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Ask HN: Something you’ve done your whole life that you realized is wrong?

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Re: Ask HN: Something you’ve done your whole life that you realized is wrong?

#241

Post by onlyrealcuzzo »

yamtaddle wrote: post #79

Not using an electric toothbrush. First time I used one it felt like I'd had a proper dental cleaning. An extremely half-assed effort with that kind of brush beats a thorough one with a manual brush. I thought they were a gimmick, but no, they're amazing.

On the flip side, don't brush your gums too much with an electric toothbrush.

I destroyed my gums when my parents got me an electric toothbrush when I was 13 - and AFAIK - there's still not really any way to repair it.

Please, someone correct me if I'm wrong! Would make my day to be wrong.

Re: Ask HN: Something you’ve done your whole life that you realized is wrong?

#242

Post by tiagod »

gtf21 wrote: post #87

Putting a teaspoon handle-down into a bottle of champagne when putting it in the fridge in order to "retain the fizziness" which I did unquestionably as something we just "did", until I had to tell someone else to do it a few months ago and realised that there was no reason this should work and, lo and behold, it makes no difference whatsoever.

I imagine that could actually make it worse, as it would provide more nucleation sites for the bubbles to form.

Re: Ask HN: Something you’ve done your whole life that you realized is wrong?

#243

Post by aszantu »

yamtaddle wrote: post #79

Not using an electric toothbrush. First time I used one it felt like I'd had a proper dental cleaning. An extremely half-assed effort with that kind of brush beats a thorough one with a manual brush. I thought they were a gimmick, but no, they're amazing.

I recently learned, that you can use crushed eggshells to replenish calcium in teeth, just add them to the toothe paste. (I use a canine supplement)

If you're teeth-grinder at night, a few tiny pieces of eggshells help keep the grinding at bay, because you can grind on a piece of eggshell without danger and then relax again.

Re: Ask HN: Something you’ve done your whole life that you realized is wrong?

#244

Post by toomuchtodo »

Jommi wrote: post #204
ralmidani wrote: post #125

Putting off an annual checkup with a PCP (I’m 42, and the last PCP I had was a pediatrician). I had long suspected my cholesterol and triglycerides were high due to family history and my excessive love for cheese, and last week that suspicion was confirmed. I’m now more resolute than ever on lifestyle changes (exercise, less red meat, getting most of my calcium from 2% milk). On the bright side, I also got reassuranc…

FYI the above is american-focused healthcare language. There are no annual checkups in most other countries outside of certain age or risk groups. You might however get a health checkup from occupational healthcare sometimes! Just putting this a note here for non-american readers so they don't get confused.

Tangentially, it’s common for your employer’s health insurance provider to provide a discount if get an annual physical.

Edit: (US specific)

Re: Ask HN: Something you’ve done your whole life that you realized is wrong?

#245

Post by peeters »

hbn wrote: post #22

Not really "wrong" but at some point in the last couple years I was using my microwave, putting something in for a minute, and for that I've always input 1:00 but suddenly I realized how obvious it was that I can just be inputting 60. As long as you can easily modulo the time, this works for the range 1 minute (60) to 1 minute 39 seconds (99). Technically you could also do this for times like 2:65 instead of 3:05 but…

In must microwaves just pressing 1 (and correspondingly 1-5ish) and nothing else will start the microwave on high for 1 minute at full power. Rather than having to press .

Re: Ask HN: Something you’ve done your whole life that you realized is wrong?

