Random randomness

[Kasey Chang]

The new SF Bay Area social isolation order just prohibited people from bringing their own bags to supermarkets, and supermarkets are installing plexiglass shield at the cashier stations. The "bag tax" is temporarily reprieved for the duration of the emergency. There's also order of "I can't bag it for you unless you REALLY REALLY need it (i.e. disabled or very old).

[Kasey Chang]

The career advice webinar I was attending via zoom just got zoom-bombed by a troll. WTF. I guess they're just joining stuff at random and drop random crap. The webinar was about imposter syndrome. The host was asking for examples, then someone used a voice changer doing a horrible Asian accent, then someone unmuted himself and say something like "there are jews masquerading as white people". WTF. I guess they unjoined immediately, and they must be REALLY bored.

[Max Peck]

The career advice webinar I was attending via zoom just got zoom-bombed by a troll. WTF. I guess they're just joining stuff at random and drop random crap. The webinar was about imposter syndrome. The host was asking for examples, then someone used a voice changer doing a horrible Asian accent, then someone unmuted himself and say something like "there are jews masquerading as white people". WTF. I guess they unjoined immediately, and they must be REALLY bored.

Congratulations, you're topical!

Everybody seems to be using Zoom. But its security flaws could leave users at risk.

[dbt1949]

Looks like they changed their minds and are going to give stimulus checks to those of us on Social Security and don't file taxes as we don't make enough.

[Blackhawk]

I've had to set both of my kids and Michelle's mother up for Zoom in the last two days. I really wish they could have picked an alternative.

[Kasey Chang]

I've had to set both of my kids and Michelle's mother up for Zoom in the last two days. I really wish they could have picked an alternative.

MS Teams, Skype, Facetime, Google Duo, Google Hangouts Meet, and the free Jitsi

https://9to5mac.com/2020/04/01/10-zoom- ... deo-calls/

[Anonymous Bosch]

I've had to set both of my kids and Michelle's mother up for Zoom in the last two days. I really wish they could have picked an alternative.

Assuming they're able to convince friends and family to use it, Tox would be a superior, privacy-focused free and open source option for video conferencing if you prefer not to pimp out your family's metadata to the likes of Google, Facebook, and Microsoft:

The Tox Project

Tox began a few years ago, in the wake of Edward Snowden's leaks regarding NSA spying activity. The idea was to create an instant messaging application that ran without requiring the use of central servers. The system would be distributed, peer-to-peer, and end-to-end encrypted, with no way to disable any of the encryption features; at the same time, the application would be easily usable by the layperson with no practical knowledge of cryptography or distributed systems. During the Summer of 2013 a small group of developers from all around the globe formed and began working on a library implementing the Tox protocol. The library provides all of the messaging and encryption facilities, and is completely decoupled from any user-interface; for an end-user to make use of Tox, they need a Tox client. Fast-forward a few years to today, and there exist several independent Tox client projects, and the original Tox core library implementation continues to improve. Tox (both core library and clients) has thousands of users, hundreds of contributors, and the project shows no sign of slowing down.

Tox is a FOSS (Free and Open Source) project. All Tox code is open source and all development occurs in the open. Tox is developed by volunteer developers who spend their free time on it, believing in the idea of the project. Tox is not a company or any other legal organization. Currently we don't accept donations as a project, but you are welcome to reach out to developers individually.

[Kraken]

I did my first Zoom "meeting" today with Wife's family. I dropped out after 45 minutes because they were still trying to help my BIL join. He's only ever used Apple products and he's not good with them. Plus, he's always drunk if it's after noon.

Zoom seems to be well-entrenched already. I would never have any cause to organize such a meeting myself, but I'd consider Tox if I did.

[LawBeefaroni]

This morning on the news they were applauding some company that was donating medical supplies to a hospital.
That's very good and all but people don't seem to realize that hospitals exist to make a profit. So that company is just contributing to their bottom line.
I am such a cynic .
Many blood drives are the same way. The company sells the blood to the hospital for a profit.

