Ship of Fools: Style over Substance

Thread: Style over Substance Board: Oblivion / Ship of Fools.

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Posted by argona (# 14037) on 17 August, 2013 14:33 :

Take smartphones. Makers leapfrog each other to offer the slimmest phone on the planet, never mind that there's no room for a battery that will take a day's hard use. Is a phone a tool or a fashion accessory? The latter, it seems. I bought a charger case. My phone is twice as fat and a bit heavier, but it's not dead in my hand by early evening.

Any other examples?

Posted by L'organist (# 17338) on 17 August, 2013 14:45 :

High heels - not just useless for walking (which is what feet are designed for) but also harmful to the feet.

Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on 17 August, 2013 19:08 :

The private motor car. If one travels 10,000 miles at an average of 25 mph that is how many hours of use in a year?

400. Yup, about an hour a day. For the other 23 it's going nowhere & doing nothing, except getting closer to the scrappers.

Posted by Porridge (# 15405) on 18 August, 2013 18:37 :

Pantyhose. What is the point of covering legs if the coverings don't even keep the legs warm?

Posted by Amorya (# 2652) on 18 August, 2013 18:52 :

quote:
Originally posted by Sioni Sais:
The private motor car. If one travels 10,000 miles at an average of 25 mph that is how many hours of use in a year?

400. Yup, about an hour a day. For the other 23 it's going nowhere & doing nothing, except getting closer to the scrappers.

That sounds like pretty good utilisation for a possession to me. Many other household objects get much less use: those books that you only read once in a while; a food processor that you only get out when making soup; the lawn mower that gets used twice a month in Summer. Why single out the car?

Posted by Badger Lady (# 13453) on 18 August, 2013 19:00 :

quote:
Originally posted by Porridge:
Pantyhose. What is the point of covering legs if the coverings don't even keep the legs warm?

Are pantyhose the same as tights (or stocking/holdups/nylons)? If so, they do keep your legs warm.

Posted by Sir Kevin (# 3492) on 18 August, 2013 19:07 :

quote:
Originally posted by Sioni Sais:
The private motor car. If one travels 10,000 miles at an average of 25 mph that is how many hours of use in a year?

I like cars. I'm a gear-head AND I probably drive 45 MPH on average, spending most of my commute on the motorways. Besides that, it's to hot to walk here much of the year!

Mechanical pencils: many have no eraser. There is some satisfaction in sharpening a US-made wooden yellow pencil.

Posted by Jane R (# 331) on 18 August, 2013 20:03 :

Ring-pull food cans. Yes, they may be a boon to people who are too lazy to remember where their tin-opener is but you need to have muscles on your muscles to open one. I work out three times a week and I struggle with them. My mother-in-law, who's in her eighties and lives alone, has had to give up some of her favourite soups because she can't get them out of the can.

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on 18 August, 2013 20:11 :

You can still open them by running a tin-opener round the underneath of the tin, or getting one of those electric tin-openers to do it for you.

And to add to this list, e-readers. I've said it before, but I can still pick up a book printed decades ago and just read it. It doesn't need recharging, batteries or upgrades and I won't have to have it replaced in a couple of years. It doesn't matter if I sit on it, drop it in the bath or swat flies with it, either.

Posted by Penny S (# 14768) on 18 August, 2013 21:15 :

Strangely I was telling someone the other day what I wore in my teens before tights/pantyhose, when the skirts started to get a bit shorter. There was an abominable gap between stocking top and knickers which got excruciatingly cold in winter, with chapped skin and other uncomfortable symptoms.
To ease these phenomena, manufacturers brought out stretchy things like cycle shorts in various colours, such as black (no proper girl wears black underwear, said our deputy head), scarlet, and tartan patterns, with thin strips of lace around the edges, which filled the gap and kept things warm. What a joy was the invention of tights! I can't for the life of me remember what those things were called.

Posted by Curiosity killed ... (# 11770) on 18 August, 2013 21:19 :

Directoire knickers? (and, no, I don't know why I know that either)

Posted by Penny S (# 14768) on 18 August, 2013 21:49 :

No, that was what our weird teachers wore in summer, and they were silky and had elastic round the lower edge. And if you wear them, you should not sit on the desk and cross your legs - that's how I know!
We would not have had any truck with the things if they had shared the name with those. These were stretchy jersey fabric, so the shape of cycle shorts, close fitting. Less lycra, though!

