Random Thoughts That Don't Deserve Their Own Thread Go Here

[Alf]

Youg neighbours are having a party and it is already 11.45pm and they haven't warned the neighbours (at least, they didn't warn our family). I am usually very cool with that, but with high temperatures these days and for the coming 10 days, we sleep with windows open, so we're going to be exposed to the noise. Some of their music is okaish to me, some is not, and they look to have a very limited playlist (15+ songs at best). I know, I'm just being the grumpy old neighbour, but we're in the middle of the week on a tuesday, not a friday or a saturday, I'd be happy with some less noise.

I don't know what's bothering me the most
- their shitty music that late at night
- the fact that they didn't warn the neighbours

I am very cool with noise generally as long as I have been warned (and I have been young before too), but not being warned is making me feel all pissed.

:grumpy: Alf

[Radii]

Originally Posted by heybrad

Climbing out between floors would definitely be one of my irrational fears. I just picture the elevator cutting loose as I'm half way out. Yikers.

I saw that on a r/WTF thread once, I would stay in that damn elevator forever.

[Suicane75]

Originally Posted by Radii

I saw that on a r/WTF thread once, I would stay in that damn elevator forever.

Two things I'd never do, climb out of an elevator stuck between floors, and Roseanne Barr.

[bhlloy]

Not to make this the rational fears thread, but a guy I worked with in high school and was good friends with his older brother was crushed to death at university when he was trying to get out between floors when the elevator got stuck and then shifted with his weight. Think it was quite slow and gruesome as well. Don't do it people.

[stevew]

Originally Posted by Radii

I saw that on a r/WTF thread once, I would stay in that damn elevator forever.

Yes but what if you help an old lady out of the elevator and she has a nice niece who can make a really great tart. Even if you struggle to communicate due to gaps in language, love is universal, man.

[Dutch]

Originally Posted by Suicane75

Two things I'd never do, climb out of an elevator stuck between floors, and Roseanne Barr.

I was definitely more fearful of being in the elevator...so I took my chances....seconds later it broke free and crashed to the bottom floor.

Okay, that last part didn't happen.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I'll spare ya'll the details & all but the run of "you gotta be kidding me" bullshit bad luck & disasters & utter ... just plain old life bullshit stuff that has happened to/around me lately has reached the point of being so absurd that I'm just nearly numb.

Car stuff, work stuff, homeowner stuff, you name it. 48 years & I've never seen anything like it. I think I've probably already reached the end of my rope, lost my grip on the frayed knot at the end and as much as anything feel like a cartoon character suspended in mid-air staring at the gap between the knot & my hands. All that's left is the fall.

[AlexB]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

I'll spare ya'll the details & all but the run of "you gotta be kidding me" bullshit bad luck & disasters & utter ... just plain old life bullshit stuff that has happened to/around me lately has reached the point of being so absurd that I'm just nearly numb.

Car stuff, work stuff, homeowner stuff, you name it. 48 years & I've never seen anything like it. I think I've probably already reached the end of my rope, lost my grip on the frayed knot at the end and as much as anything feel like a cartoon character suspended in mid-air staring at the gap between the knot & my hands. All that's left is the fall.

The good news if that cartoon analogy is continued is that after the fall, no lasting damage will be done, and you'll be able to dust yourself off and carry on like nothing happened.

[Dutch]

If you're going through hell...keep on going...

[Schmidty]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

I'll spare ya'll the details & all but the run of "you gotta be kidding me" bullshit bad luck & disasters & utter ... just plain old life bullshit stuff that has happened to/around me lately has reached the point of being so absurd that I'm just nearly numb.

Car stuff, work stuff, homeowner stuff, you name it. 48 years & I've never seen anything like it. I think I've probably already reached the end of my rope, lost my grip on the frayed knot at the end and as much as anything feel like a cartoon character suspended in mid-air staring at the gap between the knot & my hands. All that's left is the fall.

I bet you smoked more.

What does "the fall" look like to a smoker? I'm sorry. I'm not sure where I'm going there with that. What?

Praying for you bud.

[Kodos]

Hang in there, Jon.

[molson]

I think I remember this video being posted here at some point. Sir Nicholas Winston organized the rescue of almost 700 Jewish children headed for death camps. In 1988, he was surprised by an audience full of those children on a BBC TV Show. He died today at age 106.

