Random randomness

[Hrdina]

I think I was 35 the first time a barber offered (insisted, really) to trim my eyebrows. Now I ask for it every time.

That happened to me a couple of weeks ago, for the first time. I'm a couple of decades past 35, though.

The barber/stylist seemed taken aback that I declined, twice.

[Unagi]

I think I was 35 the first time a barber offered (insisted, really) to trim my eyebrows. Now I ask for it every time.

That happened to me a couple of weeks ago, for the first time. I'm a couple of decades past 35, though.

The barber/stylist seemed taken aback that I declined, twice.

I decline too. Nein!
I like those few eyebrow hairs that have such great spirit.
I tell the barber if I came back perfectly trimmed my wife would be quite happy, but that I prefer to have her ‘wanting more’ and just shy of satisfied. I really don’t need her moving on to a new project. Let’s just keep my eyebrows at the frontline of future improvements….

Plus I feel it’s part of my German heritage.

[Holman]

At 54, if I don't trim my eyebrows they go Full Gandalf.

In fact I just looked it up, and Sir Ian does trim his eyebrows when he becomes Gandalf The White.

[Blackhawk]

I occasional trim my brows if they longer hair starts to get in front of my eyes. Maybe I'll just start waxing it instead - I could look like Thufir '84.

[Daehawk]

I occasional trim my brows if they longer hair starts to get in front of my eyes. Maybe I'll just start waxing it instead - I could look like Thufir '84.

Heart plugs are overrated. Fads. Dont do it man. You get a heart plug then your buddies will want one and it will snowball. Soon enough teenage girls will want heart plugs all over their body. Doesn't matter where. Its a fad..some will see it as a fetish. The GOP will use it to hold certain people back. Man this is how the world ends. In the before times. Lookin back.

[dbt1949]

I found that to be a really disgusting part of the movie. Yuck.

[Daehawk]

I found that to be a really disgusting part of the movie. Yuck.

What do you have against eyebrows sir?

[dbt1949]

Gene Shalit?

[Daehawk]

I remember him. He grew a mustache for eyebrows.

[em2nought]

I found that to be a really disgusting part of the movie. Yuck.

Sean Young as Chani made up for it.

[dbt1949]

I didn't know that was Sean Young.

[Daehawk]

I didn't know that was Sean Young.

Ya she was young back then.

[Daehawk]

In the 80s and 90s we had progress and stuff was open 24/7 but not now. Now I gotta wait until stuff opens at 9am when its hotter and I can almost get sick.

[Brian]

I didn't know that was Sean Young.

Ya she was young back then.

She's always Young.


Edit: Also, I always seem to confuse her with Rachel Ward for some reason.

[Daehawk]

I didn't know that was Sean Young.

Ya she was young back then.

She's always Young.


Edit: Also, I always seem to confuse her with Rachel Ward for some reason.

Same...also Debra Winger.

[Daehawk]

Did you know Midway is part of Hawaii? I didn't.

[dbt1949]

My dog threw up last night many times and now just barks a single bark every few minutes for the last ten hours.
I know he's telling me something is wrong but what? He's breathing okay and not favoring anything. Just walks arounds barking.

[AWS260]

Chinese Zoo Denies that Sun Bear Is a Person in a Suit.

...the zoo followed up with a statement on Sunday written in the voice of “Angela the Malayan sun bear.”

The statement insisted that the bear was truly a bear, as opposed to a person pretending to be a bear — or a person pretending to be a bear insisting they were not a person pretending to be a bear.

“Yesterday after work, I received a call from the park manager asking me if I was slacking off and had a biped replace me,” the statement said, “Much to my surprise, I’m just sitting in the mountains and I go viral on the internet. Some people think I look too human when I stand up. It seems you really don’t understand me. Previously, some visitors even thought I was too petite to be a bear! I want to emphasize again: I am a Malayan sun bear! Not a black bear! Not a dog! A Malayan sun bear!”

