alexfabbri/answersumm huggingface dataset:
Forum: gardening.stackexchange.com
Tags: <plant-health><growth>
Title: Is this pineapple plant dead?
Question: I planted a pineapple plant. Some leaves died. Tips of others died too. But, as you can see in the picture, most of it is green. It has been this way for months, and no new leaves grow. Is it dead? If not, what should I do to encourage growth?

Answers:
sents: text: It's not dead at all -
text: but there are some dead areas at the tips of the leaves, and what looks like one completely dead leaf.
text: Trim off the dead areas and the dead leaf,but don't prune.
text: These plants grow from the centre, and if you're in the northern hemisphere, it will now rest and not do very much.
text: Even indoors, though, it needs as much as sun as it can get, but should not be anywhere near a heat source like a radiator or fire.
text: As far as watering goes, only water when the surface of the potting soil feels dry to the touch, and water well, emptying away any excess water in an outer tray or pot after 30 minutes, never leave it sitting in water.
text: Further information here, https://www.todayshomeowner.com/how-to-grow-pineapples-as-houseplants/ - the bit you're interested in is towards the end.
text: You'll note the size of pot required, and the fact that these plants benefit from being outdoors during summer.
text: I'm rather curious as to the cause of the white lines or what look like scratch marks on some of the central leaves...
answer_details: author: gardening.stackexchange.com/users/1380/Bamboo
score: 6
sents: text: I by far am not an expert, this is more of an opinion than advice.
text: I would prune it back, chop off all the dead.
text: My Aunt says dead leaves sucke the life out of a healthy plant.
text: Maybe do a quick Google search of what type of fertilizer would be good for it, to give it a boost.
text: Good luck.
answer_details: author: gardening.stackexchange.com/users/19961/Alex.M
score: 2
sents: text: Update.
text: Here is what it looks like now.
text: It helps that I now keep it outside in a warmer climate.
answer_details: author: gardening.stackexchange.com/users/15637/bill999
score: 2
sents: text: The pineapple has recently started growing!
answer_details: author: gardening.stackexchange.com/users/15637/bill999
score: 1
sents: text: The yellowing is from over watering or pests.
text: I cut my plant back because it got severely over water from the hurricane rains we got here in Va.
text: I'm going to check the roots for rot and depot mine.
text: Finger crossed!!!
answer_details: author: gardening.stackexchange.com/users/23945/Sherry K Rogers
score: 1

Summary of the answers:
It is not dead. The yellowing could be from overwatering or pests.
No it is not dead at all. Dead leaves suck the life out of a healthy plant. The yellowing is from over watering or pests.
Forum: gaming.stackexchange.com
Tags: <fifa-09>
Title: How should I be performing free kicks in Fifa 2009?
Question: I'm a fairly long-term fan of the Fifa series, having owned various Fifa titles over the years however if there is one thing that I just  can't  seem to get right, it's free-kicks on goal.  No matter what I seem do, they either go skyward, or are so lacking power that the goalkeeper has so much time to react that he easily saves it.  Any tips would be great!

Answers:
sents: text: Most of it is just practicing the timing of your button presses.
text: If your timing is near-perfect the ball will go where you want it to.
text: If you are unsure of your ability to take the shot with proper timing, aiming a bit more inside the posts rather than at the extreme corners could help keep your shot on target, especially if you put curve on the ball.
text: Also, if you can't get the timing quite right for power, it's better to undershoot the mark rather than overshoot it.
text: An underpowered shot should at least stay on-target, giving your attempt some hope of finding the net.
text: An overpowered shot is practically guaranteed to miss.
answer_details: author: gaming.stackexchange.com/users/885/Ian
score: 3
sents: text: Aim for upper corners, hold LB to hit a hard shot and practice the length you hold B for in the practice arena (press a button on the directional pad to start a free kick).
answer_details: author: gaming.stackexchange.com/users/900/Karl
score: 1
sents: text: I spent an hour one day practicing free kicks in the Practice Arena and even though I have scored a few free kicks in the past, I came to the conclusion it was basically impossible.
text: I now set-up some sort of pass for every free kick no matter how close to the goal and have had a lot more success - even if it is a lot less sexy.
answer_details: author: gaming.stackexchange.com/users/None/
score: 1
sents: text: What I do (and I am successful almost 40% of the times) is that I aim a little away from the post
text: and I try to bring the ball back in through direction keys after hitting the ball.
text: Through direction keys you can put curve on the ball after the ball is released. About power, well, it depends on your distance from goal.
text: If it is too far, then more power is needed.
text: For more power, hold the kick button longer.
answer_details: author: gaming.stackexchange.com/users/1509/Aamir
score: 1
sents: text: Try a Knuckleball shot.
text: Basically push the analog stick towards goal and shoot.
text: For more chance,aim it at the corners.
answer_details: author: gaming.stackexchange.com/users/90978/FIFAPRO12
score: 1

Summary of the answers:
You need to practise your timing so it's near perfect. Aim for upper corners and practise the length you hold B for.
While practice and timing play an important role in getting shots on target, try aiming for the upper corners, holding LB for a hard shot, or aiming a little way from the post and pushing the analog stick towards the goal and shooting.
Forum: gaming.stackexchange.com
Tags: <windows-7><technical-issues><age-of-empires-ii-the-age-of-kings>
Title: Windows 7 & Age of Empires II: works but not quite?
Question: Possible Duplicate:  The Age of Empires II Scrolling Bug     I'm trying to install Age of Empires II on Windows 7.   The graphics are so so, but when I enter a tutorial, the map keeps panning continuously, to the upper left of the screen especially.  It doesn't seem to be the mouse, I have lifted it off of the pad, and it still pans automatically...  What can I do to fix this?