Sir Nicholas Winton - BBC Programme "That's Life" aired in 1988 - YouTube

[Dutch]

Google+ just sent me an e-mail asking if I knew me.

[AlexB]

Very deep. Do any of us really know who we are?

[Kodos]

Personally, I have unfriended me.

[Suicane75]

He shouldn't have any trouble finding an ATM machine in Europe, them girls is freaky.

(Things I'd like to post in other threads but don't want to be tacky.)

[RainMaker]

It had been years since I had a Peanut Butter & Jelly and I don't know why I ever stopped. Such a solid sandwich.

[bhlloy]

Originally Posted by molson

I think I remember this video being posted here at some point. Sir Nicholas Winston organized the rescue of almost 700 Jewish children headed for death camps. In 1988, he was surprised by an audience full of those children on a BBC TV Show. He died today at age 106.

Sir Nicholas Winton - BBC Programme "That's Life" aired in 1988 - YouTube

Want to bump this post, an incredible story that nobody knows about, done entirely on his own dime and initiative. That clip brings me to tears every time.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by bhlloy

Want to bump this post, an incredible story that nobody knows about, done entirely on his own dime and initiative. That clip brings me to tears every time.

I remember when it was first posted. Touching story and a great man.

[Dutch]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

It had been years since I had a Peanut Butter & Jelly and I don't know why I ever stopped. Such a solid sandwich.

I never stopped. At least once a month!

[Neuqua]

Mr. Nanny - Throwing a dog in the ocean - YouTube

How did that get past post production?

[CraigSca]

I hate when my crimes get accidentally documented by a "Hulk Hogan driving a motorcycle" montage.

[NobodyHere]

Meet the new definition of evil:

N.C. company rolls out new Bubble Wrap that won't pop

[JonInMiddleGA]

My lower back is of the considered opinion that I am too damned old to be dragging trees out of the street during an impromptu community landscaping project (i.e. damned storms).

[stevew]

Local news did a story on ptsd from fireworks. Was a nice break from their usual Youngstown double homicide/embezzlement scandal that typically run all the time.

I know it's highly derivative but "Youngstown Area Man" might be my Twitter handle

[stevew]

Since I saw 1million cops when I was out earlier today, it occurs to me that cops exclusively drive American cars/SUVs. I assume this is some sort of patriotism thing. But as taxpayers shouldn't we want our cops in the safest most reliable efficient vehicles? Do they drive Hondas, etc elsewhere in the US?

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by stevew

Since I saw 1million cops when I was out earlier today, it occurs to me that cops exclusively drive American cars/SUVs. I assume this is some sort of patriotism thing. But as taxpayers shouldn't we want our cops in the safest most reliable efficient vehicles? Do they drive Hondas, etc elsewhere in the US?

No, because there are few makes/models available with the preferred combination of size, performance, etc. There IS a new leader however, after years of dominance by the Ford Crown Victoria ... the Ford Explorer.

Ford : SUV becomes USA's top police car

[miami_fan]

Happy Independence Day America!

Today's date is the 4th of July, the holiday is Independence Day.

The difference is significant for me.

[NobodyHere]

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY EVERYONE!!!!

[sabotai]

My PSU is dying. Just in time for the weekend. Hurray!

...*sigh* I hate computers.

[Barkeep49]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

No, because there are few makes/models available with the preferred combination of size, performance, etc. There IS a new leader however, after years of dominance by the Ford Crown Victoria ... the Ford Explorer.

Ford : SUV becomes USA's top police car

I think if some non-US company wanted to enter the market they could, but as Jon points out, police vehicles are quite specialized in their needs and so it's not just a matter of taking a car and slapping some lights on it. You need to tune the engine different, have better suspension, etc. And you have to do it at surprisingly low prices: I am always amazed when I see how little, relatively speaking, my city pays for new police vehicles. I am guessing the potential profit doesn't justify the expense of trying to break into the market.

[molson]

Do people who record fireworks displays on their cell phones sit down and watch them later? Or show them to visiting friends?

[CU Tiger]

Originally Posted by Barkeep49

I think if some non-US company wanted to enter the market they could, but as Jon points out, police vehicles are quite specialized in their needs and so it's not just a matter of taking a car and slapping some lights on it. You need to tune the engine different, have better suspension, etc. And you have to do it at surprisingly low prices: I am always amazed when I see how little, relatively speaking, my city pays for new police vehicles. I am guessing the potential profit doesn't justify the expense of trying to break into the market.

