Octopus Overlords

Back in the day people used the internet at work because it was fast and free. Funny how that habit survived nearly everyone getting broadband at home.

I do most of my reading and posting evenings and weekends because I work during the workday...even though I work at home, I typically allow myself a 10 minute break per hour of work, which is just enough time to make sure that hepcat is behaving himself and dbt is still alive.

I bought a Shanzhai clone of "Ridge Wallet" because I want to see what the buzz is about, and I'm NOT paying $125 to try it out. While it is interesting, I am not convinced of its utility for me. But since the clone was like $9 after a coupon, and comes with extra screws and screwdriver JUST LIKE the real thing, seems to be a no-brainer.

Kasey Chang wrote: ↑Sun Mar 14, 2021 12:42 pm I bought a Shanzhai clone of "Ridge Wallet" because I want to see what the buzz is about, and I'm NOT paying $125 to try it out. While it is interesting, I am not convinced of its utility for me. But since the clone was like $9 after a coupon, and comes with extra screws and screwdriver JUST LIKE the real thing, seems to be a no-brainer.

Was the coupon one time use or do you have a code you could pm me?
I've been wanting try one of these and $9 is within my price point......

Sudy wrote: ↑Sat Mar 13, 2021 9:07 pm Yeah, they all have lives. Those of us who don't can form a club if you like.

More like we actually get to play games on the weekend and that takes priority over posting. Work... doesn't.

stimpy wrote: ↑Sun Mar 14, 2021 2:12 pm Was the coupon one time use or do you have a code you could pm me?
I've been wanting try one of these and $9 is within my price point......

Seems the 40% off coupon has expired. Can you do $11? https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07WCCT1NX/

Or $10 https://www.amazon.com/Minimalist-Carbo ... 08Q48GYXZ/

My younger kid (9th grade) got way behind on some school assignments and so has not been allowed to play computer games since Thursday.

He got all caught up on his work today (Sunday) at 4:30pm. Since then he's been online playing with friends, and his whooping of joy is echoing through the house.

coopasonic wrote: ↑Sun Mar 14, 2021 3:23 pm

Sudy wrote: ↑Sat Mar 13, 2021 9:07 pm Yeah, they all have lives. Those of us who don't can form a club if you like.

More like we actually get to play games on the weekend and that takes priority over posting. Work... doesn't.

Truth

I made the jump to a Ridge wallet coming up on two years ago, and it's been a huge change for the better. I was looking to replace my old leather tri-fold before going to Italy in 2019 (a huge risk for pickpockets), and a front pocket wallet seemed a good way to go. I picked up the carbon fiber Ridge with a strap on one side and money clip on the other, and I don't see myself ever going back. It takes a little practice to get fast at pulling out the right card, but once you adapt, it's much more efficient than my old folding back-pocket wallet. Couple easy access to cards with rare cash usage these days, and it's a quick, easy, compact, and very lightweight alternative to an old-school wallet. They're pricey, but worth every penny in my opinion.

Where do your photographs, coupons, insurance cards, business cards, spare key and other things go?

Daehawk wrote: ↑Sun Mar 14, 2021 10:00 pm Where do your photographs, coupons, insurance cards, business cards, spare key and other things go?

Phone, pocket, wallet, nowhere, hidden outside the house, other places. In that order. And that's using a traditional wallet.

Your spare car key in case you lock your keys in the car aren't going to do you any good back home. Do you also hide your spare house key inside the house?

Daehawk wrote: ↑Sun Mar 14, 2021 10:44 pm Your spare car key in case you lock your keys in the car aren't going to do you any good back home. Do you also hide your spare house key inside the house?

Yes, buried in the back yard.

I have never put a spare key in my wallet in my entire life.

Carried one for decades through 2 or 3 cars. In the old days it was just the car door key because once opened you get your keys back. Now days theres just a single key for it all. Ive locked my keys up at least 3 or 4 times or so. Once was a lockpick expense..and they really charge. My wife had a 2nd spare key in her purse.

I used to have a spare house key in there to but dont bother anymore.

Anyone remember the old tv shows Friday the 13th the Series and also Poltergeist the Legacy? I really loved them both but Legacy was a much better show. The ghost train tunnel ep still stands out in my mind today.

gilraen wrote: ↑Mon Mar 15, 2021 12:01 am I have never put a spare key in my wallet in my entire life.

My Saturn came with a plastic key that could be punched out from a wallet-friendly credit-card form. It was the bee's knees at the time (mid-90s). My current car just requires my flinker to be in my pocket. If the flinker ever fails, there's a pseudo key inside it that will get me in...but since there's no ignition switch, Congratulations! You got into a car that you can't start.

Since I only drive 2,000 miles a year I hope this will never come up.

