Subject: Stream of Consciousness: a thread that cannot be hijacked
Date: Fri May 30 10:19:16 2014
User: TNmountainman
Message:I finally got it to work. I had to allow cookies. It *really, really* bugs me (to put it nicely) when a web site requires cookies to work, but they *don't explicitly say that*! It seems that that part of netiquette has somehow been adjudged to be vestigial. I guess because enough of 'us' have allowed that to happen.
Date: Fri May 30 11:05:32 2014
User: Belle
Message:5 second video.
A woman returns to work after 30 years.
Link: Returns to work
Date: Sun Jun 1 08:26:49 2014
User: RalphWiggum
Message:3 pieces of string are walking down the street, they decide to go into a bar for a beer. The barman looks at them and says "We don't serve your type in here get out!"
"What do you mean 'my type'" says the longest piece of string.
"I mean string - we don't serve string"
So the 3 pieces of string go outside mumbling. "Well I'm not going to stand for this" says the longest piece, "I'm going in again"
But this time his contorts and twists himself, looping his body in and out. Then his roughens his each of his ends. Then he goes back into the bar and orders 3 beers. The barman is pouring the beer, but pauses and takes a long hard look.
"Hey, aren't you a piece of string?"
The string immediately replies - "No, I'm a frayed knot."
Date: Sun Jun 1 09:19:09 2014
User: Snowguy
Message:About the "returns to work" video? The number of people who "get that" is, unfortunately, declining as older folks die. Not enough kids are going to the Smithsonian to see a manual typewriter in action.
Date: Sun Jun 1 09:53:55 2014
User: BuzzClik
Message:How old was she when she quit work? Seven?
And why give her a crappy CRT? I'd throw it on the floor, too.
I actually kept a typewriter for a while. No idea why. I got rid of if to make sure I never had to use it again.
Date: Sun Jun 1 12:18:46 2014
User: MikeC
Message:But with a typewriter you don't need a printer.....
Date: Sun Jun 1 12:57:49 2014
User: BuzzClik
Message:You mean for paper? Do you still use paper?
Date: Sun Jun 1 13:46:39 2014
User: Belle
Message:Ha, funny, Buzz! Was she 7 years old. Ha, ha. I received that in an email, but it does have that dated look.
Hey, I still have my Brother typewriter. Last I used it was in early-2000, typing file labels & address cards in a mortgage broker's office.
Got me thinking, I could sell it as an antique? Good luck finding cartridge replacements.
Date: Sun Jun 1 15:36:24 2014
User: MikeC
Message:We still have an old Remington from the 30's or 40's . Last I knew it still works, don't know if I could get a new ribbon for it though.
Date: Sun Jun 1 16:16:04 2014
User: Belle
Message:Another odd email ending up in my mailbox.
Link: Man peeling apples
Date: Sun Jun 1 22:07:03 2014
User: joeygray
Message:I used to keep the typewriter deployed just for envelopes, when cheaper printers couldn't do them. Now my printer could do an envelope, but I just don't bother, I just hand address them. Most bills get paid online now anyway.
Date: Tue Jun 3 11:55:40 2014
User: TNmountainman
Message:Here's a pretty interesting article about the beginnings of using mathematical symbols. Hard for me to say, but I think it is even of interest to non-geeky types....
(Unfortunately, you'll apparently have to allow cookies to see it.)
Link: the beginnings of mathematical notations
Date: Tue Jun 3 16:25:28 2014
User: Belle
Message:Chilling, disturbing, realistic movie about autism & bullying.
Watched it on TV; here it is on youtube.
Link: BenX
Date: Wed Jun 4 14:13:56 2014
User: BuzzClik
Message:You'll see this instantly if you click Belle's link, but this is a 90 movie, not a quick little vid.
Date: Sun Jun 8 15:50:50 2014
User: BuzzClik
Message:In doing some background on a post on another thread, I stumbled over this Vampire Weekend video from their first album.
This is pure fun.
Link: Vampire Weekend -- "A-Punk"
Date: Sun Jun 8 17:23:40 2014
User: joeygray
Message:I mist it. National Donut Day came and went and I mist it.
Date: Mon Jun 9 01:55:28 2014
User: TNmountainman
Message:An older guy who had been having some health issues decided he better get
a checkup, so he goes in to see his doctor. The doctor runs some tests, etc., and calls the man back in for a conference.
Doctor: Well, I've got some bad news........and some very bad news.
Man: Oh man. Ok, what's the bad news?
Doctor. Well, I'm afraid you've got cancer.
Man: Oh no, that's terrible! Oh wow. I knew something was wrong. Ok, what's the very bad news?
Doctor: I'm sorry to tell you that you've also got Alzheimer's.
Man: Oh wow, that's a tough thing to hear. That's just tough. Well, at least I don't have cancer.
Date: Mon Jun 9 10:21:42 2014
User: BuzzClik
Message:The google front page has a very nice graphic and accompanying story. It's worth a peek.
