Random randomness

[jztemple2]

Time for my occasional flamingo update! My wife surprised me with this today. I thought it was a really big bathsheet, but my wife informs me it is a throw blanket. And, in spite of it being Christmas themed, I'll be able to keep it all year round in my office. You know, for those times in mid-summer when it gets cold enough to need a throw blanket

[Kasey Chang]

My attempt to switch wallet with a new EDC "wallet" is a failure.

When I go out, I normally check for three things: phone, keys, wallet. I've been trying to simplify and I thought I can combine keys and wallet into a smaller holder that has foldout keys with this: Backeyt EDC Wallet 3.0. Turns out, it doesn't quite work for me, because I actually carry more than 2 keys, but also an EDC pen, among other things, on my keychain, which I use a Karabiner to clip to my belt loop. Also, this wallet doesn't carry cash very conveniently. I had to quad-fold cash to fit, and it couldn't fit a lot of bills (like 10).

So now, I end up carrying 2 wallets and my phone... The Brackeyt EDC 3, with all of my keys, and a separate wallet for my cash. It's NOT more convenient. It's actually LESS convenient.

So I have to go back to my original wallet, and figure out a new way to carry my keys. My original carabiner key combo is a bit worn out.

[LordMortis]

When did all of these products I've never heard of before start advertising on TV about how they are going out of business so now is the only time to get these super amazing products before they're gone forever and I've totally missed out.

[stessier]

When did all of these products I've never heard of before start advertising on TV about how they are going out of business so now is the only time to get these super amazing products before they're gone forever and I've totally missed out.

1976?

[Sudy]

I can't tell you how often I click on EvilHomer3k's profile instead of EBG.

[Daehawk]

I can't sleep and my brain has determined that the Star Trek transporters kill you and make a copy theory is wrong.

Lets think about it...

1. Kill and copy. So you want to go some place and get on the transporter. Popular theory is it murders you then simply makes a copy just like you at the destination. You are now a Xerox. This means you need to be in communications range of the destination to be able to download fresh and latest data scans of yourself to be remade.. But that makes no sense. If it did murder you by taking you apart and destroying you then why would you need to be in a range distance to the destination. Why couldn't you be across the galaxy? All it would need to do is send the latest scan of you and have the destination print you out so to speak. Also what happens if it didn't murder original you? Just left you standing there and made the copy at the destination. Now the copy is all "Yay Im where I wanted to go" but the original you is like "Dangit I wanted to go there" So now theres two of you. Same you in two places. Do that enough and the spouse in in for a shock after work.

2. So I say it doesn't murder you and make a copy. It disassembles you to the molecules then shoves you into the tech machinery and 'beams' you to the destination and reforms you there. This is why you have to be in transporter range...to actually send the you you molecules there. Otherwise you're just spread out over the area between here and there. Ooops. So the old you and the new you are the same old you you and not a new you after all. Go in and come out the same old you. No murder and no copy. If you dont go anywhere then theres not two of you because theres not one at the destination if you're still waiting to leave.

Least thats what my insomnia brain tells me and I believe it. Its had time to think this over.

[Brian]

I can't tell you how often I click on EvilHomer3k's profile instead of EBG.

Same, but also throw in LawBeef

1. Kill and copy. So you want to go some place and get on the transporter. Popular theory is it murders you then simply makes a copy just like you at the destination. You are now a Xerox. This means you need to be in communications range of the destination to be able to download fresh and latest data scans of yourself to be remade.. But that makes no sense. If it did murder you by taking you apart and destroying you then why would you need to be in a range distance to the destination. Why couldn't you be across the galaxy? All it would need to do is send the latest scan of you and have the destination print you out so to speak. Also what happens if it didn't murder original you? Just left you standing there and made the copy at the destination. Now the copy is all "Yay Im where I wanted to go" but the original you is like "Dangit I wanted to go there

Essentially the plot of The Sixth Day.

[Sudy]

1. Kill and copy. So you want to go some place and get on the transporter. Popular theory is it murders you then simply makes a copy just like you at the destination. You are now a Xerox. This means you need to be in communications range of the destination to be able to download fresh and latest data scans of yourself to be remade.. But that makes no sense. If it did murder you by taking you apart and destroying you then why would you need to be in a range distance to the destination. Why couldn't you be across the galaxy? All it would need to do is send the latest scan of you and have the destination print you out so to speak. Also what happens if it didn't murder original you? Just left you standing there and made the copy at the destination. Now the copy is all "Yay Im where I wanted to go" but the original you is like "Dangit I wanted to go there

Essentially the plot of The Sixth Day.

