Octopus Overlords

I already have.......I eat too much and I breath too much.

Shinjin wrote:... I am still haunted by the image of a spider wearing the shower cap.

That makes two of us!
*
*Actual size might be a little off, plus you need to add 2 more legs and 4 more eyes!

I'm sure this will fall on deaf ears, and I'm likely to get shot down in as humiliating a way as possible, but I gotta get it out. Cripes, people. Mice are living creatures trying to stay alive as best they can, same as you and me.

I totally get that they are a nuisance and cause damage (same as you and me), and can bring disease in some cases. But that's not done out of maliciousness.

I can understand the need to kill them before they run rampant. But why do you feel the need to torture them before you kill them? Glue traps? Drowning after a long time of useless swimming? Launching squirrels into a tree? These guys have brains and feel pain and fear. Try and have a little compassion and empathy. Or at the very least, try not to be so gleeful about the killing.

Isgrimnur wrote:There's no time like the present to start making efforts to impact the present and future.

Tomorrow, I schedule a session with a psychologist, so I can finally get my adult add sorted out, so there is some progress there. Can't impact the damage in the past, you can only mitigate that and move on.

Giles Habibula wrote:I'm sure this will fall on deaf ears, and I'm likely to get shot down in as humiliating a way as possible, but I gotta get it out. Cripes, people. Mice are living creatures trying to stay alive as best they can, same as you and me.

I totally get that they are a nuisance and cause damage (same as you and me), and can bring disease in some cases. But that's not done out of maliciousness.

I can understand the need to kill them before they run rampant. But why do you feel the need to torture them before you kill them? Glue traps? Drowning after a long time of useless swimming? Launching squirrels into a tree? These guys have brains and feel pain and fear. Try and have a little compassion and empathy. Or at the very least, try not to be so gleeful about the killing.

I hope you don't get shot down. Agree 100%. If you're going to kill them, and I'm fine with that, just fucking do it quick.

Giles Habibula wrote:I'm sure this will fall on deaf ears, and I'm likely to get shot down in as humiliating a way as possible, but I gotta get it out. Cripes, people. Mice are living creatures trying to stay alive as best they can, same as you and me.

I totally get that they are a nuisance and cause damage (same as you and me), and can bring disease in some cases. But that's not done out of maliciousness.

I can understand the need to kill them before they run rampant. But why do you feel the need to torture them before you kill them? Glue traps? Drowning after a long time of useless swimming? Launching squirrels into a tree? These guys have brains and feel pain and fear. Try and have a little compassion and empathy. Or at the very least, try not to be so gleeful about the killing.

Thank you. I've been too disgusted to read those posts and have been skipping past them.

+1. They sometimes need killin'. In certain circumstances, they even need killin' quickly in large numbers, in which case I can understand a resetting trap. But do what is necessary to make it quick, and even if you aren't able to, don't be happy about it.

Default wrote:

Isgrimnur wrote:There's no time like the present to start making efforts to impact the present and future.

Tomorrow, I schedule a session with a psychologist, so I can finally get my adult add sorted out, so there is some progress there. Can't impact the damage in the past, you can only mitigate that and move on.

Exactly. Best of luck.

My sister lives in Dubai and we talk at least once a month and get together for a week once a year. When she moves back, I expect that to go up a fair amount.

Worked 11 of 13 days ending last week. Last call of the stretch: Helping a mother and father do CPR on their 10 month old for 38 minutes because they live in the middle of nowhere. You know it's useless, it's 530 am, you've been there 12 hours, and yet you keep encouraging them. Again and again. Pump, breathe, pump, breathe. You know it's not going to help but at the time, it's what you can do. Paramedics get there, AED machine recommends no shock. Confirming what you already know. You hang up. You go home and try to sleep because you're starting days off. But sleep doesn't come. Not too often please.

And then you have the frantic call if the daughter saying her mom is texting her selfies... She trying to commit suicide by potato chips... No, not kidding. Try not laughing when that happens. Oy vey.

Flying to Cuba in 7 hours via Toronto and Montreal. I'll say hi to Raul for everyone! Anybody want anything while I'm there? Time to tune out.

