Posts by Larry Peterson30

I’m not quite sure what to call this dish, but I usually just think of it as a sort of hearty salad.
It works perfectly whether you eat it cold or warm—whatever suits your mood—and here is how you put it together.
(By the way, please forgive me for not giving exact measurements; I cook by feel rather than following a strict recipe, so I don't have specific ratios handy.)

So, first, boil some lentils and quinoa in salted water (do them separately). Once they're done, drain them, but make sure you save the cooking water from the lentils! Then, mix them together in a bowl using a 1:1 ratio of lentils to quinoa.

Next, grab a skillet and toss in some minced garlic and the white parts of some leeks (if you can find wild ramps at a local market, use those instead). Add some olive oil and your choice of spices—I personally love using Mediterranean herbs like rosemary or thyme. Once everything has sautéed a bit, add in a salmon fillet or a cod fillet (or even both!). Fry them up; once the fish starts to brown, you can break it into smaller chunks to help it finish cooking faster.

Now, take everything from the skillet and toss it into the bowl with the lentils and quinoa. If you haven't already broken the fish into pieces, do that now. If the mixture seems a little dry, feel free to drizzle in some more olive oil or a splash of that reserved lentil water.
Finally, add some pepper if you like, along with fresh parsley and a squeeze of lemon. For a nice finishing touch, you can grate some Parmesan or a similar hard cheese over the top.

wearyotter81 said:Grab about a pound of butternut squash, clean it up, and chop it into pieces. Toss them straight into boiling water and let them cook until they finally soften up. I personally had to hang in there for 35 minutes because I was absolutely starving. 😁But hey, feel free to let it simmer longer if you want.

Custom dressings are all about personal preference. For this one, I went my own way: olive oil, lemon juice, a splash of vinegar, and a bit of the cooking water. Then I tossed in salt, pepper, garlic, onion, capers, olives, and some fresh parsley. It turned out absolutely fantastic. 🙂

They shrink quite a bit once you cook them down. Personally, this was just enough for a single meal when paired with a side salad. If you want to stretch it into two servings, you’d definitely need some heavier sides or extra toppings to bulk it up. 👍

I usually whip up this salad using octopus, but honestly, any tender, suction-cupped mollusk works just fine. 🙂

So, here’s how I go about it:
Just toss your octopus—or whatever you've got on hand—into a pressure cooker and let it boil for about five to ten minutes. That's really all it takes.
Boil the potatoes whole in their skins. Once they’re cooked through and cooled down, peel them and dice them up—do the same for the octopus.
The ratio of potato to octopus should be exactly 1:1. Actually, you can go a little heavier on the octopus if you want. 😁)
I’ll toss in some garlic, capers, and parsley—all minced incredibly fine. Then, I just finish it off with a drizzle of olive oil and a splash of the water used to boil the octopus.
If you're looking to level up, feel free to toss in some pepper stuffing—it really hits the spot. You can also add a pinch of salt if the octopus isn't quite salty enough for your liking.
And honestly? It’s at its absolute best when you just let it sit in the fridge overnight.

Good morning!

In my opinion, your parents made a huge mistake by failing to prepare your brother for an independent life..

So you're saying they spoiled him to the point where he’s lost even the basic skills he used to have? He just won't do anything on his own anymore...

Generally speaking, I think parents are at their worst in these situations. By being overly protective, they basically crush any chance for that child to actually grow up. We actually have a situation like this in our family—I've seen firsthand how an aunt basically ruined her daughter's potential. The girl isn't actually incapable; she's just been conditioned to believe she can't handle anything.

Jacob Lee11 said:... I'll give everything a shot😉

Light up a joint...
It works for me every single time.☕

Hey there,

I was wondering if something like this is actually doable.
So, here’s the deal. I’ve got this spreadsheet showing all the items sold, where every item is categorized under a specific register ID. It's an export in *.xlsx format. What I really want to do is import this whole thing into an Access database, but instead of one giant mess, I want the system to automatically split those items by their IDs into separate tables. Basically, every register ends up with its own dedicated table in Access. Is there a way to automate this so I don't have to sit there manually filtering and copy-pasting every single time? Even if I have to do the heavy lifting manually just once to set up a process that handles everything automatically from then on, I'd love to know.

