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Discussion Overview

The thread discusses various random thoughts and observations, touching on topics such as media programming, personal anecdotes, language use, and mathematical curiosities. The scope includes informal commentary, humor, and reflections on everyday experiences.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express frustration with the quality of documentaries on channels like the History Channel and National Geographic, suggesting a decline in factual programming.
  • There is a humorous anecdote about discovering a polythene bag obstructing a kitchen extractor fan, leading to a discussion about the clarity of installation manuals.
  • Participants share thoughts on the nature of prime numbers, particularly regarding the status of the number 2 and its implications for mathematical proofs.
  • There are reflections on language use and the reactions to grammatical errors made by native speakers, with some participants sharing their personal responses to such situations.
  • One participant humorously suggests that if 2 were not considered prime, it would complicate the understanding of prime factors in even numbers.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

The discussion contains multiple competing views, particularly regarding the status of the number 2 as a prime and the quality of media programming. No consensus is reached on these topics.

Contextual Notes

Participants express varying degrees of skepticism and humor, with some comments reflecting personal experiences and subjective opinions rather than objective analysis.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in informal discussions about media, language, and mathematics may find this thread engaging.

  • #7,321
The email to " Prof Escalera" was translated to " Stair Master".
 
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  • #7,322
WWGD said:
" Stair Master"
The AI probably heard of this:
SMGAUNTLETD1-2T.jpg
 
  • #7,323
  • #7,324
Has anyone seen Chick-Fil-A shrinkflation?

Not sure if it's just my imagination or not, but their breakfast sandwiches (e.g., chicken biscuit...egg, sausage and cheese biscuits/muffins...) seem smaller.

I know restaurant inflation has been taking place:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...oost-menu-prices-at-fast-clip-to-recoup-costs

U.S. restaurants, faced with higher food and labor costs, are raising menu prices at a much faster pace than historical rates, insistent on preserving profits after an arduous year.

From local restaurants to national chains like Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc., owners have boosted prices by as much as 5% in the past few weeks alone. Even at fast-food companies that were locked in price wars just a couple of years ago to win over cost-conscious consumers, increases aren’t taboo anymore.
But, CFA's version seems (not sure) like shrinkflation. It's been a year since I've had them, so I don't recall 100% what they're like then. Pricing feels about the same.
 
  • #7,325
kyphysics said:
Has anyone seen Chick-Fil-A shrinkflation?

Not sure if it's just my imagination or not, but their breakfast sandwiches (e.g., chicken biscuit...egg, sausage and cheese biscuits/muffins...) seem smaller.

I know restaurant inflation has been taking place:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...oost-menu-prices-at-fast-clip-to-recoup-costsBut, CFA's version seems (not sure) like shrinkflation. It's been a year since I've had them, so I don't recall 100% what they're like then. Pricing feels about the same.
I had a chicken biscuit this week. Didn’t notice anything. In my experience, there is a fair amount of variance in both the chicken and the biscuit size.
 
  • #7,326
caz said:
I had a chicken biscuit this week. Didn’t notice anything. In my experience, there is a fair amount of variance in both the chicken and the biscuit size.
Strange; I thought the whole point of chains was to provide standardization, which usually implies little variability.
 
  • #7,327
kyphysics said:
Has anyone seen Chick-Fil-A shrinkflation?

Not sure if it's just my imagination or not, but their breakfast sandwiches (e.g., chicken biscuit...egg, sausage and cheese biscuits/muffins...) seem smaller.

I know restaurant inflation has been taking place:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...oost-menu-prices-at-fast-clip-to-recoup-costsBut, CFA's version seems (not sure) like shrinkflation. It's been a year since I've had them, so I don't recall 100% what they're like then. Pricing feels about the same.
I often see some trying to get away with such tricks: 50% of lunch where they serve you close to half the usual portion and they charge you for everything short of a plate: Ah, you want a chair/fork/napkin? That will be extra!
 
  • #7,328
A recent exchange:
" He's being oxymoronic"
" No, he fully skipped the 'Oxy' part"
 
  • #7,329
caz said:
I had a chicken biscuit this week. Didn’t notice anything. In my experience, there is a fair amount of variance in both the chicken and the biscuit size.
I thought the chicken pieces (I bought several of the chicken biscuit sandwiches) seemed a lot thinner compared to the past, but with it being over a year, I just wasn't sure.