Damn tick bite. I found it on my shin a little over a week ago in the shower. Pulled it off carefully and killed it. But my bite site itched like mad. I didn't scratch it but used Neosporin on it. That works instantly. but as soon as it wears off it itched again. About 3 or 4 days after the bite it stopped bothering me so much. But today its damn itchy yet again. It is red...about the size of a pimple...and itches. It doesn't appear to be Lyme or anything..no spreading of the red area and its not hot. just itchy!!! ARgh.

Blackhawk wrote:+1. They sometimes need killin'. In certain circumstances, they even need killin' quickly in large numbers, in which case I can understand a resetting trap. But do what is necessary to make it quick, and even if you aren't able to, don't be happy about it.

I'd agree. We use either quick-kill traps or humane catch & release on our pests. We wouldn't ever fill the bucket with water; we'll catch a few and then take a walk into the woods to release them well away from the house... but I don't begrudge anyone who does fill the bucket with water. I know how much damage they can cause, and that simply sending them away so they can find their way back might not be a great fix for some people.

If I had cats, I would let the natural order of things do their job. As it goes, I do feel bad for the neck snapped critters as I dispose of them but not bad enough to stop me. Though I did use a humane catch and release trap for the damned ground hog that tore up my front yard drying to dig under the house and got in my garage and ripped up the electrical right out of conduit. That was way more that stupid thing deserved.

Not everyone has a good spot for live release. I was pondering whether there was a way to make the killing quicker. Leave out the water to make it live-capture, then... ?

Someone took an old radio that looks like a tiny PC from the 90s and stuck a Pi in it.

http://hackaday.com/2014/07/15/raspberr ... -computer/

Shinjin wrote: Thank you. I've been too disgusted to read those posts and have been skipping past them.

My cat (I don't have cats any more) caught one but failed to kill it. It was maimed. I put it in a bag and stomped it to death and tossed it in the garbage. Did I slaughter another living being? Did I mercy kill a wounded animal? Did I eradicate vermin? Can't it be all those things?

Of course my first mouse I simply threw it (live) in the neighbour's yard because I didn't want to kill another living thing. Whether it went on to infest his home or even returned to mine I'll never know. The acceleration of being thrown might have scrambled it's brains for all I know.

I haven't cut down a couple of trees that are slowlying damaging my foundation because I'm disinclined to kill something older than myself. I'll soon have to do it anyway or simply write off hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of home. I gotta tell ya, I respect the hell outta that tree, but I'm still going to kill it, eventually.

Here's the thing. I understand your viewpoint and your viewpoint is fine. I once even held it.

My viewpoint is that my basement is covered in feces and my home has suffered significant damage, in that wires are getting chewed, insulation pulled out and dry storage goods are being defiled and destroyed.

Whether you like it or not, they are vermin (I mean this in the literal meaning of the word). We have for centuries done everything in our power to wipe them out. There are almost 5000 patents on mouse traps alone.

Here are the creatures we're talking about: australian mouse plague 1993. Disturbing images. You might not want to watch if you feel more strongly about pigs than you do mice.

Before I was a home owner and had to enter a never ending war against being infested, I felt pretty much as you do Shinjin. But, just as a farmer has to deal with the realities and practicalities of farm life, I've had to face the realities of home ownership in an older suburban area with lots of greenspace a mile or so away. Raccoons get into my garbage and spread it around the property (I defeat them for awhile, but they always manage, eventually). Squirrels get into the attic and poop and breed in my insulation. And mice invest my basement and walls.

These aren't pets, they aren't friendly and cuddly, and they aren't a single mouse that I can take the time and effort to coddle.

I respect the opinion of those who talk about the sanctity of all life. I do my best to respect life as well, but in this case I don't have the time or money for that position. I don't go out of my way to find things to kill. I don't hunt. I don't fish. I waited TOO long before dealing with the mice because it was a war I didn't want to be a part of. But they didn't leave me alone, they didn't observe the sanctity of my house or respect the home I've tried to create for my family. They are unsanitary, mass breeding little vermin, and when they come into my house they are gonna die if I have a say in it.

I'm not offended that people have called me out on this. I half expected it. Unfortunately we're just not going to see eye to eye on this.

In any case I'll take the hint and keep it to myself.

No offense taken (on my part anyway) and sorry for any unpleasantness.

