Octopus Overlords

The whole point of solar power (and wind turbines as well) is to charge electric batteries.

Remember Trump's repeated line that wind power meant you couldn't watch TV on a still day? Yeah, he was wrong.

He also thought global warming meant warmer days.

AP News

The Department of Homeland Security on Tuesday extended the Real ID deadline until May 3, 2023. The deadline had been Oct. 1, 2021, but it was becoming clear that many people wouldn’t make it, in part because the COVID-19 outbreak has made it harder for states to issue new licenses.
...
DHS says only 43% of all driver’s licenses and identification cards are compliant.

Older IDs will be suitable to allow people to drive, buy liquor or other age-regulated products, and gamble at casinos. Travelers also can use military IDs or passports to access flights and federal facilities.

Don't think we're going to get one.< Raspberries government.>

So I got some Kohm industrial strength nail clippers:



Makes a huge difference, especially for toe nails. Instead of fighting them they snip right off.

Isgrimnur wrote: ↑Tue Apr 27, 2021 5:45 pm AP News

The Department of Homeland Security on Tuesday extended the Real ID deadline until May 3, 2023. The deadline had been Oct. 1, 2021, but it was becoming clear that many people wouldn’t make it, in part because the COVID-19 outbreak has made it harder for states to issue new licenses.
...
DHS says only 43% of all driver’s licenses and identification cards are compliant.

Older IDs will be suitable to allow people to drive, buy liquor or other age-regulated products, and gamble at casinos. Travelers also can use military IDs or passports to access flights and federal facilities.

I was just about to post regarding this. Oddly this was one of the few areas where Florida was leading the way, our "Gather.Go.Get" program to issue Real ID licenses or ID cards kicked off in January of 2010 and was supposed to be mandatory when your driver's license came due, although I think some folks were made exceptions. I've had mine almost ten years. Heck, I thought everyone would have one by now, but sheesh, only 43%?

jztemple2 wrote: ↑Tue Apr 27, 2021 11:08 pm

Isgrimnur wrote: ↑Tue Apr 27, 2021 5:45 pm AP News

The Department of Homeland Security on Tuesday extended the Real ID deadline until May 3, 2023. The deadline had been Oct. 1, 2021, but it was becoming clear that many people wouldn’t make it, in part because the COVID-19 outbreak has made it harder for states to issue new licenses.
...
DHS says only 43% of all driver’s licenses and identification cards are compliant.

Older IDs will be suitable to allow people to drive, buy liquor or other age-regulated products, and gamble at casinos. Travelers also can use military IDs or passports to access flights and federal facilities.

I was just about to post regarding this. Oddly this was one of the few areas where Florida was leading the way, our "Gather.Go.Get" program to issue Real ID licenses or ID cards kicked off in January of 2010 and was supposed to be mandatory when your driver's license came due, although I think some folks were made exceptions. I've had mine almost ten years. Heck, I thought everyone would have one by now, but sheesh, only 43%?

I got mine last time I renewed. It was touch-and-go because I'm an adoptee with a sketchy-looking birth certificate -- it's as old as I am, and black with white lettering -- but the DMV clerk wasn't in the mood to hassle me after she determined that it really is embossed. Being an old White dude didn't hurt, either.

Kraken wrote: ↑Tue Apr 27, 2021 11:38 pm I got mine last time I renewed. It was touch-and-go because I'm an adoptee with a sketchy-looking birth certificate -- it's as old as I am, and black with white lettering -- but the DMV clerk wasn't in the mood to hassle me after she determined that it really is embossed. Being an old White dude didn't hurt, either.

Mine is a sixty year old really bad photostat that is half out of focus. Happily it does have an embossed seal. Heaven knows what I'll do if it gets lost.

jztemple2 wrote: ↑Wed Apr 28, 2021 12:03 am

Kraken wrote: ↑Tue Apr 27, 2021 11:38 pm I got mine last time I renewed. It was touch-and-go because I'm an adoptee with a sketchy-looking birth certificate -- it's as old as I am, and black with white lettering -- but the DMV clerk wasn't in the mood to hassle me after she determined that it really is embossed. Being an old White dude didn't hurt, either.

Mine is a sixty year old really bad photostat that is half out of focus. Happily it does have an embossed seal. Heaven knows what I'll do if it gets lost.

It is so pathetic that our livelihoods are dependent on ancient slips of paper that were never essential until now. I actually had my original birth certificate (thank you Mom!) but the DMV gave me shit because the county had laminated it. I laid a Karen on them and they finally relented, but it was a near thing.