Posted by Jengie Jon (# 273) on 18 August, 2013 21:58 :

My memory is turning up the word "step-in" which I think was the name we gave to an elasticated pair of knickers worn over tights to keep them up and are now sold for tummy control.

Jengie

Posted by Firenze (# 619) on 18 August, 2013 22:05 :

quote:
Originally posted by Penny S:

To ease these phenomena, manufacturers brought out stretchy things like cycle shorts in various colours, such as black (no proper girl wears black underwear, said our deputy head), scarlet, and tartan patterns, with thin strips of lace around the edges, which filled the gap and kept things warm.

I remember those. They had matching vest tops, so you could be encased from neck to just about knee like a 1920s bathing suit. I can't remember a name either, but my mother was dead keen on them (on account of the keeping warm thing) - but the red set would stobe through the white nylon school blouse.

Posted by luvanddaisies (# 5761) on 18 August, 2013 22:22 :

quote:
Originally posted by Jane R:
Ring-pull food cans. Yes, they may be a boon to people who are too lazy to remember where their tin-opener is but you need to have muscles on your muscles to open one. I work out three times a week and I struggle with them. My mother-in-law, who's in her eighties and lives alone, has had to give up some of her favourite soups because she can't get them out of the can.

Use the handle of a spoon under the ring-pull to lever it up a wee bit, then turn it around so the curvy bit of spoon sits on the top of the tin and use the handle as a lever. Bigger lever makes less effort. I think there are thingies one can buy as well that are less improvisatory to make opening tins and things easier.

Back on the subject of the thread; ties. I never understood why they existed when I was as school, but am relieved that, being a girl, school was the end of me having to wear one.

Posted by Penny S (# 14768) on 18 August, 2013 22:34 :

But I am glad that I was taught how to tie a tie, since the simple knot of school works very well for keeping flyaway scarves under control, and undoes easily. I have the knot half way down, making a V-shape.

I think the school tie was burned on the beach, along with our thick brown PE knickers, on the last day of school.

Posted by la vie en rouge (# 10688) on 19 August, 2013 09:40 :

Those juice cartons with the little plastic pouring spout: they Do Not Pour and get juice all over your kitchen counters.

Someone became a millionaire inventing them. [Roll Eyes]

Posted by Firenze (# 619) on 19 August, 2013 10:22 :

I'm looking in no friendly manner at our new toaster which is designed to hold only teensy-weensy bijou slicettes of bread.

Posted by que sais-je (# 17185) on 19 August, 2013 20:53 :

Reality TV.

I know, I'm an old grump.

Posted by Jengie Jon (# 273) on 19 August, 2013 21:08 :

quote:
Originally posted by que sais-je:
Reality TV.

I know, I'm an old grump.

Uhm I think they are bereft of both style and substance.

Jengie

Posted by Stercus Tauri (# 16668) on 19 August, 2013 21:09 :

I wore a tie every day except Saturday, for years and years and years from grammar school until my hair went grey (this was a considerable period of time). One day I looked in the mirror and asked, "Why the hell are you doing this? It looks weird and serves no useful purpose." There was no answer, and I kicked the habit there and then.

Posted by Palimpsest (# 16772) on 19 August, 2013 21:45 :

quote:
Originally posted by Jane R:
Ring-pull food cans. Yes, they may be a boon to people who are too lazy to remember where their tin-opener is but you need to have muscles on your muscles to open one. I work out three times a week and I struggle with them. My mother-in-law, who's in her eighties and lives alone, has had to give up some of her favourite soups because she can't get them out of the can.

A nice present for your mother-in-law might be a
Ring Pull Can Opener which google or amazon will show you. For a few dollars she can once again re-open the foods of yesteryear.

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on 19 August, 2013 21:47 :

Or get one of those electric tin-openers. It holds the can in place with a magnet, you press a button and the thing opens the can effortlessly. Mine is a blessing.

Posted by Palimpsest (# 16772) on 19 August, 2013 21:50 :

I believe the British Medical Establishment decided to prohibit Doctors from wearing ties. They are never cleaned, but parked on the back of an office door and turned out to be a major way for disease transmission.

My last hospital stay was enlivened by pointing this factoid out to my doctors in their tie and jacket. They didn't seem keen on my suggestion of a disposable one use tie.

Posted by Leorning Cniht (# 17564) on 20 August, 2013 04:30 :

quote:
Originally posted by Sioni Sais:
The private motor car. If one travels 10,000 miles at an average of 25 mph that is how many hours of use in a year?