Link: Google doodle competition
Date: Mon Jun 9 14:55:32 2014
User: Belle
Message:The Doctor said to his patient: "I'm sorry to tell you this, but you only have 6 months to live".
So the patient said: "6 months, I won't even be able to pay off my bill to you in 6 months!"
So the Doctor said: "Well.....in that case I'll give you another 6 months".
Date: Sun Jun 15 13:09:49 2014
User: BuzzClik
Message:I watched the movie, "Her," last night. Wow. I went in thinking I'd hate it, and I did find it painful to watch for the first hour. But, the amazing metaphors started emerging, and the very strange loose ends started coming together. It was a remarkable watch.
The musical score is perfect, and the soundtrack is great. Arcade Fire does a lot of the songs, but their tunes are very understated and perfectly appropriate. The Oscar nominated song -- sung by Scarlet Johansson who was the voice of the computer operating system -- was lovely.
Date: Sun Jun 15 23:38:11 2014
User: BuzzClik
Message:I have an iPad and use the iBooks store to download books onto my device. The selection is pretty good, but not a deep as for the Kindle/Amazon. I was particularly frustrated in not being able to find an obscure title about the development of oil in Africa, though Kindle had it.
Out of desperation, I went to the Apple App Store to see if there is any way that I can buy and download a Kindle book and read it on my iPad. Much to my joy, there is. I actually need a suite of apps that work in concert to search out the title, buy it, load it onto my iPad, and finally read it.
:D
Date: Mon Jun 16 11:21:48 2014
User: BuzzClik
Message:Errr.... ew.
"Did James Blake play the Commodores' 'Brick House' mashed up with the Ohio Players' 'Fire,' 'Running With the Night' mixed with Laid Back's 'White Horse,' or 'Stuck on You' with a snippet of the keyboard riff from Van Halen's 'Jump' thrown in? Did Phosphorescent play air guitar to 'Penny Lover'? Did Grouplove conclude their set with 'Hello' and 'All Night Long'?"
I know that a lot of people like clinging to the music of their youth and love seeing the aging stars perform live. Half of the the Las Vegas venues make their money off that fact.
But let's not get carried away and try to convince anyone that a sixty something old guy, no matter how energetic, is really going to upstage the new talent. Maybe if you're sixty something. I'll take James Blake and Phosphorescent, thank you.
Link: Geezer central at Bonnaroo
Date: Mon Jun 16 11:37:51 2014
User: joeygray
Message:My daughter, who is twenty, texted me excitedly to see if I thought Frankie Valli for 50 bucks, last Friday night, was worth seeing. I responded, that guy is close to 80 years old, how could he possibly still be any good. She said, hebedead soon, maybe this be my last chance to see him. I think I remember, says I, that he lost his famous falsetto more than 40 years ago in the early 70's. So anyway she took my advice and staid home. Her roommate who did go said he lip-synced most of the time, which to me is across the borderline into fraudulent.
But anyway, the old music itself, even if not the performers, is timeless. Young people dig it. Don't think they don't.
Date: Mon Jun 16 12:03:24 2014
User: BuzzClik
Message:Yes to the music. No to the live shows. I have a wall of vinyl and CDs of my favorite old music, and I will never part with it.
I have two exceptions to the "no to live shows" for aging stars: 1) A bucket list. There are some acts that need to be seen before they/I die. I saw Ray Charles in his declining years. No regrets. 2) Music that has no age barriers. I saw Dave Brubeck perform twice and BB King once while in their eighties, and they were fantastic.
But this is just me. Everyone makes their own choices, and that's great. Vegas isn't exactly going broke by hiring these old artists.
Date: Mon Jun 16 12:40:54 2014
User: joeygray
Message:I know what you mean by bucket-list shows. A few years ago I went to see Marcel Marceau, then in his late 70's, as he toured the US for the last time. He was very limber for a 70 year old, I'll admit to that, but still it was kinda sad, seeing a shadow of a person perform. It's made me hesitant to attend these kind of shows...
Date: Mon Jun 16 20:15:22 2014
User: hotnurse
Message:I don't want to start an entire thread for this...but a teensy bragging point for C&W fans out there. I was at a small city festival on Sat. (Gardner, Ks) where John Michael Montgomery was the main event. I bought one raffle ticket for a guitar and back-stage pass to meet him and get the guitar signed...well, out of over 6000 tix they pulled mine!!! But.....the guitar is a Stagg T320 YW, not very valuable, but it was nice to meet him, get the guitar signed and also a signed pic of him, plus I was able to take my 30 yr old step-son back stage with me for this...he is a huge fan of JMM.
Ok, that's all. Btw, he was very "Mr. No personality" and I felt like he was jsut there because his PR guy told him to do it. There were about 15 others to get back passes thru radio contests, but I was #1 in line for the sighning. Ho-hum.........
Date: Mon Jun 16 20:22:47 2014
User: firenzes_mother
Message:I once met The Boss.
He wrote "Thunder Road" after one night with me.
