Sounds like she's already ready for I-4.
Lounge random thoughts/stories thread -- CURRENT
- Thread starter The Sam
- Start date
Sounds like she's already ready for I-4.
I'm just waiting for her to discover the little lever that disconnects the left & right rear brake pedals from one another.
So asking for a friend here. Is it strange to have a cake delivered from a nearby store to save a few bucks?
Here's the friend's favorite cake:
But the price has been creeping up from $30 to $35 to $43
The friend has a time honored tradition of getting this cake, cutting it into four parts. Eating one part, and then eating the other two parts (they share the rest).
With a Grubhub+ subscription, along with a "40% off" promo, total delivered becomes $40. Compared to $46.67 in store.
Here's the friend's favorite cake:
But the price has been creeping up from $30 to $35 to $43
The friend has a time honored tradition of getting this cake, cutting it into four parts. Eating one part, and then eating the other two parts (they share the rest).
With a Grubhub+ subscription, along with a "40% off" promo, total delivered becomes $40. Compared to $46.67 in store.
Why is it in a car, but on a plane? In essence, it is the same thing where you are fully contained within a vehicle. Now, something like on a bicycle or on a skateboard makes sense because you are not fully contained within the vehicle.
Yup, wasteful, that's exactly the right word for it. This is of course a promotion to get people to use delivery, but I wish it was half the promotion and just let pickup instead.
Is it wasteful? Someone is delivering it to you. That person is getting a $4 tip... it's their job they have chosen. You are saving $7 plus gas or cab/uber/Lyft/train plus time travelling.
Seems like a win for all concerned.
Seems like a win for all concerned.
Except for the bakery - when delivery services offer promotions the restaurants are frequently the ones taking the hit.
It's getting delivery from a place that's walking distance away. But maybe I should think of it as a good thing for the delivery person since the delivery is a very quick and easy one for them. Plus there is benefits in the fees for them as well!
Oh and I forgot, AmEx has a $10 statement credit once a month for Grubub so the price will get a bit lower too.
In my experience when using pickup promos in this bakery, the total in the receipt is the full amount paid to them even though I get the promo discount and my total is less.
Little random story time about birthdays and presents and married couples (well, the couple I'm in, at least). . .
My wife and I long ago agreed not to do any "big" gifts for each other on birthdays. For me, it's just another day generally. For her, there's some old emotional baggage tied up with her family issues when she was younger*.
Well, I broke that compact last month for her birthday and used an offhand comment as an excuse to buy her a Switch and a Pokemon game. Honestly, she was absolutely surprised and thrilled (as I expected). I'm thrilled because I pulled it off. Everybody wins!
She laments that she can't get me anything comparable (we're single income while she does some classes ahead of getting a license to do vet tech work) and says I should get myself something nice for my birthday. I'm like, okay, I can use that excuse, and finally bought a new 4k 27" monitor to replace my 15-year-old 22" monitor that could only get to 1050p. That came in last weekend and honestly, I'm thrilled with it.
Nice couple of little birthdays, eh? I thought so!
Anyway, she apparently couldn't live with not getting something for my birthday so late last week she admitted that she had ordered me "a silly little thing" that but that it was "really two things, more like one for each of us" and that she hoped I liked it and that it would arrive in time for my birthday and so on.
Well! This sounded really neat and I couldn't wait to see what had gotten her so excited. Then, on my birthday earlier this week when it definitely wasn't going to be here in time, she mentioned that she'd first seen it on Twitter back when she was still using it before, well, you know. . . .
Anyway, that got my brain gears turning a bit and after a genuine lightbulb moment I said, "OH MY GOD DID YOU ORDER THE FOXES IN LOVE PLUSHIES?!?!" And her jaw literally dropped before she said, "Motherfucker! How did you guess?** You're not disappointed, are you?" And I'm like, "Hell no!" For we both LOVE the Foxes-in-Love web comic. I am 100% the Blue fox and she is 120% the Green fox.
