Octopus Overlords

Blackhawk wrote: Tue Oct 17, 2023 11:25 am I have owned two breechclouts (or breech cloths, if you prefer...

Of course you did.

hepcat wrote: Tue Oct 17, 2023 11:29 am

Blackhawk wrote: Tue Oct 17, 2023 11:25 am I have owned two breechclouts (or breech cloths, if you prefer...

Of course you did.

Right on time!

I did a lot of historical recreation when I was young. You don't dress in 1830s wilderness garb on the weekends without owning at least one breechclout.

I assume you were happy with your existing first aid kits.

The easiest response would be to simply replace the expired stuff.

10/17/23 - the date of the apocalypse for my fish.

I inherited a ~55 gallon outdoor pond from the previous home owner. Over the last year I'd been really focusing on maintaining it and trying to make is something a bit more interesting. I'd only been running a water pump to keep the water circulating, so last spring I was thinking of adding some fish. It took me a few tries to finally get the water quality good enough where I thought fish could survive, but in late June, I did it and "rescued" a dozen rosy red minnows from a local pet store's feeder tank. My thought was even if they only lived for a week, it was better than being in that horrific tank in the store.

Well, they thrived and a few managed to grow to around 2" or so, which I took as a sign that things were good in the pond.

I'd just prepared the pond for winter over the weekend - swapped out to a different pump that works in the shallow end (to keep the warmer water in the deeper well) and relocated their terrain to the deeper end (so they had areas to hide in). Everything looked great until I went out this morning and they're all gone - like they've been raptured to fish heaven.

Instead, I now suspect the various frogs that have enjoyed the pond all year finally cashed in on their long con of monitoring the fish. I'm kinda surprised they managed to get every single one of them, but after complete search, I can verify all fish are legitimately gone.

I don't regret it as I know the fish had a better life over the last ~5 months than they would have in the fish store, but I was kinda hoping to see them again in the Spring. I suppose I'll start it all up again in April or May and this time add even more cover/obstacles in the deep end for them to hide. I can't get bigger fish as the pond size (~55 gallons) isn't supportive, but maybe I can endeavor to make it less of a proverbial barrel-like shooting range.

And love Creation’s final law–
Tho’ Nature, red in tooth and claw

RIP fellas.

You want me to come over and start a fire for you? Might cheer you up.

Fire always makes me feel better, so that would be great.

Smoove_B wrote: Tue Oct 17, 2023 11:55 am
RIP fellas.

Sounds like you can take the feeder fish out of the feeder fish tank, but you can't take the - well, that makes no sense, but maybe you see where I was going with that.

Smoove_B wrote: Tue Oct 17, 2023 11:55 am 10/17/23 - the date of the apocalypse for my fish.

Instead, I now suspect the various frogs that have enjoyed the pond all year finally cashed in on their long con of monitoring the fish. I'm kinda surprised they managed to get every single one of them, but after complete search, I can verify all fish are legitimately gone.

Stop managing a fish pond and lean into managing a frog pond. Frogs are awesome and way better than stupid dumb fish.

Years ago the across-the-back neighbor had a water feature. The homeowner went away (to prison) for a few years and the water feature was claimed by frogs. Every evening I'd fall asleep to a chorus of croaking frogs. Eventually the home was sold and the new owner replaced the water feature was a stupid vegetable garden or something equally bad for frogs and the soothing croaking sounds stopped.

Frogs are cool.

Frogs make lots of noises at night.

Smoove_B wrote: Tue Oct 17, 2023 11:55 am 10/17/23 - the date of the apocalypse for my fish.
Everything looked great until I went out this morning and they're all gone - like they've been raptured to fish heaven.

RIP fellas.
[/quote]

I've got that beat. I moved a 3000 gallon koi pond from my friend's foreclosure to my backyard by hand. On the step of getting the ten or so huge koi into their new temporary upper pond location to await the bottom part of the pond liner getting moved we just had a pump circulating water with the feed tube shoved into the gravel. You actually need splashing going on to aerate the water. I kinda knew that but that guy was a fish guy so I thought he must know what he's doing so I didn't say anything. If we had even put a little air stone and pump in there we would have probably been ok. I think the koi were only in there eight hours because I was a bit concerned and checked early in the morning after finishing late at night. I still see dead fish in my dreams. All the huge koi died and only a small foot long koi and most of the eight inch goldfish were left, oh and all plecos. It was a disaster. I buried about eighty pounds of beautiful fish in the yard that day. I think the one koi who was left was traumatized ever after which might have kept him safe from the Blue Heron who used to try his hand at fishing sometimes. So many hours of work. The thirty tilapia fingerlings I put in later were happy at least.