See also: The Prestige.

[Anonymous Bosch]

1. Kill and copy. So you want to go some place and get on the transporter. Popular theory is it murders you then simply makes a copy just like you at the destination. You are now a Xerox. This means you need to be in communications range of the destination to be able to download fresh and latest data scans of yourself to be remade.. But that makes no sense. If it did murder you by taking you apart and destroying you then why would you need to be in a range distance to the destination. Why couldn't you be across the galaxy? All it would need to do is send the latest scan of you and have the destination print you out so to speak. Also what happens if it didn't murder original you? Just left you standing there and made the copy at the destination. Now the copy is all "Yay Im where I wanted to go" but the original you is like "Dangit I wanted to go there

Essentially the plot of The Sixth Day.

See also: The Prestige.

There's also the James Patrick Kelly short story, Think like a Dinosaur, which became an episode of the 1990s revival of The Outer Limits:

[Daehawk]

Jeremy Renner critically injured in a snow plowing accident

Actor Jeremy Renner is in “critical but stable condition” after being injured in a weather-related snow plowing incident in Nevada, CNN affiliate KABC reported, citing a spokesperson for Renner.

Officers responded to a “traumatic injury” in the area of Mount Rose Highway in Reno, according to a news release from the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, which has previously said the Academy Award-nominated actor lived in the community.

[Unagi]

Ugh, I was just reading about this...

Sounds possibly quite horrible.

[Daehawk]

I wonder if stuff got amputated? He has 2 strikes against him already...its in Nevada where snow is unusual except in the high areas in most cases usually so working with an unknown thing and he is an actor who probably doesn't do this stuff himself in day to day life.

[Unagi]

I had read somewhere that he was the only one involved in the accident.

I wonder if it was him outside of the snowplow (crushed by either the vehicle or hurt by its equipment) - or my wife's mind immediately went to him being in the vehicle and falling off the edge of a mountain road, which I think they would have just called a car accident.

[dbt1949]

When I hear of "traumatic injury" I think of the head.

What's Black Widow going to do? Or is she dead too?

[Smoove_B]

I'm not going to link to it, but a popular tabloid site is reporting it is a leg injury that ultimately involved the application of a tourniquet. That would certainly fit with being airlifted to a hospital. Regardless, it sounds serious and I hope things get better.

[Daehawk]

Its neat how Soc. Sec. can deposit my money in the future and I can have access to it now in the past. Its showing they deposited my check tomorrow on the 3rd and its in my bank today. Lordy tech is something.

[Unagi]

Its neat how Soc. Sec. can deposit my money in the future and I can have access to it now in the past. Its showing they deposited my check tomorrow on the 3rd and its in my bank today. Lordy tech is something.

Wait until you find out you spent it all yesterday.

[Daehawk]

Made me LOL.

[Blackhawk]

I wonder if stuff got amputated? He has 2 strikes against him already...its in Nevada where snow is unusual except in the high areas in most cases usually so working with an unknown thing and he is an actor who probably doesn't do this stuff himself in day to day life.

He lives, (best guess, from what they've said), partway up the Mt. Rose Highway. He may be as close as 20 miles from where the Donner Party got stranded. They get a lot of snow up there, and he's more than likely used to it.

[Holman]

He may be as close as 20 miles from where the Donner Party got stranded.

Well, shit. I hope he didn't leave any parts lying around.

Spoiler:

I keed. The Donner Party story is a largely misunderstood tragedy that should evoke empathy and understanding, not cannibalism jokes like mine.

[Blackhawk]

It's not too soon.

We used to go up to Donner Pass from time to time, and always enjoyed the Donner Party museum up there.

[Holman]

Speaking of which, the Donner Party episode of the "You're Wrong About" podcast is definitely worth a listen.

[Daehawk]

A Tesla car plunged 250 feet off a cliff and the two adults and 2 kids were just fine..like hey we getting burger now? Must have been scary as fuck.

