Octopus Overlords

That article seems sorta in english....in a way.

Crap! My alarm clock's battery died so I missed my V A appointment. First time that's ever happened.
Good news is I slept in good.
So hello world. What's happening?

I took a nap last saturday afternoon. I woke up feeling, not tired. It was the first time I have been not tired in, I can't even remember how long.

I got this spider sitting in my sink that is the size and shape of a black widow except it's all brown. A little scary but if it eats roaches it's very welcome here.

Who knew it was that simple?

https://burialatsea.epa.gov/

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my Panasonic RC-6088 alarm clock radio, which i've had since 1992, now has a broken 'fast forward/reverse' button for setting time, which makes it annoying to use. (the switch still works, just need a new button faceplate assembly.) along with the worn carbon on the volume dial (making the volume annoying and finnicky to adjust) it may be time to acquire a 'new' one...but what features do i want?

My radio alarm clock is so old that it has a connector to interface with a Microsoft Zune.

hitbyambulance wrote: Wed Jun 28, 2023 3:32 pm my Panasonic RC-6088 alarm clock radio, which i've had since 1992, now has a broken 'fast forward/reverse' button for setting time, which makes it annoying to use. (the switch still works, just need a new button faceplate assembly.) along with the worn carbon on the volume dial (making the volume annoying and finnicky to adjust) it may be time to acquire a 'new' one...but what features do i want?

Ideally one that makes a sound to wake you up.

stimpy wrote: Wed Jun 28, 2023 3:43 pm

hitbyambulance wrote: Wed Jun 28, 2023 3:32 pm my Panasonic RC-6088 alarm clock radio, which i've had since 1992, now has a broken 'fast forward/reverse' button for setting time, which makes it annoying to use. (the switch still works, just need a new button faceplate assembly.) along with the worn carbon on the volume dial (making the volume annoying and finnicky to adjust) it may be time to acquire a 'new' one...but what features do i want?

Ideally one that makes a sound to wake you up.

i don't like the usual WAAARGH-WAAARGH-WAAARGH alarms, so not that

I don't know - my alarm clock is my phone.

Blackhawk wrote: Wed Jun 28, 2023 3:47 pm I don't know - my alarm clock is my phone.

This

must haves:
- adjustable snooze timings
- FM radio
- multiple alarm times

nice to have:
- internet radio stations
- weather info
- CD player
- AUX in
- USB charging

do not want:
- Amazon/Google assistant

Honestly? With the exception of the CD player, a phone does most of that. I just use my phone for the alarm, but the kids use an old phone with no plan hooked up to a set of PC speakers for theirs, allowing them full radio/internet radio (it sounds far better than alarm clock speakers, and is easier to configure, too.)

And you can have it make any sound under the sun for the alarm.

Not that an actual alarm clock isn't a perfectly valid choice if you prefer it.

I use Alarm Clock Xtreme on my tablet. Its free.

Blackhawk wrote: Wed Jun 28, 2023 4:23 pm Honestly? With the exception of the CD player, a phone does most of that.

i was trying to avoid the phone because i prefer the physical alarm clock form factor. however...

Daehawk wrote: Wed Jun 28, 2023 4:34 pm I use Alarm Clock Xtreme on my tablet. Its free.

i have a first gen Fire tablet that was given to me - i'll try it out (and apparently i already own Alarm Clock Xtreme from an Amazon 'Underground' app giveaway back in 2015)

My alarm clock is a Sony Dream Machine (like this one, but black color). I think I got it as a free gift with my Discover card application back in college. I'm sure the AM/FM radio still works, but I haven't used it in years (the radio part, I mean - just use the alarm clock part).

DOS=HIGH wrote: Wed Jun 28, 2023 3:06 pm Who knew it was that simple?

https://burialatsea.epa.gov/

My cousin, who is in her eighties, expressed to me that she wanted burial at sea, and since she's one of the kinds of people to not bother setting up anything like that it might fall on me to get it taken care of for her if I don't succumb first. Have you made arrangement for this at some point in the future? What all is involved? Can you just drop somebody in the ocean or do you have to cremate them first? You have to report it to the EPA?