The profit of those vehicles comes in the parts business.
Parts is the high margin product in the car world anyway. basically if a manufacturer can sell 50,000 units annually at pure total cost the economy of scale it affords will allow them to increase margins on the balance of product line. So the fleet costs is pretty darned low. Then the parts and aftermarket support make it a profitable venture.

[lighthousekeeper]

Originally Posted by CU Tiger

The profit of those vehicles comes in the parts business.
Parts is the high margin product in the car world anyway. basically if a manufacturer can sell 50,000 units annually at pure total cost the economy of scale it affords will allow them to increase margins on the balance of product line. So the fleet costs is pretty darned low. Then the parts and aftermarket support make it a profitable venture.

sounds like gov't IT consulting.

[Barkeep49]

In the last 24 hours it has become apparent that my landlord is going to sell her house, despite her saying she has no plans to do so, so I need to find a new place to live (and will mean paying at least $200 more a month at a new place), I broke the passenger mirror backing out of the garage (looks like it just might need to be glued, fingers crossed), my tire pressure gauge went on, and and got rear ended at a stoplight (no damage done to either car).

[Grover]

Jared Fogle (of Subway fame) has been arrested and his home is being raided for child pornography.

How the mighty have fallen.

[Grover]

Originally Posted by Barkeep49

In the last 24 hours it has become apparent that my landlord is going to sell her house, despite her saying she has no plans to do so, so I need to find a new place to live (and will mean paying at least $200 more a month at a new place), I broke the passenger mirror backing out of the garage (looks like it just might need to be glued, fingers crossed), my tire pressure gauge went on, and and got rear ended at a stoplight (no damage done to either car).

Wow, that is a terrible, very bad, no good day.

[QuikSand]

Originally Posted by Grover

Jared Fogle (of Subway fame) has been arrested and his home is being raided for child pornography.

How the mighty have fallen.

Okay, that seems to put him in a bad place. But overall, the OVER definitely pays there, right? Guy was a clever novelty act when he arrived for them...12 years or so ago? And he's still been in commercials as recently as this year? Damn, didn't see that coming.

Maybe it was a crossroads thing.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by Barkeep49

In the last 24 hours it has become apparent that my landlord is going to sell her house, despite her saying she has no plans to do so, so I need to find a new place to live (and will mean paying at least $200 more a month at a new place), I broke the passenger mirror backing out of the garage (looks like it just might need to be glued, fingers crossed), my tire pressure gauge went on, and and got rear ended at a stoplight (no damage done to either car).

Seems like a good day to just call out/fake sick and go home.

[OldGiants]

Why hasn't Obama blamed that mid-air collision over South Carolina on the Confederate flag yet?

[INDalltheway]

Originally Posted by molson

Do people who record fireworks displays on their cell phones sit down and watch them later? Or show them to visiting friends?

Totally agree with you, but my buddy took some amazing long exposure shots of the Indianapolis fireworks.

4th Fireworks No.2

A photo posted by Jnelson (@jnells1133) on Jul 6, 2015 at 10:46am PDT

[finkenst]

Originally Posted by INDalltheway

Totally agree with you, but my buddy took some amazing long exposure shots of the Indianapolis fireworks.

This totally belongs in the cool pics thread, too..

WOW

[Grover]

Originally Posted by OldGiants

Why hasn't Obama blamed that mid-air collision over South Carolina on the Confederate flag yet?

Because that's ridiculous.

[Alf]

I AM ON VACATION NOW !!! YEAH. GOOD TIME COMING !

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by Alf

I AM ON VACATION NOW !!! YEAH. GOOD TIME COMING !

Where you going?

[Kodos]

Originally Posted by OldGiants

Why hasn't Obama blamed that mid-air collision over South Carolina on the Confederate flag yet?

I love how confederate-flag supporters are playing the victim now. "Damn Obummer--stealin' our flags!"

[Honolulu_Blue]

McSweeney’s Internet Tendency: Nobel Prize Winner Peter Higgs Regrets Fielding Your Physics-Based Dungeons and Dragons Questions.

NOBEL PRIZE WINNER PETER HIGGS REGRETS FIELDING YOUR PHYSICS-BASED DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS QUESTIONS.