Tesla plunges 250 feet off a California cliff, all 4 occupants survive

[Jaymon]

That car crash story popped up in my news feed as well. Obviously its good the family survived, but I wonder why the headline lead with Tesla. If it had been a different brand, would that have been mentioned? "A Ford car plunged 250 feet off a cliff and the two adults and 2 kids were just fine"

[dbt1949]

Why do people keep hitting people in the head with their head? Hitting someone with your fist is a lot more effective. And you don't damage your own head.

[Pyperkub]

So, the Christmas Electrical Substation attacks in Washington?

It was the poor-man's Die Hard!

[Jaymann]

So, the Christmas Electrical Substation attacks in Washington?

It was the poor-man's Die Hard!

Allegedly they bought an elephant gun in case they were attacked by gnats.

[Kraken]

Why do people keep hitting people in the head with their head? Hitting someone with your fist is a lot more effective. And you don't damage your own head.

Same reason they draw a knife across their palm when they want to draw a little blood. It looks tough.

I guess forehead-butting is a real fight tactic because that's one of the thickest, strongest bones in your body. But you can mess yourself up if you do it wrong.

[gilraen]

Jeremy Renner critically injured in a snow plowing accident

Actor Jeremy Renner is in “critical but stable condition” after being injured in a weather-related snow plowing incident in Nevada, CNN affiliate KABC reported, citing a spokesperson for Renner.

Officers responded to a “traumatic injury” in the area of Mount Rose Highway in Reno, according to a news release from the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, which has previously said the Academy Award-nominated actor lived in the community.

They are now saying that he was helping a family member stranded on the side of the mountain road near his home and got run over by his own snowcat. He's conscious in the hospital but his condition hasn't been upgraded. He's listed as having blunt chest trauma and "orthopedic injuries".

[LordMortis]

That car crash story popped up in my news feed as well. Obviously its good the family survived, but I wonder why the headline lead with Tesla. If it had been a different brand, would that have been mentioned? "A Ford car plunged 250 feet off a cliff and the two adults and 2 kids were just fine"

Yeah, it makes my mind go straight to it happened because it was a Tesla. If being a Tesla was not a proximate cause why would it be in the headline? It's a fact you mention in the story because stories are full of facts but headlines are where every word is meant to be be part of the lede.

I guess today is about clicks, though. And Tesla gets clicks. Ultimately it should be good safety PR for the company if they family are truly fine.

[Daehawk]

Makes me wonder how you run over yourself. Either its moving or its not. Do these things suddenly go from not moving to running you over ala Maximum Overdrive?

[Max Peck]

It sounds like operator error to me.

The incident happened after a new year storm left around 3ft of fresh snowfall on the ground, Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam said in a press conference.

A family member driving Renner's car had got stuck in the snow near his house, the sheriff said. Using his snow plough, Renner successfully towed the car free.

He then got out to talk to his relative, but the snow plough began to move while empty.

Renner was trying to get back into the driver's seat to stop it moving, when the "extremely large" piece of equipment ran him over, Mr Balaam said.

The PistenBully weighs at least 14,330lb, he said. The average weight of a car, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency, is 4,289lb (2 tonnes).

"An eyewitness detailed seeing Mr Renner getting into the PistenBully and not seeing him again until the PistenBully came to a rest in a pile of snow in front of his driveway," Mr Balaam said.

Renner is a "great neighbour" and always uses his snow plough to clear local roads, the sheriff added.

From the pictures, it looks like it would be pretty easy to get caught up in the tracks if you try entering the cab while it's moving. Apparently he's had plenty of experience operating the equipment, but you only need to fuck up once to have a bad day.

[Blackhawk]

I was just coming to post that. It looks like the 'step' to get into the cab is the treads themselves.

[Blackhawk]

Why do people keep hitting people in the head with their head? Hitting someone with your fist is a lot more effective. And you don't damage your own head.

Same reason they draw a knife across their palm when they want to draw a little blood. It looks tough.

I guess forehead-butting is a real fight tactic because that's one of the thickest, strongest bones in your body. But you can mess yourself up if you do it wrong.

It is extremely fast and isn't telegraphed much (which makes it very hard to defend against), and can be done when both of your hands are held (like in a bear hug) or you're too close for other attacks. The thing that shows get wrong is that you don't hit them in the forehead with your forehead. Thanks to Mr. Newton, that's a zero-gain attack. You hit them in the face with your forehead - ideally the bridge of the nose. It stuns them enough to give you a chance to break a hold and regain your distance.

