For anyone outside of the US who doesn't understand this problem, it's not so much that chip card readers are difficult to use. There are two main issues: 1) right now, it's about 50/50 as to whether the store you're going to can actually *use* the chip reader (even if the machine has a slot for it), so unless you frequent that place and remember how it is there, you ALWAYS have to ask, "Do I swipe or insert the card?"; and 2) in my experience, it takes *so* much longer for the chip reader process to complete than it did for a simple swipe of the old-fashioned credit card.

Once all retailers in America are able to use the chip reader, and once (or, "if") it starts going a lot faster, then no worries. Until then, it's just an annoyance for everyone involved, cashiers included.

That seafood loaf may not *look* appealing, but I'll bet it's delicious. I'd definitely give it a go. ;-)

"Then Disney announced that the "expanded universe" of novels, games, and fan fiction up to that point were not to be regarded as canon..."

I think you snuck in a "not" there, where there shouldn't be one. ;-)

Trains in the USA may suck relative to what they used to be and compared to other countries... but there is much to like about them. Yes, they are usually slower than flying — a great deal slower, for longer journeys — but they can be cheaper, depending on when you purchase your tickets. However, the biggest thing to recommend them is the freedom. Unlike most airlines, you get a lot more room in the seats, and you can walk around freely, sit in the common areas, go to the snack bar, and if you spend the extra dough, even have a sleeper cabin of your own. Until airlines find a way to bring back that freedom that *they* once had, trains will always be a more relaxing way to travel than flying.

You wrote: "it's actually pronounced ee-KAY-uh." That's not the pronunciation I heard in that Vine video. Sounds more like "ee-KEE-uh".

But glad to know that they say "eye-KEE-uh" is okay with them, as well. I'm so set in my ways, I doubt I could ever start saying it another way now. ;-)

In answer to your question about what Norse gods order at a diner, being of Norwegian roots myself, I'd say it'd likely be any food that's white, bland, and served with copious amounts of butter.