len_mullen

You guys keep me busy. Been doing some reading. From what I have read, I have decided that Grade B Madagascar beans and Vodka are best for Vanilla Extract. I also learned that the FDA requires six beans per cup of alcohol to qualify as vanilla extract (anything less is simply flavored alcohol). 750ml is 3.17006463 cups. Multiply that by six beans specifies 19.02038778 beans per 750ml bottle of vodka. So I purchased 20 Grade B Madagascar Vanilla Beans for Extract, (5"-7") on Amazon. Listed at $34.99, on sale for $25.99, minus a $2 coupon, minus 5% for Subscribe-And-Save, minus 5% for using my Prime card, and minus $10 (to spend on Prime Days due to supporting Small Businesses), my OOP for the 20 highly rated beans was $11.56. The Smirnoff No.21 Premium Vodka 80 Proof (glass bottle) was $10.99. Yield should be about 25oz with a cost of $0.89/oz. 16 fl oz of McCormick All Natural Pure Vanilla Extract is $33.56 ($2.10/oz), so, unless I screw this up, it looks like I'm saving about 2/3 and it looks like I GottaDeal. Directions could not be simpler... Cut the vanilla beans in half lengthwise with scissors or a knife. Leave a bit intact at the end if desired. Put the beans in a 750ml bottle of vodka. Screw the cover on and give it a good shake. Place in a cool, dark place. Let sit for at least 2 months. The longer the vanilla sits, the stronger the flavor will be. While it's sitting, give the jar a shake every week, or as often as you can remember.Wish me luck!

Thank you VERY much! Any particular brand of rum?

Voice of experience? What size and type liquor would you put how much vanilla bean -- and where does one get these beans (I know where to get liquor)? I'm chomping at the bit!

I'm ambivalent. As long as employees are not punished for taking the holiday, I don't have a problem with those that choose to work. When I was a kid, I made a LOT of money working holidays and Sundays. I would imagine a lot of workers will be hurt by the loss of income. I don't go out much on BF these days. We used to stop at Walmart on the way home from Thanksgiving with the in-laws. I got a couple of phone deals that way.

Nice start!

We would share a very interesting kitchen

Not me, but check this out... Carcinogen found in some popular sunscreens and after-sun products including Neutrogena, tests show - CBS NewsValisure also reported that 14 sun care product lots with some of the highest contaminations are sold across four different popular brands — Neutrogena, Sun Bum, CVS Health and Fruit of the Earth. Not all of the aforementioned brands' products were found to contain benzene, and lists of products found to contain and not to contain benzene are included further down the page in Valisure's petition form. For example, Neutrogena's Ultra Sheer Weightless Sunscreen Spray, SPF 100+ and Ultra Sheer Weightless Sunscreen Spray, SPF 70 were among 14 products Valisure claims have some of the highest levels of benzene tested. But products like Neutrogena's Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30 and Oil-free Facial Moisturizer with Sunscreen SPF 15 were not found to contain the carcinogen. All of the samples tested have "contained up to three times the conditionally restricted FDA concentration limit of 2 parts per million" of benzene, according to Valisure's website.

Listening...

Amazon.com: Ring Video Doorbell Wired bundle with Echo Dot (Gen 3) - Charcoal: Amazon Devices $44.99 at checkout for Prime members. Also, from Woot via my Echo Show... BioBidet LW-1000 Luxury Bidet Seat (woot.com) Prime Days Start RIGHT NOW, RIGHT HERE!

You are welcome.

The photographer never expected his photograph to have such an impact, but it's really taken off. And not just for the general public. In the interview, Glick revealed that Viviane Ruch, the wife of the soldier whose grave the bird was resting on, was especially touched. Not only was she shocked to see the eagle watching over her husband's grave, but she also told Glick that she and her husband used to photograph eagles together before he died.

One year from today, I become pension eligible.

It's Gonna Be May!

