Random randomness

[Jeff V]

maybe i was one of the exceptions then - i have been legitimately terrified of cephalopods my entire life

Fixed, for me.

My daughter and I were at a sushi restaurant the other day, waiting for our order at the bar, which is a glass enclosure where you can see all of the ingredients. I pointed out a delicious octopus tentacle begging to be eaten. She said it was creeping her out and she didn't want to look at it anymore.

But today she asked when are we going back.

[dbt1949]

Probably wants to hit on one of the patrons there.

[dbt1949]

How come horses are measured in hands and the rest of the animal kingdom is measured in feet?

[Daehawk]

Its a union thing.

[Pyperkub]

I have been here over seventeen years and to this day I still don't understand ya'lls fascination with the octopus. Didn't understand it when "we" picked the name to begin with either.

See that? That's Smoove, that is. And it's all because of his palpitating predilection for tentacle porn.

New logo for the holidays?

Or at least avatar for Smoove?

[Hrdina]

Iran, Korea and China have it right. YYYYMMDD sorts properly.

I've been writing my dates out that way for years.

I recently did that on a banking form, and the guy had to go ask someone if it was "valid".

[LordMortis]

Two sets of people are on notice

1) Advertisers who use dings that could be mistaken for car or phone feedback or for sirens.
2) People being interviewed in media who do not turn off audio notifications on their phones or computers.

Both groups suck and deserve a punch in the nose. I'm not normally a fan of acts of entitlement but, yes, they are entitled to a punch in the nose.

[Daehawk]

I went to a funeral the other week and I turned my phone off. But damn if I didn't check it at least 5 or 6 times during the service afraid it would start playing "My Girl" by The Temptations.

[dbt1949]

You should of had Another bites the dust by Queen.

[stimpy]

Mural on the men's john wall at the bar I was in last night:

[Daehawk]

You should of had Another bites the dust by Queen.

Or Zombie by The Cranberries

it was for my uncle who was an assistant fire chief. I still cant talk Firehouse Subs into a discount.

[hitbyambulance]

1) Advertisers who use dings that could be mistaken for car or phone feedback or for sirens.

i remember a time in the 90s when a very large number of commercial radio advertisements would start off with the sound of land line telephone ringing. it was popular before, but it sorta reached a ridiculous critical mass before the widespread adoption of mobile phones

[Daehawk]

If today pans out then buzzed and muscle relaxed is the way to go for the holidays.

[Hipolito]

maybe i was one of the exceptions then - i have been legitimately terrified of cephalopods my entire life

Fixed, for me.

My daughter and I were at a sushi restaurant the other day, waiting for our order at the bar, which is a glass enclosure where you can see all of the ingredients. I pointed out a delicious octopus tentacle begging to be eaten. She said it was creeping her out and she didn't want to look at it anymore.

But today she asked when are we going back.

One time, a friend and I went to a Greek restaurant. (Greek Islands in Chicago, for those interested.) I had octopus, and this grossed her out. Years later, I had dinner at her place. She served octopus. Opa!

[Jeff V]

One time, a friend and I went to a Greek restaurant. (Greek Islands in Chicago, for those interested.) I had octopus, and this grossed her out. Years later, I had dinner at her place. She served octopus. Opa!

Greek Islands was the first place I ever ate octopus...I absolutely love their cold, marinated octopus! Then one year at Greektown Fest, they we there selling grilled octopus...that was delicious, tasted like rattlesnake!

Whenever I go there, we order a cold plate, which is sized for the number of people in our party. It includes octopus and taromasalata, among other things. Years ago, one of my dad's minions moonlighted as maitre d at the Greek Islands in Lombard. The restaurant didn't normally do this, but through him we got a three-sheet pan cold plate for an Xmas party...best pick up ever! That maitre d wound up opening his own Greek restaurant in Oak Park some years later...in my living room there's a picture of my wife and my long-deceased parents at that restaurant.

