Octopus Overlords

Blackhawk wrote: ↑Fri Sep 20, 2019 11:13 am So, we have a pet racing pigeon, a rescue. We've had her for a while now. She's never been wild, and is friendly and affectionate. Yesterday I was dumb, though. She likes to nuzzle, so I was up against her. My son comes up from the other side and startles her, and she tries to move away, but my head is in the way. She gives me a quick peck to get me to move. No big deal, except for how my head is situated, which landed the peck right in my left eyeball.

That earned me a trip to the ER and a nice, V-shaped double scratch right along my cornea. I'm told that it is a fast healing injury and that i should be back to normal in a few days, but that corneal abrasions can be one of the most painful injuries while healing. As of right now, I can't keep my eyes open for more than a few seconds, and can't focus on anything (can't see to game, or read, or really to even watch TV), and I'm supposed to leave to pick the kids up in about three hours. Hell, I can't even get to the pharmacy to pick up the eyedrops they called in.

The kicker is that it is my own fault. I've spent years around birds, and I've told the kids repeatedly to not get close to any bird's head with your eyes open unless you're wearing glasses.

Isgrimnur wrote: ↑Thu Sep 12, 2019 10:45 am USA Today

A total of 39 people were aboard the boat for a holiday weekend diving expedition. The Concepcion was at anchor when the fire started overnight. Five crew members who were on the deck fled and were rescued. The victims, ranging in age from 16 to 62, apparently died from smoke inhalation, authorities have said.

The Conception was raised from the depths of Platts Harbor and is now at the Port Hueneme naval facility, where the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives national incident team of leading fire experts are examining the power, fuel and electrical systems, federal officials said.

As the investigation continues, the U.S. Coast Guard took the unprecedented step of recommending that owners of passenger vessels immediately urge crews to “reduce potential fire hazards and consider limiting the unsupervised charging of lithium-ion batteries and extensive use of power strips and extension cords.”

Divers and others in the boat world said the electrical systems of boats such as the Conception have been put to the test in recent years as the number of electronics brought on board has increased.
...
Preliminary investigations have suggested the fire did not start in the engine room, and there are growing signs the origin was in the galley area. On the morning of the fire, one crew member told a rescuer he thought the fire started with electronic devices charging in the galley.
...
Statistics gathered by insurers and industry watchdogs show that about 55% of shipboard fires in smaller vessels are related to electrical systems. Given the boat had an electric galley and no propane or gasoline, investigators will look at the electrical systems and appliances and their interaction with combustibles, said John McDevitt, a former assistant fire chief, marine surveyor and chairman of the National Fire Protection Assn.

Isgrimnur wrote: ↑Fri Sep 20, 2019 11:32 am

Get you an eye patch and load it up with gauze to keep the eye closed underneath it.

Blackhawk wrote: ↑Fri Sep 20, 2019 11:13 am I've spent years around birds, and I've told the kids repeatedly to not get close to any bird's head with your eyes open unless you're wearing glasses.

Isgrimnur wrote:Get you an eye patch and load it up with gauze to keep the eye closed underneath it.

Blackhawk wrote: ↑Fri Sep 20, 2019 2:34 pm On the bright side, being temporarily semi-blind has allowed me to catch up on some William Gibson and justify my Audible subscription.

hitbyambulance wrote: ↑Fri Sep 20, 2019 2:53 pm

Blackhawk wrote: ↑Fri Sep 20, 2019 2:34 pm On the bright side, being temporarily semi-blind has allowed me to catch up on some William Gibson and justify my Audible subscription.

which book? i'm on Zero History right now. was trying to get to The Peripheral before Agency comes out in January, but i'm also trying to finish James Joyce's Ulysses by the end of the year - i believe that is going to suck up all my reading time for the near future.

Blackhawk wrote: ↑Fri Sep 20, 2019 11:13 am So, we have a pet racing pigeon, a rescue. We've had her for a while now. She's never been wild, and is friendly and affectionate. Yesterday I was dumb, though. She likes to nuzzle, so I was up against her. My son comes up from the other side and startles her, and she tries to move away, but my head is in the way. She gives me a quick peck to get me to move. No big deal, except for how my head is situated, which landed the peck right in my left eyeball.

That earned me a trip to the ER and a nice, V-shaped double scratch right along my cornea. I'm told that it is a fast healing injury and that i should be back to normal in a few days, but that corneal abrasions can be one of the most painful injuries while healing. As of right now, I can't keep my eyes open for more than a few seconds, and can't focus on anything (can't see to game, or read, or really to even watch TV), and I'm supposed to leave to pick the kids up in about three hours. Hell, I can't even get to the pharmacy to pick up the eyedrops they called in.

The kicker is that it is my own fault. I've spent years around birds, and I've told the kids repeatedly to not get close to any bird's head with your eyes open unless you're wearing glasses.

Freyland wrote: ↑Sat Sep 21, 2019 4:48 pm Tell them he was yelling for the kids to "bunt", and when you guys explained it wasn't a tee ball game, they left.

Smoove_B wrote: ↑Sat Sep 21, 2019 6:19 pm I'm glad I did the entire thing solo. But yes, I can see where it would be a great relationship test prior to getting married. It was...intense at times.

Blackhawk wrote: ↑Fri Sep 20, 2019 11:13 am So, we have a pet racing pigeon, a rescue. We've had her for a while now. She's never been wild, and is friendly and affectionate. Yesterday I was dumb, though. She likes to nuzzle, so I was up against her. My son comes up from the other side and startles her, and she tries to move away, but my head is in the way. She gives me a quick peck to get me to move. No big deal, except for how my head is situated, which landed the peck right in my left eyeball.

That earned me a trip to the ER and a nice, V-shaped double scratch right along my cornea. I'm told that it is a fast healing injury and that i should be back to normal in a few days, but that corneal abrasions can be one of the most painful injuries while healing. As of right now, I can't keep my eyes open for more than a few seconds, and can't focus on anything (can't see to game, or read, or really to even watch TV), and I'm supposed to leave to pick the kids up in about three hours. Hell, I can't even get to the pharmacy to pick up the eyedrops they called in.

The kicker is that it is my own fault. I've spent years around birds, and I've told the kids repeatedly to not get close to any bird's head with your eyes open unless you're wearing glasses.

Isgrimnur wrote: ↑Sat Sep 21, 2019 9:45 pm Blackhawk had to go to an ornithologist.

Kraken wrote: ↑Sun Sep 22, 2019 1:10 am If it weren't for Facebook, I wouldn't know what my friends are having for lunch.