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#457 - Timecozy
In 2020, Sword & Laser received 29 nominations for Best Fancast, but needed at least 40 to make the cut as a finalist.In 2021, Sword & Laser received 24 nominations for Best Fancast, but needed at least 31 to make the cut as a finalist.
Last year, 2022, Sword & Laser received 23 nominations for Best Fancast, but needed at least 32 to make the cut as a finalist.
This year, 2023 Hugo nominations are open until 11:59 pm Hawaiian time on April 30th, 2023. (No, I'm not in Hawaii, I just wish I was. The Chengdu WorldCon emails use Hawaiian time.)
In addition to the two dozen folks who nominated Sword & Laser the last couple of years, we just need another dozen book club members to make a Best Fancast nomination.
Looking for just 36 nominations!
36 noms
You know you want to.
Then we see what happens.
36
thirty six
6 X 6
2 X 2 X 3 X 3
Tom's podcast Daily Tech News Show may be banned in China, but I don't think Veronica has been banned yet. Unless moving to Canada gets her banned. Doesn't matter. Just nominate. Let's get Veronica banned in China too!
Re: hot sauce (paused at 7:29) -I wonder if those of you who like super hot/spicy stuff aren’t supertasters like I am. I can barely abide anything spicy. Or salty. Or really sweet.
It was especially difficult growing up because supertasters can detect flavors and chemicals that normies can’t, and it was even worse because my dad was a non-taster. (He used to mix tuna fish into blueberry yogurt and wolf it down. It looked and smelled as vile as you are imagining - purple fish meat! 🤢 - but because he couldn’t really taste anything, it didn’t bother him.)
Dark green vegetables taste like copper pennies to me, but I choke them down because they’re supposedly healthy. I can taste the bitter chemical plants exude to discourage insects from eating them. Coffee, beer, wine, peas, licorice, tea… they all call Janet “Miss Jackson.”
I got punished a lot for being a “picky eater”. Well yeah, when the stuff you’re feeding me tastes literally like poison, you bet I’ll be picky.
I’ve read that babies have infinite sweet tooths, meaning that nothing is ever too sweet for them. Other taste preferences for little kids are a combination of what mom ate while pregnant and genetics. So trying the kid out on various tastes will quickly determine what they do and don’t like.
Trike wrote: "Who can nominate?"Eligible members of the 2022 and 2023 Worldcons.
https://www.thehugoawards.org/2023/03...
https://en.chengduworldcon.com/hugo-a...
Trike wrote: "Re: hot sauce (paused at 7:29) -I wonder if those of you who like super hot/spicy stuff aren’t supertasters like I am. I can barely abide anything spicy. Or salty. Or really sweet.
It was especi..."
Tuna mixed with blueberry yoghurt 🤢 why
How did he even conceive of this abomination of a combination??!
I knew a guy who used to make sandwiches with ham and hard cheese salad in the middle, but with one side of the bread spread with Nutella (per Wikipedia, “Nutella is described as a chocolate and hazelnut spread, although it is mostly made of sugar and palm oil.”) and the other side with Boursin (cream cheese with garlic & herbs). When I asked him if he wanted a tomato, he reacted like I’d asked him if he wanted a cup of vomit.
Human taste buds are weird.
Tuna and blueberry yogurt doesn’t sound any more gross to me than tuna mayo. I mean, I’ve eaten fish in a plain yogurt-based sauce before, and I have no real objection to the idea of mixing up sweet and savoury. I’m not saying it would be my first choice - I think I’d prefer to keep them separate - but I don’t see why drowning your tuna in disgusting mayo is considered normal and this example disgusting. My tinned tuna (I assume we’re talking about the tinned variety here?) preference is a ton of vinegar and a dash of tabasco. And no oily whipped raw chicken egg yolks! :PI was confused on this episode because I didn’t pick up on the difference in accents on the audiobook. Was the American the male voice?
Ruth wrote: "Tuna mixed with blueberry yoghurt 🤢 why How did he even conceive of this abomination of a combination??!"
On paper it makes sense. Tuna for the protein and omega-3, yogurt for the probiotics, blueberry for anti-oxidants. He called it his “superfood”. (Well, in his Brooklyn accent it sounded like “supa-food”.)