[Hipolito]

Hmm, cold octopus. I may try that next time I'm there. I recently went to Mitsuwa Marketplace in Arlington Heights and tried takoyaki, which is Japanese fried octopus. It was pretty good.

[Zarathud]

Love Mitsuwa Marketplace. Great place to get snacks for the kids.

[Daehawk]

Never had octopus. Have had fried calamari at City Cafe once. It was rubbery.

[Sudy]

Isn't it strange how an unpleasant sensation can remind you of a happy memory? Like how I feel nostalgia for the serenity of winter, the joy of Christmas, and the comfort of a warm bed AS I FANTASIZE ABOUT SCRATCHING MY DRY, ITCHY ANKLES WITH A CHAINSAW?!

[TheMix]

Isn't it strange how an unpleasant sensation can remind you of a happy memory? Like how I feel nostalgia for the serenity of winter, the joy of Christmas, and the comfort of a warm bed AS I FANTASIZE ABOUT SCRATCHING MY DRY, ITCHY ANKLES WITH A CHAINSAW?!

Shouldn't this be in the "getting old" thread?

Seriously, I totally understand the ankles thing. I started having the same issue a few years ago. I don't know if it's the low humidity in Colorado, or just an age thing, but it's brutal. Sometimes I give in for a bit. But I have to be careful, the skin seems sooooo thin that it's easy to dry blood. I've started putting lotion on every night before bed. That helps some. My wife also had a spray that would numb the area. I spray that on when it's really bad; it definitely helps mute the itchiness for a bit.

[Sudy]

I dunno, maybe it's getting worse as I age but it's driven me crazy since my 20s. In the winter I make a point of moisturizing after I shower and spot-treat with hydrocortisone but often it's not enough. I should look into that numbing spray.

[Holman]

I dunno, maybe it's getting worse as I age but it's driven me crazy since my 20s. In the winter I make a point of moisturizing after I shower and spot-treat with hydrocortisone but often it's not enough. I should look into that numbing spray.

If you'd had it that long, are you sure it's not eczema?

[Sudy]

I've never asked my doctor for help, I guess I should. But given that it goes from "I need to moisturize once or twice a week" in the summer to "WHERE'S THE STEEL WOOL??" in the winter, I've always just assumed it's seasonal dryness.

[stessier]

I've never asked my doctor for help, I guess I should. But given that it goes from "I need to moisturize once or twice a week" in the summer to "WHERE'S THE STEEL WOOL??" in the winter, I've always just assumed it's seasonal dryness.

Eczema can be seasonal!

While every person with eczema has their own triggers, in many cases flare-ups can follow a seasonal pattern. (So much so, in fact, that asteatotic eczema is often known as 'winter itch'.) It's not uncommon to find that your eczema lies dormant most of the year, only to re-ignite in response to cold or heat.

[TheMix]

I dunno, maybe it's getting worse as I age but it's driven me crazy since my 20s. In the winter I make a point of moisturizing after I shower and spot-treat with hydrocortisone but often it's not enough. I should look into that numbing spray.

It looks like the company stopped making it. Or, more likely, rebranded it. Our stuff is called "soothing protection spray". I think maybe it morphed into ultracalming mist.

[Jaymon]

I tried various things on my patch of exema, even stuff from the doctor. But one day she handed me a trial tube of name brand Eucrisa, and freaking hot diggity, that shit is like a magic potion. It didn't just keep it in check, it was like, totally gone as long as I remember to use it regular.

[Jaymon]

Many years ago, I ripped the intro riff from this song, and use it as my ringtone. I have kept it, moving it through my various phones. Its been maybe 15 years now? I can't remember how long its been since phones let you play your own music as ringtones.

So anyways, once in a while this comes up in my playlist, or on the radio program I listen to, and it freaks me out every single time.

[Smoove_B]

in the winter, I've always just assumed it's seasonal dryness.