[Daehawk]

My dog threw up last night many times and now just barks a single bark every few minutes for the last ten hours.
I know he's telling me something is wrong but what? He's breathing okay and not favoring anything. Just walks arounds barking.

Vet might be the best thing.

[Rumpy]

There's now a Walmart in Canada that is phasing out self-checkouts. Apparently they've had too many thefts happen via improperly scanned items.

[GreenGoo]

In Ottawa.

*bow*

[Blackhawk]

There's now a Walmart in Canada that is phasing out self-checkouts. Apparently they've had too many thefts happen via improperly scanned items.

It's supposedly a big issue, and the inevitable result is going to be to make the self checkouts even more unreliable with further 'anti-theft measures' (they're implementing a system that uses cameras to look at the item being scanned to see if it matches what it's supposed to look like.)

I've already had to quit using the self checkout at Meijer, as it was locking the system three or four times per visit because of 'suspicious activity', and the last time I used one at Kroger's, it made me stop and call an attendant over 12 times - for 15 items. The staff kindly told me why it was my fault. I haven't been back since.

[TheMix]

Did you respond with "My fault? Probably. Because I'm doing your job, but I'm not trained."

Always makes me think of John Pinette's routine where he talks about flying. (Found it: https://youtu.be/zKT9qydYxWs?t=394)

[Rumpy]

There's now a Walmart in Canada that is phasing out self-checkouts. Apparently they've had too many thefts happen via improperly scanned items.

It's supposedly a big issue, and the inevitable result is going to be to make the self checkouts even more unreliable with further 'anti-theft measures' (they're implementing a system that uses cameras to look at the item being scanned to see if it matches what it's supposed to look like.)

I've already had to quit using the self checkout at Meijer, as it was locking the system three or four times per visit because of 'suspicious activity', and the last time I used one at Kroger's, it made me stop and call an attendant over 12 times - for 15 items. The staff kindly told me why it was my fault. I haven't been back since.

Yeah, I've already seen those camera systems. Frankly, self-checkouts have been unreliable, half of them seem to always be out of order, and attendants always seem to have their attention elsewhere. I could see how wrongly scanned items would lead to thefts, but it also means the system isn't as intuitive as it they should be. At least with a cashier, if there's an issue that crops up, they'll know how to fix it, and be able to adjust the price accordingly. It wouldn't surprise me if they were more expensive to operate too. Probably cheaper to pay a cashier in the end.

[Daehawk]

Around here it used to be you had to bag the item and leave it there until done. Used some kinda weight scale under the bagging area. Take an item back off too soon and it would throw an error. Seems they got rid of that as I can bag items and put them in my cart as I go along with unbagged items. Shrug.

[em2nought]

Chinese Zoo Denies that Sun Bear Is a Person in a Suit.

...the zoo followed up with a statement on Sunday written in the voice of “Angela the Malayan sun bear.”

The statement insisted that the bear was truly a bear, as opposed to a person pretending to be a bear — or a person pretending to be a bear insisting they were not a person pretending to be a bear.

If the bear doesn't work out "Chyna" can always get the Japanese guy who thinks he's a collie. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asi ... felike-dog

[Blackhawk]

I could see how wrongly scanned items would lead to thefts, but it also means the system isn't as intuitive as it they should be. At least with a cashier, if there's an issue that crops up, they'll know how to fix it, and be able to adjust the price accordingly. It wouldn't surprise me if they were more expensive to operate too. Probably cheaper to pay a cashier in the end.

It's less about accidentally mis-scanning and more about people intentionally doing so. Imagine a stack of ramen packs at 30 cents. People hold several and pass them over the scan bar, then put them in the bag. But evil you has two ramen packs and three similarly sized items that are $15 each. You scan five items - ramen 1, then ramen 2, then ramen 1 again, then ramen 2 again, then ramen 1, and you put the five items, worth $45.60, into the bag and pay $1.50. Or literally pulling an adhesive barcode off of something like a piece of fruit and attaching it to an appliance, which you then scan for the price of a cucumber. Or you scan a few items, but make sure that one item is pointed the wrong way so it doesn't scan, and put them all into the bag, simultaneously stealing the item and creating a viable defense ("I thought it scanned!") that they'd have to disprove in court (they wouldn't even bother trying.)