400. Yup, about an hour a day. For the other 23 it's going nowhere & doing nothing, except getting closer to the scrappers.

By your metric, my car gets much more use than my toilet, so it's time to send the crapper to the scrapper?

The real metric is "can I accomplish what I need to accomplish in a simpler, less showy fashion" and the truth is that for most car-owners, there is no more reasonable way to get to the places that they need to go at the times they need to go there.

ETA: Now if we're talking about particular kinds of car...

quote:
Originally posted by Palimpsest:
I believe the British Medical Establishment decided to prohibit Doctors from wearing ties.

I could tell you an amusing story about a rather senior consultant surgeon, his tie, and a defibrillator training session...

[ 20. August 2013, 03:31: Message edited by: Leorning Cniht ]

Posted by Latchkey Kid (# 12444) on 20 August, 2013 04:47 :

quote:
Originally posted by Leorning Cniht:
I could tell you an amusing story about a rather senior consultant surgeon, his tie, and a defibrillator training session...

Please do.

Posted by Huia (# 3473) on 20 August, 2013 08:40 :

quote:
Originally posted by Penny S:

To ease these phenomena, manufacturers brought out stretchy things like cycle shorts in various colours, such as black (no proper girl wears black underwear, said our deputy head), scarlet, and tartan patterns, with thin strips of lace around the edges, which filled the gap and kept things warm. What a joy was the invention of tights! I can't for the life of me remember what those things were called.

They were called witches britches in New Zealand. They were also a great hit with some elderly women I knew.

Huia

Huia

Posted by Jane R (# 331) on 20 August, 2013 08:46 :

Palimpsest:

quote:
A nice present for your mother-in-law might be a
Ring Pull Can Opener which google or amazon will show you.

Thanks, I'll look out for one. She's more likely to use something like that - she doesn't really like new electrical gadgets so if we bought her an electric can opener she wouldn't use it.

Here's another one; the automatic rounding up of numbers in Microsoft Excel. Yes, I know you can turn it off (and I do) - but WHY is it the default? What strange alternate universe do the Microsoft programmers inhabit where everyone types in 1.99 when they mean 2?

Posted by cheesymarzipan (# 9442) on 20 August, 2013 12:45 :

quote:
Originally posted by Jane R:
Here's another one; the automatic rounding up of numbers in Microsoft Excel. Yes, I know you can turn it off (and I do) - but WHY is it the default? What strange alternate universe do the Microsoft programmers inhabit where everyone types in 1.99 when they mean 2?

It's not the number you type in that are the problem - it's the numbers you get when you divide by 3, or 7, or anything else that might end up with recurring decimal places. Spreadsheets are for calculating, after all...

But what about those sleeveless jumper things that were in fashion a couple of years ago? If I'm wearing a wooly jumper, my arms want to be warm as well as the rest of me!
And why don't skirts have pockets? One day i'm going to sit down and add pockets to all my skirts, I swear.
grumble grumble grumble

Posted by Hedgehog (# 14125) on 20 August, 2013 13:35 :

Canned shaving cream. Actually, it is not the can that bothers me. But the makers insist on pushing how thick their lather is. Why? It is applied to the face to assist shaving--the only layer that counts is the one next to the skin, where the blade is going to be. The rest of that "thick and luxurious" lather is just sitting up in the air serving no purpose at all.

Posted by Penny S (# 14768) on 20 August, 2013 13:41 :

Women aren't supposed to have pockets. They have handbags. Some trousers don't have them, either. Drives me up the wall.

Saves money for the manufacturers, less fabric, fewer processes.

If I am making things with no pockets in the pattern, I hijack the pattern from one with them and add them.

Anne Fine wrote about this problem in "Bill's New Frock".

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on 20 August, 2013 14:12 :

On the back of that, trousers and jackets that have flaps stitched on to look like pockets, but which are completely unusable.

[ 20. August 2013, 13:13: Message edited by: Ariel ]

Posted by The Phantom Flan Flinger (# 8891) on 20 August, 2013 14:34 :

quote:
Originally posted by Penny S:

To ease these phenomena, manufacturers brought out stretchy things like cycle shorts in various colours, such as black (no proper girl wears black underwear, said our deputy head), scarlet, and tartan patterns, with thin strips of lace around the edges, which filled the gap and kept things warm. What a joy was the invention of tights! I can't for the life of me remember what those things were called.