So here is a photo with "my" birthday presents (Green is obviously on permanent loan to Herself), new 4K on the left and the foxes on overwatch:
And here is perhaps our favorite comic as an example:
Go check them out if you haven't already. I've saved a couple dozen easy because they are so us. They're also on Bluesky at @foxes-in-love.bsky.social
* - This is somewhat mollified by her deciding that we are a New Family and that she is allowed to create newer, happier associations with her birthday. I happen to agree!
** - Our household should have the Explicit Lyrics sticker on the front door. I'm in construction. She's been a literal sailor (tall ships: wood, canvas, ropes, etc.).
My wife and I long ago agreed not to do any "big" gifts for each other on birthdays. For me, it's just another day generally. For her, there's some old emotional baggage tied up with her family issues when she was younger*.
Well, I broke that compact last month for her birthday and used an offhand comment as an excuse to buy her a Switch and a Pokemon game. Honestly, she was absolutely surprised and thrilled (as I expected). I'm thrilled because I pulled it off. Everybody wins!
She laments that she can't get me anything comparable (we're single income while she does some classes ahead of getting a license to do vet tech work) and says I should get myself something nice for my birthday. I'm like, okay, I can use that excuse, and finally bought a new 4k 27" monitor to replace my 15-year-old 22" monitor that could only get to 1050p. That came in last weekend and honestly, I'm thrilled with it.
Nice couple of little birthdays, eh? I thought so!
Anyway, she apparently couldn't live with not getting something for my birthday so late last week she admitted that she had ordered me "a silly little thing" that but that it was "really two things, more like one for each of us" and that she hoped I liked it and that it would arrive in time for my birthday and so on.
Well! This sounded really neat and I couldn't wait to see what had gotten her so excited. Then, on my birthday earlier this week when it definitely wasn't going to be here in time, she mentioned that she'd first seen it on Twitter back when she was still using it before, well, you know. . . .
Anyway, that got my brain gears turning a bit and after a genuine lightbulb moment I said, "OH MY GOD DID YOU ORDER THE FOXES IN LOVE PLUSHIES?!?!" And her jaw literally dropped before she said, "Motherfucker! How did you guess?** You're not disappointed, are you?" And I'm like, "Hell no!" For we both LOVE the Foxes-in-Love web comic. I am 100% the Blue fox and she is 120% the Green fox.
So here is a photo with "my" birthday presents (Green is obviously on permanent loan to Herself), new 4K on the left and the foxes on overwatch:
And here is perhaps our favorite comic as an example:
Go check them out if you haven't already. I've saved a couple dozen easy because they are so us. They're also on Bluesky at @foxes-in-love.bsky.social
* - This is somewhat mollified by her deciding that we are a New Family and that she is allowed to create newer, happier associations with her birthday. I happen to agree!
** - Our household should have the Explicit Lyrics sticker on the front door. I'm in construction. She's been a literal sailor (tall ships: wood, canvas, ropes, etc.).
Watching some competition-level poker, and in particular one video about bad players in the scene, shook up some memories from my time in Las Vegas. The memory is fuzzy - there's a lot of details that are lost to the hourglass now.
There was one time that I sat into a poker game - mid-week, middle of the day, mid-summer. There weren't many tables active, and the casino was moderately busy. I don't even remember what casino it was - possibly the MGM Grand or Tropicana; possibly the Imperial Palace. The table was half-full, and I had no idea what the other players were like. After several hands that I mucked, I had one that seemed promising. After the flop, I had four cards to a flush, so I called the bet from one of the other players. At the turn, I made the flush, and I bet. The other guy raised, and I called. The river didn't change the situation, and I felt confident that my flush would be the winning hand. I bet, he raised, I went all in. He called, and said, "Can you beat a full house?" with a wicked grin.
I was crestfallen. I didn't consider that he might actually be lying, so I turned over my cards, and with a sigh, responded, "I've just got a flush." I thought I'd had another run of bad luck and pissed away my gambling money. The next thing I know, the dealer is shoving chips over to me. I was confused... and then I had a rush of white-hot anger.