[Rumpy]

Around here it used to be you had to bag the item and leave it there until done. Used some kinda weight scale under the bagging area. Take an item back off too soon and it would throw an error. Seems they got rid of that as I can bag items and put them in my cart as I go along with unbagged items. Shrug.

Yeah, I remember that and I think it still does it to a certain extent. Maybe they've tweaked the sensitivity. The problem is when it comes to certain items and then having to bag them, and I think that's where the system can get confused. Now stores are not allowed to give you plastic bags, and I think bringing your own bags that might be different sizes must not be helping things.

[Rumpy]

I could see how wrongly scanned items would lead to thefts, but it also means the system isn't as intuitive as it they should be. At least with a cashier, if there's an issue that crops up, they'll know how to fix it, and be able to adjust the price accordingly. It wouldn't surprise me if they were more expensive to operate too. Probably cheaper to pay a cashier in the end.

It's less about accidentally mis-scanning and more about people intentionally doing so. Imagine a stack of ramen packs at 30 cents. People hold several and pass them over the scan bar, then put them in the bag. But evil you has two ramen packs and three similarly sized items that are $15 each. You scan five items - ramen 1, then ramen 2, then ramen 1 again, then ramen 2 again, then ramen 1, and you put the five items, worth $45.60, into the bag and pay $1.50. Or literally pulling an adhesive barcode off of something like a piece of fruit and attaching it to an appliance, which you then scan for the price of a cucumber. Or you scan a few items, but make sure that one item is pointed the wrong way so it doesn't scan, and put them all into the bag, simultaneously stealing the item and creating a viable defense ("I thought it scanned!") that they'd have to disprove in court (they wouldn't even bother trying.)

Right, I know about those, but there are also genuine times when machines just throw up errors and just genuinely lead to thefts because they're not working properly. Either way, with a cashier, at least they have an eye on the prize at all times.

[Blackhawk]

Around here it used to be you had to bag the item and leave it there until done. Used some kinda weight scale under the bagging area. Take an item back off too soon and it would throw an error. Seems they got rid of that as I can bag items and put them in my cart as I go along with unbagged items. Shrug.

Given that some of them only have room for a couple of bags, removing that functionality was pretty much necessary to make them useable to anyone with more than a few items.

[Blackhawk]

Just went out to start the car. Car won't start, and, as luck would have it, it won't let go of my keys.

[em2nought]

Seems like most errors that occur when I'm checking myself out work out in favor of the store. Oopsie, accidentally scanned that item twice trying to get it to scan. Usually a painful process to get it corrected. I wonder if all the honest people getting boned don't more than make up for the criminals?

[em2nought]

Just went out to start the car. Car won't start, and, as luck would have it, it won't let go of my keys.

Steering wheel locked too. Try playing with the wheel and key some at the same time, might get the key to release.

[Blackhawk]

Just went out to start the car. Car won't start, and, as luck would have it, it won't let go of my keys.

Steering wheel locked too. Try playing with the wheel and key some at the same time, might get the key to release.

Except the steering wheel was not locked.

I found a handy-dandy YouTube video that showed that there is a plug you can remove on the bottom of the steering column that opens to a manual key release. Just poke a screwdriver in and it releases the key. That part of the problem is solved.

As to the rest, I'm pretty sure it's the battery. I just changed a turn signal bulb yesterday, and noticed that the coating on all of the wires was crumbling (and I mean all of the wires, on everything.) I'm guessing that something touched something and drained it overnight. I have no idea how to fix it. I can wrap a few of the wires on the part I was handling with some electrical tape, but I can't possibly wrap (or even find) every wire that has the issue.