Happy Patriots Day! from Battles of Lexington and Concord - HISTORY At dawn on April 19, some 700 British troops arrived in Lexington and came upon 77 militiamen gathered on the town green. A British major yelled, “Throw down your arms! Ye villains, ye rebels.” The heavily outnumbered militiamen had just been ordered by their commander to disperse when a shot rang out. To this day, no one knows which side fired first. Several British volleys were subsequently unleashed before order could be restored. When the smoke cleared, eight militiamen lay dead and nine were wounded, while only one Redcoat was injured. The British then continued into Concord to search for arms, not realizing that the vast majority had already been relocated. They decided to burn what little they found, and the fire got slightly out of control. Hundreds of militiamen occupying the high ground outside of Concord incorrectly thought the whole town would be torched. The militiamen hustled to Concord’s North Bridge, which was being defended by a contingent of British soldiers. The British fired first but fell back when the colonists returned the volley. This was the “shot heard ‘round the world” later immortalized by poet Ralph Waldo Emerson. After searching Concord for about four hours, the British prepared to return to Boston, located 18 miles away. By that time, almost 2,000 militiamen—known as minutemen for their ability to be ready on a moment’s notice—had descended to the area, and more were constantly arriving. At first, the militiamen simply followed the British column. Fighting started again soon after, however, with the militiamen firing at the British from behind trees, stone walls, houses and sheds. Before long, British troops were abandoning weapons, clothing and equipment in order to retreat faster. When the British column reached Lexington, it ran into an entire brigade of fresh Redcoats that had answered a call for reinforcements. But that did not stop the colonists from resuming their attack all the way through Menotomy (now Arlington) and Cambridge. The British, for their part, tried to keep the colonists at bay with flanking parties and canon fire. In the evening a contingent of newly arrived minutemen from Salem and Marblehead, Massachusetts, purportedly had a chance to cut off the Redcoats and perhaps finish them off. Instead, their commander ordered them not to attack, and the British were able to reach the safety of Charlestown Neck, where they had naval support. Paul Revere’s Ride by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Listen, my children, and you shall hear Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere, On the eighteenth of April, in Seventy-Five: Hardly a man is now alive Who remembers that famous day and year. He said to his friend, — “If the British march By land or sea from the town to-night, Hang a lantern aloft in the belfry-arch Of the North-Church-tower, as a signal-light, —One if by land, and two if by sea; And I on the opposite shore will be, Ready to ride and spread the alarm Through every Middlesex village and farm, For the country-folk to be up and to arm.” Then he said good-night, and with muffled oar Silently rowed to the Charlestown shore, Just as the moon rose over the bay, Where swinging wide at her moorings lay The Somersett, British man-of-war: A phantom ship, with each mast and spar Across the moon, like a prison-bar, And a huge, black hulk, that was magnified By its own reflection in the tide. Meanwhile, his friend, through alley and street Wanders and watches with eager ears, Till in the silence around him he hears The muster of men at the barrack-door, The sound of arms, and the tramp of feet, And the measured tread of the grenadiers Marching down to their boats on the shore. Then he climbed to the tower of the church, Up the wooden stairs, with stealthy tread, To the belfry-chamber overhead, And startled the pigeons from their perch On the sombre rafters, that round him made Masses and moving shapes of shade, —Up the light ladder, slender and tall, To the highest window in the wall, Where he paused to listen and look down A moment on the roofs of the town, And the moonlight flowing over all. Beneath, in the churchyard, lay the dead In their night-encampment on the hill, Wrapped in silence so deep and still, That he could hear, like a sentinel’s tread, The watchful night-wind, as it went Creeping along from tent to tent, And seeming to whisper, “All is well!” A moment only he feels the spell Of the place and the hour, the secret dread Of the lonely belfry and the dead; For suddenly all his thoughts are bent On a shadowy something far away, Where the river widens to meet the bay, —A line of black, that bends and floats On the rising tide, like a bridge of boats. Meanwhile, impatient to mount and ride, Booted and spurred, with a heavy stride, On the opposite shore walked Paul Revere Now he patted