A few weeks back amazon had a deal where they were selling the Wink Hub 2 for $0.00 and I picked a couple of them up. I had no immediate use for them, but free is good, right? My wife's birthday was yesterday and I got her a Schlage Connect "smart" deadbolt, which gives us a keypad to unlock the front door. Conveniently enough it works with the Wink Hub to let you control and monitor the lock remotely. The downside of this setup is that I have a motorized lock and wifi running on 4xAA batteries. I can't imagine those batteries lasting very long. I plan to figure out an external power solution for this. I am thinking one of those DC adapters with adjustable voltage and connections to get me my 6v power and then I guess I will need to solder the ends to some fake batteries. I mean this could totally work, right? Right? I am not sure how the wife will feel about having a power cord going from the door to the nearest outlet (I hope there is a nearby outlet).

What could possibly go wrong?

Oddly, over the weekend, my front door deadbolt stopped wanting to accept the key, so Saturday became the day to replace the whole handle/deadbolt set. Only cost me $150 and two trips to Home Depot.

Client Exec: Hey Brian, can you assign [Engineer Name] to work on this project?

Me: I would but the contract hasn't been signed and returned by the customer yet.

CE: Oh, yeah, this was signed three weeks ago. Here's a copy.

Me: I don't see any record of this contract being submitted for processing.

CE: I wasn't sure what to do with it once it was signed.

Me: Yeah, we should probably put something above the signature block with explicit instructions on where to send the contract once it's been signed.

CE: Yeah, that's a good idea.




(Hint: It's literally on every single contract we send out.)

Isgrimnur wrote:What could possibly go wrong?

Depends on how badly you mess it up. There are guides, though.

I've only done it with 9V items, though. One positive, one negative, one voltage. Easy math.

Also helpful for things like powered exercise gear that devour batteries. My elliptical uses C batteries, and got through maybe 12 uses before they needed to be changed. That's a lot of wasted money instead of rigging up a little AC adapter and switch.

Isgrimnur wrote:What could possibly go wrong?

Oddly, over the weekend, my front door deadbolt stopped wanting to accept the key, so Saturday became the day to replace the whole handle/deadbolt set. Only cost me $150 and two trips to Home Depot.

The hell? I replaced a door knob an deadbolt that were almost breaking the key with a kit on sale at ACO for $16. It was a bit of a pain and I had to use file to get new deadbolt in.

I do need to replace both storm doors and I think thats going to cost a pretty penny and way more labor than I want to put it.... And so they are not replaced....

This is the fancy thumb-button outer with the lever bar inner and separate matching deadbolt kit. Kwikset easy rekeyable, as well.

Locks in Detroit are cheap because what's the point anyway?

...
.. Harvard Revokes Admission of Several Students for Posting ‘Offensive’ Memes

Harvard University revoked admission offers to at least 10 incoming students after the school discovered the individuals were posting explicit and obscene memes in a Facebook chat group that advocated sexual assault and mocked the death of children.

I'm sure the proud parents of a Harvard student will say: .. It was all in good fun, the punishment is too harsh

You do the crazy shit AFTER starting. Van Jones called Harvard and Yale a den of drugs and iniquity.

coopasonic wrote: I plan to figure out an external power solution for this. I am thinking one of those DC adapters with adjustable voltage and connections to get me my 6v power and then I guess I will need to solder the ends to some fake batteries.

There's this:

http://www.batteryeliminatorstore.com/i ... er=product

But it's expensive as heck.

You can kinda Make your own if you have some wood working tools...

You people in Colorado sure are home to some unusual piano players.

It was announced today that all government life-sciences
research facilities will start using lawyers for
experimentation purposes instead of lab rats.

The top three reason are on the board.

GreenGoo wrote: Here's the thing. I understand your viewpoint and your viewpoint is fine. I once even held it.

My viewpoint is that my basement is covered in feces and my home has suffered significant damage, in that wires are getting chewed, insulation pulled out and dry storage goods are being defiled and destroyed.

Whether you like it or not, they are vermin (I mean this in the literal meaning of the word). We have for centuries done everything in our power to wipe them out. There are almost 5000 patents on mouse traps alone.

Here are the creatures we're talking about: australian mouse plague 1993. Disturbing images. You might not want to watch if you feel more strongly about pigs than you do mice.

