151–160 of 166 posts
This reminded me of the story about Charles Proteus Steinmetz diagnosing the problem inside a generator at Henry Ford's auto plant just by listening to it very carefully. "Ford, whose electrical engineers couldn’t solve some problems they were having with a gigantic generator, called Steinmetz in to the plant. Upon arriving, Steinmetz rejected all assistance and asked only for a notebook, pencil and cot. According to…
Probably I'm biased because I'm Italian and I grew up eating them, but Parmigiano Reggiano and Grana Padano are hands down the best cheeses there can be. Many people know and consume them only grated on pasta dishes, but they are especially delicious on their own with some good bread or grilled polenta. Also, the crust can be chopped up and added to risotto (as you're cooking it) and they turn into wonderful little c…
Probably I'm biased because I'm Italian and I grew up eating them, but Parmigiano Reggiano and Grana Padano are hands down the best cheeses there can be. Many people know and consume them only grated on pasta dishes, but they are especially delicious on their own with some good bread or grilled polenta. Also, the crust can be chopped up and added to risotto (as you're cooking it) and they turn into wonderful little c…
Um… but pecorino romano exists…
I am glad that this continues to be done by hand, and expect, based on Italian attitudes towards food and tradition, that it will continue being done by hand for another hundred years. It is interesting how important it seems to us that jobs like this remain done in the traditional way. For all their expertise, I am sure a technical solution would also easily be able to detect what they are looking for: voids within…
The watch on my arm is (mostly) handmade and worth a fortune, there are plenty of other cheaper watches that are arguably better due to them being made by robots.
Same principle, I think.
I am glad that this continues to be done by hand, and expect, based on Italian attitudes towards food and tradition, that it will continue being done by hand for another hundred years. It is interesting how important it seems to us that jobs like this remain done in the traditional way. For all their expertise, I am sure a technical solution would also easily be able to detect what they are looking for: voids within…
If the price of cheese was the only factor then I’m sure practices would have changed. But people will pay a premium for what they perceive as a premium product, so practices like this just add to the ‘experience’. The watch on my arm is (mostly) handmade and worth a fortune, there are plenty of other cheaper watches that are arguably better due to them being made by robots. Same principle, I think.
In the world of watches, this logic extends far beyond "handmade vs made by robots". Quartz, for example, is better than automatic & mechanical in every single quantitative metric, yet perceived as lower value due to the lack of craftsmanship.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
What is an appropriate fee to charge any particular customer when what you’re billing for isn’t necessarily time and materials, but more so the skill / experience required to diagnose and rectify an issue, or otherwise provide a solution, in a timely manner? I’d argue the most correct answer is: up to the customers ability to tolerate, such that they’d be inclined to want to become repeat customers.
I'm not asking what's appropriate. I'm asking what is legally obligated.
(heck, even with a written deal, the fine print often matters less that people might think in court, though a badly written contract will sure draw out much more protracted arguments about such details)
I am glad that this continues to be done by hand, and expect, based on Italian attitudes towards food and tradition, that it will continue being done by hand for another hundred years. It is interesting how important it seems to us that jobs like this remain done in the traditional way. For all their expertise, I am sure a technical solution would also easily be able to detect what they are looking for: voids within…
It’s also worth considering that at most you’d be automating 24 jobs.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
As an American, I was never a coffee snob but going to Italy changed that. My god they have it completely mastered.
What do you do now? I have a Flair Espresso machine and get beans from a nearby roaster. I dunno. It seems decent. I don’t consider myself a snob, but I put some effort in. Maybe Italians would be able to tase the defects that I add. But, they are the people who popularized Moka pots so they can’t really be so perfect.
I pretty much drink solely espresso, but will sometimes have cappuccino for breakfast (which is the only time of day that Italy accepts!)
Ultimately, it’s about what you like. It doesn’t really matter what Italy thinks. But as with anything, getting good ingredients and preparing them well makes a difference.
I wouldn’t consider myself a ‘coffee snob’, more a coffee enthusiast :D. Good coffee from ethical sources is just better. People talk of coffee jitters. I don’t get any. And the variety of flavours is awesome.
btw, anyone in the UK: I really like Coffee Bean Shop [1]. It’s a small family owned coffee roaster, with a good variety of flavours. And on every delivery there’s a hand written note from the packer. Usually talking about the weather, but can be a variety of things. It’s very cute in our internet age and genuinely brings a smile to my face every time I open the package. The coffees are excellent too.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
If the price of cheese was the only factor then I’m sure practices would have changed. But people will pay a premium for what they perceive as a premium product, so practices like this just add to the ‘experience’. The watch on my arm is (mostly) handmade and worth a fortune, there are plenty of other cheaper watches that are arguably better due to them being made by robots. Same principle, I think.
> there are plenty of other watches that are arguably better due to them being made by robots In the world of watches, this logic extends far beyond "handmade vs made by robots". Quartz, for example, is better than automatic & mechanical in every single quantitative metric, yet perceived as lower value due to the lack of craftsmanship.
I embrace life’s imperfections :D
Earlier quoted context omitted.
> We're talking about a country where the police has a special olive oil tasting department The US government operates several special tasting departments.
Do the US tasting departments disqualify olive oil for daring to be (gasp!) Spanish in origin though? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkO1dwx2_KA&t=16m00s