That wasn't quite what I was hunting for, but it definitely helped me stumble upon what I actually needed.
What I was trying to do was set up some Data Validation (go to the Data Tab, hit the Data Validation button, and select the List option) for a single row, using a table located somewhere else within the same Workbook as the source.

Thanks for the hand!

Hi there,

I'm currently putting together an Excel workbook to act as a tracking log.
Since the colleague responsible for the data entry isn't exactly known for her precision or reliability—and I desperately need one specific column to have perfectly consistent entries so I can filter everything easily once I import the data into another program—
I'm thinking about setting up a dropdown menu for each cell in that particular column. That way, she picks from a list instead of typing things in manually. All the other rows should just function normally, exactly as they do now.

Is this doable, and if so, what's the best way to go about it?

Thanks in advance,

Steven Davis5 said:Man, you’ve basically hyper-fixated on just ONE show—honestly, you're doing alright, maybe even great! 🤣

🤣
It's the honest truth.

Look, it isn't even about the specific show anymore. Like someone else pointed out, the series is just an escape from reality. It's living in some imaginary world, and that escape has turned into a full-blown addiction. Once the show ends, you'll just go hunting for the next one, and it goes on forever. If you run out of shows, you'll probably just swap them out for other mindless, popular distractions... we all know how that story ends.
The silver lining is that you don't need a psychiatrist. It's actually very straightforward. Just like any other addiction, the solution is abstinence. If you find it too difficult, just throw your TV in the trash. I promise you'll feel better after a few months.

You say you don't have the strength to quit? Well, listen: if you can't stop watching (whether it's this show or any other), then just go to sleep. If you can't sleep, find a way to physically exhaust yourself so you can finally drift off. It might sound like a long, grueling process, but after a week or two of staying away, your addiction will start to look ridiculous.

Hi everyone.
I’m looking for some advice on using Advanced Filters in Excel, or maybe even just a clever workaround if one exists.

Here’s the situation:
I’ve got this massive master table. The first column contains product codes, and the second column lists the descriptions. The catch is that I have several identical descriptions paired with different product codes. To manage this, I’ve put together a smaller secondary table containing a specific list of product codes I actually care about. Now, I need to apply a filter to that first column in my main table—using those codes—but I want to filter by the entire list from my small table all at once. It’s only about 15 different codes, but doing it manually is a pain.

Alright, Excel wizards, please save me! 🙂

Hey there,
Does anyone happen to know how to change the file path for the personal macro workbook in Excel 2007?

Nicholas King said:Sub Macro1()

BrojListova = Application.Sheets.Count

For i = 1 To BrojListova
Sheets(i).Select

....

Next i

End Sub

So, that’s how you set up a loop to run a macro across all sheets.
What I’m looking for is how to make the macro start from whichever sheet is currently active and then proceed forward from there. For example:
Suppose we have: sheet1, sheet2, sheet3, sheet4
If I'm working on sheet3 and trigger the macro, I want it to run for sheet3, sheet4 (and sheet5 if it exists), but absolutely skip sheet1 and sheet2.

Nicholas King said:Sub Macro1()

BrojListova = Application.Sheets.Count

For i = 1 To NumberOfSheets
select Sheets(i).Select
FirstRow = Range("$A:$A").End(xlUp).Row
LastRow = Range("$A:$A").End(xlDown).Row

Range("B" & FirstRow, "B" & LastRow).Select
select Selection.Value = "z"

Range("C" & FirstRow, "C" & LastRow).Select
select Selection.Value = ActiveSheet.Name

Range("D" & FirstRow, "D" & LastRow).Select
If (Month(Now) > 10) Then
Mjesec$ = "11" & (Month(Now()) - 1)
Else
mjesec $ = "110" & (Month(Date) - 1)
end if Selection
Value = ActiveSheet$

Next i

end Sub macro

The macro loops through every single worksheet. That’s where you can see exactly how to set up a loop.

Column A serves as the primary reference for determining the range where values will be entered. Just a heads-up—if you're working with headers, you'll need to adjust the expression for FirstRow accordingly.

It populates columns B, C, and D with the exact values you were looking for.

