Random randomness

Daehawk · Post by **Daehawk** » Mon Feb 03, 2020 5:06 pm

I would have added kerosene to it and lit it up and walked off.

Kraken · Post by **Kraken** » Mon Feb 03, 2020 5:20 pm

Jaymann wrote: ↑Mon Feb 03, 2020 4:46 pm I would have probably just added SUCKS to the Trump sign with a sharpie.

We were so mortified we just wanted it gone ASAP. By the time I found it at 9 am, many of our neighbors had already seen it, so Nextdoor was a convenient way to let them know that it was an assault.

After denying it for years, my BIL finally admitted a couple of months ago that he was the culprit. I suspected him from the start because he'd pulled crap like that before -- and who else would do that? -- but he wouldn't cop to it, and Wife believed him.

Anyway, since Dae wants nothing to do with his neighbors or anyone else, there's no value for him in Nextdoor.

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Mon Feb 03, 2020 5:25 pm

There's always Facebook and LinkedIn...

LawBeefaroni · Post by **LawBeefaroni** » Mon Feb 03, 2020 5:30 pm

Daehawk wrote: ↑Mon Feb 03, 2020 5:06 pm I would have added kerosene to it and lit it up and walked off.

On your own lawn?

Jaymann · Post by **Jaymann** » Mon Feb 03, 2020 5:32 pm

LawBeefaroni wrote: ↑Mon Feb 03, 2020 5:30 pm
Daehawk wrote: ↑Mon Feb 03, 2020 5:06 pm I would have added kerosene to it and lit it up and walked off.
On your own lawn?

Once the paper burns off it would look like a cross.

Jaymon · Post by **Jaymon** » Mon Feb 03, 2020 7:11 pm

Im having a stupid problem at work, where once piece of software somewhere in the supply chain doesnt understand leap day. Orders for the date feb 29 are failing due to invalid date format.

Its that old saying. To err is human. To really fuck up, you need a computor.

coopasonic · Post by **coopasonic** » Mon Feb 03, 2020 7:14 pm

I guarantee a human wrote the code that is causing the error. The computer is an innocent bystander in this.

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Mon Feb 03, 2020 7:19 pm

Garbage in, garbage out.

Kasey Chang · Post by **Kasey Chang** » Mon Feb 03, 2020 11:24 pm

Jaymon wrote: ↑Mon Feb 03, 2020 7:11 pm Im having a stupid problem at work, where once piece of software somewhere in the supply chain doesnt understand leap day. Orders for the date feb 29 are failing due to invalid date format.
Its that old saying. To err is human. To really fuck up, you need a computor.

I prefer "built by the lowest bidder".

On the other hand, trying to regex a "valid date', while accepting leap years, and leap day, is a massive undertaking.

It's pretty obvious that whoever wrote that POS software got lazy and forgot about leap day... It's simply not an 'edge case' he tested for. (Yes, I'm taking software testing class, I'm using all the lingo... Hahaha)

Kasey Chang · Post by **Kasey Chang** » Tue Feb 04, 2020 6:08 am

Okay, this may be a bit of a long story.

I have a 10-year old CPAP machine I've used religiously every night. It works.

As you guys knew, I'm between jobs at the moment, and one of the jobs I applied to requires me to take a DOT physical exam. And while I "passed", the examiner wanted to see my CPAP data.

Except my CPAP is 10 years old. It has no smartcard. The only way to get data off of it is with a good old DB-9 serial port. I called the hardware provider up, who forwarded me to a local clinic, who has NO IDEA what I'm talking about.

I can get a USB to DB9 cable, that's simple enough. The problem is without an interfacing program the connection's useless.

So I went online and started looking. Turns out, the company no longer gives access to the older software. You can't even BUY it, even with MSRP of about... USD $249.00. And this was at least 5-8 years ago.

And no, I can't even pirate it. Yes, there's a torrent for it. No, nobody's been seeding it for YEARS.

That pretty much left me up ****'s creek without a paddle.