Answers:
sents: text: have you tried modifying the shortcut to use compatibility modes for previous windows versions?
answer_details: author: gaming.stackexchange.com/users/16946/RobotHumans
score: 4
sents: text: I don't think its Windows 7 actually.
text: The scrolling glitch is something that happened back in the XP days as well.
text: Do you have a Zune?
text: A lot of people who have experienced the scrolling glitch have had Zunes, and after uninstalling the Zune drivers and software the problem has been fixed.
text: Another fix that used to work for people was powering off the computer, unplugging all peripherals, then once you get to the desktop/login screen, plug them all back in.
text: You might try that as well.
answer_details: author: gaming.stackexchange.com/users/6745/Weegee
score: 4
sents: text: I have found a fix for this:
text: I did not have to uninstall zune to fix it either.
text: I believe that it is one of the Zune processes that is causing the scrolling problem.
text: If you don't start zune(and kill all processes)
text: Age of Empires II will work.
answer_details: author: gaming.stackexchange.com/users/None/
score: 4
sents: text: There doesn't seem to be any documented fix(es) anywhere for installing Age of Empires II on Windows 7...
text: so will stick with Windows XP for that!
answer_details: author: gaming.stackexchange.com/users/4995/studiohack
score: 2
sents: text: That scrolling bug should be fixed by the community-made (non-official) AOE II: The Conquerors patch, UserPatch | https://userpatch.aiscripters.net/ :
text: This is a feature and bug-fix update for Age of Empires II:
text: The Conquerors Expansion.
text: Its primary focus is to correct several long existing issues with the AI system and related game elements.
text: Among many other fixes and improvements to AOE II: The Conquerors , one if its core features is: Uncontrollable game view scrolling bug has been fixed Note that the UserPatch installer must be run with admin privileges in order for it to be able to install all of its fixes .
answer_details: author: gaming.stackexchange.com/users/4797/galacticninja
score: 2

Summary of the answers:
Try modifying the shortcut to use compatibility modes. You can also try powering off and unplugging everything before switching on again.
There are a few things you can try to fix this, try running it in a compatibility mode first. You can also try unplugging all peripherals and then plugging them in again.
Forum: gaming.stackexchange.com
Tags: <zelda-skyward-sword>
Title: How do you equip items in Zelda: Skyward Sword?
Question: How do you fill a bottle in Skyward Sword?  I'm trying to scoop up some water, and I can't figure out how to get the bottle equipped.

Answers:
sents: text: You can equip it like anything else in your bag, such as when you've got a new shield (hold - to select, press - to get it out.) and use it like an item.
text: (Press A to use it after equiping.)
answer_details: author: gaming.stackexchange.com/users/11502/Ash
score: 8
sents: text: Finally figured it out.
text: Push and hold "-
text: " and it will bring up a screen with all of your items in your pouch.
text: You then use the wii-mote to select the item that you would like to equip by pressing 'A' and you can use it like any other item.
answer_details: author: gaming.stackexchange.com/users/12507/drneel
score: 3
sents: text: Just to clarify: to equip items, you have to press - (minus)
text: when you're on the main walking-around screen , not when you're on the inventory screen (which you can separately access by pressing 1 [one]).
text: It's confusing because there is also a pouch in the middle of the inventory, which you can also interact with using the - (minus) button.
answer_details: author: gaming.stackexchange.com/users/19607/benmiller314
score: 2
sents: text: Hold - then mouseover the desired item to equip (shield or bottle; medals are considered equipped if Link is carrying one and bags provide a passive storage bonus).
text: Note that you don't have to equip a bottle to catch a fairy, you can use the Bug Catching Net instead.
text: To scoop up water, equip a bottle then press A while standing in the water.
answer_details: author: gaming.stackexchange.com/users/9300/CyberSkull
score: 1
sents: text: If you are carrying the "Cursed Medal" in your pouch your pouch items are inaccessible.
text: You must store the cursed medal at the claim check in the bazaar on skyloft.
answer_details: author: gaming.stackexchange.com/users/115791/Suzanne H
score: 1

Summary of the answers:
You can equip it like anything else in your bag. Hold to select, press - to get out.
The community describes the proper way of equiping items.
Forum: gaming.stackexchange.com
Tags: <minecraft-java-edition>
Title: Is there any way to speed up the chopping down of trees?
Question: I find chopping down trees to be a long and laborious process, especially when dealing with extremely tall trees, where I need to build a tower up to the top to complete the job.  Is there any way to speed up the chopping down of trees?