Prices... Either I ate at home so often or I'm so frugal, I've lost touch of the cost of fast food.

Recently was in a hurry to get lunch, so went through the drive-thru with a friend... a BK Double Texas Whopper Meal w/ Medium Drinks and Fries came out to be like $18?!

Just went into a boba shop, as I hadn't had boba in MONTHS. started with a "QQ Mochi Milk Tea", added a couple options, and ended up with an $11 drink. Hmmm...

Circumstances brought me into a McDonald's last weekend. I got a filet-o-fish meal and Wife got a small order of fries. I think it was $15. That seems like a lot for a small amount of not-very-good food.

Wife and I just went through the drive-thru at McD's.

One cheeseburger, two orders of fries, two drinks. $15

Yeah, I used to get two plain cheeseburgers, medium fries and a frozen coke for like 7 bucks at BK about 3 years ago. Last time I did it, it was more like 12. Insane.

The only way to eat at McDonalds is with the app. Buy a bacon McDouble get one for $0.29 in the app for a total of $3.89. If they don't like what's discounted in the app, tough. LOL

Seems like none of you are asking for the senior discounts that most of you qualify for now.

The young lady with terrified eyes at the cash register needed all of her brain cells to figure out what to do with a $20 bill. Asking for a senior discount would have probably required bringing in the regional manager.

Speaking of things that used to be cheap...Boston Globe 7-day home delivery (that's a newspaper, ask your grandparents) had reached $140 per month when I found out that their senior discount would bring it down to a paltry $85. That was worth the effort of proving my age by mailing (ask your grandparents) them a photocopy (ask your grandparents) of my driver's license.

Back in the day, newspaper subscriptions were so cheap that we only collected once a month...and by "we" I mean the teenagers who delivered the papers on our bikes. We went door to door, ringing bells and shouting "Collecting!" while the inhabitants either hid or scrambled to find change. And we wore elaborate metal coin dispensers on our belts, next to the onions. We got paid by withholding a percentage of what we collected.

Kraken wrote: Wed Oct 18, 2023 11:32 pm Back in the day, newspaper subscriptions were so cheap that we only collected once a month...and by "we" I mean the teenagers who delivered the papers on our bikes. We went door to door, ringing bells and shouting "Collecting!" while the inhabitants either hid or scrambled to find change. And we wore elaborate metal coin dispensers on our belts, next to the onions. We got paid by withholding a percentage of what we collected.

Oh man, does that bring back memories!!

em2nought wrote: Wed Oct 18, 2023 9:47 pm The only way to eat at McDonalds is with the app. Buy a bacon McDouble get one for $0.29 in the app for a total of $3.89. If they don't like what's discounted in the app, tough. LOL

Not just McDonald's. I don't eat fast food much (working from home...no need to ever leave the house) but I like an occasional Taco Bell or BK outing. And I either order on the app to get advantage of a digital-only deal or at least look through the deals menu on the app so I know exactly what I'm ordering before I get to the place.

Kraken wrote: Wed Oct 18, 2023 11:32 pm ask your grandparents

We are the grandparents.

Fardaza wrote: Wed Oct 18, 2023 11:39 pm

Kraken wrote: Wed Oct 18, 2023 11:32 pm Back in the day, newspaper subscriptions were so cheap that we only collected once a month...and by "we" I mean the teenagers who delivered the papers on our bikes. We went door to door, ringing bells and shouting "Collecting!" while the inhabitants either hid or scrambled to find change. And we wore elaborate metal coin dispensers on our belts, next to the onions. We got paid by withholding a percentage of what we collected.

Oh man, does that bring back memories!!