It’s entirely up to you what you want to enter as the month for January. And once we hit 2012—though I'm assuming this "11" actually refers to 2011—you can decide how to handle that too. 🙂)

🙏🙏🙏

Nice work. That is exactly what I've been looking for. 👍

I've hit one more snag. Now that everything is filtered, organized, and those extra columns are finally added, I really need to pull all this data into a single sheet. The potential headache here? My data is scattered across a bunch of different files.
I'm wondering if it's possible to automate everything so that all the data gets pulled into one master sheet within its own separate file. I'd want this central file—let's call it master_table.xlsx—to sit right in the same folder as all the individual files being worked on, but act as a standalone destination where everything is consolidated automatically.

Hi there,

I’ll be the first to admit—I’m a total novice when it comes to writing Macros. I did manage to cobble one together using the macro recorder built right into Excel, though.
The Macro I put together wipes out all images, clears out empty rows (plus any colored ones, since they don't hold the data I need), and finally reorganizes my columns into a specific order. As part of that, it deletes two columns but merges their data into a single column.
Now I’m wondering: is there a way to run this Macro across every single sheet at once? Right now, I have to trigger it manually for every individual tab, and I'm dealing with about 50 sheets in one file.
Second thing on my mind: how can I add the letter "z" to a specific column, but only for the rows that actually contain data?
Third point—similar to the second, but instead of the letter "z," I need the cell to pull the name of the sheet (which, in my case, is just a code or a number).
Fourth thing—again, similar to the previous two, but instead of a letter or a sheet name, I need the cells to show "11xx." The "xx" would represent the previous month of the year. For example, if I run the Macro in May, the cells should show 1104; if I run it in June, it should show 1105.

Anyway, if anyone can help me tackle even one of these issues, please let me know.
Thanks in advance! 🙂

http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/weight-loss/in-depth/ideal-weight/loc-20067124

Here I am. Finally worked up the nerve to post a few photos.
I’m actually new to this section of the forum. After three years of being pretty much sedentary—mostly just laziness mixed with way too many overtime hours at the office—I’m finally getting back into shape and focusing on my health.
Growing up, I was always active in sports. During my freshman year of college, I hit the gym consistently for about a year. Lately, I’ve been loosening up with some running and cycling. I also have a single dumbbell at home to prep my muscles for more intense training once I finish my exams and land a steady job. Once I have the budget for a proper gym membership, I'll be ready to push harder through the fall and winter.
To cut to the chase, here are some shots:
5'9", 165 lbs, BMI around 24, 22 years old.

Relaxed:


Uploaded with Imgur

Pose 1:


Uploaded with Imgur

Pose 2:


Uploaded with Imgur

Back:


Uploaded with Imgur

Side profile:


Uploaded with Imgur

I took these on my phone in my bathroom this past Friday, so the quality isn't great. I promise to put more effort into the lighting and setup next time.
My goal is to shed some fat, get more definition, and eventually bulk up to around 185-200 lbs. Of course, I'm in no rush—there's no hurry on my end 😁. I plan to do everything through a solid combination of clean eating and consistent training, so all comments, critiques, and suggestions are more than welcome.

One last thing: I've been reading through this part of the forum for a few days now, and after thoroughly browsing this thread, I just want to say to everyone posting their progress: respect. Your persistence and discipline are seriously motivating. Thank you for that.
👍

slymaker9 said:Hi everyone!

During a recent business meeting, someone dropped this line on me with a completely straight face: "I hold myself in very high regard, but I don't even think I have the capacity to..."
For some reason, it didn't strike me as confidence. To me, it sounded more like: "Don't go thinking I'm not smart; I'm actually quite brilliant."
It felt like they were trying too hard to convince me of their intelligence, which usually points toward deep-seated insecurity.🤷
What’s your take? Are these the words of an arrogant, confident person, or someone who is fundamentally insecure?
What kind of personality says something like that, and what is their actual goal?

Okay, at first glance, it sounds like a 'realistic' and 'honest' statement. But that word 'even' really bugs me. To me, it suggests that this person doesn't just have a high opinion of themselves (which they admitted), but they’re positioning themselves far above everyone else (which is what they implied). They frame it that way so people won't see them as selfish or arrogant, but rather as being honest and grounded.
In my opinion, we're looking at an intelligent, cunning, and calculating individual dealing with a massive ego. But that's just how I see it.

It’s like reading the original post and seeing a play-by-play of my own internal monologue. I have the exact same issue, word for word.