Answers:
sents: text: Yes there is, it's called Timber!
answer_details: author: gaming.stackexchange.com/users/12087/Mr Smooth
score: 14
sents: text: Treecapitator does this and is highly configurable.
answer_details: author: gaming.stackexchange.com/users/43473/JoeClacks
score: 3
sents: text: Within vanilla minecraft there are a variety of methods for quickly chopping down trees.
text: From the original question, it is unclear if the desire is clearcutting, or harvesting massive amounts of wood.
text: For clearcutting, one can use flint and steel and burn the forest.
text: Back in the days of beta, this could cause quite a spectacle.
text: In current (release 1.6.4) days, fires do not get out of control, but most wood on most trees is destroyed.
text: For massive wood production, best to create a farm.
text: The single most important feature of a farm, is a top barrier to keep trees from growing too large.
text: (Especially important for oaks).
text: Once you have a farm, then Diamond Axes enchanted axes of efficiency Beacons of Haste or Potions of swiftness are all mechanisms by which your harvesting will be vastly sped up.
answer_details: author: gaming.stackexchange.com/users/16398/John
score: 3
sents: text: Thaumcraft Axe of the stream works nicely too.
text: If you just want to harvest wood though, Forestry will let you set up a pretty much completely automated wood farm pretty easily which you can pipe into a chest with buildcraft pipes or redpower tubes.
answer_details: author: gaming.stackexchange.com/users/34335/mopsyd
score: 1
sents: text: There are now AFK designs that cage a wither, and have the wither perform the harvesting.
text: All that is required is steve to plant the saplings.
text: So, if you want infinite wood, and have infinite bonemeal there is a path:
answer_details: author: gaming.stackexchange.com/users/16398/John
score: 1

Summary of the answers:
Try Timber, Treecapitator, Forestry and use the Diamond Axe or Thaumcraft Axe.
While there are ways to do the action in question, players tend to use plug ins.
Forum: gaming.stackexchange.com
Tags: <the-elder-scrolls-5-skyrim>
Title: Is there any non-enchanted Staff in Skyrim?
Question: I´ve been willing to create a mage character, since there are some good looking staves in the game.  But, there is there any way to disenchant those staves ? If yes, is there any non enchanted staff in the game so i can enchant with my own enchantings ?

Answers:
sents: text: No, staves can be neither enchanted nor disenchanted.
text: If you're on PC, you can use the Creation Kit to either create a new staff or customize an existing one (Unique staves are good candidates, as modifying them will not change the ones NPCs will use against you).
text: With Dragonborn, you can craft staves, but they are the same staves you could find or buy elsewhere - you cannot create custom staves.
text: At the moment, no mods appear to have been developed that add this functionality.
answer_details: author: gaming.stackexchange.com/users/19827/kotekzot
score: 9
sents: text: You can make some conjuration staffs at the Atronach Forge, but there's no in-game ability to do much beyond that.
text: As others have said, there's no way to disenchant staffs or make staffs with custom enchantments.
text: http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Atronach_Forge
answer_details: author: gaming.stackexchange.com/users/6274/Iszi
score: 4
sents: text: No.
text: I'm sure there are several mods by now that allow this, but in the base game, there is no way to create your own stave.
answer_details: author: gaming.stackexchange.com/users/3129/LessPop_MoreFizz
score: 2
sents: text: There are some unenchanted staffs in the qasmoke editor's test cell, but you need to be on pc
answer_details: author: gaming.stackexchange.com/users/23310/moopman9000
score: 2
sents: text: In the Dragonborn DLC, By completing the "Reluctant Stewerd" quest for Neloth in Tel Mithryn you gain the key to access his Staff Enchanter.
text: Which uses Heart Stones in Combination with the spell itself and an Un-Enchanted Staff which comes in various types, e.g. Un-Enchanted Alteration Staff.
text: All Un-Enchanted Staffs can be purchased from Neloth.
text: Just to Be clear, you can't enchant staffs without the DLC
answer_details: author: gaming.stackexchange.com/users/67678/CerberusN61
score: 1

Summary of the answers:
There is no way to disenchant staffs. You can use Creation Kit to create a new staff or customize an existing one.
While it is not possible to create staffs that bare any enchant, there is a limited freedom to craft some either by exploiting the game or by progressing through the DLCs.
Forum: gaming.stackexchange.com
Tags: <payday-2>
Title: What counts towards the goal in Mallcrashers?
Question: In Mallcrashers, your goal is to destroy $50000 worth of property. I know destroying store glasses counts towards the goal. Destroying the glass railings seems to count, too.  What else counts towards it?

Answers:
sents: text: You can destroy lots of stuff: Mall's black and white signs Stores glasses Glass runways/railings Glass roof Glass shelves in some of the stores Wine bottles in the wine store Vases and poteries at the antique store Sport car's windows in the showroom Shoe box stacks (tip: directly shoot the top of the stack) Computers and headphones at the Pear store ATMs if you have a saw Clothing stores and gym can be burned down with a gas can (cf.
text: mission's assets) Note that trip mines can prove useful in this level: simply plant one in the middle of an area where you want to blast stuff (liquor bottles for instance) and shoot at it.
answer_details: author: gaming.stackexchange.com/users/15726/Anto
score: 14
sents: text: You can add gas cans to your assets in this mission which can be used to set the gym, clothing stores and a few other places I think on fire.
answer_details: author: gaming.stackexchange.com/users/53726/Barry
score: 8
sents: text: Another good tactic, and one which will earn you the Steam achievement "Shoot the Glass!", is shooting the upper level windows upstairs.
text: They are just below the skylight, and are panel glazed.
text: I also tend to shoot out all the black and white shop signs and mall brand signs.
answer_details: author: gaming.stackexchange.com/users/5357/David Yell
score: 5
sents: text: There is a car in the car show room.
text: That counts too as well as a wine store where you can destroy glass bottles.
text: I would like to know how does the gym and clothes stores count towards the total?
answer_details: author: gaming.stackexchange.com/users/53641/Luke
score: 1
sents: text: Pretty much everything that breaks counts toward your goal, If you place a trip mine in the "Pear Store" that will gain a lot of damage.
text: Also the wine bottles in the liquor store, and the car in the showroom are all great ways to rack up the damage fast.
answer_details: author: gaming.stackexchange.com/users/55819/James Curtis
score: 1