I recently ordered a copy to support a passport application (that I still haven’t filed).

But yeah, it’s more about making people jump through hoops than any real security in the document itself.

Jaymann wrote: ↑Tue Apr 27, 2021 10:58 pm So I got some Kohm industrial strength nail clippers:



Makes a huge difference, especially for toe nails. Instead of fighting them they snip right off.

Meh. I suggest steering clear of made-in-China clippers, and spend the wee bit extra for genuine Japanese clippers instead. They're vastly superior in quality, and sufficiently well-crafted to last a lifetime. To quote the review from The Wirecutter:

nytimes.com wrote:Green Bell G-1008
The best nail clippers



These clippers are razor sharp, feel sturdy in hand, and look nicer than the competition.

The Green Bell G-1008 clippers cut so cleanly that you may not even need to file off the edges when you’re done—though they do have a built-in file if you want to anyway. They also have a sturdier, more ergonomically sculpted body than the other clippers we tried. They’re usually less expensive than the next-sharpest clippers we’ve tested and feel better in hand. “They had a good weight,” the former nail tech tester said about the Green Bell clippers. “I had good control, and I didn’t have to tip around at an angle to get a clean cut.”

Dang I wish I had known about those. Maybe next time.

"File off the edges"? Good lord, I can barely contort my left foot into reach. I'm happy when my nails don't snag my socks.

Isgrimnur wrote: ↑Wed Apr 28, 2021 12:23 am But yeah, it’s more about making people jump through hoops than any real security in the document itself.

Wait until you have to get something apostilled.

I dont see the problem places give for laminated items. Its simply a clear protective plastic on something. Yeesh.

And now clipper snobs? Come on. I was given a grooming set when I was 13 by my mom's best friend and neighbor. Its a basic set with fingernail and toenail clippers, file, and cuticle blade or something. Came in a little fake leather zip up case. I still have and use that set today and its in its case and thats in its original little box. Its nearly 40 years old now.

Isgrimnur wrote: ↑Tue Apr 27, 2021 5:45 pm AP News

The Department of Homeland Security on Tuesday extended the Real ID deadline until May 3, 2023. The deadline had been Oct. 1, 2021, but it was becoming clear that many people wouldn’t make it, in part because the COVID-19 outbreak has made it harder for states to issue new licenses.
...
DHS says only 43% of all driver’s licenses and identification cards are compliant.

Older IDs will be suitable to allow people to drive, buy liquor or other age-regulated products, and gamble at casinos. Travelers also can use military IDs or passports to access flights and federal facilities.

The problem is, Indiana only provides Real ID as an option. I need to get a new card, which requires two proofs of residency. The problem? I don't have any of them, mostly because they want hard copies from the mailbox, but everything is handled online these days. I don't remember the last time I saw a physical bank statement or utility bill.

Daehawk wrote: ↑Wed Apr 28, 2021 8:37 am And now clipper snobs? Come on. I was given a grooming set when I was 13 by my mom's best friend and neighbor. Its a basic set with fingernail and toenail clippers, file, and cuticle blade or something. Came in a little fake leather zip up case. I still have and use that set today and its in its case and thats in its original little box. Its nearly 40 years old now.

I remember the horror of seeing my grandparents' toenails when I was a kid. The day will come when a regular toenail clipper can do nothing for you.

Daehawk wrote: ↑Wed Apr 28, 2021 8:37 am I dont see the problem places give for laminated items. Its simply a clear protective plastic on something. Yeesh.

If it's a certified copy with a raised seal, there's no way to verify it if you've laminated over the document.

I had the good fortune to be born in a part of NJ that had a major issue with local government officials stealing and faking identification documents (birth certificates). So now, any birth certificates from the area are considered invalid by the state and the feds.

If for some reason I need to get a new birth certificate, apparently i need to get a certified copy directly from the state. Here's hoping I don't.

EDIT: Apparently I'm good!

For identification purposes, the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission will only accept Jersey City-issued birth certificates for people born after 1965. Residents born before 1965 seeking to use their Jersey City-issued birth certificates must obtain a new certificate from Trenton.

Blackhawk wrote: ↑Wed Apr 28, 2021 8:47 am The problem? I don't have any of them, mostly because they want hard copies from the mailbox, but everything is handled online these days. I don't remember the last time I saw a physical bank statement or utility bill.

My wife raises holy hell if anyone wants to move us to online statements. She's still pissed that the bank won't send back our cancelled checks .

I'm dreading when Michelle needs to get Real ID. Absolutely nothing is in her name.