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Tue Feb 04, 2020 9:24 am

Document all of this and give it to them.

LordMortis · Post by **LordMortis** » Tue Feb 04, 2020 9:46 am

Kasey Chang wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2020 6:08 am Okay, this may be a bit of a long story.

I have a 10-year old CPAP machine I've used religiously every night. It works.

As you guys knew, I'm between jobs at the moment, and one of the jobs I applied to requires me to take a DOT physical exam. And while I "passed", the examiner wanted to see my CPAP data.

Except my CPAP is 10 years old. It has no smartcard. The only way to get data off of it is with a good old DB-9 serial port. I called the hardware provider up, who forwarded me to a local clinic, who has NO IDEA what I'm talking about.

I can get a USB to DB9 cable, that's simple enough. The problem is without an interfacing program the connection's useless.

So I went online and started looking. Turns out, the company no longer gives access to the older software. You can't even BUY it, even with MSRP of about... USD $249.00. And this was at least 5-8 years ago.

And no, I can't even pirate it. Yes, there's a torrent for it. No, nobody's been seeding it for YEARS.

That pretty much left me up ****'s creek without a paddle.

Do you have the make and model? It might turn out you don't even need their software. If the device has a self contained OS then USB to DB9 serial + PuTTy + an ID and password + rudimentary understanding of the commands may be enough to extract what you need. Luck to you.

Blackhawk · Post by **Blackhawk** » Tue Feb 04, 2020 11:04 am

Sounds like planned obsolescence. They really, really don't want people not upgrading for ten years.

Zarathud · Post by **Zarathud** » Tue Feb 04, 2020 11:36 am

The original purpose of CPAP data was to show insurers/doctors if there was compliance with treatment, not for employers to pull medical info. I wonder if the request is legal in your state.

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Tue Feb 04, 2020 11:40 am

The employer isn't pulling medical info, it's required fro a federal certification for a commercial driver. The certification is a requirement of the job.

AWS260 · Post by **AWS260** » Tue Feb 04, 2020 12:20 pm

LordMortis · Post by **LordMortis** » Tue Feb 04, 2020 12:23 pm

From the files of "I thought he had passed"

Daehawk · Post by **Daehawk** » Tue Feb 04, 2020 1:18 pm

Always liked him. He seemed to be the rough gruff guy in films. The Firm was a good one. I even remember him from a short lived tv show called Our House.

stessier · Post by **stessier** » Tue Feb 04, 2020 1:33 pm

Daehawk wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2020 1:18 pm Always liked him. He seemed to be the rough gruff guy in films. The Firm was a good one. I even remember him fro ma short lived tv show called Our House.

I loved Our House. Shannon Doherty was on that show too.

Post by **ImLawBoy** » Tue Feb 04, 2020 1:33 pm

Brimley was 50 years old in the first Cocoon movie. The Twitter account @BrimleyLine notes when various people have crossed the Brimley/Cocoon Line.

stessier · Post by **stessier** » Tue Feb 04, 2020 1:35 pm

J-Lo is one year younger today than Rue McClanahan was when she started on Golden Girls. That kind of blows my mind.

Daehawk · Post by **Daehawk** » Tue Feb 04, 2020 1:38 pm

Last year I think it was TN passed a law you could not use a phone in the car if you had to touch or hold it. So all hands free. Now TN is thinking of reversing that decision for reasons only TN can I guess.

To me ALL phone use in a moving car should be banned. I think it should only be legal if you are parked. Surgeons dont talk on a phone while operating. Pilots dont while flying. Bulldozer operators dont. To me it looks as stupid and dangerous as holding it and talking. Its a distraction that you concentrate on instead of driving. A radio is just something you listen to and dont have to think about.

Distracted driving is distracted driving. Stop putting on makeup and reading a book too.

Jaymann · Post by **Jaymann** » Tue Feb 04, 2020 1:40 pm

I remember Brimley in The Thing and Absence of Malice. He is the archetype of the wizened professional.