The fucker had lied about his hand. This was more than just a bluff. He had tried to trick me into tossing in my hand face-down, because he knew his bluffing had failed.
I stood up, tipped the dealer, and left. I knew that I was way too far on tilt to play rationally any more. The win was fairly small over all, but the idea that poker players will try any trick in the book to win hands was blazed in my brain after that day.
There was one time that I sat into a poker game - mid-week, middle of the day, mid-summer. There weren't many tables active, and the casino was moderately busy. I don't even remember what casino it was - possibly the MGM Grand or Tropicana; possibly the Imperial Palace. The table was half-full, and I had no idea what the other players were like. After several hands that I mucked, I had one that seemed promising. After the flop, I had four cards to a flush, so I called the bet from one of the other players. At the turn, I made the flush, and I bet. The other guy raised, and I called. The river didn't change the situation, and I felt confident that my flush would be the winning hand. I bet, he raised, I went all in. He called, and said, "Can you beat a full house?" with a wicked grin.
I was crestfallen. I didn't consider that he might actually be lying, so I turned over my cards, and with a sigh, responded, "I've just got a flush." I thought I'd had another run of bad luck and pissed away my gambling money. The next thing I know, the dealer is shoving chips over to me. I was confused... and then I had a rush of white-hot anger.
The fucker had lied about his hand. This was more than just a bluff. He had tried to trick me into tossing in my hand face-down, because he knew his bluffing had failed.
I stood up, tipped the dealer, and left. I knew that I was way too far on tilt to play rationally any more. The win was fairly small over all, but the idea that poker players will try any trick in the book to win hands was blazed in my brain after that day.
Now I'm wondering:
- How did the Space Weather Prediction Center know about the impending exhaustion of your personal grooming consumables
- Why you didn't heed those warnings
Not really... I know you are being facetious, buuuuut I know there are people out there that don't understand blindness... Or... There's another phrase that I cannot think of right now. I have heard stories . But it's a spectrum, no pun intended. So service animals might still be needed because someone has partial or limited vision.
And the signs should probably say "service animals" as opposed to "guide dogs" these days. And of course service animals fulfill more broad roles these days than being guides for those with impaired vision ( that might have been the phrase). I'm not referring to emotional support animals. There are other functions for which animals can be trained, such as... Someone was telling me about a dog that would help someone with... I think diabetes... So they would be aware of distress and would carry medicine or be able to alert others. I don't remember the details. But it was fascinating.
I don't think I have seen guide dog on a sign in some time.
At least "guide dog" is better than "Seeing eye dog" which is an organization that trains guide dogs.
Service animals would be the best terminology, for sure.
OK maybe ridiculous is the right word here. So the full story is that I happened to be in the bakery today as part of my usual Saturday routine. Saw what cakes were in stock and went home and ordered it for delivery right away.
Reconnaissance data:
Last minute change, I broke hallowed tradition and went with the Chocoholic Chiffon instead. Being a bit more expensive,it dipped the promo savings to $5.
Order was sent at pi time for cake.
Now I play the "waiting game."
The cake life moves quickly! Big big developments since half an hour ago. 
My dogs have learned the verbal spelling of:Random thought...
That sign that says "No dogs allowed. Except for guide dogs."
Isn't that second sentence redundant? Unless the dogs can read.
- w-a-l-k
- t-r-e-a-t
- r-i-d-e_i-n_t-h-e_t-r-u-c-k
Bah, that's amateur hour!I'm waiting for the Mooncake Moon myself.
Just think of the possibilities! 3-Wolf Moon, Moon Moon Moon, 3-Moon Moon Moon!!
Took Lady Friend's younger nephew to a card shop, as that possibly had something interesting to me.