Having a paper route was an intro to running a business. Remember the deadbeats on your route who were never home on collecting day? The longer they dodged you, the higher the damage went and the more you needed to collect it. You didn't get your cut if the boss man didn't get paid.

That business model would probably break all kinds of child labor laws today, if you could even find teenagers who want to get up early in the morning and exercise in all weather.

Kraken wrote: Thu Oct 19, 2023 1:41 am
That business model would probably break all kinds of child labor laws today, if you could even find teenagers who want to get up early in the morning and exercise in all weather.

Not if you're this kid. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmUW0thvYdw

em2nought wrote: Wed Oct 18, 2023 9:47 pm The only way to eat at McDonalds is with the app. Buy a bacon McDouble get one for $0.29 in the app for a total of $3.89. If they don't like what's discounted in the app, tough. LOL

Seems like none of you are asking for the senior discounts that most of you qualify for now.

That's what I've been told. I haven't had fast food in over a year at this point, except for my super rare holy grail of Lee's Fried Chicken. A decade ago cheap chicken Wednesday was a three piece, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes and gravy, and biscuit for $3.49 and you never thought about tipping for fast food. Now, cheap chicken Wednesday is $8 and a $1 tip standard per meal is standard. That's my treat a few times a year.

I do remember in late 21, a breakfast sandwich meal was $8 over, when I was long distance commuting for work and that was before price went insane. I helped my dad set up the app because it pretty much defaults one form of burger or another as BOGO. He got so frustrated with trying to use the app that he just quit going to McDonald's.

hepcat wrote: Wed Oct 18, 2023 8:55 pm Yeah, I used to get two plain cheeseburgers, medium fries and a frozen coke for like 7 bucks at BK about 3 years ago. Last time I did it, it was more like 12. Insane.

They had five for $3.49 meal as late as 2019, cheeseburger, 4 piece nugget, cookie, medium coke, and small fries. around here and some pretty good BOGO and $1 menu coupons,. That was long gone from the before times. I think the best coupons are now something like a two whopper junior, small coke, small fries meal for $7. No idea how much that would be without a coupon. (or with an app)

Kraken wrote: Wed Oct 18, 2023 11:32 pm The young lady with terrified eyes at the cash register needed all of her brain cells to figure out what to do with a $20 bill. Asking for a senior discount would have probably required bringing in the regional manager.

Dad raves about Wendy's senior meal plus his Frost card. For few bucks he gets a coke, fries, burger and chili and adds a free frosty. They get that with gift card they buy from Kroger. That $50 gift card gets them $.40 off a gallon of gas bought in 35 gallon quantities.

That is how I learned to be so cheap.

A year or so ago my friend was living on BKKs bacon jr cheeseburger for a buck a pop. At that same time the same thing here in my state was $2.50 or $3. He lived in Maine.

Daehawk wrote: Thu Oct 19, 2023 6:58 am A year or so ago my friend was living on BKKs bacon jr cheeseburger for a buck a pop. At that same time the same thing here in my state was $2.50 or $3. He lived in Maine.

BKK is Bangkok, not Burger King.

I was thinking Burger King was making zippers.

Kraken wrote: Wed Oct 18, 2023 11:32 pm Back in the day, newspaper subscriptions were so cheap that we only collected once a month...and by "we" I mean the teenagers who delivered the papers on our bikes. We went door to door, ringing bells and shouting "Collecting!" while the inhabitants either hid or scrambled to find change. And we wore elaborate metal coin dispensers on our belts, next to the onions. We got paid by withholding a percentage of what we collected.

When I were a lad, we learned Paperboyin' the hard way:

Kraken wrote: Wed Oct 18, 2023 11:32 pm Back in the day, newspaper subscriptions were so cheap that we only collected once a month...and by "we" I mean the teenagers who delivered the papers on our bikes. We went door to door, ringing bells and shouting "Collecting!" while the inhabitants either hid or scrambled to find change. And we wore elaborate metal coin dispensers on our belts, next to the onions. We got paid by withholding a percentage of what we collected.

