Octopus Overlords

• Go online to their website and either:
  • Create/log in to an account, or
    • (If you create an account, you set a password that is limited to 6-16 characters, that may be letters or numbers but not symbols. There is an option to include your mobile number and request an authentication code, which may or may not be related to 2F authentication but we'll never know because it doesn't work. You also enter the smartcard number and security code -- we'll get back to that later.)
  • Access it as a guest
• Select the amount that you want to load in the smartcard.
• Enter your payment information (credit/debit card). If you're logged in to an account, there is an option to save the payment information, but you don't do that because they forced you to use a weak password and don't have secure 2F authentication.
• Then they email a code to you, even if you're logged into an account with a linked smartcard. If you were able to successfully link your account to your mobile phone, perhaps it would be sent in an SMS, but we'll never know because that doesn't work.
• Then you need to go to the laundry room, put the smart card into the terminal and manually punch in the code that they emailed/texted to you.

Max Peck wrote: Thu Aug 05, 2021 8:48 am The laundromat in my apartment building has used smartcards for a few years now. Previously, you loaded the card from a terminal in the laundry room using a credit/debit card. They've just upgraded the system so that in order to load the card you need to:

• Go online to their website and either:
  • Create/log in to an account, or
    • (If you create an account, you set a password that is limited to 6-16 characters, that may be letters or numbers but not symbols. There is an option to include your mobile number and request an authentication code, which may or may not be related to 2F authentication but we'll never know because it doesn't work. You also enter the smartcard number and security code -- we'll get back to that later.)
  • Access it as a guest
• Select the amount that you want to load in the smartcard.
• Enter your payment information (credit/debit card). If you're logged in to an account, there is an option to save the payment information, but you don't do that because they forced you to use a weak password and don't have secure 2F authentication.
• Then they email a code to you, even if you're logged into an account with a linked smartcard. If you were able to successfully link your account to your mobile phone, perhaps it would be sent in an SMS, but we'll never know because that doesn't work.
• Then you need to go to the laundry room, put the smart card into the terminal and manually punch in the code that they emailed/texted to you.

This is progress?

Nevermind

The caves are cold (45 F, 7 C) and dark

hitbyambulance wrote: Thu Aug 05, 2021 9:07 pm might it be due to trying to avoid per-transaction credit-card fees? if you load the pre-paid cards up separately, more money can be loaded on at once and thus only one credit-card fee (as opposed to using individual credit card transactions for every single washer/dryer load)

Sudy wrote: Thu Aug 05, 2021 8:58 pm At least your apartment laundromat uses cards. Despite replacing all units a couple years ago, we're still stuck on change like it's 1987 or something. I actually have to walk into the bank and buy rolls of change if I want clean clothes. It's the only thing I use cash for since covid, and I barely used cash before that.

Max Peck wrote: Fri Aug 06, 2021 7:20 am

hitbyambulance wrote: Thu Aug 05, 2021 9:07 pm might it be due to trying to avoid per-transaction credit-card fees? if you load the pre-paid cards up separately, more money can be loaded on at once and thus only one credit-card fee (as opposed to using individual credit card transactions for every single washer/dryer load)

It never worked that way. You loaded up the old smartcard to a max of $50 at a time originally, which was lowered to $30 at a time for some reason which was totally not because they had a $3.50 "convenience fee" per transaction for allowing you to use the terminal instead of the nonexistent local office. The new system doesn't seem to have a fee tacked on and also allows you to load more into the card at one shot, so I grant that it is an improvement in that sense.

hitbyambulance wrote: Fri Aug 06, 2021 5:02 pm

Max Peck wrote: Fri Aug 06, 2021 7:20 am

hitbyambulance wrote: Thu Aug 05, 2021 9:07 pm might it be due to trying to avoid per-transaction credit-card fees? if you load the pre-paid cards up separately, more money can be loaded on at once and thus only one credit-card fee (as opposed to using individual credit card transactions for every single washer/dryer load)

It never worked that way. You loaded up the old smartcard to a max of $50 at a time originally, which was lowered to $30 at a time for some reason which was totally not because they had a $3.50 "convenience fee" per transaction for allowing you to use the terminal instead of the nonexistent local office. The new system doesn't seem to have a fee tacked on and also allows you to load more into the card at one shot, so I grant that it is an improvement in that sense.

sorry, i meant the transaction fee on the vendor's end (the fee the credit card companies charge the merchant)

Max Peck wrote: Fri Aug 06, 2021 6:48 pm
The old system used a payment terminal in the laundry room to load money into a smartcard, and the smartcard was used to operate the washers/dryers, not your credit card.

If you load the same amount onto the card with the new system, there would be exactly the same number of credit card transactions as previously. The only real difference is that they don't seem to be tacking a surcharge on when you load the smartcard now, so it costs a little less to load the same amount on the card now.