What happened to me was I had a house guest who locked the inside garage door and left. I never locked that door, I was used to just clicking the outer garage door open, parking my car, and walking in. I was so pissed I karate kicked the door open. Never again will I be locked out of my own house.

I'd been using a traditional wallet with a coin purse all my life until I started having to carry a second phone for work. I converted to a phone wallet, so I now carry one phone in each hip pocket. It's been extremely irritating. It's heavy, and there's only room for two cards plus ID. You can double-load the cards, but you'll never get them out. I sometimes temporarily carry an extra one in the bill pocket, but there's little room even there and it falls out easily. I hate having to carry change loose. Mind you, this is Canada where we have $1 and $2 coins. I also can't fit my keys in my pocket anymore, so I got a key-bak for those and my keycard for work.

I experimented with going cashless, and also with using Google Pay etc., but during non-covid times I'm taking public transit and using a coin-operated apartment laundry facility, so generating change is helpful. Thankfully covid finally seems to have normalized paying by card and touchless payments, though we were already most of the way there in Ontario. I still dealt with a couple of merchants who charged a surcharge for debit purchases previously... I haven't visited them since, I'll have to see. But in the end, I found I was far more comfortable with one physical credit card on me, plus my debit card and a small amount of cash. Then I need my transit card, ID, and health card. Well, that's five cards already and I can only fit three.

I really shopped around initially too, and couldn't find many options that were much better that could easily be stuffed in a hip pocket. I find the idea of a belt clip too bulky and insecure. While I've thought about negotiating with work to just use my own phone, the reality is I need to be able to call anywhere across the continent on a dime, and occasionally outside of it. Getting them to pay for my personal phone is unlikely, and I wouldn't want them in my pocket (so to speak) in that way, anyway. Looking at importing a dual-SIM phone would be an option, except I'd probably have to foot the bill. This all seems kind of silly, but it really does impact your daily life in a considerable way.

disarm wrote: ↑Sun Mar 14, 2021 9:15 pmI made the jump to a Ridge wallet coming up on two years ago, and it's been a huge change for the better... They're pricey, but worth every penny in my opinion.

Ditto for me as well. I've loved my Ridge wallet since getting it. Leather wallets, double or tri-fold, invite too much pocket-hoarding and I was sick of it. I had been trying to find a way to trim down and had even gotten to the point of just tossing loose cards in my pocket, but they were getting prematurely worn out. The Ridge keeps them safe and orderly. I keep exactly three cards in it - license and two payment methods. I don't even bother carrying cash unless it's for a special purpose. I keep everything else that's used incidentally tucked away in a sleeve in my car (insurance cards, AAA card, etc). I've found that it's remarkably easy to get by without having a wallet the size of a small book jammed into my pocket.

I've also discovered that a lot of pants being made today have a smaller inner pocket on the right-front side that the Ridge slides into perfectly to keep it from jostling around too much.

I've always kept my wallets in my front pockets, too. I couldn't stand having my ass operating at two separate elevations.

Daehawk wrote: ↑Sat Mar 13, 2021 3:40 pmMan this place is dead on the weekends. Its as if you all go out partying.

I spend my weekends largely avoiding the interwebs as much as I can. Too much to do, not enough time. Oddly, during the work week ...

In other news, I slept like shit all weekend long and am completely exhausted this morning. I find it annoying that my left hand isn't being cooperative, sometimes refusing the order to push down far enough on a key to actually type a letter. It's an odd sensation, like the finger is partially locked up but still there. I'm assuming it's my brain's way of telling me to go back to bed. I can't do that for another ~14 hours yet.

Daehawk wrote:Where do your photographs, coupons, insurance cards, business cards, spare key and other things go?

One of the great things about the Ridge is that it keeps you from being George Costanza...no unnecessary crap in my wallet! I've never been one to carry extra stuff, but my current wallet only has two credit cards, one debit card, driver's license, insurance card, and a $20 bill (that I never use because cash is annoying). I also don't miss the lump under my ass during long drives.

As for a spare key, I can honestly say that I haven't needed one in years. The last time I owned a car without keyless entry and push-button start was 2010, and I can't imagine ever going back. My fob stays secure in my pocket, and it's impossible to lock the doors with a fob inside the car.

That said, even when I had a key, I never carried a spare in my wallet. I had a copy made and hid it in a magnetic box stuck to the frame of the car...always available, but never needed during those 15 years.

People who warm up their cars for 15+ minutes when it's 58F really, really annoy me. I counted 8 cars on my run this morning.

Daehawk wrote: ↑Sun Mar 14, 2021 10:44 pm Your spare car key in case you lock your keys in the car aren't going to do you any good back home. Do you also hide your spare house key inside the house?