I understand these and similar garments are called harvest festivals.

(All is safely gathered in......)

Also, black underwear? What's the issue there?

Posted by Firenze (# 619) on 20 August, 2013 14:50 :

quote:
Originally posted by The Phantom Flan Flinger:

quote:
Originally posted by Penny S:

To ease these phenomena, manufacturers brought out stretchy things like cycle shorts in various colours, such as black (no proper girl wears black underwear, said our deputy head), scarlet, and tartan patterns, with thin strips of lace around the edges, which filled the gap and kept things warm. What a joy was the invention of tights! I can't for the life of me remember what those things were called.
I understand these and similar garments are called harvest festivals.

(All is safely gathered in......)

I think you'd be wrong. That implies a degree of corsetry, whereas these were stretch nylon. That was part of the appeal - they were a lot less hampering than much of the underwear wished on one growing up. Preferable to the chunky-knit vests for a start.

Posted by ecumaniac (# 376) on 20 August, 2013 15:26 :

quote:
Originally posted by Ariel:
On the back of that, trousers and jackets that have flaps stitched on to look like pockets, but which are completely unusable.

They make your bum look nicer. So yes, style over substance!!

Stocking/hosiery -> makes wearing shoes more comfortable, as it reduces the friction between skin and shoe. Plus it reduces chub-rub when wearing skirts or dresses.

Posted by Sandemaniac (# 12829) on 20 August, 2013 16:46 :

quote:
Originally posted by ecumaniac:
Plus it reduces chub-rub

That is a phrase I must remember!
[Killing me]

Personally, and I realise this might be better suited to the camera talk thread, I've always been a fan of the Werra camera (at bottom of page) - no frills, no extra gizmos, yet still looks good and works superbly.*

AG

*Owners of the latest digital offerings may disagree, but it works for me!

Posted by que sais-je (# 17185) on 20 August, 2013 18:09 :

quote:
Originally posted by Stercus Tauri:
I wore a tie every day except Saturday, for years and years and years from grammar school until my hair went grey (this was a considerable period of time). One day I looked in the mirror and asked, "Why the hell are you doing this? It looks weird and serves no useful purpose." There was no answer, and I kicked the habit there and then.

I entirely agree - though I gave up well before you. I still have one tie - a black one for funerals. There I feel it's about how elderly friends and relatives might react.

Ties are about the only item of clothing that give men a look in on the otherwise female monopoly on odd garments. Unless anyone can suggest another.

Posted by Penny S (# 14768) on 20 August, 2013 18:26 :

Liberty bodices. Liberty from what? For whom? And what were the other buttons for?

Posted by Sir Kevin (# 3492) on 20 August, 2013 19:00 :

I never wear a tie to mass or other church activities and if I have to go to a funeral, I just dress all in black. I am expected to wear a tie to sing with our Irish choir at Christmas time and was given one for the purpose. I have not worn a suit to work since I was a stockbroker back in the eighties.

Posted by Graven Image (# 8755) on 20 August, 2013 19:40 :

ice tea maker

You boils your water, you brews your tea, you adds your ice. The electric ice tea maker is a total waste of money. IMHO

Posted by PeteC (# 10422) on 20 August, 2013 20:01 :

quote:
Originally posted by Graven Image:
ice tea maker

You boils your water, you brews your tea, you adds your ice. The electric ice tea maker is a total waste of money. IMHO

Not only that, but iced tea is an Abomination Unto the Sight of God™

Posted by QLib (# 43) on 20 August, 2013 20:29 :

quote:
Originally posted by PeteC:
... iced tea is an Abomination Unto the Sight of God™

I defy you to say that about my iced tea with tonic.

Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on 20 August, 2013 20:43 :

quote:
Originally posted by la vie en rouge:
Those juice cartons with the little plastic pouring spout: they Do Not Pour and get juice all over your kitchen counters.

You must shop at Carrefour Market [Razz]

Carrefour Market milk cartons for the fail. Géant fruit juice cartons for the win.

I offer you duvet covers. If a simple-to-change version cannot be devised, can a world standard version at least be adopted?

Posted by Kitten (# 1179) on 20 August, 2013 21:38 :

quote:
Originally posted by Eutychus:

I offer you duvet covers. If a simple-to-change version cannot be devised, can a world standard version at least be adopted?

Like this perhaps?