Summary of the answers:
Pretty much everything that breaks adds to your goal, like the wine bottles, glass shelves and car windows. You can add gas cans to your assets that can be used to set things on fire.
More or less, anything that can be destroyed can count into achieving Mallcrashers.
Forum: gaming.stackexchange.com
Tags: <android><hill-climb-racing>
Title: Which vehicle is more appropriate for the mountain stage of Hill Climb Racing?
Question: Which vehicle is more appropriate for the "Mountain" stage of  Hill Climb Racing ?

Answers:
sents: text: Although tank doesn't look like the best vehicle, I found it very good to use in mountain level when all attributes are maxed.
answer_details: author: gaming.stackexchange.com/users/62133/Micer
score: 7
sents: text: By my experience, the best vehicle is the 4x4 Diesel.
text: It allows to go upwards easily and is difficult to turn down.
text: Also, you will have enought fuel to think the difficult jumps (or try again some of them) due to is long duration fuel.
answer_details: author: gaming.stackexchange.com/users/43105/SysDragon
score: 5
sents: text: I don't have every vehicle unlocked, but I got pretty far with monster truck and super diesel 4x4.
text: I don't think there is one vehicle that is the best, but a vehicle type.
text: mountain is very well, mounatainy.
text: so you want a vehicle with good climbing ability, but not too much power that you just flip over when trying to climb.
text: I would guess the dune buggy and hovercraft would work very well here as their descriptions say they are the best climbers (but again, I don't have them unlocked)
answer_details: author: gaming.stackexchange.com/users/47011/Rapitor
score: 3
sents: text: I unlocked all the vehicles and stages.
text: According to me, the diesel 4×4 and race car are the best, as you need speed to cross this stage.
text: You can try the race car or dragster.
answer_details: author: gaming.stackexchange.com/users/65517/prateek
score: 2
sents: text: My current best is 1850m with the Hovercraft (stability 18/20), so you could probably do more.
text: I touch pretty much only with the back of the car, advatage is that oyu can vertically upwards, as long as something is touching the ground.
text: Plus you can't get stuck in a small dip in the terrain.
answer_details: author: gaming.stackexchange.com/users/75901/user75901
score: 2
sents: text: The Mountain stage works best with vehicles that are good at making short, steep climbs, and are resilient to flipping.
text: Generally, that means the Tank, and in my experience this stage is no exception.
text: My best run has by far been with the Tank, at 2114 meters.
text: Next up is Monster Truck at only 1363 meters.
text: The treads on the tank also handle the large number of sharp points very well, when other vehicles get stuck with a tire on either side of the point.
answer_details: author: gaming.stackexchange.com/users/19748/Chris Marasti-Georg
score: 1

Summary of the answers:
Tank is good in mountain level, while the diesel 4x4 and monster truck give you speed to cross this stage.
There are few vehicles that are proper for the mountain stage, such as the tank and the 4x4 diesel.
Forum: gaming.stackexchange.com
Tags: <elite-dangerous>
Title: Where is the file Elite Dangerous stores the controls?
Question: I'd like to easily backup my controls in Elite: Dangerous. Does anyone know where the controls are stored, or a way to find out? Thanks!

Answers:
sents: text: I have found them here for the Beta 1.02: C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\Frontier Developments\Elite Dangerous\Options\Bindings\
text: There are 2 files of interest: "Custom.binds" and "StartPreset.start"
answer_details: author: gaming.stackexchange.com/users/83620/intrepidis
score: 14
sents: text: If you copy the Custom.binds file to MyName.binds (or something) it will appear in the drop-down menu for you to choose from.
answer_details: author: gaming.stackexchange.com/users/91737/Grim...
score: 8
sents: text: I think I found them!
text: I don't know if they added them since the beta came out, or what.
text: But It looks like custom bindings are saved in a file here:
text: \Users\USER\Local\Frontier Developments\Elite Dangerous\Options\Bindings
answer_details: author: gaming.stackexchange.com/users/76799/Deathnozzle
score: 5
sents: text: On the Mac they are stored in : ~/Library/Application Support/Frontier Developments/Elite Dangerous/Options/Bindings Where ~/ is your user folder /Users/<your_user_name>/Library/Application Supp...
answer_details: author: gaming.stackexchange.com/users/126342/dwkns
score: 5
sents: text: Found it a bit silly i couldnt just add comments for clarification but can provide a new answer.
text: Regardless, just to update / concur:
text: Elite Dangerous Horizons V2018.12.17.190809 Location: C:\Users\ USERNAME \AppData\Local\Frontier
text: Developments\Elite
text: Dangerous\Options\Bindings\
text: AS stated previously;"There are 2 files of interest: " Custom.binds " and " StartPreset.start ""
text: But you dont need to do anything with the startpreset file,
text: when in-game that file will update to whatever you last 'loaded'.
text: When COPYING to make additional config profiles, as stated in a comment by GERT.
text: You need to edit the PRESETNAME inside the file as well as the actual file name.
text: What i noticed was that the baseline Custom.binds file didnt have that option
text: but i had an extra file called custom.3.0.binds which did have a preset.
text: So copy that one, edit the file name and preset inside the file, save and reload your game.
text: I did all this in testing setup for a 3D mouse (3Dconnexion) for very fine controls esp for docking [which i was only able to get working by using ControlMyJoystick as by default this does not work well at all].
answer_details: author: gaming.stackexchange.com/users/224619/B1llaB0ng23
score: 2