I've worked at non-profit hospitals for 23 years. By definition they do not exist to make a profit.

[Blackhawk]

I've had to set both of my kids and Michelle's mother up for Zoom in the last two days. I really wish they could have picked an alternative.

Assuming they're able to convince friends and family to use it, Tox would be a superior, privacy-focused free and open source option for video conferencing if you prefer not to pimp out your family's metadata to the likes of Google, Facebook, and Microsoft:

Family (which is small and elderly) uses Facetime. This is three different doctors, one for Michelle and another for each kid.

[dbt1949]

This morning on the news they were applauding some company that was donating medical supplies to a hospital.
That's very good and all but people don't seem to realize that hospitals exist to make a profit. So that company is just contributing to their bottom line.
I am such a cynic .
Many blood drives are the same way. The company sells the blood to the hospital for a profit.

I've worked at non-profit hospitals for 23 years. By definition they do not exist to make a profit.

Yes, there are some but most exist to make a profit.

[LawBeefaroni]

This morning on the news they were applauding some company that was donating medical supplies to a hospital.
That's very good and all but people don't seem to realize that hospitals exist to make a profit. So that company is just contributing to their bottom line.
I am such a cynic .
Many blood drives are the same way. The company sells the blood to the hospital for a profit.

I've worked at non-profit hospitals for 23 years. By definition they do not exist to make a profit.

Yes, there are some but most exist to make a profit.

I want to say that more than half of the hospitals in the US are not for profit. Sure, some do abuse that status and there are a large number of for-profit clinics, ASCs, etc that are not technically hospitals. But on paper over half of hospitals are NFP.

[Unagi]

I had a dream with Kraken in it.

I've never met Kraken in real life, I've seen a few photo's he's shared.

Kraken, it wasn't exactly you - I made you a younger version of yourself (mid 30s), and in my dream we were familiar with each other.
We were sitting with other people on what seemed like a bench in a baseball dugout, but there was no baseball in the dream at all.
The dream was mostly a dialog with me, you, and these people about some 'dream problem' that I can't honestly recall.

You were seemingly a voice of wisdom in the dream. In the dream I learned that you (my dream friend) were the Kraken that posted on OO; and as my brain connected the dream you and the OO you, it all started to melt away and I woke up.

[LawBeefaroni]

Huh?

To see the Kraken in your dream indicates that all that anger you have suppressed is coming to the surface in a violent way. You are emotionally overwhelmed.

Ah.

To see kraken in dream is a sign for wealth, success and happiness. People will envy you.

Dream astrology aside, that's an interesting one, Unagi.

[Kraken]

Huh?

To see the Kraken in your dream indicates that all that anger you have suppressed is coming to the surface in a violent way. You are emotionally overwhelmed.

Ah.

To see kraken in dream is a sign for wealth, success and happiness. People will envy you.

Dream astrology aside, that's an interesting one, Unagi.

I would never be found in a baseball dugout, but I am frequently a younger version of myself.

[Z-Corn]

Oh, so now we're gonna do this?

I had a dream about Blackhawk the other day. We've never met, I've seen a photo or two, same deal...


It was a few nights ago so details are fuzzy now but the gist of it is that Blackhawk recruited me to help him scam some college kids out of their storefront businesses. I think they were living there and Blackhawk wanted them out so he could open a business there.

My job was to chat them all up at a party while he snuck around behind their backs looking for information to use against them, like breaking in to offices and things like that. Seemed plausible in the dream and seems plausible now. I am good at chatting people up and distracting them and I can only assume Blackhawk would make a good thief.

The dream ended with me standing under a downspout in a heavy rain storm taking a painful shower.

[Unagi]

I would never be found in a baseball dugout, but I am frequently a younger version of myself.

To be fair, me neither. I'm not a fan of the sport really at all.

[Unagi]

The dream ended with me standing under a downspout in a heavy rain storm taking a painful shower.

Is that a euphemism?

[Jaymann]

Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

[Z-Corn]

The shower, it hurt!