Skinypupy wrote:

Pyperkub wrote: Thu Jul 29, 2021 6:27 pm I work with a Product Called OnBase for document management and am running a kickoff meeting this afternoon.

I'm starting with this classic bit!

I don’t think I’ve ever actually seen the full “Who’s On First” bit before. The timing on that is incredible.

dbt1949 wrote: Sat Aug 07, 2021 3:18 pm It's cheaper that way than actually doing the idea.

Blackhawk wrote: Sat Aug 07, 2021 2:37 pm I've developed a bad habit: I get an idea, I get inspired, and I get ready to do [idea thing]. Then I don't. Then I get another idea, I get inspired, and I get ready to do [idea thing]. Then I don't.

I spend a lot of time getting ready to do things, but little to no time actually doing them before moving on to the next. I can't figure out which twisted corner of my psyche is responsible for this, or I'd spank it back into its corner.

Blackhawk wrote: Sat Aug 07, 2021 2:37 pm I've developed a bad habit: I get an idea, I get inspired, and I get ready to do [idea thing]. Then I don't. Then I get another idea, I get inspired, and I get ready to do [idea thing]. Then I don't.

I spend a lot of time getting ready to do things, but little to no time actually doing them before moving on to the next. I can't figure out which twisted corner of my psyche is responsible for this, or I'd spank it back into its corner.

1. Decide: Step one is to decide what you're going after. What is your end goal? Your first step is all about developing the end picture as clear as you can before moving onto the next step. Go into as much detail as you can, describe everything you can about your end goal. When do you want to achieve it? What is your motive? What benefit will the goal serve once you have it?
2. Plan: With your final goal clarified and laid out in front of you, consider the steps you will need to carry it out. How, exactly, do you get from the present to your final goal? Make the steps as detailed as possible. Do not be vague, and do not hold back on information. Outline every single step you’re going to take to ensure you achieve exactly what you want. Make sure to tie the goals to a timeframe; this will create a timeline for you to follow when achieving your goal. With your plan written or typed out, you're ready to move on to the final step.
3. Execute: Now you know what it is you want, how you are going to achieve it, and precisely what steps are necessary to do so. So you're ready to execute. Execution is the most crucial aspect, and where most people typically fail. But taking the time to write down or type out your plan makes it much, much easier to carry out. More often than not, it also goes a long way towards providing you with the correct mindset and motivation to succeed.

Anonymous Bosch wrote: Sat Aug 07, 2021 5:45 pm Having said that, writing down or typing out your plans or ideas obviously does not necessarily mean they will always succeed. But going through this process will help you better determine the feasibility of your ideas and spotlight potential flaws. It also makes it easier for you to acknowledge and correct for mistakes when you can see your ideas documented.

wonderpug wrote: Sat Aug 07, 2021 4:35 pm

Blackhawk wrote: Sat Aug 07, 2021 2:37 pm I've developed a bad habit: I get an idea, I get inspired, and I get ready to do [idea thing]. Then I don't. Then I get another idea, I get inspired, and I get ready to do [idea thing]. Then I don't.

I spend a lot of time getting ready to do things, but little to no time actually doing them before moving on to the next. I can't figure out which twisted corner of my psyche is responsible for this, or I'd spank it back into its corner.

Do you tell people about the thing you’re about to do? What you’re talking about sounds really similar to a common self-sabotage phenomenon where you get the “I did it!” endorphin rush for telling people about your awesome idea or plan, and then suddenly you don’t really care about doing the thing because your mind/body already feels like it did it.

Anonymous Bosch wrote: Sat Aug 07, 2021 5:45 pm

This will allow you to decide, plan, and execute:

1. Decide: Step one is to decide what you're going after. What is your end goal? Your first step is all about developing the end picture as clear as you can before moving onto the next step. Go into as much detail as you can, describe everything you can about your end goal. When do you want to achieve it? What is your motive? What benefit will the goal serve once you have it?

wonderpug wrote: Sat Aug 07, 2021 4:35 pm

Blackhawk wrote: Sat Aug 07, 2021 2:37 pm I've developed a bad habit: I get an idea, I get inspired, and I get ready to do [idea thing]. Then I don't. Then I get another idea, I get inspired, and I get ready to do [idea thing]. Then I don't.

I spend a lot of time getting ready to do things, but little to no time actually doing them before moving on to the next. I can't figure out which twisted corner of my psyche is responsible for this, or I'd spank it back into its corner.

Do you tell people about the thing you’re about to do? What you’re talking about sounds really similar to a common self-sabotage phenomenon where you get the “I did it!” endorphin rush for telling people about your awesome idea or plan, and then suddenly you don’t really care about doing the thing because your mind/body already feels like it did it.