Summary of the answers:
 If you copy the  Custom.binds  file to  MyName.binds  (or something) it will appear in the drop-down menu for you to choose from.
Elite Dangerous seem that stores key bindings in files that are located in specific folders..
Forum: aviation.stackexchange.com
Tags: <flight-training><jet>
Title: Is there any flight school that uses jets as part of their training program?
Question: Is there any flying school out there that use "jets" as part of their training program? I mean like a Cessna Citation or Phenom.

Answers:
sents: text: Yes, Lufthansa flight training in Bremen uses the Cessna Citation CJ1
text: +.
text: D-ILHA D-ILHB D-ILHC D-ILHD D-ILHE
text: The KLM flight academy used to have Cessna Citations, but I think they no longer use them as part of the training.
answer_details: author: aviation.stackexchange.com/users/19/DeltaLima
score: 5
sents: text: It's rare (and EXPENSIVE) but there are a few flight schools which offer primary flight training in the Embraer Phenom 100 and Citation Mistang aircraft.
text: Angel City Flyers in Long Beach, CA (KLGB), is one such flight school.
text: Bring your banker; it's going to cost $1000+ per flight hour plus fuel and instructor fees!
text: Another place is the National Test Pilot's School in Muroc, CA.
text: Their 11 month Masters of Science in Test Piloting course will make you an accredited test pilot and log flight time in over 30 aircraft, including jet fighters like the Saab 35 Drakken.
text: Tuition is $960,000!!!!!!
answer_details: author: aviation.stackexchange.com/users/15637/Carlo Felicione
score: 5
sents: text: FlightOptions at the Sunshine Coast in Australia have a Level D Citation Mustang simulator, and a real Mustang as well.
text: The facility used to be used by Singapore Airlines for their pilot training.
text: Great location!
answer_details: author: aviation.stackexchange.com/users/21091/Koyovis
score: 3
sents: text: The Swedish Air Force uses the Sk 60 jet (Saab 105) as its only trainer , including initial training.
answer_details: author: aviation.stackexchange.com/users/19569/Jan Mattsson
score: 2
sents: text: For initial training, I don't think there is any flight school or Air Force in the world that will let you begin in a jet.
text: At the later stages however there are some programs that incorporate jet time.
text: I believe Lufthansa's ab initio course uses a Citation as the final stage before joining the airline.
text: But generally speaking most pilots in training programs don't fly jets until joining the airline.
answer_details: author: aviation.stackexchange.com/users/3746/Ben
score: 1

Summary of the answers:
There are a few flight schools that include jets as part of the training. These can be found in the US, Australia and Sweden. Lufthansa also allegedly uses jets in its ab initio course.
Although it is rare and costs a lot, there are some schools that use jets in their training program: Angel City Flyers in Long Beach, FlightOptions  at the Sunshine Coast in Australia, the Swedish Air Force and Lufthansa. That said, usually pilots fly jets when they join the fleet of the airline and only sometimes are they trained in jets at the later stages of training.
Forum: movies.stackexchange.com
Tags: <the-big-bang-theory>
Title: What's the meaning behind Howard's alien pin?
Question: Besides skinny jeans and a wide variety of belt buckles, one of Howard's signature items in  The Big Bang Theory  is an alien lapel pin. Is there any Reason or Meaning behind it?

Answers:
sents: text: No, there is not meaning of them in TV series till now.
text: It is noted as Trivia in Wikia Howard wears alien pins on his collar in every episode, yet the pin has not been mentioned thus far.
answer_details: author: movies.stackexchange.com/users/16279/Panther
score: 3
sents: text: To expand panthers answer, actually they confirmed that the pin has a meaning, but it is a secret.
text: It is not only one pin, but different pins with different shape and color, but all showing an alien.
text: You can find several discussion and theories of fans about the theme in the net, but no confirmed answer.
text: There is a short behind the scenes video about this with the actor here:
answer_details: author: movies.stackexchange.com/users/22783/kl78
score: 3
sents: text: Possible Reason #1 Being regular viewer of TBBT I could say this that we are missing a big fact here.
text: Howard is an astronaut I think the pin depicting the alien is a badge that he wears for being out of space or at least traveled in space.
text: As in our modern society someone coming from space is usually considered to be an alien .
text: Possible Reason #2 Apart from Howard using that as pin that symbol of alien is also logo of Alienware which is also the brand Sheldon uses.
text: and Howard also owns one computer of same brand. .
text: So maybe it's about branding.
answer_details: author: movies.stackexchange.com/users/None/
score: 3
sents: text: Howard says in season 3 when they go through the box where they find the ring (this is a paraphrase
text: I don't remember the exact quote)
text: what he says is I use to have one of these dolls I pretended my dad was ubtucted by aliens and that this guy would bring him back.
text: So Howard wears it because of his childhood life so he would remember to take a step back and be a kid again
answer_details: author: movies.stackexchange.com/users/38006/Ali
score: 2
sents: text: The show is about disclosure and acceptance.
text: The show might be a well thought out way to show aliens for the first time.
text: There are many references used subtly throughout the series.
answer_details: author: movies.stackexchange.com/users/26560/Jordan
score: 1