his horse’s side, Now gazed on the landscape far and near, Then impetuous stamped the earth, And turned and tightened his saddle-girth; But mostly he watched with eager search The belfry-tower of the old North Church, As it rose above the graves on the hill, Lonely, and spectral, and sombre, and still. And lo! as he looks, on the belfry’s height, A glimmer, and then a gleam of light! He springs to the saddle, the bridle he turns, But lingers and gazes, till full on his sight A second lamp in the belfry burns! A hurry of hoofs in a village-street, A shape in the moonlight, a bulk in the dark, And beneath from the pebbles, in passing, a spark Struck out by a steed that flies fearless and fleet: That was all! And yet, through the gloom and the light, The fate of a nation was riding that night; And the spark struck out by that steed, in his flight, Kindled the land into flame with its heat. It was twelve by the village-clock, When he crossed the bridge into Medford town. He heard the crowing of the cock, And the barking of the farmer’s dog, And felt the damp of the river-fog, That rises when the sun goes down. It was one by the village-clock, When he rode into Lexington. He saw the gilded weathercock Swim in the moonlight as he passed, And the meeting-house windows, blank and bare, Gaze at him with a spectral glare, As if they already stood aghast At the bloody work they would look upon. It was two by the village-clock, When he came to the bridge in Concord town. He heard the bleating of the flock, And the twitter of birds among the trees, And felt the breath of the morning-breeze Blowing over the meadows brown. And one was safe and asleep in his bed Who at the bridge would be first to fall, Who that day would be lying dead, Pierced by a British musket-ball. You know the rest. In the books you have read How the British regulars fired and fled, —How the farmers gave them ball for ball, From behind each fence and farmyard-wall, Chasing the red-coats down the lane, Then crossing the fields to emerge again Under the trees at the turn of the road, And only pausing to fire and load. So through the night rode Paul Revere; And so through the night went his cry of alarm To every Middlesex village and farm, —A cry of defiance, and not of fear, —A voice in the darkness, a knock at the door, And a word that shall echo forevermore! For, borne on the night-wind of the Past, Through all our history, to the last, In the hour of darkness and peril and need, The people will waken and listen to hear The hurrying hoof-beat of that steed, And the midnight-message of Paul Revere. When my youngest was a Boy Scout, we would camp in Acton April 18-19 then rally at Captain Issac Davis' farm for speeches, and march to the North Bridge where a park ranger of the National Park Service would describe the events of the day. Along the way, the kids would stop at historical sites and collect information required to complete a questionnaire. Successful completion of the questionnaire and hike earned each participant a commemorative medal... (You got nothing for carrying a young scout most of the six miles on your shoulders.) Every other year the Acton Minutemen accompanied the scouts on the march. Every year the residents of Actor lined the route as if we were some kind of parade. from Captain Isaac Davis (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov) Isaac Davis was the captain of the Acton minute man company. He was the first colonial officer to die in the American Revolution, April 19, 1775. He was born February 23, 1745 to Ezekiel Davis and Mary Gibson. On October 24, 1764 he married Hannah Brown and the couple raised four children. He made his living as farmer and a blacksmith. According to their order in the line from a muster a few weeks prior, [the Acton Minutemen] formed up to the left of the Concord companies. However, for reasons which remain unknown and are still a source of heated debate among historians, Davis’ company was soon brought up on the right. Colonel Barrett, in overall command, then ordered the make-shift battalion to march upon the bridge but not to fire unless first fired upon. The column then wheeled off into column “by the right” and began the advance to North Bridge with Davis’ company in front. To march within range of the enemy’s guns and let them take the first shot requires enormous courage. Davis, accompanied by Major John Buttrick and Lt. Colonel Robinson marched in front with his men close behind. The Regulars fell back to the opposite shore and formed for action. Soon shots rang out from the British side and Luther Blanchard, the fifer for Davis’ company, cried out that he had been hit. Major Buttrick then shouted “Fire! For God’s sake fire!” The minute men returned the fire and British responded in kind. Captain Davis was shot through the chest and died instantly along with Abner Hosmer, a young private in the company.