Before I was a home owner and had to enter a never ending war against being infested, I felt pretty much as you do Shinjin. But, just as a farmer has to deal with the realities and practicalities of farm life, I've had to face the realities of home ownership in an older suburban area with lots of greenspace a mile or so away. Raccoons get into my garbage and spread it around the property (I defeat them for awhile, but they always manage, eventually). Squirrels get into the attic and poop and breed in my insulation. And mice invest my basement and walls.

These aren't pets, they aren't friendly and cuddly, and they aren't a single mouse that I can take the time and effort to coddle.

I respect the opinion of those who talk about the sanctity of all life. I do my best to respect life as well, but in this case I don't have the time or money for that position. I don't go out of my way to find things to kill. I don't hunt. I don't fish. I waited TOO long before dealing with the mice because it was a war I didn't want to be a part of. But they didn't leave me alone, they didn't observe the sanctity of my house or respect the home I've tried to create for my family. They are unsanitary, mass breeding little vermin, and when they come into my house they are gonna die if I have a say in it.

I'm not offended that people have called me out on this. I half expected it. Unfortunately we're just not going to see eye to eye on this.

No mercy for mice. Look for every crack in the foundation, stuff it with steel wool. Bucket traps or a steel trashcan leaned at a 60 degree angle, ramped with cookies in the bottom. Got to be steel, or they will climb out. Barring that, get a rat terrier. They aren't the nicest dogs in the world to strangers, but they are hell on small mammals.

Good luck!

KDH wrote:...
.. Harvard Revokes Admission of Several Students for Posting ‘Offensive’ Memes

Harvard University revoked admission offers to at least 10 incoming students after the school discovered the individuals were posting explicit and obscene memes in a Facebook chat group that advocated sexual assault and mocked the death of children.

Wait a minute, let me get this straight - somebody used their real name on the internet? Not exactly Harvard material.

Warhammer question. I know like in Mechwarrior that what they use is not as great or grand as it once was. So much has been lost or something. So when was the height of human tech and what was it and what happened?

Zarathud wrote:You do the crazy shit AFTER starting. Van Jones called Harvard and Yale a den of drugs and iniquity.

So you can get expelled AFTER paying your tuition.

Once you're in the club, protecting the University's reputation takes on an entirely new meaning. Kicking out admitted students hurts their stats and ranking.

The cost of kicking you out before attending is postage on a new acceptance letter.

Daehawk wrote:Warhammer question. I know like in Mechwarrior that what they use is not as great or grand as it once was. So much has been lost or something. So when was the height of human tech and what was it and what happened?

It took me until your last sentence to figure out that this isn't a Warhammer question, it is a Warhammer 40k question.

Daehawk wrote:Warhammer 40k question... So when was the height of human tech and which was it and what happened?

The short of which is Chaos are effing things around for many milleniums

Zarathud wrote:Once you're in the club, protecting the University's reputation takes on an entirely new meaning. Kicking out admitted students hurts their stats and ranking.

The cost of kicking you out before attending is postage on a new acceptance letter.

The moment it's on facebook saving the university's rep pretty much guarantees the students get booted.

Blackhawk wrote:

Daehawk wrote:Warhammer question. I know like in Mechwarrior that what they use is not as great or grand as it once was. So much has been lost or something. So when was the height of human tech and what was it and what happened?

It took me until your last sentence to figure out that this isn't a Warhammer question, it is a Warhammer 40k question.

I've never played tabletop but I've become interested in the universe once some quality pc games started hitting the market. It's a pretty interesting place.

I can't for the life of me remember what happened, but it was a pretty standard:

1. Mankind is awesome. Expands through galaxy. Tech near magic quality.
2. Mankind falls. planets lose contact with each other. No central government. Dark ages.
3. Mankind starts to rise again. Rebuilds empire. Conquers anyone who wants to remain independent. Tech is both taboo and revered at the same time. New tech is mostly verboten. Existing/ancient tech is worshiped.

last: Warhammer 40k is a mishmash of random sci-fi memes, patches and random thoughts by designers. It might as well have been created by random number generator, it's basically incoherent and has been retconned into it's current form.

IIRC, W40K humanity can't sustain a Star Trek secular golden age because the truth of the universe is that gods are real and brutal: humanity's foes are evil/madness/appetite incarnate, and humanity's savior is a literal warrior god with affiliated warrior angels. The central drama is the sacrifice of that god and the fall of some of those angels.

In short, spacegoing history is medieval in every way, and the tech thematically follows suit.