Your states are weird. I automatically got the Real ID in 2018 when I renewed my driver's license...online. Didn't have to provide any information beyond what the Colorado DMV already had in their database for my DL.

Daehawk wrote: ↑Wed Apr 28, 2021 8:37 am
And now clipper snobs? Come on. I was given a grooming set when I was 13 by my mom's best friend and neighbor. Its a basic set with fingernail and toenail clippers, file, and cuticle blade or something. Came in a little fake leather zip up case. I still have and use that set today and its in its case and thats in its original little box. Its nearly 40 years old now.

It's not snobbery, it's about:

Pro tip: Cut 'em off straight instead of curved to help avoid ingrown toenail.

Daehawk wrote: ↑Wed Apr 28, 2021 8:37 am And now clipper snobs? Come on. I was given a grooming set when I was 13 by my mom's best friend and neighbor. Its a basic set with fingernail and toenail clippers, file, and cuticle blade or something. Came in a little fake leather zip up case. I still have and use that set today and its in its case and thats in its original little box. Its nearly 40 years old now.

If the clippers you're using are almost 40 years old, chances are they may well be of superior quality in comparison to what is nowadays typically available from most US drugstores or retailers like Walmart. Broadly-speaking, I'd be inclined to say much the same in comparing a vintage Gillette Super Speed razor to a vibrating, battery-powered 5-bladed Gillette Fusion Power Razor. But if you're convinced there's no difference between largely disposable, cheaply-made modern Chinese trinkets and well-crafted Japanese steel cutting tools, by all means enjoy your gimcrackery.

gilraen wrote: ↑Wed Apr 28, 2021 10:11 am Your states are weird. I automatically got the Real ID in 2018 when I renewed my driver's license...online. Didn't have to provide any information beyond what the Colorado DMV already had in their database for my DL.

It’s those funny cigarettes and gummy bears

gilraen wrote: ↑Wed Apr 28, 2021 10:11 am Your states are weird. I automatically got the Real ID in 2018 when I renewed my driver's license...online. Didn't have to provide any information beyond what the Colorado DMV already had in their database for my DL.

Colorado probably already required the equivalent. Indiana previously required, I believe, just a birth certificate and something official with your address on it. The problem now is that they require government documentation of every name change (so if you get married and change your name from your birth certificate, you have to have certified proof of that.) Plus, you have to have two of the following:

U.S. Postal Service change of address confirmation.
An Indiana voter registration card.
Survey of your Indiana property.
Utility company, credit card, doctor, or hospital bill issued within 60 days of application.
Residence mortgage or similar loan contract, or lease or rental contract.
Bank statement or bank transaction receipt, dated within 60 days of application.
Current motor vehicle loan payment book.
Valid homeowner’s, renter’s, or car insurance policy dated within one year of application.
W-2 Form, property tax, excise tax bill, or Social Security Administration or other pension or retirement annual benefit summary statement, dated within current or immediately prior year.
Pre-printed pay stub, dated within 60 days of application.
Indiana Family and Social Services Administration child support check stub, Medicaid or Medicare benefit statement dated within 60 days of application.
Valid Indiana handgun permit.
First-class mail from any federal or state court or agency, dated within 60 days of application.
Valid and active ID card issued pursuant to the Indiana Attorney General’s address confidentiality program under IC 5-26.5.

I can get a couple of those (I have one utility that refuses to move online, plus I have a car insurance policy, plus I could find an annual SSA benefit report somewhere.)

For Michelle, though:

U.S. Postal Service change of address confirmation. No change of address
An Indiana voter registration card. If they ever sent physical cards, neither of us has ever seen them
Survey of your Indiana property. No property
Utility company, credit card, doctor, or hospital bill issued within 60 days of application. No bills, and no utilities are in her name
Residence mortgage or similar loan contract, or lease or rental contract. There is no rental contract or lease.
Bank statement or bank transaction receipt, dated within 60 days of application. Her name is on my account, but I haven't gotten paper statements in years.
Current motor vehicle loan payment book. No loans
Valid homeowner’s, renter’s, or car insurance policy dated within one year of application. None of the above.
W-2 Form, property tax, excise tax bill, or Social Security Administration or other pension or retirement annual benefit summary statement, dated within current or immediately prior year. This one she could get, although the address would be Indiana, it wouldn't be the current address. I have no idea if they'd accept that or not.
Pre-printed pay stub, dated within 60 days of application. Pay stub? In 2021?
Indiana Family and Social Services Administration child support check stub, Medicaid or Medicare benefit statement dated within 60 days of application. None of the above.
Valid Indiana handgun permit. Nope.
First-class mail from any federal or state court or agency, dated within 60 days of application. Nope.
Valid and active ID card issued pursuant to the Indiana Attorney General’s address confidentiality program under IC 5-26.5. Nope.