I never had a paper route, but I worked fast food summers during college. Because I was a relatively high performer among the staff, I was trusted to be the "outside drive thru" guy. the lines would get pretty long during lunch, so I would be out there with my headset, a wad of cash, and a change dispenser strapped to my waist. I'd relay the orders inside, they'd relay the price back to me, and then I'd collect and make change. The idea of paying for lunch with a credit card seemed ludicrous at the time, so I never had the luxury of swiping a card (not that there were remote swipers at the time). Anyway, I always enjoyed the chunking sound of the change dispenser.

Heck when I was a young teen in the early 80s places like Kmart were still using the clunky carbon paper sliders for credit cards.

…always ask for the carbon.

Back then, I vaguely recall watching a cashier at Hill’s department store flip through a phone book sized catalog of credit card numbers to make sure the card she was given wasn’t stolen.

telcta wrote: Thu Oct 19, 2023 11:25 am …always ask for the carbon.

Back then, I vaguely recall watching a cashier at Hill’s department store flip through a phone book sized catalog of credit card numbers to make sure the card she was given wasn’t stolen.

Yep, and what an advance it was when we switched to calling an 800 number to get authorization for transactions over $50. I also remember the awkwardness of having to tell a customer that you won't give them back their stolen card.

Kraken wrote: Thu Oct 19, 2023 11:42 am I also remember the awkwardness of having to tell a customer that you won't give them back their stolen card.

Assuming you were speaking to the thief, right?

Unagi wrote: Thu Oct 19, 2023 11:47 am

Kraken wrote: Thu Oct 19, 2023 11:42 am I also remember the awkwardness of having to tell a customer that you won't give them back their stolen card.

Assuming you were speaking to the thief, right?

I didn't judge. Well, I did, but because they used a credit card in the first place. CC sales were unusual back in the day, and took extra time to process. Just use real money like everyone else.

Kraken wrote: Thu Oct 19, 2023 4:07 pm I didn't judge. Well, I did, but because they used a credit card in the first place. CC sales were unusual back in the day, and took extra time to process. Just use real money like everyone else.

that was still the case in the late 80s when I held several different retail gigs that took plastic (and several that didn't). And they all still used carbons. Checks were even easier than CCs.

LordMortis wrote: Thu Oct 19, 2023 4:26 pm

Kraken wrote: Thu Oct 19, 2023 4:07 pm I didn't judge. Well, I did, but because they used a credit card in the first place. CC sales were unusual back in the day, and took extra time to process. Just use real money like everyone else.

that was still the case in the late 80s when I held several different retail gigs that took plastic (and several that didn't). And they all still used carbons. Checks were even easier than CCs.

Thailand still wanted carbon copies as late as 2014. My credit card that was supposed to be a "travel" card didn't go over very well because it didn't have raised numbers and letters. Took several banks and a fully bi-lingual Thai interpreter before we could access funds. P.S. Don't walk away and leave your debit card in an ATM so you won't have to resort to your credit card when overseas.

I hadn't considered how cards dont use raised letters much any longer. My bank card actually puts no name or numbers on the front. They are all on the back. I have cards with the wifi scan and go stuff built in but Ive yet to see a single place use it. My gas station shows the same little wireless symbol on the pumps but it does nothing no matter how much I wave or tap it there or around there.

Ack! I just found out via a google alert that one of my name doppelgangers has been arrested for murder!!!

How does that make you feel? Mad enough to kill someone?

hepcat wrote: Fri Oct 20, 2023 3:30 pm How does that make you feel? Mad enough to kill someone?

More likely to stay out of Colorado until the heat cools down!

With Halloween. I wonder if you could have glow in the dark contacts?

Or cooler a little tiny itsy light on the contact surface but blocked from the wearer's retina so it wouldn't blind them. It would need some type of thin ass wire to come off the side of the contact and run down the persons cheek and face to say a battery in a necklace. The little led would have a blank shade piece right behind it so as not to harm the person wearing its eye with a little bright light.

Imagine a person in a cool zombie or skeleton costume with green lighted eyes. It would need to be so small as to not block the view of the contact wearer. Might block a tiny spot straight on though.

Along those lines, one of the scariest haunt scenes I ever saw in a walkthrough haunt was this pitch black dark room. Inside the scare actors were dressed in all black, but occasionally would turn on light up "eyes" so you knew they were there. Then turn them off again...