[ 20. August 2013, 20:39: Message edited by: Kitten ]

Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on 20 August, 2013 22:43 :

quote:
Originally posted by Kitten:
Like this perhaps?

I think you have an extra "http" in there. Try this.

Posted by PeteC (# 10422) on 20 August, 2013 22:55 :

quote:
Originally posted by QLib:

quote:
Originally posted by PeteC:
... iced tea is an Abomination Unto the Sight of God™
I defy you to say that about my iced tea with tonic.

If there is GIN in it, it becomes instantly acceptable.

Posted by Graven Image (# 8755) on 20 August, 2013 23:23 :

Pete C posted

quote:

Not only that, but iced tea is an Abomination Unto the Sight of God™

Clearly you are thinking of sweet tea which is an abomination.

Posted by ArachnidinElmet (# 17346) on 21 August, 2013 00:35 :

About 50% of stuff in cookshops.

A spoon rest? An egg-slicer? An egg yolk separator? [Disappointed]

Posted by georgiaboy (# 11294) on 21 August, 2013 01:38 :

quote:
Originally posted by QLib:

quote:
Originally posted by PeteC:
... iced tea is an Abomination Unto the Sight of God™
I defy you to say that about my iced tea with tonic.

'iced tea with tonic' -- please explain!

Posted by georgiaboy (# 11294) on 21 August, 2013 01:42 :

quote:
Originally posted by Graven Image:
Pete C posted
quote:

Not only that, but iced tea is an Abomination Unto the Sight of God™
Clearly you are thinking of sweet tea which is an abomination.

Since 'sweet tea' is known here in the Low Country as 'the house wine of the South' you are clearly teading on regional toes! [Big Grin]

Posted by georgiaboy (# 11294) on 21 August, 2013 01:44 :

Sorry! 'treading' of course.

Posted by Palimpsest (# 16772) on 21 August, 2013 06:24 :

quote:
Originally posted by Kitten:

quote:
Originally posted by Eutychus:

I offer you duvet covers. If a simple-to-change version cannot be devised, can a world standard version at least be adopted?
Like this perhaps?

It looks interesting although there's no exact match for the US queen size and it's polyester. But I was stopped by the description of the bed runner. Does that serve any purpose other than to be thrown on the floor? Is it just a hotel idea gone wrong?

Posted by comet (# 10353) on 21 August, 2013 06:49 :

erm... crotchless panties. I'd rather go commando.

(yes, yes, I know. but if I don't lower the tone of the conversation, who will?)

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on 21 August, 2013 07:49 :

quote:
Originally posted by comet:
erm... crotchless panties. I'd rather go commando.

Agreed!

The whole point of panties is the crotch!

Posted by QLib (# 43) on 21 August, 2013 08:00 :

quote:
Originally posted by georgiaboy:

quote:
Originally posted by QLib:

quote:
Originally posted by PeteC:
... iced tea is an Abomination Unto the Sight of God™
I defy you to say that about my iced tea with tonic.
'iced tea with tonic' -- please explain!

Cold, strong Assam tea - with absolutely no sugar - ice, crushed sprig of mint, slice of lemon or lime and tonic water. You can also add mint when you originally make the tea, if you like.

Posted by jedijudy (# 333) on 21 August, 2013 13:53 :

quote:
Originally posted by comet:

(yes, yes, I know. but if I don't lower the tone of the conversation, who will?)

That was for the bunny poo I scattered in Hell, wasn't it? [Biased]

Cracker Barrel rocking chairs. They are pretty on the porch, and look comfy. That would be for the people who are much taller than me. That's why I love my antique rocker that fits my short legs perfectly.

There are a lot of things sold that seem to assume that tall folks are the only consumers.

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on 21 August, 2013 14:11 :

quote:
Originally posted by jedijudy:
There are a lot of things sold that seem to assume that tall folks are the only consumers.

Hear hear!

Posted by Kitten (# 1179) on 21 August, 2013 17:19 :

On the other hand, standard height sinks & work surfaces are definitely not designed with the tall in mind

Posted by Otter (# 12020) on 21 August, 2013 17:46 :

quote:
Originally posted by jedijudy:

Cracker Barrel rocking chairs. They are pretty on the porch, and look comfy. That would be for the people who are much taller than me.[/QB]

IIRC Cracker Barrel rocking chairs will actually rock, which is an improvement over the rocking chair I was given when pregnant, which was designed in such a way that it wouldn't rock! It didn't long encumber apartment for very long.