And it must’ve worked, because he was never sick as an adult. I can only recall two times in 57 years that he had a cold. Which is probably why Covid killed him last year: it seems that some people who regularly get a certain strain of the common cold have some protection against it. Since he never got sick, his immune system couldn’t handle the attack from a Covid variant, leading to organ failure.
He was 88 when he died, but he had 75+ years of good health and he was only sickly for a couple months before passing. I fully expected him to outlive me, or at least get deep into his 90s (my grandma is fine at 108), but 3/4 of a century of no pain or sickness and a rapid decline at the end doesn’t sound like a bad deal to me.
I’ve had tuna and plain yoghurt before and that was fine, it’s the blueberry part that’s grossing me out. You’re taking a perfectly good dessert and then dumping canned tuna in it?! Barf.Edit to respond to Trike’s post just above: well, if it worked for your dad, maybe I should give it a try!
Ruth wrote: "I’ve had tuna and plain yoghurt before and that was fine, it’s the blueberry part that’s grossing me out. You’re taking a perfectly good dessert and then dumping canned tuna in it?! Barf."Oh, yes, as I say it smelled vile. That sweet + oily combo? Guh.
Trike wrote: "Ruth wrote: "I’ve had tuna and plain yoghurt before and that was fine, it’s the blueberry part that’s grossing me out. You’re taking a perfectly good dessert and then dumping canned tuna in it?! Ba..."Oh, did he get tuna in oil? I always get tuna in brine, never oil.
I think you should make it for dinner. A nice big bowl.
Mod
I'm a supersmeller, so I understand some of this pain. Julian so far has a pretty broad palette for a little guy -- we try to expose him to as many new flavors and textures as we can. And he can tolerate some spice (mole sauce is a personal favorite of his, and the kind we get has a small amount of spicy to it).
We did it guys, we disturbed Veronica! Job, done!What is mole sauce? The name is giving my imagination some things far more gross than the tuna thing! lol
Mole sauce is an acquired taste, and time-consuming to produce, but at least you get the satisfaction of a sense of payback for the mess they make of your lawn.
Ruth (tilltab) Ashworth wrote: "We did it guys, we disturbed Veronica! Job, done!What is mole sauce? The name is giving my imagination some things far more gross than the tuna thing! lol"
You have to catch 30 moles and milk them. It’s *very* labor intensive.
Kidding.
It’s pronounce moe-lay and is a Mexican version of chili-BBQ sauce. There are a number of varieties.
Veronica wrote: "This is the most disturbing conversation I've ever read in this forum.I'm a supersmeller, so I understand some of this pain. Julian so far has a pretty broad palette for a little guy -- we try to..."
He definitely will like Cincinnati-style chili, then. Specifically the version from Skyline Chili.
I knew Mole sauce was Mexican, but I thought it was made with Avogadros.
John (Taloni) wrote: "I knew Mole sauce was Mexican, but I thought it was made with Avogadros."JOHN.
John (Taloni) wrote: "I knew Mole sauce was Mexican, but I thought it was made with Avogadros."Sonuva-
I like everything* and would give anything here a try!*) Except rice pudding! That stuff is absolutely disgusting!
Honestly, you all went for WAY less gross interpretations of mole sauce than my imagination presented me with. LolAlso, Jan, how dare you, rice pudding is heavenly! Especially the skin!
Ruth (tilltab) Ashworth wrote: "We did it guys, we disturbed Veronica! Job, done!What is mole sauce? The name is giving my imagination some things far more gross than the tuna thing! lol"
ChatGPT says
Mole sauce, or simply "mole", is a traditional Mexican sauce that is known for its complex and rich flavor. It is typically made from a variety of ingredients, including chili peppers, nuts, seeds, spices, chocolate, and fruit.
There are many different types of mole sauce, each with its own unique combination of ingredients and flavors. Some of the most popular varieties include mole poblano, which is made with dried chili peppers, chocolate, and spices; mole negro, which is made with blackened chili peppers, plantains, and sesame seeds; and mole amarillo, which is made with yellow chili peppers, tomatoes, and tomatillos.