It did not. At all. After I spent five minutes going through the Funko Pops for one particular one a friend is looking for, I sat on the couch reading a book on my phone. I vaguely understood the chat, defaulting from my few remaining ranks in Knowledge: Magic the Gathering (they were playing Yu-Gi-Oh, so it was a few dots off on the Skill Web).
And then it hit me, this was the first time I had done that sort of "parental" thing, and usually I have been the one who someone else was waiting on.
That was a really weird sensation.
It did not. At all. After I spent five minutes going through the Funko Pops for one particular one a friend is looking for, I sat on the couch reading a book on my phone. I vaguely understood the chat, defaulting from my few remaining ranks in Knowledge: Magic the Gathering (they were playing Yu-Gi-Oh, so it was a few dots off on the Skill Web).
And then it hit me, this was the first time I had done that sort of "parental" thing, and usually I have been the one who someone else was waiting on.
That was a really weird sensation.
So I'm playing one of the Resident Evils at night in the dark on the PC with KB/M and every time I get hit, it feels like the (real) windows are rattling. I'm thinking wow, this is some immersive level stuff. But I don't want to know exactly what's going on because it's too freaky. Except it's super loud at night and I can't seem to find the tone down the freaky rattling option in any of the menu options.
It turns out it was a Playstation controller doing the rumbling thing half way across the room.
It turns out it was a Playstation controller doing the rumbling thing half way across the room.
Most of them are traditional names that are getting trotted out again, like someone read "The Old Farmers Almanac" and went "hang on..."
I prefer when the terms were used once in a blue moon.
Ars's update on FreeDOS sparked strong memories for me. But when they got to the part about 'maybe someday it will be able to boot Windows,' I was like...
Chessmaster 2000 as I remember it:
Other random memories: to start DeskMate you waited for DOS to finish booting up and then typed
desk. Chessmaster 2000 as I remember it:
I'm poking around with Ublock Origin and trying to figure out how some of the bits and bobs work.
I click on a link to the Wiki for their Logger.
They use the Ars front page for their logging examples.
I click on a link to the Wiki for their Logger.
They use the Ars front page for their logging examples.
umm... ok i guess. don't get me wrong, most rebrands end up being really stupid and I am happy to see the use of HBO coming back. But then, what is a Max show? All those terrible reality shows polluting the service? And what will the service be called? Still Max? or HBOMax (again)?
nerdist.com
Long Live HBO! The HBO Brand Returns From Its Max-Imposed Exile
After unceremoniously cutting HBO from its streaming brand, Warner Bros. will now bring back the distinction between Max and HBO shows.
nerdist.com
Yes, it's one of my top Things For An Old Man Like Me To Rant About.
In a similar vein, I can do without Atmospheric Rivers, Vortexes, and other exotic descriptors. It's a heat wave or a cold snap. Maybe an inversion layer if I'm feeling generous.
"Atmospheric river" is a real thing and has been for decades. They're not "cold fronts." Learn2science old man.
Saw A Quiet Place : Day 1
It's both more and less intimate than the sequel, and a lot of expected things happen.
My only complaint:
The only thought I have is, you have to save all your gas (front end or back) for when it's raining and hopefully thunder/lightning enough to cover it up.
Lactose intolerant people are doomed, and beans are a no-no for cuisine in the Death Angel apocalypse and forget about carbonated drinks of any kind.
It's both more and less intimate than the sequel, and a lot of expected things happen.
My only complaint:
A cat that never meows or purrs or hisses?
The only thought I have is, you have to save all your gas (front end or back) for when it's raining and hopefully thunder/lightning enough to cover it up.
Lactose intolerant people are doomed, and beans are a no-no for cuisine in the Death Angel apocalypse and forget about carbonated drinks of any kind.
At the start of my latest COVID journey the first night I had an extremely painful sinus congestion. I worried that I would be in pain the entire time. The problem is that since then I been blowing my nose, and it has been "infected" or alternatively coloured blood. Tonight I coughed up a huge bunch. Trying to decide what will be the tipping point to try to see a doctor. A neti pot did not clear anything.