Brandon Davis5 said:Try following these three simple steps you can use in any situation to get the ball rolling—they actually work:
1) Relax (loosen up your whole body, breathe deep from your stomach instead of your chest, drop your shoulders, relax your hands and jaw, keep your head up, take up more space, and speak up a little louder...).
2) Just keep talking (say the first thing that pops into your head, and the next time you see those friends, try to talk as much as possible for the first ten minutes; you'll realize you've regained control over yourself, the conversation, and the whole vibe, and then you can steer it however you want).
3) Don't let yourself get swallowed by their reality; pull them into yours (just talk about stuff you actually care about and stop giving a damn about what they think).

-Quick tip: always try to talk to whoever you can. Make it your goal to find two random people wherever you go and have a quick 30-second chat before saying, "Sorry, gotta run, bye!" You'll see that after a while, you'll be totally practiced and your communication skills will be top-tier. From there, it's smooth sailing.

Good luck! 🙂

Solid advice. I'm going to give this a shot. 👍

Carl Nguyen2 said:It’s kind of a similar situation for me—though the difference is that I don't really worry about what to say next. It's more that my mind just goes blank, or my thoughts drift off to some completely unrelated topic, and before I know it, I’ve stopped listening to the person entirely. It isn't that I lack things to say or can't express my actual opinions—that's not the issue—it's just that I have zero interest in the mundane, everyday trivialities of someone else's life or their mindless little anecdotes. For instance, today some guy starts talking to me like, "Jesus, I barely slept last night, I've had five coffees and I'm still dead..." Okay, and? What am I supposed to say to that? I'm just not built for casual small talk. So, most of the time, I just stay quiet and let people ramble on around me.

It's the same thing when I actually *want* to start a conversation; I have no idea how to kick it off or what topic to pick, and even if I do find the nerve to try, the conversation dies almost immediately—and then we're right back where we started.

🤣
Those are the absolute worst. One friend of mine actually started telling me all about his hemorrhoids and bathroom troubles. 🙄

Carl Nguyen2 said:It’s kind of a similar situation for me—though the difference is that I don't really worry about what to say next. It's more that my mind just goes blank, or my thoughts drift off to some completely unrelated topic, and before I know it, I’ve stopped listening to the person entirely. It isn't that I lack things to say or can't express my actual opinions—that's not the issue—it's just that I have zero interest in the mundane, everyday trivialities of someone else's life or their mindless little anecdotes. For instance, today some guy starts talking to me like, "Jesus, I barely slept last night, I've had five coffees and I'm still dead..." Okay, and? What am I supposed to say to that? I'm just not built for casual small talk. So, most of the time, I just stay quiet and let people ramble on around me.

It's the same thing when I actually *want* to start a conversation; I have no idea how to kick it off or what topic to pick, and even if I do find the nerve to try, the conversation dies almost immediately—and then we're right back where we started.

That happens to me too. 😢
Except with those few people I can chatter away with for hours. But those are usually one-on-one conversations; once a third person joins, I just freeze up.😢

Douglas Rogers put that beautifully—it almost felt poetic. I really liked his phrasing.👍
If you want my take, here’s how I’d frame it:
Suffering is essentially a subjective experience. It’s an internal reaction to some external stimulus.
Sure, suffering can be triggered by internal factors too. In those cases, a person might be causing their own distress, whether they realize it or not. We call those people "sufferers," though I suspect we're often talking about people who are just a bit emotionally unbalanced.
So, why does this happen? Why do we fall into the illusion that suffering is everywhere?
Well, since it’s just an internal response to something happening outside of us, there has to be a processing stage first. Buddhist philosophy hits the nail on the head when it says that desire—our cravings and wants—is the root of our misery. Those desires dictate exactly how we process those external triggers. Of course, they took it to an extreme, which isn't quite right either; you need that "middle ground" approach to letting go of desire...
You also have to wrap your head around what emotions actually are and how they form. At the end of the day, suffering is "just" another feeling.
And I absolutely cannot get on board with the idea that suffering exists to teach us lessons. If that were true, we wouldn't be able to learn through joy, either. Plus, if life were designed to force lessons upon us, we wouldn't have any real choice, which would ultimately strip us of our agency as conscious beings. That line of thinking sounds more like something a medieval monk would cling to. Let's not regress like that.😉