I've actually got a couple of old android phones around the house that now serve only as media devices. I keep them on the guest network so that I don't have to worry about older versions of Android, keep them plugged in, and have them hooked to the speakers. They're surprisingly versatile. The one in my room serves for music when I want it, podcasts when I'm painting, and as a customizable white noise machine at night, and given that I'm using free apps for it all, it costs me zero (well, maybe two or three bucks a year from being plugged in.)

Blackhawk wrote: Wed Jun 28, 2023 5:12 pm and as a customizable white noise machine at night, and given that I'm using free apps for it all, it costs me zero (well, maybe two or three bucks a year from being plugged in.)

Hey, that's a good idea. I'm going to try it since I was thinking about buying a cd and a cd player to do the same thing only more expensively. Tried using my TV and youtube, but the screen stays too bright and I don't really want the TV on anyway.

I use a regular white noise machine. I had to look around for one that didn't recycle the noise, like rain and birds and such.

That's the nice thing about the apps - you can get any form of white noise you prefer, including actual white noise, brown noise, nature sounds, themed sounds (starship bridge, etc.) The one I've been using actually lets you customize each sound that makes up the whole (so if you have a crickets, a brook, and a campfire, you can turn each one up and down individually.) Not bad for free.

Blackhawk wrote: Wed Jun 28, 2023 5:12 pm I've actually got a couple of old android phones around the house that now serve only as media devices. I keep them on the guest network so that I don't have to worry about older versions of Android, keep them plugged in, and have them hooked to the speakers. They're surprisingly versatile. The one in my room serves for music when I want it, podcasts when I'm painting, and as a customizable white noise machine at night, and given that I'm using free apps for it all, it costs me zero (well, maybe two or three bucks a year from being plugged in.)

be sure to monitor them for swelling Li-Ion batteries...

i was trying to avoid the phone because i prefer the physical alarm clock form factor. however...

Daehawk wrote: ↑Wed Jun 28, 2023 4:34 pm
I use Alarm Clock Xtreme on my tablet. Its free.

i have a first gen Fire tablet that was given to me - i'll try it out (and apparently i already own Alarm Clock Xtreme from an Amazon 'Underground' app giveaway back in 2015)
Top

I use it on my Amazon Fire tablet.

em2nought wrote: Wed Jun 28, 2023 5:07 pm

DOS=HIGH wrote: Wed Jun 28, 2023 3:06 pm Who knew it was that simple?

https://burialatsea.epa.gov/

My cousin, who is in her eighties, expressed to me that she wanted burial at sea, and since she's one of the kinds of people to not bother setting up anything like that it might fall on me to get it taken care of for her if I don't succumb first. Have you made arrangement for this at some point in the future? What all is involved? Can you just drop somebody in the ocean or do you have to cremate them first? You have to report it to the EPA?

You have to get them cremated first, and put the remains in a Folgers can.

My FIL's ashes are in a bag in a vase on the fireplace mantel. I have twice almost sent the vase to the brick floor while sloppily dusting.

I'm wondering how I would do clean-up if I actually spilled the ashes.

Holman wrote: Wed Jun 28, 2023 9:32 pm My FIL's ashes are in a bag in a vase on the fireplace mantle. I have twice almost sent the vase to the brick floor while sloppily dusting.

I'm wondering how I would do clean-up if I actually spilled the ashes.

Museum wax.

Holman wrote: Wed Jun 28, 2023 9:32 pm My FIL's ashes are in a bag in a vase on the fireplace mantel.

I kept my brother in an armoire for several years until my parents finally took him to their timeshare in Daytona Beach, and then had some kind of a service place him in the Atlantic. RIP

Kasey Chang wrote: Wed Jun 28, 2023 9:34 pm

Holman wrote: Wed Jun 28, 2023 9:32 pm My FIL's ashes are in a bag in a vase on the fireplace mantle. I have twice almost sent the vase to the brick floor while sloppily dusting.

I'm wondering how I would do clean-up if I actually spilled the ashes.

Museum wax.