And one of the better defenses for a rear bear hug is actually a rear headbutt - you lean as far forward as you can, then when they lean forward to maintain the hold, you quickly snap your head back into their face (and if you want to be certain you'll get out, you scrape their shin and smash their instep at the same time.) Note that this isn't a backyard wrestling move. This puts people in hospitals.

[Fardaza]

That car crash story popped up in my news feed as well. Obviously its good the family survived, but I wonder why the headline lead with Tesla. If it had been a different brand, would that have been mentioned? "A Ford car plunged 250 feet off a cliff and the two adults and 2 kids were just fine"

When I saw the article, my first thought was they want to make it appear that Teslas are REALLY safe. Thus you should go buy one.

[Jaymann]

That car crash story popped up in my news feed as well. Obviously its good the family survived, but I wonder why the headline lead with Tesla. If it had been a different brand, would that have been mentioned? "A Ford car plunged 250 feet off a cliff and the two adults and 2 kids were just fine"

When I saw the article, my first thought was they want to make it appear that Teslas are REALLY safe. Thus you should go buy one.

Plus "plunged 250 feet" implies it was a straight drop through the air, which I sincerely doubt.

[Daehawk]

Least it didn't land on its top. 250' on the top I dont see anyone in any car surviving unless it had a roll cage.

Ok Ive found my modern day favorite comedian. Its Fluffy. That guy has to be the funniest these days.

[Kasey Chang]

Teslas, being heavier than average family car, have lower center of gravity, and is practically impossible to rollover. It actually also has a lot of additional safety features, like it'll tighten your seatbelt BEFORE impact (if it saw it coming), and steer away from traffic if rear impact, lock brakes after impact to prevent rolling, and so on. Not to mention all the cameras around it. Is it worth all that? Good question.

[Anonymous Bosch]

Why do people keep hitting people in the head with their head? Hitting someone with your fist is a lot more effective. And you don't damage your own head.

Same reason they draw a knife across their palm when they want to draw a little blood. It looks tough.

I guess forehead-butting is a real fight tactic because that's one of the thickest, strongest bones in your body. But you can mess yourself up if you do it wrong.

It is extremely fast and isn't telegraphed much (which makes it very hard to defend against), and can be done when both of your hands are held (like in a bear hug) or you're too close for other attacks. The thing that shows get wrong is that you don't hit them in the forehead with your forehead. Thanks to Mr. Newton, that's a zero-gain attack. You hit them in the face with your forehead - ideally the bridge of the nose. It stuns them enough to give you a chance to break a hold and regain your distance.

Where I come from, this was always referred to as a "Glasgow Kiss," and I found it to be remarkably effective myself during a schoolyard scrap or two. Because when done correctly, you invariably break your opponent's nose in gory and devastating fashion. Suffice to say, it's definitely NOT a method for the squeamish.

[Max Peck]

A Tesla car plunged 250 feet off a cliff and the two adults and 2 kids were just fine..like hey we getting burger now? Must have been scary as fuck.

Tesla plunges 250 feet off a California cliff, all 4 occupants survive

It was perhaps scarier for the wife and kids than it was for the husband who was apparently trying to kill them all.

Man accused of intentionally driving off a cliff with his wife and 2 children faces attempted murder charges

A 41-year-old California man faces multiple charges after he allegedly drove off a cliff on the Pacific Coast Highway with his wife and two children, authorities said.

All four occupants of the Tesla survived the crash Monday after the car plunged 250 to 300 feet below the road it was on and into a rocky beach area known as Devil’s Slide, about 20 miles south of San Francisco, California Highway Patrol said.

California Highway Patrol spokesman Officer Mark Andrews said the car’s three passengers were the driver’s wife and two children. Their names are not being released.

The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office initially said in a social media post that the children were “unharmed.” But the California Highway Patrol said occupants of the car were taken to a hospital with serious injuries.

Based on the evidence collected, “investigators developed probable cause to believe this incident was an intentional act,” the state’s highway patrol said Tuesday.

The driver, from Pasadena, California, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and child endangerment, according to an arrest report. He will be formally booked into San Mateo County Jail after his hospital treatment, the highway patrol said.

On Tuesday, the highway patrol said the Tesla’s high-tech driving features did not contribute to the crash.

“There has been no determination as to what driving mode the Tesla was in; however, that does not appear to be a contributing factor in this incident,” the highway patrol said.