Next problem: Even if I get lucky and find the right wire, I don't have any way to jump it. It's parked in a place where there's no access to the hood, and pushing it out o the driveway isn't an option (it leads onto a busy street, plus there's nowhere to park it that wouldn't involve pushing it up hill.) And even if I did have a way (maybe some 35' jumper cables, which I don't own), I don't have anyone to provide the jump. And I certainly can't afford a tow truck. I'd also prefer not to schlep the battery two miles to the nearest mechanic and back (and with one good shoulder and zero good backs, that isn't really an option anyway.)

I may just have to break down and order one of those chargers.

[em2nought]

Just went out to start the car. Car won't start, and, as luck would have it, it won't let go of my keys.

Steering wheel locked too. Try playing with the wheel and key some at the same time, might get the key to release.

Except the steering wheel was not locked.

I found a handy-dandy YouTube video that showed that there is a plug you can remove on the bottom of the steering column that opens to a manual key release. Just poke a screwdriver in and it releases the key. That part of the problem is solved.

As to the rest, I'm pretty sure it's the battery. I just changed a turn signal bulb yesterday, and noticed that the coating on all of the wires was crumbling (and I mean all of the wires, on everything.) I'm guessing that something touched something and drained it overnight. I have no idea how to fix it. I can wrap a few of the wires on the part I was handling with some electrical tape, but I can't possibly wrap (or even find) every wire that has the issue.

Next problem: Even if I get lucky and find the right wire, I don't have any way to jump it. It's parked in a place where there's no access to the hood, and pushing it out o the driveway isn't an option (it leads onto a busy street, plus there's nowhere to park it that wouldn't involve pushing it up hill.) And even if I did have a way (maybe some 35' jumper cables, which I don't own), I don't have anyone to provide the jump. And I certainly can't afford a tow truck. I'd also prefer not to schlep the battery two miles to the nearest mechanic and back (and with one good shoulder and zero good backs, that isn't really an option anyway.)

I may just have to break down and order one of those chargers.

I don't have experience with those charger/starters. As someone who drives older vehicles and doesn't have friends or family nearby to lend assistance I've found it useful to have AAA. Not that it's going to do you much good at the moment, but you might consider for the future. Some insurance companies also offer their own form of roadside assistance.

[dbt1949]

My dog finally stopped barking. I was finally able to get a couple of hours sleep. I got him to eat a little bit so maybe this crisis is over.

[dbt1949]

Sitting two feet from my window AC and it's 82. Central AC is going full blast but not keeping up either. I may have to hire somebody to replace my window AC.

[Daehawk]

BP bottomed out on me. 89/52....kept telling myself "Stay awake!" "Eat that salt!" "Move!" lol......after a few min of eating some onion salt and watching a groundhog in my backyard I got it up to 106/67.

Getting older is fun isn't it fellas! weee

[Blackhawk]

The more I think about the car, the more I'm worried about the short. Spending $150+ on a gadget to get the battery charged/get the car jumped is going to wasted money if I can't figure out what's shorted out, as it will just die again the next day.

I've been looking into how to find the short, but it's been a waste of time - "Map the car's circuits", "Identify the components in the circuit feed", "Use a multimeter/voltmeter to check the 5V", (all great if you're a trained mechanic or electrical engineer.) "Check for frayed wires" (and if they're all frayed?) The best I've been able to find is a how-to on how to figure out which section of the car it's in (using a single light-up tool, which I'd have to order), but that's it - how do you inspect for the fatal flaw when every wire shows said flaw? And that's assuming that I have a way to get under and around all of the parts of the car - which I don't.

I swear, I'm more than a little tempted to solve this with a can of gasoline and a match. This car has been a nightmare since I bought it (for ~$4500 8 years go.) I can barely get a mechanic to change the oil, as they freak out over liability issues because of the lack of a working odometer.

Note: This is me venting, not looking for a solution. The solution is that the car is the walking dead. It's scrap that runs (well, ran.) I know that. The reall solution is a tow-truck and a mechanic, which I can't afford.

[Kraken]

Electrical gremlins are the hardest to find and fix, even for trained mechanics.