Summary of the answers:
The show might be a well thought out way to show aliens for the first time There are many subtle references throughout the series.
The show might be a well thought out way to show aliens for the first time.
Forum: cooking.stackexchange.com
Tags: <cheese><knife-skills><onions><soup>
Title: Onion soup: How to chop the onion and what kind of cheese to put in it?
Question: What is your preferred type of cut for the onion in onion soup?  And how do you put the cheese? A deep chunk submerged in each plate, on top? What kind of cheese do you like?

Answers:
sents: text: When I make French Onion soup
text: I slice my onions very thin.
text: It also helps to use a small onion so the pieces aren't so wide.
text: For the cheese I use gruyere cheese.
text: It should be grated.
text: In order for the cheese to cook properly you need to have some stale french bread.
text: It should be toasted lightly on both sides and then sliced fairly thin.
text: Then you place the bread on top of the soup and then the grated cheese on top of that.
text: Next put the soup in the broiler so that it melts the cheese.
answer_details: author: cooking.stackexchange.com/users/61/Bryant
score: 6
sents: text: In the classic recipe the onions are chopped, personally, I like mine very thinly sliced.
text: The cheese typically used is the French Comté but a good substitute is Swiss gruyère or even Swiss Emmenthal.
answer_details: author: cooking.stackexchange.com/users/115/Pulse
score: 4
sents: text: I prefer chopped onions, so you know you're eating onions.
text: The onions, if cooked long enough will be quite tender.
text: A smaller cut, say diced, won't hold up well once the stock is added; you'll get a pulpy soup rather than onions in stock.
text: For the cheese, any melting cheese works.
text: I prefer a medium cheddar, grated over the top and melted under the broiler.
answer_details: author: cooking.stackexchange.com/users/110/ageektrapped
score: 2
sents: text: I sometimes chop my onions, and sometimes slice.
text: If I slice them, I slice them in thin wedges, pole to pole.
text: As for cheese, I use a good Gruyere.
answer_details: author: cooking.stackexchange.com/users/2239/Juju
score: 2
sents: text: I've had a very good response to a "french onion" style soup where I've used a combination of leeks (yes, leeks!), red onions, white onions and shallots, all chopped to about 1-2mm in thickness.
answer_details: author: cooking.stackexchange.com/users/1266/Rob
score: 1

Summary of the answers:
The onions are traditionally chopped, but sliced is also popular. Any melting cheese is good, but the traditional French Comté or a good substitute like Swiss Gruyère or Emmenthal are preferred.
The onions should be thinly sliced and use a good melting cheese like a gruyère.
Forum: cooking.stackexchange.com
Tags: <cream><whipped-cream>
Title: How is long-lasting whipped cream made?
Question: Cakes made of whipped-cream by professionals last for a long time in a consistent, white state. However, from what I know, whipped cream tends to become yellow and return to a more liquid state in a few hours. I prepare whipped cream with just the cream and an electric mixer, so I assume there's some magic ingredient or process to keep the thing stable. Where's the trick ?

Answers:
sents: text: There are two levels to this question.
text: If you are using modern whipping cream as a starting point, then the trick for a longer lasting whipped cream is stabilization.
text: If this is some farm bought milk you are skimming the cream from, then you have the additional problem that your cream is not fatty enough.
text: Modern creams are concentrated with a centrifuge.
text: To get good whipped cream, whip it cold until it doubles in volume
text: and you get firm peaks .
text: Stabilize the whipped cream by hanging it in a cheese cloth in the refrigerator or by adding gelatin.
text: To use the gelatin, dissolve 2 teaspoons of unflavored gelatin into 2 tablespoons of cold water.
text: Work out the lumps.
text: After the gelatin expands, mix in a quarter cup of cream and heat the mixture to dissolve the gelatin.
text: Cool over ice and mix a bit.
text: Complete 2 cups of cream and proceed as you would to finish your whipped cream.
answer_details: author: cooking.stackexchange.com/users/183/papin
score: 7
sents: text: There's a few things that you can add: agar-agar, cornstarch, powdered sugar (which has cornstarch), gelatin (requires blooming in water first), powdered milk, etc.
text: Search online
text: and you should find the proper ratios of each one to use
text: so you don't overdo it.
answer_details: author: cooking.stackexchange.com/users/67/Joe
score: 3
sents: text: For stable frosting, I whip heavy cream and cream cheese together (start by whipping the cream cheese, add twice as much cream to it, slowly).
text: Lasts days in refrigeration.
text: Slight tangy taste though; whether that's good or bad is up to you...
answer_details: author: cooking.stackexchange.com/users/86/Shog9
score: 3
sents: text: Real cream with a high fat content + a hardening agent.
text: You can buy it in any supermarket.
text: Just mix it with the cream before whipping.
answer_details: author: cooking.stackexchange.com/users/54261/Mr. C
score: 2
sents: text: bloom some geletin (flavorless!
text: do not just grab a packet of jell-o) and add it to the cream. for 1 cup of cream 1/2tsp of geletin in 1Tbls of water.
answer_details: author: cooking.stackexchange.com/users/145/Covar
score: 1

