Pure Chillout

Unlike most of the photos I post here on Weekly Fifty, this one actually has a bit more personal significance beyond "Here's a cool photo I took." What you're looking at is a popcorn maker, a jug of popcorn kernels, and the lynchpin that binds the whole operation together: a small jar of coconut oil. For years my wife and I have made homemade popcorn to share while watching Netflix after a busy day, and we have tried all sorts of different methods to tweak it and improve the taste. Not that there's anything wrong with a bowl full of puffy popcorn by itself, but we have learned a thing or two about getting it just right. One evening recently when we made yet another batch I thought it would also be an interesting picture, and the result is what you see here. But before I get to an analysis of the picture itself, here's a few things I have learned over the years to help you arrive at that perfect batch of homemade popcorn:

• Use a West Bend Stir Crazy popper

• Use coconut oil instead o