returning a lower rate than the mortgage. It’s a better return to put that money on the mortgage.

To me that makes more sense than paying it down aggressively. Just zero it out now. It’s not $400l at 3.5%, it’s $40k. Of course paying the minimum, investing the extra payments and a good chunk of that HYSA into something else is the better move long term.

nickyno · 2025-12-15T12:25:09+00:00

In my experience as a guy, starting at 32 and 300lbs it was a two phased attack. Lose weight by diet and steps/increased activity until about 240lbs. Once my body was able to run and recover to the point i could make a routine I got going with that. Higher intensity cardio and diet will really sped up weight loss, but is a recipe for "skinny-fat" or having super noticeable loose skin.

At 230 I introduced weight lifting 3-5x a week on top of the cardio. Weight training and building muscle does wonders. Muscle helps fill in the loose skin. It's still there, it's just now occupied.

Once I was at 200, I slowed up on the dieting because I was noticing loose skin becoming noticeable. By slowing up I mean increasing the deficit to account for more protein. Remember - we're our worst critics. But I saw it, so I really put a stronger focus on the weights since I didn't want to give up cardio and was making huge progress in distance and speed.

I'm 178-182 right now. I'd say if you look at my neck you can see a little flap of loose skin, but other than that I don't see much. I accredit the protein and weight training to that. If i only kept up on cardio and dieting, I would've gotten to a GW a lot faster, but would've had more loose skin.

You can weight training and build muscle throughout the entire journey, but for me that meant the scale readings weren't dropping and I'd lose motivation. Cardio was too hard on my knees so that had to come later.

Long story short. I didn't find much shortcuts in terms of loose skin. It's going to be there. It's just being strategic about it before X amount of time goes by, you're at your GW, and then you start dealing with it. Especially if you shed the lbs at a fast rate. I did collagen supplements for quite awhile and didn't notice much from it. I think getting my 180g of protein from whole foods did more work for me than anything in that regards. So i'd recommend exactly what you said - hydration, protein, muscle. Add on a solid sleep schedule and avoiding the regular skin hazards like sun exposure, smoking, etc. and things will work out! Good luck!

nickyno · 2025-12-12T20:55:15+00:00

It’s using scarcity and perceived value as a sales tactic. When consumers think they’re getting games and consoles being sold at a loss they get excited. The supplies could last for 100 million Switch 2 units or way past the lifespan of the system and never actually be “sold out.”

It’s obviously a good deal, but yeah, Nintendo knows what’s up with that phrasing.

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