Might be because in real life I haven't showered in 4 days? I don't remember the last time I shaved. I itch everywhere. And stink most everywhere. I'm leaving grease marks where I sit on the couch. A pack of dogs ran up to me when I went out and got the mail. It smells likes Fritos when I walk into a room.

[Holman]

The career advice webinar I was attending via zoom just got zoom-bombed by a troll. WTF. I guess they're just joining stuff at random and drop random crap. The webinar was about imposter syndrome. The host was asking for examples, then someone used a voice changer doing a horrible Asian accent, then someone unmuted himself and say something like "there are jews masquerading as white people". WTF. I guess they unjoined immediately, and they must be REALLY bored.

I'm teaching remotely and decided to go asynchronous, basing everything in message board discussions around my PowerPoint+voiceover recorded lectures.

This has worked well since it's a writing class. Forcing students to write their responses can only help.

Also, we don't get any Zoom-bombing dick pics.

[Smoove_B]

I've been doing asynchronous teaching online for ~9 years now and I don't think I'd do it any other way. Students have told me how much they love the discussions and how it's helped them process and contextualize the material. There's nothing I need to say "live" on a webcam that can't be pre-recorded in ~15-25 minute presentations. I love giving lectures because of how it can be modified on the fly based on questions or reactions I'm seeing in the classroom. I don't believe that's possible (for me) to recreate via Zoom or some other live broadcast. That being said, I'm not opposed to wearing a wig and sunglasses to play Borderlands 2 on Twitch while speaking about Cryptosporidiosis.

[Holman]

Most people hate the sound of their own recorded voice, but I've always loved mine.

I really should have gone into radio.

[Smoove_B]

I really should have gone into radio.

It's 2020, anything is possible!

[Blackhawk]

I am good at chatting people up and distracting them and I can only assume Blackhawk would make a good thief.

[Skinypupy]

I hate being this weird size where XL tshirts usually shrink up to be far too small (usually get too short), but 2XL shirts look like I’m wearing a damn tent.

[hitbyambulance]

i wish i could resize all my XL-sized band tshirts from the early-mid 90s to be M (or even L).

[Isgrimnur]

I hate being this weird size where XL tshirts usually shrink up to be far too small (usually get too short), but 2XL shirts look like I’m wearing a damn tent.

Start looking for tall sizes. Duluth also has some long tail or some other word for them.

[Rumpy]

I hate being this weird size where XL tshirts usually shrink up to be far too small (usually get too short), but 2XL shirts look like I’m wearing a damn tent.

I find sizes vary a lot between manufacturers, which makes it difficult to find the right sizes. Oh and the trend of making slim-fit clothing can go f right off. I find those tend to hug the body in all the wrong places due to the contour stitching, and there seem to be far less choices in just plain sizes.

[Skinypupy]

I find sizes vary a lot between manufacturers, which makes it difficult to find the right sizes.

For sure. I could lay out 10 of my XL T-shirts, and every one of them would be a wildly different fit and size.

Since 90% of my t-shirts are band shirts I buy at concerts, there’s no real way to see if they’ll actually fit or how much they’ll shrink before buying. It ends up being a total crapshoot. I can’t count how many concert shirts I’ve bought and worn once because it ended up fitting like a damn belly shirt after going through the wash.

I rarely have problems with polo or button down shirts. XL always fits just fine for those.

[Rumpy]

I find sizes vary a lot between manufacturers, which makes it difficult to find the right sizes.

Since 90% of my t-shirts are band shirts I buy at concerts, there’s no real way to see if they’ll actually fit or how much they’ll shrink before buying. It ends up being a total crapshoot. I can’t count how many concert shirts I’ve bought and worn once because it ended up fitting like a damn belly shirt after going through the wash.

Oh yeah, shirts from almost any event or even gift shops in general tends to be a total draw. I guess you kind of have to pay attention to the manufacturer and start getting familiar with how they size if you encounter them often enough. It's not like you can really try them on before you buy either.