AWS260 · Post by **AWS260** » Tue Feb 04, 2020 2:40 pm

The mitzvah tanks have arrived on my block!

dbt1949 · Post by **dbt1949** » Tue Feb 04, 2020 6:31 pm

After giving me a hassel about repairing my stove under warranty I gave them a "pitiful" me story and now they're giving me a new stove.
I'll have to remember to give "pitiful" me stories for everything now.

coopasonic · Post by **coopasonic** » Tue Feb 04, 2020 6:35 pm

dbt1949 wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2020 6:31 pm After giving me a hassel about repairing my stove under warranty I gave them a "pitiful" me story and now they're giving me a new stove.
I'll have to remember to give "pitiful" me stories for everything now.

I found Karen.

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Tue Feb 04, 2020 7:05 pm

I wonder if they lose the deposit on their RV rental if they start strapping armor to it.

Kasey Chang · Post by **Kasey Chang** » Tue Feb 04, 2020 7:27 pm

LordMortis wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2020 9:46 am Do you have the make and model? It might turn out you don't even need their software. If the device has a self contained OS then USB to DB9 serial + PuTTy + an ID and password + rudimentary understanding of the commands may be enough to extract what you need. Luck to you.

One of the most protected devices on the planet, Phillips/Respironics BiPAP Synchrony S/T

Kasey Chang · Post by **Kasey Chang** » Tue Feb 04, 2020 7:35 pm

My dad was reading newspaper all day and even he's getting a bit worried about the 2019-nCoV (aka "Wuhan Pneumonia") and he wanted me to look into getting some facemasks (not that it'd do any good, given there's what, maybe 2 infected in California? And 11 in the whole US?) But whatever.

Turns out there's a run on them on Amazon, and either Amazon's stock had run out, or they're restricting it to medical offices only. Only third-party vendors remained, and they are charging $2 EACH in packs of 50 (For price of $99 per pack). Yes, for the disposable level 1 stuff (barely more than 3 layers of fancy paper) Some resorted to $15 for the pack, but it'll be $85 in S&H. WTF.

At this rate, I'll just go to my local doctor or dentist and ask them for a couple.

And no, most masks don't do **** against airborne virus. Too leaky. And most "N95" masks are against particulates only (dust, pollen, etc.) For medical stuff you need medical grade masks that's also against fluids and and droplets.

Blackhawk · Post by **Blackhawk** » Tue Feb 04, 2020 8:00 pm

Daehawk wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2020 1:38 pm Last year I think it was TN passed a law you could not use a phone in the car if you had to touch or hold it. So all hands free. Now TN is thinking of reversing that decision for reasons only TN can I guess.

To me ALL phone use in a moving car should be banned. I think it should only be legal if you are parked. Surgeons dont talk on a phone while operating. Pilots dont while flying. Bulldozer operators dont. To me it looks as stupid and dangerous as holding it and talking. Its a distraction that you concentrate on instead of driving. A radio is just something you listen to and dont have to think about.

Distracted driving is distracted driving. Stop putting on makeup and reading a book too.

And never tune the radio. And don't even think of changing the temperature on the thermostat. And never, ever take a sip of your coffee or water.

Good ideas can be taken too far.

LordMortis · Post by **LordMortis** » Tue Feb 04, 2020 9:25 pm

Kasey Chang wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2020 7:27 pm
LordMortis wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2020 9:46 am Do you have the make and model? It might turn out you don't even need their software. If the device has a self contained OS then USB to DB9 serial + PuTTy + an ID and password + rudimentary understanding of the commands may be enough to extract what you need. Luck to you.
One of the most protected devices on the planet, Phillips/Respironics BiPAP Synchrony S/T

Are you sure there is no card or no card interface? The model from 2009 says there is and also says the serial port is for diagnostics (Page 15)

https://www.hmebc.com/wp-content/upload ... achine.pdf

Kasey Chang · Post by **Kasey Chang** » Tue Feb 04, 2020 10:40 pm

That's actually a newer model. Mine looked like this:

I read somewhere that it actually came out in 2005.

dbt1949 · Post by **dbt1949** » Wed Feb 05, 2020 2:44 pm

I think I got a call from a collection agency. The spit their name out so fast I can't make it out. It starts out with State Farm................ I told them the first time we don't use their insurance and they told me it wasn't about that. Then they asked to talk to my wife. I told them she was deaf and they said they'd call back.
Today I got another call from them. After telling me their name real fast again I asked them who do you represent? They kept asking to talk to my wife. I kept asking who they represent and they kept asking for my wife until the guy got frustrated and said they'd call back. Never would answer my question. Never got a chance to tell him my wife was deaf.
And they keep asking for her using her maiden name of 30 years ago. So I'm going to tell them nobody lives here by that name.

Smoove_B · Post by **Smoove_B** » Wed Feb 05, 2020 2:51 pm

Before my BIL died, my MIL would get calls from debt collection agencies with them trying to get her to pay for his issues. He was a stepson so when they would call, they'd ask for her with numerous last names, IIRC.

Jaymann · Post by **Jaymann** » Wed Feb 05, 2020 2:59 pm

dbt1949 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 05, 2020 2:44 pm I think I got a call from a collection agency. The spit their name out so fast I can't make it out. It starts out with State Farm................ I told them the first time we don't use their insurance and they told me it wasn't about that. Then they asked to talk to my wife. I told them she was deaf and they said they'd call back.
Today I got another call from them. After telling me their name real fast again I asked them who do you represent? They kept asking to talk to my wife. I kept asking who they represent and they kept asking for my wife until the guy got frustrated and said they'd call back. Never would answer my question. Never got a chance to tell him my wife was deaf.
And they keep asking for her using her maiden name of 30 years ago. So I'm going to tell them nobody lives here by that name.

Next time they ask for your wife, tell them just a minute, then come back with an obviously fake falsetto voice.

Kasey Chang · Post by **Kasey Chang** » Wed Feb 05, 2020 3:34 pm

dbt1949 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 05, 2020 2:44 pm I think I got a call from a collection agency. The spit their name out so fast I can't make it out. It starts out with State Farm................ I told them the first time we don't use their insurance and they told me it wasn't about that. Then they asked to talk to my wife. I told them she was deaf and they said they'd call back.
Today I got another call from them. After telling me their name real fast again I asked them who do you represent? They kept asking to talk to my wife. I kept asking who they represent and they kept asking for my wife until the guy got frustrated and said they'd call back. Never would answer my question. Never got a chance to tell him my wife was deaf.
And they keep asking for her using her maiden name of 30 years ago. So I'm going to tell them nobody lives here by that name.

May want to pull her free credit report. if she hadn't used her maiden name for decades, it could be identity theft.

Daehawk · Post by **Daehawk** » Wed Feb 05, 2020 3:49 pm

Just tell them you are her and see what they say..

Also I got some kraut in my last food bag and already had some chili. So I picked up a .79 cent pack of Bar S franks. Yummy.

dbt1949 · Post by **dbt1949** » Wed Feb 05, 2020 4:09 pm

I'm sure it's a collection agency so I'll harass them as much as possible before telling them nobody by that name live here.

dbt1949 · Post by **dbt1949** » Wed Feb 05, 2020 11:18 pm

They raised the utility rates for all utilities the first of the year.

gbasden · Post by **gbasden** » Thu Feb 06, 2020 1:52 am

Daehawk wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2020 1:38 pm

To me ALL phone use in a moving car should be banned. ... Pilots dont while flying.

As a pilot, you are talking on the radio to ATC and other traffic almost all the time in busy traffic areas. It's more distracting to me than talking on the phone for sure, especially when you are trying to listen to ATC guidance, get your vectors and formulate a plan while still flying the aircraft, looking out for other traffic and maintaining situational awareness.