If they're the same, then I'd say their chicken just IS sort of on the thin side then (for my tastes). :smile: The taste was fantastic, though. At least I didn't notice lower quality ingredients.
 
  • #7,330
kyphysics said:
I thought the chicken pieces (I bought several of the chicken biscuit sandwiches) seemed a lot thinner compared to the past, but with it being over a year, I just wasn't sure.

If they're the same, then I'd say their chicken just IS sort of on the thin side then (for my tastes). :smile: The taste was fantastic, though. At least I didn't notice lower quality ingredients.
I've never worked in the food industry but I can see how tempting it would be to cut down on quality or amounts of ingredients when times are bad, though it usually has disastrous consequences.
 
  • #7,331
I think the supply chains for a fast food chain are so long that it would be a nontrivial exercise. I remember an article about why it took so long for Popeye’s to mass produce its chicken sandwich.
 
  • #7,332
Believe it or not. The most interesting I found on tv is the live coverage of the French rugby final. In French, of course.
 
  • #7,333
fresh_42 said:
Believe it or not. The most interesting I found on tv is the live coverage of the French rugby final. In French, of course.
Didn't even know they played rugby. I thought it was an Anglo country sport.
 
  • #7,334
WWGD said:
Didn't even know they played rugby. I thought it was an Anglo country sport.
They do and it is pretty famous in France. Even Macron is present. And they are not that bad, although this match is a bit boring up to now. 22 minutes and no try.
 
  • #7,335
fresh_42 said:
They do and it is pretty famous in France. Even Macron is present. And they are not that bad, although this match is a bit boring up to now. 22 minutes and no try.
H'about you Deutsche? Play Rugby too?
 
  • #7,336
WWGD said:
H'about you Deutsche? Play Rugby too?
They do, and they play football, too. But I'm not sure whether I would call either one rugby or football.

Toulouse - La Rochelle 12-0 halftime, still no try

I don't have to mention that I wanted La Rochelle to win.
 
  • #7,337
It's raining in Paris.
 
  • #7,338
fresh_42 said:
It's raining in Paris.
There's an article in the Annals of Improbable Research about a study to determine which butterfly flapping its wings causes it to rain in Paris. IIRC, they study butterflies in the botanic gardens in Paris for reasons of convenience, and discard data from days when it wasn't raining because clearly no butterfly is making it rain those days. A highly trustworthy study.
 
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  • #7,339
In a match without tries, you cannot afford to miss the kicks. La Rochelle (3-12) missed already two.
 
  • #7,340
I'm refusing to make the obvious joke.
 
  • #7,341
18-8 final, one try from a scrum, too late too few from La Rochelle.
 
  • #7,342
fresh_42 said:
They do, and they play football, too. But I'm not sure whether I would call either one rugby or football.

Toulouse - La Rochelle 12-0 halftime, still no try

I don't have to mention that I wanted La Rochelle to win.
And Tolouse To lose?
 
  • #7,343
fresh_42 said:
In a match without tries, you cannot afford to miss the kicks. La Rochelle (3-12) missed already two.
Hope these are not the "Pumped up Kicks"
 
  • #7,344
WWGD said:
Hope these are not the "Pumped up Kicks"
Funnily all interviews after the match were in English.
 
  • #7,345
Ibix said:
I'm refusing to make the obvious joke.
Is that the one I did in #7342?
 
  • #7,346
WWGD said:
Is that the one I did in #7342?
I was thinking of something like "try harder", so it seems there were two obvious jokes.
 
  • #7,347
Maybe some day we can see a Rugby match played with a soccer ball and a soccer match played with a rugby " ball" if that is what is called.
 
  • #7,348
WWGD said:
Maybe some day we can see a Rugby match played with a soccer ball and a soccer match played with a rugby " ball" if that is what is called.
I learned that not only Americans call their egg a ball, French call their egg ball (ballon), too.
 
  • #7,349
Our dog has learned some key words or phrases, like 'outside' or 'do you need to go outside?', and 'eggs' or when my wife or I ask the other, 'would you like eggs?'. So we started to spell some words, but she seems to be learning to spell as well. She learned very quickly when we asked 'are you hungry?'.
 
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  • #7,350
At home I make scrambled eggs for my dog for breakfast as well 😋
 
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