[hitbyambulance]

I find sizes vary a lot between manufacturers, which makes it difficult to find the right sizes.

For sure. I could lay out 10 of my XL T-shirts, and every one of them would be a wildly different fit and size.

Since 90% of my t-shirts are band shirts I buy at concerts, there’s no real way to see if they’ll actually fit or how much they’ll shrink before buying. It ends up being a total crapshoot. I can’t count how many concert shirts I’ve bought and worn once because it ended up fitting like a damn belly shirt after going through the wash.

I rarely have problems with polo or button down shirts. XL always fits just fine for those.

fyi, if you don't have any that fit anymore - band t-shirts are a 'collectibles' market now. i have more than a few that are worth some money now (one is an Alice Cooper "The Nightmare Returns 1986" tour shirt in excellent condition that would go for around $200-275).

[Rumpy]

Of course, I'd have to think that depends a lot on how sought after a tour it is. Like for instance, if two artists in their prime get together for a tour, like Elton John and Billy Joel did in the 2000's, I could see that being worth a lot. But meanwhile if a band is way past their prime and are merely just a shell of its former self and is essentially a jukebox tour band like the Beach Boys under Mike Love post-year2k, maybe not so much.

[Max Peck]

Even such a t-shirt has inherent value.

Spoiler:

[hitbyambulance]

Of course, I'd have to think that depends a lot on how sought after a tour it is. Like for instance, if two artists in their prime get together for a tour, like Elton John and Billy Joel did in the 2000's, I could see that being worth a lot. But meanwhile if a band is way past their prime and are merely just a shell of its former self and is essentially a jukebox tour band like the Beach Boys under Mike Love post-year2k, maybe not so much.

obviously there are a lot of factors that go into 'what something is worth to someone'. i have a Joy Division _Unknown Pleasures_ shirt from the late '80s that would likely be worth much more if it hadn't been 'devalued' by the tons of reprints and ripoffs of this particular album-cover-on-a-shirt that are around now, lol

[Z-Corn]

I have a whole suitcase of concert JERSEYS (because a true '80's hessian pothead bought a JERSEY went he went to concerts (this is before I started going to "shows")) that are at least interesting in an historical fashion. I should look for that.

A bunch of Dio...'Tallica...DRI...Megadeth...Ozzie...Ted Nugent Xmas shows that only got sold in MI...great stuff. They probably all have pit stains. Arm pit not mosh pit...

I'd sell all of them except for my Suicidal Tendencies shirt. That's the show that changed my life.

[Skinypupy]

I typically buy band shirts, not concert shirts. Don’t think I’ve ever bought one with a list of dates and cities on it.

But a new band logo shirt That you can’t get elsewhere? I’m all over that.

[hitbyambulance]

I have a whole suitcase of concert JERSEYS (because a true '80's hessian pothead bought a JERSEY went he went to concerts (this is before I started going to "shows")) that are at least interesting in an historical fashion. I should look for that.

A bunch of Dio...'Tallica...DRI...Megadeth...Ozzie...Ted Nugent Xmas shows that only got sold in MI...great stuff. They probably all have pit stains. Arm pit not mosh pit...

I'd sell all of them except for my Suicidal Tendencies shirt. That's the show that changed my life.

probably should verify mildew or the moths/silverfish/carpet beetle larvae haven't gotten to them.

[Z-Corn]

I have a whole suitcase of concert JERSEYS (because a true '80's hessian pothead bought a JERSEY went he went to concerts (this is before I started going to "shows")) that are at least interesting in an historical fashion. I should look for that.

A bunch of Dio...'Tallica...DRI...Megadeth...Ozzie...Ted Nugent Xmas shows that only got sold in MI...great stuff. They probably all have pit stains. Arm pit not mosh pit...

I'd sell all of them except for my Suicidal Tendencies shirt. That's the show that changed my life.

probably should verify mildew or the moths/silverfish/carpet beetle larvae haven't gotten to them.

I now have a new project.

[dbt1949]

I wonder if our pets who have had a good life know they have a good life?