Blackhawk wrote: Sat Aug 07, 2021 8:47 pm

Anonymous Bosch wrote: Sat Aug 07, 2021 5:45 pm

This will allow you to decide, plan, and execute:

1. Decide: Step one is to decide what you're going after. What is your end goal? Your first step is all about developing the end picture as clear as you can before moving onto the next step. Go into as much detail as you can, describe everything you can about your end goal. When do you want to achieve it? What is your motive? What benefit will the goal serve once you have it?

Goal? That's a thing? To be honest, 90% of the time the goal is 'engage in activity.'

Let me give an example from my past.

Around... 18 years ago, I got the itch to learn flight sims. I grew up with aircraft-obsessed father (historical aircraft), and it rubbed off on me. I read up on it. I saved and spent probably a thousand dollars on a pro-quality throttle, flight stick, pedals, and a TrackIR pro (which tracked your head position to let you look around with your head.) I collected flight sims - Flight Simulator 2003, X-Plane, IL-2 Sturmovik, Falcon 4.0, Jane's WWII Fighters, Longbow 2, Lock-on: Modern Air Combat, probably a few others. I read flight sim magazines. I loved it! I poured time, energy, money, inspiration, and passion into it. When I needed a new coat that year, I bought a bleeping Alpha Industries B-15 flight jacket, the jacket issued to military pilots from after WWII until the end of the Korean War, made by the same company. I read biographies of pilots (Greg Boyington was a huge asshole, by the way. Ba-ba my ass.)

I spent maybe two hours playing flight sims.

My goal? Play flight sims because I like planes.

LordMortis wrote: Sat Aug 07, 2021 10:12 pm

wonderpug wrote: Sat Aug 07, 2021 4:35 pm

Blackhawk wrote: Sat Aug 07, 2021 2:37 pm I've developed a bad habit: I get an idea, I get inspired, and I get ready to do [idea thing]. Then I don't. Then I get another idea, I get inspired, and I get ready to do [idea thing]. Then I don't.

I spend a lot of time getting ready to do things, but little to no time actually doing them before moving on to the next. I can't figure out which twisted corner of my psyche is responsible for this, or I'd spank it back into its corner.

Do you tell people about the thing you’re about to do? What you’re talking about sounds really similar to a common self-sabotage phenomenon where you get the “I did it!” endorphin rush for telling people about your awesome idea or plan, and then suddenly you don’t really care about doing the thing because your mind/body already feels like it did it.

I'm the other way. I tell people I'm going to do something because it commits me and there is a sense of horrid failure if I say I'm going to do something and not follow through. This also keeps me from making a lot of commitments.

Blackhawk wrote: Sun Aug 08, 2021 12:06 am I'm actually wondering if the problem is that I'm not giving myself a goal. I could pick one and then go from there. Going back 18 years I could have gone with 'complete a campaign in a flight simulator' or something.

Blackhawk wrote: Sat Aug 07, 2021 8:47 pm

Anonymous Bosch wrote: Sat Aug 07, 2021 5:45 pm

This will allow you to decide, plan, and execute:

1. Decide: Step one is to decide what you're going after. What is your end goal? Your first step is all about developing the end picture as clear as you can before moving onto the next step. Go into as much detail as you can, describe everything you can about your end goal. When do you want to achieve it? What is your motive? What benefit will the goal serve once you have it?

Goal? That's a thing? To be honest, 90% of the time the goal is 'engage in activity.'

Let me give an example from my past.

Around... 18 years ago, I got the itch to learn flight sims. I grew up with aircraft-obsessed father (historical aircraft), and it rubbed off on me. I read up on it. I saved and spent probably a thousand dollars on a pro-quality throttle, flight stick, pedals, and a TrackIR pro (which tracked your head position to let you look around with your head.) I collected flight sims - Flight Simulator 2003, X-Plane, IL-2 Sturmovik, Falcon 4.0, Jane's WWII Fighters, Longbow 2, Lock-on: Modern Air Combat, probably a few others. I read flight sim magazines. I loved it! I poured time, energy, money, inspiration, and passion into it. When I needed a new coat that year, I bought a bleeping Alpha Industries B-15 flight jacket, the jacket issued to military pilots from after WWII until the end of the Korean War, made by the same company. I read biographies of pilots (Greg Boyington was a huge asshole, by the way. Ba-ba my ass.)

I spent maybe two hours playing flight sims.

My goal? Play flight sims because I like planes.

Maybe I need better goals, but I don't always see how to get them out of 'engage in activity.'

disarm wrote: Sun Aug 08, 2021 7:25 pm When it comes to hobbies, does failing to reach a specific goal really matter if you're still enjoying yourself along the way? As long as you're devoting time to something and gain pleasure out of that effort, I wouldn't say it's a waste of time or failure at all.

dbt1949 wrote: Sun Aug 08, 2021 8:51 pm In addition I thought it was a waste to spend money on food because you ate it and had nothing left to show afterwards.
I have changed my mind about that since then.