#246

Post by 4ggr0 »

nlh wrote: post #171
muzani wrote: post #29

Pasta and sauce are not meant to be separate. Once you cook the pasta, drain it, and immediately toss with the sauce. This is part of the reason it was meant to be al dente, to absorb and deliver the flavor of the sauce better. Unlike rice, it's fine to "soak" pasta in the sauce; it expands when freshly cooked but not when cool. Also most sauce recipes are probably overcomplicated. Most need less than 5 ingredients.…

Two related tips while on the subject: 1) Salt your pasta water! Pasta is meant to be cooked in salty water that, according and excellently-put by Samin Nosrat (Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat) - "is reminiscent of the sea". 2) Save and use a splash of ("dirty") pasta water - aka the water the pasta was just cooked in - when you're tossing the pasta with the sauce. The water is filled with delightful liquified starch from the…

> "is reminiscent of the sea"

Had lots of funny moments in my life relating to salting pasta water. Almost all the people I know put like two pinches of salt into the water. Which causes them to look at me like I'm a psycho when I pour salt in for almost a full second, straight out of the container.

I can +1 both of your tips, I follow them both since I learned to cook and they're a (small but effective) game-changer.

Re: Ask HN: Something you’ve done your whole life that you realized is wrong?

#247

Post by mrguyorama »

SpaceL10n wrote: post #74
muzani wrote: post #29

Pasta and sauce are not meant to be separate. Once you cook the pasta, drain it, and immediately toss with the sauce. This is part of the reason it was meant to be al dente, to absorb and deliver the flavor of the sauce better. Unlike rice, it's fine to "soak" pasta in the sauce; it expands when freshly cooked but not when cool. Also most sauce recipes are probably overcomplicated. Most need less than 5 ingredients.…

To mix or not to mix? That is the question. Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer, the soaking of pasta in outrageous marinara, or to take arms against a sea of sauce. I remember Anthony Bourdain asking his Sicilian family this question, and the table erupted in hot debate. I'm not sure you are "wrong".

Mixing and finishing the pasta in the sauce results in better tasting food. I don't care if some angry Sicilian claims that's not "authentic" or some garbage. They don't own the concept of pasta in tomato sauce anymore.

Re: Ask HN: Something you’ve done your whole life that you realized is wrong?

#248

Post by tashoecraft »

JTbane wrote: post #193
tashoecraft wrote: post #163

Wearing modern shoes. As a society, we have somehow led everyone down the path that feet must be wrapped in socks that constrict the feet, then placed in shoes that are designed for looks and not anatomy. It's led to generations of people that have weak feet, and unnecessary pain all throughout their body because the base of what they stand on has been weakened. Wearing toe socks and minimalist shoes, combined with g…

In a similar vein I found flat-soled shoes like Converse sneakers are a dream to wear during daily activities, rather than arch-supported shoes.

Definitely a good start. It can be difficult for many to transition as you are trying to use muscles that haven't been engaged properly for decades.

Re: Ask HN: Something you’ve done your whole life that you realized is wrong?

#249

Post by Topgamer7 »

paulbjensen wrote: post #136

Peeling bananas. I used to open them from the hard stem bit which was not always successful, but it turns out that if you pinch them at the other end, they open up much easier: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8svUCSuMS4

Grab with two hands, break apart in the middle.

Re: Ask HN: Something you’ve done your whole life that you realized is wrong?

#250

Post by Broken_Hippo »

com2kid wrote: post #76
mtlynch wrote: post #33

Staying warm. In the winter, I used to stay warm by turning up the thermostat. Then I discovered (via HN) the Low-Tech Magazine article, "Insulation: first the body, then the home." [0] The article argued that it's much more efficient to focus on heating yourself rather than your whole living space. I invested in high-quality wool clothes that I wear in layers and warm slippers. Now, I keep my home about 5 degrees F…

This completely fails for me. I will end up with freezing cold hands and a warm body. Put me in a 65f room and after an hour of being idle my hands will start to go numb from the cold.

Have you seen a doctor about this just to make sure you don't have circulation issues?

Alternatively, keep some fingerless gloves around - or learn to knit/crochet/sew and make some (they aren't all that complicated for something basic). For around the house, you could honestly convert some socks if you aren't worried about how they might look. I'd get some of the no-fray glue they sell at craft stores if you go this route. These are great when you are idle.

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