Ah, you just said, "spare key." The only spare key I have is to the house. It's hidden near the house, mostly because I have teenagers who are likely to forget their keys. The spare car key is in Michelle's purse. For an event that might occur once every X years (the last time I locked my keys in my car was 1995, and I rigged something with an antenna and bungee cord to get them out), I'm fine with calling and waiting.

To be honest, thinking about it, all I actually use in my wallet is one credit card, one debit card, my ID, and two insurance cards, plus enough cash for a tip jar. I could probably stand to get something less bulky than my decades-old trifold.

I don't care about RFID blocking. I don't have an RFID credit card, and it's a preventative for a crime which is theoretically possible, but does not actually occur. Last I heard, there have been exactly zero RFID thefts that a blocker would have prevented (I'm guessing that the others were skimmers that people manually scanned their cards over.) RFID was never popular, is becoming less popular, almost no cards have it, and it's a form of credit card theft that takes way, way more effort and time than other forms of credit card theft - so it isn't worth it for anyone to actually do it.

stessier wrote: ↑Mon Mar 15, 2021 8:48 amPeople who warm up their cars for 15+ minutes when it's 58F really, really annoy me. I counted 8 cars on my run this morning.

This morning I stepped out of my house to clear skies and 9º F chilly air. I hopped into my car, let it run long enough for me to get my phone connected and audiobook playing, and drove to work. I only lamented that I maybe should have worn a jacket instead of just my rolled-up sleeved dress shirt.

The only time I've left my car to warm has been when there's a layer of ice on it that I'd rather not fight with.

A full page where Rob Lowe's sons troll him on Instagram.

Ave Caesar! It's the Ides of March!



(Fun podcast I just listened to: The Ides of March.)

Holman wrote: ↑Mon Mar 15, 2021 6:45 pm Ave Caesar! It's the Ides of March!

Oh shit. Happy birthday, Rich LaPorte.

Finally bought myself glass coffee mugs so I can watch my Vietnamese coffee being made.


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At first I thought that was a tribute to Rich LaPorte, like: Keep a lid on it, man.

raydude wrote: ↑Tue Mar 16, 2021 6:56 am
Finally bought myself glass coffee mugs so I can watch my Vietnamese coffee being made.


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"Whattaya mean there's no ice? You mean I gotta drink this coffee hot?"

But seriously, that's all the sweet thick milk you use? And where's the ice?

Mr. Fed hasn't posted on @Popehat in over a week. Hope all is well in fed land.

Jaymann wrote: ↑Wed Mar 17, 2021 11:17 am Mr. Fed hasn't posted on @Popehat in over a week. Hope all is well in fed land.

Patrick/Tareeq tweeted something about him being fine and on some sort of secret mission.

ImLawBoy wrote: ↑Wed Mar 17, 2021 11:44 am

Jaymann wrote: ↑Wed Mar 17, 2021 11:17 am Mr. Fed hasn't posted on @Popehat in over a week. Hope all is well in fed land.

Patrick/Tareeq tweeted something about him being fine and on some sort of secret mission.

WHAT WAS THE FIRST RULE ABOUT SECRET MISSIONS WE TALKED ABOUT IN THE STAFF MEETING?!

Something about lime green speedos?

The guy who did this last year?



Well, all charges against him for drugged driving have been dropped.

Money: It can buy you just about anything. Although I guess that's like stating that water is wet.

Too bad shits like him live. When its an accident the one all fucked up is the one who lives and the family in the other car dies.

Speaking of accidents, this was awful news.

Former Maverick Shawn Bradley has just released a statement through the team announcing he was recently struck from behind by an automobile while riding his bicycle near his home in St. George, Utah, and suffered a traumatic spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed.

7'6" Bradley was the #2 pick in the 1993 NBA Draft. Met him a couple times, really super nice guy...even if he did go to BYU.

They're baAaack....well soon anyways. The bug with the big noise. I was 35 years old last time they were here.

Get ready for Brood X: The once-every-17-years cicada swarm is coming

In a few weeks, a natural spectacle will take place across much of the United States — one that is not found anywhere else in the world. Billions of cicadas that have spent years patiently growing in complete darkness?? will finally emerge, perfectly in sync, for a raucous party in the sun.

It's been 17 years, and the periodical insects, also known as Brood X, are back.

When the world last glimpsed the cicadas, Facebook was brand new, theaters were showing "Spider-Man 2," and the 2004 Summer Olympics were underway.

Since then, they've been underground, eating.

I grew up with Brood XIX but now live with Brood II.

What I remember most is that they molt and leave their brittle, empty skins still clinging to tree trunks. I was willing to flick them away, but only one of my friends was willing (on a dare) to eat one.

Meathammer is the perfect metal band name, no? It runs the gamut from sleazy glam to goregrind to parody. It can be construed sexually, violently, or simply as an alternate name for a common kitchen implement.