Because our forums get weirder (and older) every day, I will recommend CeraVe as the single best dry skin remedy I've found. Specifically recommended for Eczema. You might not think it's doing anything after your first application and believe that I have lied, but just keep applying it. Those ceramides are magic!

[Brian]

Many years ago, I ripped the intro riff from this song, and use it as my ringtone. I have kept it, moving it through my various phones. Its been maybe 15 years now? I can't remember how long its been since phones let you play your own music as ringtones.

So anyways, once in a while this comes up in my playlist, or on the radio program I listen to, and it freaks me out every single time.

At approximately 1:57 into the Black Sabbath song, Tomorrow's Dream, there is a rising tone that sounds exactly like a "Low Coolant" warning on an alarm panel that monitored our equipment aboard the ship I was on in the Navy.

The thing was, Black Sabbath's Greatest Hits was heavily played while we were underway and it was absolutely hilarious that EVERY GODDAMN TIME that song would come on and hit that rising note, every single person in our shop would immediately look at the alarm panel, realize what happened, and then we'd all look at each other and chuckle.

[Holman]

I dunno, maybe it's getting worse as I age but it's driven me crazy since my 20s. In the winter I make a point of moisturizing after I shower and spot-treat with hydrocortisone but often it's not enough. I should look into that numbing spray.

It looks like the company stopped making it. Or, more likely, rebranded it. Our stuff is called "soothing protection spray". I think maybe it morphed into ultracalming mist.

Soon to be "placating dew," then "mollifying vapor" and finally "inoffensive suggestion."

[Sudy]

Thanks for the advice, it would wonderful to be able to address this more effectively.

In other news, occasionally I have a can of sardines. I don't like eating the bones though. So at the end I have a little pile of fish vertebrae in the corner of the can. It looks like something out of Diablo.

[Daehawk]

OO where young gamers come to age into old women.

[Madmarcus]

Its been maybe 15 years now? I can't remember how long its been since phones let you play your own music as ringtones.

You can't do that anymore? I know I was using the beginning of the Black Adder theme song played on a pipe organ as late as 2019. After that phone died I didn't bother to see if I could still do that.

[Daehawk]

I made my ringtone from a song in 2019.

[stessier]

Its been maybe 15 years now? I can't remember how long its been since phones let you play your own music as ringtones.

You can't do that anymore? I know I was using the beginning of the Black Adder theme song played on a pipe organ as late as 2019. After that phone died I didn't bother to see if I could still do that.

I'm not sure what he's talking about. I can do it on my Pixel 6.

[Madmarcus]

You guys are making me laugh at my own response to things.

My ankles have been itching for 3 years now. Mostly in winter. Especially after hot showers or when I end up in an overheated room. Its bothersome but I ignore it. Basically I figured it was because I switched to wool socks when I moved to Korea 3 years ago. I'd never really thought about dryness as a cause.

[Holman]

I get occasional eczema outbreaks in various spots. My ankle (especially on the outside, over the bone) is one of them.

[hitbyambulance]

Its been maybe 15 years now? I can't remember how long its been since phones let you play your own music as ringtones.

You can't do that anymore? I know I was using the beginning of the Black Adder theme song played on a pipe organ as late as 2019. After that phone died I didn't bother to see if I could still do that.

I'm not sure what he's talking about. I can do it on my Pixel 6.

lol.

the phrase meant 'i don't remember when phones _started_ letting you play your own music as ringtones'

[stessier]

Its been maybe 15 years now? I can't remember how long its been since phones let you play your own music as ringtones.

You can't do that anymore? I know I was using the beginning of the Black Adder theme song played on a pipe organ as late as 2019. After that phone died I didn't bother to see if I could still do that.

I'm not sure what he's talking about. I can do it on my Pixel 6.

lol.

the phrase meant 'i don't remember when phones _started_ letting you play your own music as ringtones'

Ah...that makes much more sense.

[Madmarcus]

the phrase meant 'i don't remember when phones _started_ letting you play your own music as ringtones'

Ah...that makes much more sense.

It does make more sense that way!