Date: Mon Jun 16 20:29:14 2014
User: hotnurse
Message:Mom, a few yrs ago when I met your son, I would *swear* that he was Paul Simon. So, are you also the mother of his other brother?
Date: Mon Jun 16 21:16:10 2014
User: Snowguy
Message:I get the old entertainer hanging on thing. We went to see "Brigadoon" a couple years ago. A noted actor was featured in the cast. But we were very disappointed. He added nothing to the presentation. He just seemed old, overweight and physically rigid.
In our opinion, it was a case of Rent a name.
Date: Mon Jun 16 23:40:30 2014
User: mildcat
Message:I was in Gardner, KS last Sat. but just stayed home and listened to some classical music streaming while I played free cell.
Date: Mon Jun 16 23:43:18 2014
User: mildcat
Message:I was in Gardner, KS last Sat. but just stayed home and listened to some classical music streaming while I played free cell.
Date: Fri Jun 20 09:22:49 2014
User: BuzzClik
Message:Who here owns a Urine Finder? It's a "black light" that makes uric acid fluoresce. I bought one years ago when trying to find source of the distinct smell of urine in a carpet in a closet.
Just for fun, I took it into the bathroom one night, turned out the lights, and fired up the Urine Finder. The toilet was glowing like a porcelain Christmas tree, and the floor around it was equally brilliant. After recovering from my horror, I turned on the lights, grabbed the Lysol, and started scrubbing.
Date: Fri Jun 20 09:35:02 2014
User: The_Interpreter
Message:Perhaps you need to sit down when you pee.
Date: Fri Jun 20 09:46:55 2014
User: BuzzClik
Message:I have considered joining the dog out on the lawn.
The real take away message is that a Urine Finder in the hands of one's wife could be a dangerous weapon. Don't let it happen to you.
Date: Fri Jun 20 10:01:30 2014
User: TNmountainman
Message:Doesn't everyone still have theirs turned on every night for viewing their black-light posters? 'Course I guess most of those may be more permanently installed...
Date: Fri Jun 20 10:19:13 2014
User: The_Interpreter
Message:TN, it's 2014.
Turn the page.
Date: Fri Jun 20 10:24:43 2014
User: TNmountainman
Message:Oh come on. "Lighten" up.
Date: Wed Jul 2 10:29:45 2014
User: hotnurse
Message:Sounds like a Shangri La. I hope their happiness lasts for a long time.
Date: Mon Jul 7 04:06:37 2014
User: BuzzClik
Message:Interesting language notes from the World Cup:
The Costa Ricans call their national futbal club "Los Ticos". Has a nice ring. My kid, who spent an entire week in Costa Rica, managed to mangle that name into "The Ticas." Granted, tica is the feminine of tico, and that could be applied to natives of Costa Ricans, but Tica is frequently used by the locals to infer a prostitute.
The French often refer to The Netherlands as Pays-Bas. I don't know why, and a waiter in Paris could give me no reasonable explanation. They have a French term for The Netherlands, but "Pays-Bas is a shortened French term." They also call Germany Allemagne; but, the French are not alone in using odd or archaic names for Germany: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Names_of_Germany
Why cannot we, as a global population, call countries by the name used by the people who live there?
Date: Mon Jul 7 04:33:58 2014
User: TNmountainman
Message:You mean like "Brasil" and "Suisse", as I've tried to do when discussing World Cup?
I agree, although the changes in how Anglos know furrin' places sure keeps atlas-makers busy. (see: Mumbai/Bombay, Kolkata/Calcutta, Rangoon/Yangon, half the places in China, etc., etc., etc.) But yes, we should call people, and places, what they want to be called. Within rational limits.
You probably know this, but "Pays-Bas" roughly means "the low country" (relative to the further-from-the-sea parts of that area).
Date: Tue Jul 8 01:24:11 2014
User: Belle
Message:Forced to endure the pain of daily abuse, bleeding from spiked shackles, starved, beaten, he cried tears of joy upon his release from 50 years of torture.
Link: Raju
Date: Sun Aug 10 21:59:01 2014
User: sprucegoose
Message:I participated in a triathlon yesterday. A moderate amount of fun. Didn't drown though I was 177th out of 195 in the swim. So much for that moniker.
Date: Mon Aug 11 08:05:26 2014
User: BuzzClik
Message:Was that your first triathlon, sprucegoose? What were the distances?
Date: Mon Aug 11 11:53:44 2014
User: locacaliente
Message:I'd for sure still have my 4' blacklight (received in the 60s) if it weren't for it getting broken that time. Those old bulbs last forever. *sniff*
Date: Sun Aug 31 13:06:12 2014
User: BuzzClik
Message:Just ran across some imaginative graffiti on the 8x4 current streak leaders list.
It's not unusual to have user names that have some sort of agenda, like "Mean_People_Suck", but this user has taken it to a creative extreme.
Check it out -- current 8x4 leaders, and scroll to around 260.
Whether you buy into the message or not, you have to admire the effort.
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