Posted by Moo (# 107) on 21 August, 2013 22:18 :

quote:
Originally posted by Kitten:
On the other hand, standard height sinks & work surfaces are definitely not designed with the tall in mind

Or the short.

When I work at a kitchen counter I have to raise my shoulders up.

Moo

Posted by comet (# 10353) on 22 August, 2013 03:29 :

quote:
Originally posted by jedijudy:

quote:
Originally posted by comet:

(yes, yes, I know. but if I don't lower the tone of the conversation, who will?)
That was for the bunny poo I scattered in Hell, wasn't it?

payback's a bitch, ain't it? [Razz]

Posted by jedijudy (# 333) on 22 August, 2013 13:16 :

Comet! [Snigger]

Another short person problem. I finally broke down and replaced my broken down mattress. Hoo boy. Then I had to buy a step stool to get into the thing.

So far it's OK, but I almost fell getting out of it last week, and have thought I might have to get rid of the bed frame and just put the mattress and box spring on the floor.

Who ever thought having a tall, tall bed was a good idea? I'm no princess, and there's no pea hidden underneath.

Posted by The Phantom Flan Flinger (# 8891) on 22 August, 2013 13:24 :

quote:
Originally posted by comet:
erm... crotchless panties. I'd rather go commando.

I'd have thought that crotchless panties are devoid of both style AND substance?

Posted by Heavenly Anarchist (# 13313) on 22 August, 2013 13:28 :

We recently got a new, deeper mattress. It is lovely and comfortable but near impossible to buy fitted sheets for, especially as our bed is a vintage small double.

Joining the short persons here, I am 4 foot 11. My bright red kickstool in the kitchen is one of the best investments I have ever made. Yet I still can't reach the shelf above the cupboard where my husband insists on putting the spare mixing bowls [Roll Eyes]

[ 22. August 2013, 12:29: Message edited by: Heavenly Anarchist ]

Posted by lily pad (# 11456) on 22 August, 2013 14:34 :

quote:
Originally posted by jedijudy:
Comet!

Another short person problem. I finally broke down and replaced my broken down mattress. Hoo boy. Then I had to buy a step stool to get into the thing.

So far it's OK, but I almost fell getting out of it last week, and have thought I might have to get rid of the bed frame and just put the mattress and box spring on the floor.

Who ever thought having a tall, tall bed was a good idea? I'm no princess, and there's no pea hidden underneath.

They now sell box spring mattresses that are half the depth of the old ones to go with the new style of mattresses.

I still have a regular mattress and cannot find sheets that aren't way too deep. Have had to resort to funny elastic clips to keep the fitted sheet on the bed.

[ 22. August 2013, 13:36: Message edited by: lily pad ]

Posted by Penny S (# 14768) on 22 August, 2013 14:53 :

I have a 3ft6in wide bed. Normal depth. Why don't double sheets tuck in properly at top and bottom? I tried the elastic things - didn't work. I have to buy king size - doing sides to middle when the time comes won't be a problem.

I'm not even trying fitted.

Posted by leo (# 1458) on 22 August, 2013 15:00 :

IKEA sell sheets with larger proportions.

[ 22. August 2013, 14:01: Message edited by: leo ]

Posted by Sir Kevin (# 3492) on 22 August, 2013 15:05 :

quote:
Originally posted by Heavenly Anarchist:
...I still can't reach the shelf above the cupboard where my husband insists on putting the spare mixing bowls

I keep our spare mixing bowls on the counter by the dining room pass-through on the chrome-plated 1952 Dormeyer industrial mixer I inherited or under the counter next to the fridge. The only things I keep on high shelves are olive oil, whisky or extra wine and I have to stand on tip-toe to reach them: I am 5'-10".

Posted by Penny S (# 14768) on 22 August, 2013 18:04 :

quote:
Originally posted by leo:
IKEA sell sheets with larger proportions.

Yup, that's where the last one came from, I'd forgotten that - dyed it to the right colour myself.

Posted by balaam (# 4543) on 22 August, 2013 19:48 :

quote:
Originally posted by Moo:

quote:
Originally posted by Kitten:
On the other hand, standard height sinks & work surfaces are definitely not designed with the tall in mind
Or the short.

When I work at a kitchen counter I have to raise my shoulders up.