Ode to Walmart's $148 55" TCL 4K Roku TV There once was a man from New Hampshire Whose favorite month was November He searched with great zeal For the best kind of deal Then bought it and boasted forever

So what is the prize?I don't doubt it will be great.Please don't make us wait...

C-E-S a bust N-F-L ratings now dust Goodbye big screen lust

Say more. You were going somewhere people need to go more often. I got my hair cut this morning. The place I go is sports themed and the employees wear really unattractive uniforms. Today, they were watching Christmas movies and in street clothes. What a difference in the atmosphere. Also, I look marvelous! We spent the next five hours shopping. That was awesome. The stores were full. Associates and shoppers were in holiday spirits. Now it's time to wrap. My oldest will be home in a couple hours. Baked scallops, asparagus, and au gratin potatoes tonight. Prime rib, sweet potato casserole, green been casserole, twice baked potato, and cranberry sauce tomorrow. Good thing I have two days to recover before returning to work. Merry Christmas!

Thank you. Been out of the pocket a bit. I bought fewer gifts this year and the ones I bought required little research or discussion. I thought there would be discussion of the new consoles. Other than how difficult they were to find, there wasn't. I bought a couple televisions, but nothing expensive or bleeding edge -- nothing worthy of discussion. Besides, with Pnambic AWOL, TV talk isn't the same. I planned to spend more time in stores and I have. Not what I expected, but I got what I wanted. Generally, unpleasant. I don't like masks. I got the feeling CSA were hoping to limit their efforts to toting merchandise to the curb. Just the same, I did not buy much from the online behemoths and I feel good about that... Staples (BenQ Home Theater TH685 DLP Projector)Best Buy (Xbox Series X console, gamepassx2)Sams Club (Legends Ultimate Arcade)Walmart (55" TCL Roku TVx2)Kohls (Kalorik 26-qt. Digital MAXX Air Fryer Toaster, meat slicer, Nutribullet, 2x4K Fire TV Sticks, UV sterilizer, roadside emergency kit, stocking stuffers)Home Depot (Aria Air Fryer Toaster Oven)Amazon (Xbox controller, gaming headset, rechargable batteries, stocking stuffers)Wayfair (TV stand)Harbor Freight (TV wall mounts)Amazon got almost nothing from me this year. And they earned it! Late shipments, damaged deliveries, and meh prices defined Amazon in 2020. I bought some parts for my snow blower from MTDParts.com because Amazon returned too many matches for the specific part numbers to sift through. My subscribe and save queue is shrinking. Won't renew my Prime membership once my college student loses his discount. Walmart got $300 of my money, but that was for two 55" 4K televisions. Not sure they got the best of the deal. They should have won my Xbox sale, but their online store was so terrible, I abandoned 5% cash back for a certain sale at Best Buy. I have a little more shopping to do. Finally going to visit a Sam's Club next Wednesday on my way home from work. I cooked my first turkey for Thanksgiving. It was amazing. We're doing prime rib for Christmas. It's just me and my two sons. Very quiet and very nice. Merry Christmas!

Posting in a shirt With no BF flair or flirt Discharge to avert

This thread still gives me tingles.

You're welcome. Our PC experts are not around this year and the deals are not spectacular, but, in general, machines are fairly spectacular these days. There are a LOT of gaming laptops out there. If anyone is seriously shopping for a gaming laptop, I would be interested in recommendations. It looks like the sweet spot in gaming laptops this year is a 1650/1650TI discrete GPU, a 256GB SSD, AC wireless, and 8GB of RAM. The least expensive include a Rizen 5 CPU while the rest have a 10th gen i5 chip. My bias is towards Intel chips, but the Rizen 5 seems to be faster. I'm intrigued by a couple reasonably priced options... https://deals.dell.com/en-us/productdetail/69n5 Processor: 10th Generation Intel® Core™ i5-10300H (8MB Cache, up to 4.5 GHz, 4 cores)Operating System: Windows 10 Home 64-bit EnglishGraphics Card: NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1650 Ti 4GB GDDR6Display: 15.6 inch FHD (1920 x 1080) 120Hz 250 nits WVA Anti- Glare LED Backlit Narrow Border DisplayHard Drive: 256GB M.2 PCIe NVMe Solid State DriveMemory: 8GB DDR4-2933MHz, 2x4GWireless: Intel® Wi-Fi 6 AX201 (2x2) Wi-Fi + Bluetooth 5.1 Right now: $649.99 https://www.bestbuy.com/site/acer-nitro-5-15-6-laptop-intel-core-i5-8gb-memory-nvidia-geforce-gtx-1650-256gb-ssd-obsidian-black/6413247.p?skuId=6413247 Backlit KeyboardScreen Size 15.6 inchesScreen Resolution 1920 x 1080 (Full HD)SSD 256 gigabytesSolid State Drive Capacity 256 gigabytes8 gigabytesNVIDIA GeForce GTX 16502.5 gigahertz Intel 10th Generation Core i5-10300HBattery Life 9 hours Right now: $599.99 Lenovo Legion 5i 15" Gaming Laptop w/ Core i5, 8GB, 512GB, 1650 Ti https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops/legion-laptops/legion-5-series/Legion-5i-15/p/88GMY501434 $599.99 at Lenovo.com on 11/27 at 9:00am HP - Pavilion 15.6" Gaming Laptop - AMD Ryzen 5 - 8GB Memory - NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 - 256GB SSD - Shadow Black https://www.bestbuy.com/site/hp-pavilion-15-6-gaming-laptop-amd-ryzen-5-8gb-memory-nvidia-geforce-gtx-1650-256gb-ssd-shadow-black/6427566.p?skuId=6427566 $449.99 at Best Buy on 11/22 ASUS - TUF Gaming 15.6" Laptop - Intel Core i5 - 8GB Memory - NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti - 256GB SSD - Black https://www.bestbuy.com/site/asus-tuf-gaming-15-6-laptop-intel-core-i5-8gb-memory-nvidia-geforce-gtx-1650-ti-256gb-ssd-black/6425894.p?skuId=6425894 $599.99 at Best Buy on 11/22

GottaDEAL 2021 Black Friday Prize Club Posting Thread T-shirt