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Shaving is an example of how consumer products extract more money

johnwhiles.com

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Re: Shaving is an example of how consumer products extract more money

#281

Post by ekianjo »

> shaving is too expensive

maybe, but many men have decided not to shave anymore anyway

> about gillette and co

I have used both the "disposable" blades (that barely last a week) and the more robust ones that last a month (proper razor blades), and the thing is, the shaving experience is completely difference. The proper razor blades are very sharp and can result in cuts if you are not careful, whereas it's fairly difficult to cut yourself with a Gilette or Schick for that matter. They work in very different dimensions. It's almost not the same product.

Re: Shaving is an example of how consumer products extract more money

#282

Post by travisporter »

caymanjim wrote: post #217
ginko wrote: post #192

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>I wouldn't try frying eggs in a cast iron, for instance (technically you can, but it requires an absurd amount of oil). That's because many cast iron pans you can get these days have unpolished bottoms unlike antique ones. If you get a polished one (or polish it yourself - there's plenty of youtube videos on that) it'll be incredible non-stick. You can also just get a carbon steel pan which doesn't need polishing.

Modern mass-market cast iron is garbage. Lodge's marketing department has managed to convince people that their garbage pans are actually better, and that the texture holds on to seasoning, but it's all nonsense. It's vastly cheaper for them to produce pans by skipping the polishing step. You can still get good polished cast iron, but the pans cost hundreds of dollars. Next time an old relative dies, go raid their ki…

What’s a good brand? I am new to cast iron and have a lodge and am okay with it for breakfast stuff.

Re: Shaving is an example of how consumer products extract more money

#283

Post by hedora »

sandworm101 wrote: post #231
caymanjim wrote: post #205

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I wouldn't try frying eggs in a cast iron, for instance (technically you can, but it requires an absurd amount of oil). You need to learn how to season and care for cast iron. It doesn't take an absurd amount of oil, and the egg should slide out with ease.

>> season and care for cast iron So they need more work and skill than other pans. In other words: they are in fact less convenient . Cast iron also has multiple issues when used with induction ranges, which are by far the most efficient/environmental cookers.

In exchange for learning how to keep it seasoned, you get to use metal cooking instruments again.

Cleaning cast iron is easier than cleaning teflon or stainless. However, you'll want something to scrape it with, and a stanless steel pot scrubber.

We use cast iron on our induction range with no problems. The only issues I've heard of involve scratching. The new models don't seem to have that issue (and cast is no scratchier than stainless, etc).

Re: Shaving is an example of how consumer products extract more money

#284

Post by kstenerud »

jchw wrote: post #221
kstenerud wrote: post #172

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A big reason I bought the Sharp TV is because it has Android TV built in. When it's disconnected from the internet (I haven't connected it to the internet except once to update the firmware), it behaves just like a monitor. Turn it on, it fast-boots in 3 seconds and displays HDMI1 (the last input I selected).

I can give you at least one reason why I do not own a Sharp TV: I haven’t actually seen one for sale. The most obvious place to buy one locally is Best Buy, and my Best Buy has legitimately zero. I could, of course, buy one online, but for TVs I generally haven’t done this in the past. There’s obviously pros and cons to this. This is all getting very silly though. We went from a market where you got what you paid for…

We've gone from a market where you got shit if you weren't careful, to a market where you get shit if you're not careful.

JVC and Panasonic produced garbage CRTs and VCRs and DVD players and stereo equipment for years, but they sold like hotcakes because they were cheap. You had to choose carefully what to buy, and make sure the place had a decent return policy just in case. There were some brands with good reputations, others that were hit-or-miss, and some just plain garbage. Now is no different.

FWIW I bought the Samsung and the Sharp online through Amazon (because they have a good return policy). I returned the Samsung and kept the Sharp.

Re: Shaving is an example of how consumer products extract more money

#285

Post by dbg31415 »

This reads like something my 88-year-old father would write.

"Everything used to be better, and hamburgers should cost a nickle!"

Look, as consumers, we make choices. You can still get a safety-razor on Amazon if you want.

The trouble is... man, if you don't know how to use them right, you can get some nasty cuts. For me... modern idiot-proof razors that this article rants against... well they're just bliss. I can't remember the last time I cut myself shaving.

My Dad said something like, "They sure don't make cars like they used to!" And I said, "No, they don't... they're much safer now, much better gas mileage..."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_r5UJrxcck

Re: Shaving is an example of how consumer products extract more money

#287

Post by bluedino »

Swizec wrote: post #244
gruez wrote: post #158

>Other examples of products that seem to exhibit a similar trend, where purported convenience leads to higher prices >Cooking equipment: essentially indestructible Cast Iron skillets transition into teflon pans. The newer pans perform worse, and must be replaced on a shockingly regular basis. They also seem to be poisonous. They have their uses. I wouldn't try frying eggs in a cast iron, for instance (technically you…

> To my knowledge they're only poisonous during manufacturing (ie. the precursor chemicals) and when they get too hot. Teflon pans kill birds unfortunately. Once you live with a bird, you can’t have any hot teflon in the house because it releases toxic fumes. Fine for a human because we’re large animals, smol birds reach lethal levels within minutes. There’s stories of people turning on an air fryer and their pet bir…

Overheated Teflon. Not egg cooking temps

Re: Shaving is an example of how consumer products extract more money

#288

Post by codingdave »

asciimov wrote: post #210

Word of warning from a 15 year double edge razor user. Just because it can theoretically be cheaper to go the double edge razor route, doesn't actually mean it will be. First there are all those blades to try. Then soap brushes, then soaps (so many artisan soaps). Then you find yourself looking at aftershaves (so many of those too), and balms, you might even decide to try pre-shave products. Then you will find more s…

I've been shaving with double edge razors for decades. I just shave "dry" after I get out of the shower. I have never once used any of those other products. My blades each last a few months (I shave 1-2 times a week), so a package of 100 lasts me... in theory, 25 or so years. Which sounds about right, as I bought a package a decade or so ago and am starting to get towards halfway through.

Shaving can be very simple and cheap.

Re: Shaving is an example of how consumer products extract more money

#289

Post by hedora »

Swizec wrote: post #244
gruez wrote: post #158

>Other examples of products that seem to exhibit a similar trend, where purported convenience leads to higher prices >Cooking equipment: essentially indestructible Cast Iron skillets transition into teflon pans. The newer pans perform worse, and must be replaced on a shockingly regular basis. They also seem to be poisonous. They have their uses. I wouldn't try frying eggs in a cast iron, for instance (technically you…

> To my knowledge they're only poisonous during manufacturing (ie. the precursor chemicals) and when they get too hot. Teflon pans kill birds unfortunately. Once you live with a bird, you can’t have any hot teflon in the house because it releases toxic fumes. Fine for a human because we’re large animals, smol birds reach lethal levels within minutes. There’s stories of people turning on an air fryer and their pet bir…

The plastic handles on pots and pans also kill birds.

Neither are fine for humans. The dosage is still high enough to cause long term health issues. (Mostly cancer and hormone issues.)

Re: Shaving is an example of how consumer products extract more money

#290

Post by moron4hire »

sandworm101 wrote: post #261
moron4hire wrote: post #216

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Step 1: take an angle grinder to the pan and grind the pebbly surface to a smooth finish.

That's maybe step 4. Step one is going to home depo to find a food-safe angle grinder disk.

What? There's no such thing. There won't be any of the disk left over on the pan after your done grinding. And you clean the pan before seasoning it. And seasoning it will burn away/encapsulate anything left over. Stop being such a worry wart.
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