Moo

Sloping kitchen units, that's the idea, so the short can use one end and the tall the other, what's wrong with that? Apart from when you are baking and put down the rolling pin, and it disappears down the other end. No, on second thoughts, that's not going to work.

Let's try some lateral thinking.... how about a kitchen with a sloping floor?

Posted by Gextvedde (# 11084) on 22 August, 2013 20:20 :

Certain brands of bagless vacuum cleaner with so many filters to clean that it would be quicker to change the bloody bag [Disappointed]

Posted by georgiaboy (# 11294) on 23 August, 2013 00:22 :

quote:
Originally posted by QLib:

quote:
Originally posted by georgiaboy:

quote:
Originally posted by QLib:

quote:
Originally posted by PeteC:
... iced tea is an Abomination Unto the Sight of God™
I defy you to say that about my iced tea with tonic.
'iced tea with tonic' -- please explain!
Cold, strong Assam tea - with absolutely no sugar - ice, crushed sprig of mint, slice of lemon or lime and tonic water. You can also add mint when you originally make the tea, if you like.

Thank you. That sounds rather tasty!

Posted by Sir Kevin (# 3492) on 23 August, 2013 00:34 :

quote:
Originally posted by georgiaboy:

Thank you. That sounds rather tasty!

It still wants GIN. Hold the tea!

If you must drink iced tea, drink sugarlessly sweetened green tea with ginseng or pomegranate as I do....

Posted by RuthW (# 13) on 23 August, 2013 05:04 :

quote:
Originally posted by ArachnidinElmet:
About 50% of stuff in cookshops.

A spoon rest? An egg-slicer? An egg yolk separator?

I have an egg-slicer and I use it regularly! Sure, I don't need it, I could live without it, but ... it's just so nifty. And it just goes in the deep drawer with a bunch of other kitchen stuff, so it's not taking up extra room. I like nice slices of egg on salads, and the egg-slicer also makes it easier to squish up boiled eggs for egg salad sandwiches.

Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on 23 August, 2013 05:50 :

quote:
Originally posted by RuthW:
and the egg-slicer also makes it easier to squish up boiled eggs for egg salad sandwiches.

Indeed it does.

Posted by Sir Kevin (# 3492) on 23 August, 2013 05:56 :

We don't need one: we never have egg salad. We have eggs three times a week and what I could use is a bacon-slice splitter - my wife cooks the eggs in grease after I cook the bacon but today's Farmer John bacon is too long for even the largest frying pan!

[brick wall]

Posted by la vie en rouge (# 10688) on 23 August, 2013 09:33 :

All you people having woes with your bedding know you could just use flat sheets, right? Pulled tight, hospital corners, stays put forever.

rouge (one-time hotel employee)

Posted by PeteC (# 10422) on 23 August, 2013 10:39 :

quote:
Originally posted by Sir Kevin:
We don't need one: we never have egg salad. We have eggs three times a week and what I could use is a bacon-slice splitter - my wife cooks the eggs in grease after I cook the bacon but today's Farmer John bacon is too long for even the largest frying pan!

Two choices

Kitchen scissors (dead useful, they are)
Sharp knives (whatever will they think of next?)

Posted by Firenze (# 619) on 23 August, 2013 11:04 :

Induction hobs. Should be renamed deduction - since you are required to guess why, when you have worked out the sequence of buttons which turns it on and selects a plate, all you get is a flashing 'F'. While this suggests a monosyllable which you will use freely from now on, it doesn't really point to placing a pan on there (faucepan? fookware?). Still less does it hint that not just any old saucepan, but a particular sort. And it is totally silent on the point that few if any of the ones in the cupboards of this here holiday cottage are such.

Bitter? Moi?

Posted by Penny S (# 14768) on 23 August, 2013 15:34 :

quote:
Originally posted by la vie en rouge:
All you people having woes with your bedding know you could just use flat sheets, right? Pulled tight, hospital corners, stays put forever.

rouge (one-time hotel employee)

Do use flat sheets - and hospital corners. Where I differ from a hotel is that I don't redo them every day, just smooth things over. And the shorter sheets pull out.

Posted by Sir Kevin (# 3492) on 23 August, 2013 23:42 :

quote:
Originally posted by PeteC:

Kitchen scissors (dead useful, they are)

Precisely what I use at this point in time! Bloody greasy though....

Posted by jedijudy (# 333) on 24 August, 2013 02:48 :

That's what dish detergent is for, Sir Kevin! [Big Grin]

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