Summary of the answers:
Cream can be stabilised by adding ingredients like gelatin, agar-agar, cornstarch, powdered sugar or powdered milk, or by hanging in cheesecloth in the refrigerator. Slowly adding two parts of cream to one part of whipped cream cheese and whipping will provide a stable frosting.
Whipped cream needs a stabilizing agent to keep its form for a long time. Try using gelatin, agar agar or adding some cream cheese.
Forum: cooking.stackexchange.com
Tags: <resources><molecular-gastronomy>
Title: What is a good resource for learning about Molecular Gastronomy?
Question: Before frequenting this site I had never even heard of molecular gastronomy and now I am intrigued. Is there a good resource to learn about the process either web or in printed format that would be a reliable source of information?

Answers:
sents: text: Khymos is a fantastic resource, and has probably the best collection of recipes out there at the moment.
text: There's also a lot of good stuff at the French Cullinary Institute's Cooking Issues blog .
text: They've got a good post on hydrocolloids that's quite enlightening.
text: I actually disagree on the McGee recommendations.
text: While it's an excellent book, full of great info, I don't think it's a good starting point for molecular gastronomy (in the sense of the cooking movement rather than the more literal sense)
answer_details: author: cooking.stackexchange.com/users/1259/yossarian
score: 5
sents: text: This very site.
text: Take a look at the other questions tagged molecular-gastronomy .
text: Of particular note is this similar question which has a great answer by daniel.
answer_details: author: cooking.stackexchange.com/users/60/hobodave
score: 4
sents: text: I can recommend The Fat Duck Cookbook by Heston Blumenthal.
text: He explains each recipe in detail and goes into the chemistry behind it as well.
text: There is also On Food and Cooking by Harold McGee, which I think is the reference book to have.
text: The McGee book has its own Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_Food_and_Cooking
answer_details: author: cooking.stackexchange.com/users/3756/Henrik Söderlund
score: 3
sents: text: Harold McGee's On Food and Cooking for a start.
answer_details: author: cooking.stackexchange.com/users/3574/Borbus
score: 1
sents: text: Hervé
text: This' Molecular Gastronomy:
text: Exploring the Science of Flavor is a good choice if you are interested in the science behind molecular gastronomy.
text: You may not learn much in terms of recipes or cooking techniques but it provides lots of short essays about the science behind cooking.
text: Keep in mind about the bad translation though.
answer_details: author: cooking.stackexchange.com/users/3766/user3766
score: 1

Summary of the answers:
Harold McGee's  On Food and Cooking is a good reference for a start, or you could try The Fat Duck Cookbook  by Heston Blumenthal or the collection of recipes on Khymos.
Try Khymos, the Fat Duck Cookbook and On Food and Cooking.
Forum: cooking.stackexchange.com
Tags: <potatoes><salt>
Title: Why add salt to potato water?
Question: I add salt to pasta water in order to reduce the stickiness caused by starch. However, I've never seen potatoes stick together. Why add salt?

Answers:
sents: text: Salting the water in which you cook starches (pasta, rice, potato) is an effective way of enhancing the flavour of the finished product - boiling starches absorb
text: salt well
text: (which is why adding chunks of potato to an overall salty stew will lessen the apparent saltiness of the dish.
text: But salt does other things.
text: When I am making roasted potatoes, I parboil them for 5 minutes before drying and roasting them in oil.
text: if you divide them into two batches and boil one half in unsalted water and the other half in well salted water (1tbsp/2 quarts water), the salted potatoes will brown and crisp much better than the unsalted ones.
text: I'm not sure why this is, but I would encourage you to try it because it's amazing to see.
answer_details: author: cooking.stackexchange.com/users/4547/Paul L
score: 20
sents: text: To add flavor.
text: Add some butter and cream afterwards when mashing- delicious
answer_details: author: cooking.stackexchange.com/users/4888/Jginger
score: 5
sents: text: First, as a physicist I would argue that: -salt RISES the boiling point of water.
text: Every student knows that. -by osmosis, being the water salty results in a lower content of water in the potato.
text: That is, the potato absorbs LESS water while cooking (there are some videos in YouTube showing this fact.)
text: With less content of water, potatoes become crispier after roasting.
answer_details: author: cooking.stackexchange.com/users/60581/jpopp
score: 5
sents: text: If you reduce the amount of water you use and increase the amount of salt, the result will be salt crusted potatoes , with added flavor and sweetness.
answer_details: author: cooking.stackexchange.com/users/None/
score: 3
sents: text: Pasta absorbs boiling water as it cooks, so the salted water actually seasons it.
text: But whole unskinned potatoes absorb little if any water when they cook/boil, so they do not get seasoned.
text: Although I have no data, I suspect that neither the small increase in boiling temperature nor the tiny bit of osmosis resulting from salting the water would be of much consequence.
text: However, cut and/or peeled potatoes might indeed be seasoned somewhat, depending on how much cooking water they absorb.
answer_details: author: cooking.stackexchange.com/users/85188/Quincy
score: 1

Summary of the answers:
Boiling starches absorb salt well, which improves the flavour, while salt added to water increases the boiling point.
Salting the water makes it boil faster and seasons the potatoes as they cook.
Forum: ell.stackexchange.com
Tags: <modifiers>
Title: Can ages ahead be possible?
Question: Harry looked down at his empty gold plate. He had only just realized how hungry he was. The pumpkin pasties seemed  ages ago .  (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone)   It seems like  ago  is the peripheral modifier (CGEL,p436) as the examples in  Webster’s . What I’d like to know, now, is if  ages ahead  can be a possible noun phrase that has peripheral modifier as above?