BY MARK ROOKE

- - - -
PETER HIGGS: I’d like to again thank Scranton Community College and the New Jersey Youth Physics Foundation for extending this invitation to speak about my work. Their dedication to both training tomorrow’s scientists and paying my speaker’s fees in a timely manner is truly an inspiration to us all. But enough of my rambling on! Now that we’ve finished the presentation, I’d like to open the floor and encourage the inquisitive young minds here to spur some discussion about subatomic particles. Who’d like to begin? Yes, you there in the Lord of the Rings shirt. No, the other one. The other other one. Of Gandalf. Could you step up to the microphone, please?

STUDENT ONE: If my half-elf wizard fell off a castle parapet high enough to kill him, could he cast the Dimension Door spell to teleport safely onto a lower surface before landing? My Dungeon Master said the impact would be fatal but I don’t think so.

HIGGS: Hmm. Well, this wasn’t what I had in mind when I opened the floor, but in the spirit of education, let’s entertain the idea. This basically asks if the momentum is conserved after your wizard relocates, yes? It’s been years since I role-played a spellcaster, but even in quantum experiments teleportation appears to conserve momentum. Fatality depends primarily on how long he’s been falling and secondarily on how heavy he is. For humans in earth gravity, most falls above 46 meters are deadly, but I can’t speak for half-elves living in whatever escapist fantasy you’ve constructed for yourself. So, yes. Your Dungeon Master is most likely correct. What an enjoyable diversion! Thank you for that thought experiment. Now, who has a question specifically over the concepts we’ve covered in today’s lecture?

STUDENT TWO: If my sorceress wants to cast a fireball spell to follow a mortar-like parabolic arc, rather than a straight line and exploding on impact, could she do that? Isn’t that how gravity works?

HIGGS: Oh dear. Students, I admire the inquisitive nature required to come up with these unorthodox applications of physics, but I really had hoped to speak about my work. That said, if we assume that the fireball isn’t pure energy and does have mass, it would follow a parabolic arc after leaving your sorceress. I’ll leave the angle and velocity calculations to you and your Dungeon Master. Now, let’s return to subatomic particles, shall we? Who’s next?

STUDENT THREE: I’m a Dungeon Master for a group of fairly high level rogues. All of them picked the Deft Dodger feat, and now when fighting my army of liches, high dice rolls let them dodge almost anything, including fire and lightning. That’s absurd, right? No one can dodge lightning.

HIGGS: This is most upsetting. I’m very honored to be here speaking to you all today — truly, I am — but I did not earn my PhD as a tool to spelunk the semantics of graph paper dungeons. This is an intellectual discussion on the frontiers of science, not a Mountain Dew fueled Saturday at the back of the student center. And while it pains me to give legitimacy to this nonsense, you’re right. Energy emitted by radiation or electric current moves too quickly and chaotically to be dodged. But rules are rules, and you and your army of liches must abide by them. OK now, students, I beg you. Let’s return to the research I came here to present. Next question?

STUDENT FOUR: My friend’s gnome monk successfully performed a bull rush against my half-orc barbarian during a tavern brawl, which is impossible. There’s no way a 45-pound gnome can knock over 200 pounds of orc fury, right?

HIGGS: God in heaven — have you even read my work? Or more relevant to the question, your player’s manual? It explicitly states that a bull rush depends on the attacker’s roll and not a weight ratio. Dungeons and Dragons isn’t a physics simulator for the same reason that my Nobel Prize winning research isn’t a flannelgraph for your fantasy bullshittery. Next question!

STUDENT FIVE: My level 12 paladin was running full sprint before casting Circle of Power, and —

HIGGS: No, stop right there. This is absurd. Your paladin won’t learn Circle of Power until level 17. Does no one care about the mysteries of our universe? Or my work? Yes! Finally! You there with the purple highlights and your arm raised.

STUDENT SIX: If my wizard casts the Magic Missile spell while falling, is the range of the spell limited by the distance she’s already fallen?

HIGGS: The question and answer portion of the evening is now over. Goodnight and best of luck to all of you in your studies.

[Butter]

Originally Posted by Kodos

I love how confederate-flag supporters are playing the victim now. "Damn Obummer--stealin' our flags!"

First the flags, then the guns.

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by Kodos

I love how confederate-flag supporters are playing the victim now. "Damn Obummer--stealin' our flags!"

It's just so hard being casually racist these days.

[path12]

Ten years ago I swore I would never go on antidepressants again.

And yet, here I am. Goddamnit. Fuck you depression.