With her, I figure our best hope is to get a printed statement directly from the bank and hope they're willing to accept that and her W2 form with a different address.

You can add someone to your utility bill. I did it with my son.

Blackhawk wrote: ↑Wed Apr 28, 2021 8:47 am

Isgrimnur wrote: ↑Tue Apr 27, 2021 5:45 pm AP News

The Department of Homeland Security on Tuesday extended the Real ID deadline until May 3, 2023. The deadline had been Oct. 1, 2021, but it was becoming clear that many people wouldn’t make it, in part because the COVID-19 outbreak has made it harder for states to issue new licenses.
...
DHS says only 43% of all driver’s licenses and identification cards are compliant.

Older IDs will be suitable to allow people to drive, buy liquor or other age-regulated products, and gamble at casinos. Travelers also can use military IDs or passports to access flights and federal facilities.

The problem is, Indiana only provides Real ID as an option. I need to get a new card, which requires two proofs of residency. The problem? I don't have any of them, mostly because they want hard copies from the mailbox, but everything is handled online these days. I don't remember the last time I saw a physical bank statement or utility bill.

I still make my bank send me physical credit card statements and the Federal government send me a physical notice of assessment for my taxes, specifically because they are accepted as proof of residence to obtain photo ID from the provincial government.

WA state was one of the holdouts for this 'RealID' business and i'm glad for it. when i renew, i'm getting the standard DL and will be using my passport card for domestic flights.

After 9/11 they upped the security protocols at my job and we had to bring in documentation including photo ids for the new badges. So I brought in my Merchant Mariners card which not only had my photo but also my thumbprint. Sadly it was taken when I was sixteen, about thirty years beforehand. The security folks were not amused

Supposedly a BMW concept car. I found the comments funny.

https://9gag.com/gag/a83RGre?ref=pn

Blackhawk wrote: ↑Wed Apr 28, 2021 12:40 pm Colorado probably already required the equivalent. Indiana previously required, I believe, just a birth certificate and something official with your address on it. The problem now is that they require government documentation of every name change (so if you get married and change your name from your birth certificate, you have to have certified proof of that.)

When I got married and changed my name, I was told to change it through the Social Security Administration first and then wait 24 hours before going to the DMV. So obviously I did bring a notarized copy of my marriage certificate to the SSA. When I showed up at the DMV, I just had to show them my old driver's license (they punch a hole in it). I told them the new address to put on the new driver's license - they didn't ask for any proof (I wouldn't have any). That was in 2013, and I don't remember if that DL was Real ID or not. It might have been, which is why it expired in 5 years, whereas it used to be that your DL here was good for 10 years.

Saw this today and couldn't pass it up. I had no idea my favorite soy sauce brand made alcoholic drinks. After I taste it I may still think that lol. But it shows good reviews online.

I keep getting emails from somebody called Venmo saying I paid somebody some money. Click here if that is incorrect.
I figure it's some kind of scam but a new format of some kind.

Was it from Matt Gaetz?

Theres an ad for lawnmowers that reads 2 lawn mowers for sale. $300 for both or $100 each if sold separately.

Should I text them and tell them the error?

I could text them to confuse them more with "$600 for neither one and not a penny more!"

Blackhawk wrote: ↑Wed Apr 28, 2021 12:40 pm
For Michelle, though:

Utility company, credit card, doctor, or hospital bill issued within 60 days of application. No bills, and no utilities are in her name
First-class mail from any federal or state court or agency, dated within 60 days of application. Nope.

With her, I figure our best hope is to get a printed statement directly from the bank and hope they're willing to accept that and her W2 form with a different address.

Serious thought - she could also try asking if her work could print a pay stub. I get mine in an email but I've heard that if you ask in person they can print one.

Silly thought - She needs to fake an injury on a neighbor's sidewalk. That could get her a hospital bill, mail from the court, and perhaps even money if she won the case!

Daehawk wrote: ↑Wed Apr 28, 2021 6:04 pm Theres an ad for lawnmowers that reads 2 lawn mowers for sale. $300 for both or $100 each if sold separately.

Should I text them and tell them the error?

I could text them to confuse them more with "$600 for neither one and not a penny more!"

i saw a push lawnmower for free on a local block corner yesterday. looked not very old, but needed a new carburetor

Probably just needed cleaning or a gasket.