Mole sauce is often used as a topping or marinade for meats, such as chicken or pork, and is a popular ingredient in traditional Mexican dishes such as enchiladas and tamales. It is also commonly served over rice or as a dip for tortilla chips.
Ruth (tilltab) Ashworth wrote: "Honestly, you all went for WAY less gross interpretations of mole sauce than my imagination presented me with. LolAlso, Jan, how dare you, rice pudding is heavenly! Especially the skin!"
Sorry, wait, the skin of the rice pudding or the skin in the mole sauce?
Mmm, now I’m really craving some rice pudding. The ultimate comfort food!It’s great with stewed fruit. Not with canned tuna though.
Ooooooh, now there’s an idea! (I’m joking!)
Though…my childhood favourite store cupboard meal was tuna, rice and sweetcorn, so……
Ruth (tilltab) Ashworth wrote: "Though…my childhood favourite store cupboard meal was tuna, rice and sweetcorn, so……"You’re halfway there already.
While I'm not alone, I know I'm in the minority that really has never liked when sweet and savory are combined. I like peanut butter sandwiches, I like Jelly sandwiches, but not the combination. I can handle cranberry jam/ sauce on it's own, but don't you dare put it near my turkey or dressing. Save the sweets for desert, and keep the rest of the flavors in the meal. But within the savory range, I really do like some odd combinations. I'm pretty sure I've mentioned before that a peanut butter and pickle sandwich is one of my favorites.
Oh well, I'm glad we don't all like the same things, that would make forums like this way more boring.
Mod
You're not alone. Most people outside the US would consider combining peanut butter and jam (jelly) an abomination.
Nah, the combo is something I thought sounded utterly disgusting, even after I realised American’s were not putting actual jelly/jello on their butties, just jam. Then I tried it, and decided that those ridiculous people across the sea were actually onto something with that one. And now I am saddened by the realisation that we have neither jam, nor peanut butter in the house right now.And I believe it was our very own Terpkristen (oh, I can’t find her on here anymore!) that convinced me that instead of turning up my nose in revulsion, I should consider actually try maple syrup on bacon and, yeah, turns out I was wrong about that too. It is, in fact, a delicious combo.
So now when folk bring up food combo’s that sound strange to me I’m less likely to judge.
Mod
I'm not a fan of mixing sweet and savoury. I like Maple syrup on pancakes. Bacon goes in a bun with cheese and egg.
My brother is also steadfastly against mixing sweet and savory, and yet happily throws on dollops of tomato ketchup that, to my tastes, is so incredibly sweet I cannot understand how he thinks it is any different to syrup. I grew up allergic to tomato, so never grew accustomed to the stuff at all. I like the flavour of tomato now, and am generally good with sweet and savoury, but the particular combination of tomatoes and sugar that exists in ketchup is revolting to me. The primary taste is sugar, but with an awful background flavour I cannot describe. Whatever the flavour I don’t like is, it is also present in chilli chocolate, a food that, on paper, I feel like I should like, but cannot stand. Yet somehow, my sweet and savoury hating brother doesn't notice that ketchup is sweet. Human tastes are strange!
Ruth (tilltab) Ashworth wrote: "My brother is also steadfastly against mixing sweet and savory, and yet happily throws on dollops of tomato ketchup that, to my tastes, is so incredibly sweet I cannot understand how he thinks it i..."See I also agree with you on this one. I’m fairly anti ketchup as well. On things most people put it on, I turn to mustard instead. Or, before I started watching what I eat more mayonnaise. And while I can appreciate the commonwealth practice of vinegar on your fish and chips, I typically go with both plain, or maybe just a bit of lemon on the fish. And while I’ve eaten plenty of pizza and pasta with marinara sauce, I actually prefer less sweet options if given the choice and will lean towards white sauces. But like you, I think plain tomatoes are great, and I eat them on the regular when in season.
Mod
In Australia: Tomato sauce = ketchup. What you call Tomato sauce we call tomato paste. Jelly=Jam. Jello=Jelly.