No, that would be terrible for cleaning up the ashes. It would work pretty well for securing the vase, though.

em2nought wrote: Wed Jun 28, 2023 5:07 pm

DOS=HIGH wrote: Wed Jun 28, 2023 3:06 pm Who knew it was that simple?

https://burialatsea.epa.gov/

My cousin, who is in her eighties, expressed to me that she wanted burial at sea, and since she's one of the kinds of people to not bother setting up anything like that it might fall on me to get it taken care of for her if I don't succumb first. Have you made arrangement for this at some point in the future? What all is involved? Can you just drop somebody in the ocean or do you have to cremate them first? You have to report it to the EPA?

A lot of info here: https://www.epa.gov/ocean-dumping/burial-sea

It says you need to be 3 miles out to dispose of cremains, but let's face it, no one follows that rule. So I would say it's more of a guide for whole body disposal. My brother said he wants to be buried at sea but hasn't researched it. I just came across the links going down an internet rabbit hole and never realized the EPA was involved.

And FWIW, there are laws against throwing ANYTHING off of the Golden Gate Bridge, including ashes.

But what about the Bay Bridge?

I scattered my dad's ashes at the landing of a local lake that he liked to fish, and my mom's off the Grand Haven pier. I didn't ask for anybody's permission.

But what about the Tallahatchie Bridge?

Or any of the bridges of Madison County?

However, if you were to dump ashes on Jeff Bridges, it would be polite to ask permission first.

Max Peck wrote: Thu Jun 29, 2023 12:03 pm However, if you were to dump ashes on Jeff Bridges, it would be polite to ask permission first.

That would be a beau geste.

Kasey Chang wrote: Thu Jun 29, 2023 1:21 am And FWIW, there are laws against throwing ANYTHING off of the Golden Gate Bridge, including ashes.

Exceptions carved out for hopes and dreams.

Feeling a bit pessimistic at the moment.

What about a bridge over troubled waters?

dbt1949 wrote: Thu Jun 29, 2023 12:56 pm What about a bridge over troubled waters?

Perfect place to lay someone down.

hitbyambulance wrote: Wed Jun 28, 2023 4:47 pm

Blackhawk wrote: Wed Jun 28, 2023 4:23 pm Honestly? With the exception of the CD player, a phone does most of that.

i was trying to avoid the phone because i prefer the physical alarm clock form factor. however...

Daehawk wrote: Wed Jun 28, 2023 4:34 pm I use Alarm Clock Xtreme on my tablet. Its free.

i have a first gen Fire tablet that was given to me - i'll try it out (and apparently i already own Alarm Clock Xtreme from an Amazon 'Underground' app giveaway back in 2015)

ran into some roadblocks...

so i have Alarm Clock Xtreme on the Amazon app store already, looks like i need to register the Fire to access it - but i've never registered this with Amazon. guess what? registering first-gen Fire tablets no longer appears to work??? (yes, i've added the 2FA code to the end of the password, as suggested in one forum). going to have to contact Amazon support for this, but i am not sure it's going to go anywhere. possible solution: root and install custom generic Android firmware on this.

i also have this old cheapy chinese tablet, a Proscan PLT7650G purchased by my dad for my mom at Menards for $30 like a decade ago. this thing has always been absurdly laggy and never a good user experience. it crashes every other time accessing the Play store, and actually getting into the store takes about five minutes. not able to actually install anything from there. managed to install the Amazon appstore and log into that, but i get a 'payment error' every time i try to download the app. possible solution: reinstall the stock firmware (there's no custom ROM for this, i checked XDA-dev already: https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/q-pr ... s.2188479/ )

out of the two, i'd rather use the Proscan for this purpose as it's an absolute PoS that's not good for anything.... but it may not even be good enough for this.

hitbyambulance wrote: Thu Jun 29, 2023 2:16 pm so i have Alarm Clock Xtreme on the Amazon app store already, looks like i need to register the Fire to access it - but i've never registered this with Amazon. guess what? registering first-gen Fire tablets no longer appears to work??? (yes, i've added the 2FA code to the end of the password, as suggested in one forum). going to have to contact Amazon support for this, but i am not sure it's going to go anywhere. possible solution: root and install custom generic Android firmware on this.

I think you are overcomplicating this. You can sideload Google Play Store on a Fire tablet without having to root it, it's pretty easy.