Answers:
sents: text: The corresponding hyperbolic phrase in this particular syntactic context would be "ages away": Breakfast seemed ages away.
text: That, however, could be used to express either prospective or retrospective remoteness.
answer_details: author: ell.stackexchange.com/users/32/StoneyB on hiatus
score: 7
sents: text: StoneyB's answer ("Ages away") works for looking at events relative to "now" fine (and carries a little ambiguity, possible to work into past or future.)
text: For looking at events from perspective of time you can use ages later Ages later, the breakfast came at last.
text: If you apply today, you will get a temporary permit sometimes after all your hair turns white, and a permanent license ages later.
answer_details: author: ell.stackexchange.com/users/30/SF.
score: 7
sents: text: This is very formal and antiquated, but Robert Frost used "ages hence" in
text: The Road Not Taken : I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence:
answer_details: author: ell.stackexchange.com/users/3322/Jack
score: 5
sents: text: "Ages ahead" can be correct use, in particular scenarios.
text: That said, as noted in other answers, typical use would be some other variant.
text: If I were to use "ages ahead", it would probably be comparing two things rather than referring to actual time:
text: According to many myths, Atlantis was technologically ages ahead of all other civilizations at the time.
text: The sentence compares Atlantis to other civilizations that would have supposedly existed at the same time.
text: It claims that Atlantis had technology that was massively more developed, as if from the future, despite being at the same time.
answer_details: author: ell.stackexchange.com/users/3328/Doc
score: 2
sents: text: If we are referring to the far future, we might say "ages to come".
text: In the ages to come, what will our descendants think of these bulky laptops?
text: If saying "ages ahead" you must refer to what the subject is ahead of.
text: The scientist's research was ages ahead of that of his peers.
text: (In this case we are not referring to the actual period of time, but how long we think it would take his peers to reach the level he is at.)
answer_details: author: ell.stackexchange.com/users/1176/Denise Skidmore
score: 2

Summary of the answers:
"Ages away", "ages to come", "ages ahead" are all valid phrases.
Ages away, ages later, ages ahead, ages to come are all options.
Forum: ell.stackexchange.com
Tags: <meaning-in-context>
Title: Meaning of "to will a parking spot"
Question: A guy is bragging about a great parking spot he has gotten in front of the building. And he says:   I am just  willing  these great parking spots.   What does it mean?

Answers:
sents: text: He probably means I am willing these parking spots into existence .
text: i.e., I am creating these parking spots by the force of my will (volition).
text: which, of course, is not literally true.
answer_details: author: ell.stackexchange.com/users/357/Scott
score: 18
sents: text: It's a figure of speech.
text: He is essentially saying that he's wanting a good parking spot so badly that his desire alone is making the spots available, as if that is some sort of superpower.
text: It's intended to be a humorous way to express a feeling of triumph.
answer_details: author: ell.stackexchange.com/users/113/J.R.
score: 12
sents: text: The context suggests that this wasn't the intended meaning in this case but, "to will a parking spot" could also mean "to bequeath a parking space to someone by the terms of a will"
text: In a densely populated city in which parking spaces are valuable, it would not be unheard of for someone to leave a parking space they owned to an heir when they died.
answer_details: author: ell.stackexchange.com/users/2563/blahdiblah
score: 10
sents: text: It is his way of emphasizing the intensity of his desire.
text: He is wishing for a great parking spot just like one of these.
answer_details: author: ell.stackexchange.com/users/10429/TheStarVoyager
score: 2
sents: text: Scott nailed it unless you're not sure if he said 'willed it into the spot'.
text: You have to 'will' cars into tight parking spaces.
text: You must believe its going to fit, because it will fit.
text: Then you just have to (will it into place) make it fit.
answer_details: author: ell.stackexchange.com/users/5117/Mazura
score: 2
sents: text: He will never give the parking space up!
text: He will die before doing so.
text: Others acknowledge his asset enough to want it gifted in his will, so he might even be open to bribery and grovelling :).
text: This a macho-dominance thing, not a fantasy-wish thing, I'll bet.
text: Besides, he said this AFTER getting the parking spot, not before.
text: I agree with Blah.
text: I've used such language (albeit not over a parking spot!)
text: on occasion...
answer_details: author: ell.stackexchange.com/users/10523/dman
score: 0

Summary of the answers:
It's a figure of speech. He  means he is willing  these parking spots  into existence, that he wants  a good parking spot so badly that his desire alone is making the spots available, as if that is some sort of superpower.   It is his way of emphasizing the intensity of his desire and he is wishing for a great parking spot.
This is a figure of speech emphasising desire.