Yes we are weird. 😉or you are 😉I blame the Brits 😉
Best sandwich: Peanut butter and bacon. Cook up the bacon, nice and crispy, toast a couple slices of bread, peanut butter on one of them, bacon on top of that, then the other slice of bread, then thank me after you eat it.
Mod
My favourite sandwich is what is known in Britain as a Chip Butty. I've just always called it a Chip Sandwich.
Take fat long chips (not Fries 😉) between 2 well buttered pieces of bread. Add Tomato sauce (not ketchup 😉) and enjoy.
Joseph wrote: "Best sandwich: Peanut butter and bacon. Cook up the bacon, nice and crispy, toast a couple slices of bread, peanut butter on one of them, bacon on top of that, then the other slice of bread, then t..."that sounds good.
Joseph wrote: "Best sandwich: Peanut butter and bacon. Cook up the bacon, nice and crispy, toast a couple slices of bread, peanut butter on one of them, bacon on top of that, then the other slice of bread, then ..."…end up like Elvis.
No thankee.
It's now or never, my [peanut butter with bacon, banana and honey sadwich] can't wait.
Tassie Dave wrote: "My favourite sandwich is what is known in Britain as a Chip Butty. "I would just like peeps to know that since I've recently started watching Red Dwarf, I am reading all of these posts in Lister's voice. (He's the only actual living human on the ship.) "Moay faaaavourite sehndwich is whot is knooown in Brrritaaaain as a Cheyap Boutty..."
Mod
Trike wrote: "…end up like Elvis.No thankee."
Admittedly, it's not something for daily consumption.
Joseph wrote: "Trike wrote: "…end up like Elvis.No thankee."
Admittedly, it's not something for
Slight typo. Fixed it for you.
Bacon, brie and cranberry sauce is actually the best sandwich, btw.
Ruth (tilltab) Ashworth wrote: "Bacon, brie and cranberry sauce is actually the best sandwich, btw."A local to me restaurant does this but with smoked turkey instead, around Thanksgiving. In fall in general they'll swap apples for the cranberry. Served on brioche. SOOOO good.
And here I am being a vegetarian for now.
Ruth (tilltab) Ashworth wrote: "And I believe it was our very own Terpkristen (oh, I can’t find her on here anymore!) that convinced me that instead of turning up my nose in revulsion, I should consider actually try maple syrup on bacon and, yeah, turns out I was wrong about that too. It is, in fact, a delicious combo."Here I am! and yeah, that's still my favorite way to eat bacon.
And if we're going to talk about the most insane sandwich I've ever made, once I threw a Krispy Kreme burger party at my house. I went out and bought a bunch of Krispy Kreme glazed doughnuts and sliced them in half. Grilled up burgers (some with cheese and/or bacon) and then very lightly grilled the inside of the doughnut. ETA: Then you put the burger (and toppings) between the doughnut halves, with the glaze on the inside. Nom nom nom
It's a heart attack waiting to happen but it WAS tasty. That said, that's definitely a sandwich to eat very infrequently.
Ruth wrote: "Mmm, now I’m really craving some rice pudding. The ultimate comfort food!"I LOVE a good rice pudding. I even like mediocre rice pudding. The problem with using meal kits now is that I rarely go to the grocery store, so I don't get to impulse buy it.
How strange! I was looking through people I followed (I forgot your name spelling, and didn’t want to get it wrong, for good reason, it seems, since I totally did >.<), and you were not listed, but I just checked, and now you are again! lol Goodreads weirdness I guess! :)I really must make the effort to properly make rice pudding, rather than just being lazy and getting the tinned stuff. It’s so worth the effort.
The best I ever had was at this cafe that was so stereotypically old-worldly English granny I cannot tell you. It was called The Copper Kettle and there was, naturally, a number of copper kettles displayed over the fireplace in the warm, dimly lit dining room. I had a roast chicken dinner, which included some very nice stuffing balls and veg that was a little overcooked, but comfortingly so, then when I was finished, out came the rice pudding, thick and creamy with just the right amount of nutmeg. For a drink, they served warm milk, sweetened with honey with a touch again of nutmeg. How I did not fall asleep in my comfy chair by the crackling fire was beyond me.
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