Octopus Overlords

Achievement unlocked: Unclogged the garbage disposal without a call to maintenance or losing a digit.

Still has been and is going to remain a craptastic week.

Boudreaux wrote:

Default wrote:Boudreaux, I have no answer to your boredom with the Camporee. It's Council, what do you expect?

I don't know what that means.

My oldest is a 2nd-year-Webelo, so this was his first invitation to a full-up Boy Scout event, and I tagged along for the night as he's still a little wary of overnight campouts away from home. As insinuated by my above comment, I wasn't terribly impressed.

fixed mis-spelling.

Camporees are not typical of camping with the troop. They are a Council-wide event with a bunch of different troops, usually to a theme. That's what you were at, correct? Usually troop camping, at least as we did it, involves going to out of Council camps, National or State parks, or Civil War battlefields. Antietam was pretty impressive, as was Gettysburg. Troop camping is were it's at. Camporees are the training wheels version.

Default wrote:Camporees are not typical of camping with the troop. They are a Council-wide event with a bunch of different troops, usually to a theme. That's what you were at, correct? Usually troop camping, at least as we did it, involves going to out of Council camps, National or State parks, or Civil War battlefields. Antietam was pretty impressive, as was Gettysburg. Troop camping is were it's at. Camporees are the training wheels version.

I see what you mean. Yes, we were at a Camporee with all the troops from the St. Louis area - I'm guessing somewhere around 30-40 different troops were there. This particular one may have been distorted even further by the fact that it was their annual Webelo invitational event, and I think the Webelos outnumbered the Boy Scouts.

That said, the entire event was a complete mess. No organization, the activities were poorly run, much of the day was spent waiting in lines, there was zero involvement of parent volunteers (like me), and our hosting troop seemed to have completely forgotten the whole "Be Prepared" thing. My favorite moment was leaving.

Remus West wrote:Still has been and is going to remain a craptastic week.

I read the initial post before you edited it. Sorry things are sucking right now. Let us know if you need an ear, or a shoulder. {Big hug}

MHS wrote:

Remus West wrote:Still has been and is going to remain a craptastic week.

I read the initial post before you edited it. Sorry things are sucking right now. Let us know if you need an ear, or a shoulder. {Big hug}

It'll turn around. Thank you though.

I went out and took a look at the choppers today. They brought a Blackhawk and a Chinook, both outfitted for zany electronic shenanigans. The amount of 1553 cabling in both of them was frightening.

and more

The Terrible Shotgun from Fallout 3 brought to life.

Oh, to be a person with creative talent, skill to back it up, and far too much time on my hands...

Trying to justify getting this but I so rarely drink anything that requires a bottle opener.

Are OO servers in a country that does not recognize day light savings?

You have to manually set DST in your profile. It's a "feature".

Ok, thanks!

Parent teacher night......only 1.5 hours to go. Near 3 hours in and I am averaging a little over 1 parent an hour currently. Sigh. Another semester of wasted phone calls trying to drum up attendees.

Boudreaux wrote:

Default wrote:Camporees are not typical of camping with the troop. They are a Council-wide event with a bunch of different troops, usually to a theme. That's what you were at, correct? Usually troop camping, at least as we did it, involves going to out of Council camps, National or State parks, or Civil War battlefields. Antietam was pretty impressive, as was Gettysburg. Troop camping is were it's at. Camporees are the training wheels version.

I see what you mean. Yes, we were at a Camporee with all the troops from the St. Louis area - I'm guessing somewhere around 30-40 different troops were there. This particular one may have been distorted even further by the fact that it was their annual Webelo invitational event, and I think the Webelos outnumbered the Boy Scouts.

That said, the entire event was a complete mess. No organization, the activities were poorly run, much of the day was spent waiting in lines, there was zero involvement of parent volunteers (like me), and our hosting troop seemed to have completely forgotten the whole "Be Prepared" thing. My favorite moment was leaving.

All my years in scouts (cub and boy..maybe 8 years) we never went to a Camporee. Maybe they don't do them much out here or maybe my troop leader avoided them. Troop campouts and summer camp were always fun.

Weeblos probably are a little young to really enjoy that type stuff.

Scouting depends so much on the leaders and parents who are involved. They make or break the kids experience.

Remus West wrote:Parent teacher night......only 1.5 hours to go. Near 3 hours in and I am averaging a little over 1 parent an hour currently. Sigh. Another semester of wasted phone calls trying to drum up attendees.

Isn't that fascinating. You can't find parking at my kids' school during parent/teacher season.

Well on the plus side, you don't have parents "meddling" with how you go about your routine each day.

GreenGoo wrote:

Remus West wrote:Parent teacher night......only 1.5 hours to go. Near 3 hours in and I am averaging a little over 1 parent an hour currently. Sigh. Another semester of wasted phone calls trying to drum up attendees.

Isn't that fascinating. You can't find parking at my kids' school during parent/teacher season.

Well on the plus side, you don't have parents "meddling" with how you go about your routine each day.

That all depends on how you look at "meddling". One of the parents today whose child failed my class (with below a 20% due to turning in less than one assignment a week) was complaining today that we, the teachers at my school, do not offer the kids enough chances to seek help. When I pointed out to her that her son could see me before or after school, during lunch, or during my planning period but had never chosen to come for help during any of those times in spite of being asked to do so told me I should have contacted her. When I showed her the phone log denoting the seven attempts I had made to contact her without a single reply to the voicemanils I had left she told me that maybe this school just wasn't the right fit for him and she was thinking about moving him somewhere else. I avoided telling her I doubted very much that she ever did any thinking. I'm proud of that. I am still happy that she came in though because even if her involvement is completely misguided right now it may be able to be a positive if she keeps with it and it is several steps above the absentee parents.

Chloe Dykstra.

Brian wrote:The Terrible Shotgun from Fallout 3 brought to life.

O.K. not to start a "pointy elbows" comment, and I am fascinated by people's creativity, but how does that thing chamber a round? Look at the placement of the magazine and where the chamber is (where the shell goes before firing).

I know, I know, shut up.

Oh you think that's the magazine... no, no that's just there it make sure there's no balance to the gun.

A nonny mouse wrote:O.K. not to start a "pointy elbows" comment, and I am fascinated by people's creativity, but how does that thing chamber a round? Look at the placement of the magazine and where the chamber is (where the shell goes before firing).

Well, it IS called a terrible shotgun.

Kinda like how a rock could be called a terrible hang glider.

A nonny mouse wrote:

Brian wrote:The Terrible Shotgun from Fallout 3 brought to life.

O.K. not to start a "pointy elbows" comment, and I am fascinated by people's creativity, but how does that thing chamber a round? Look at the placement of the magazine and where the chamber is (where the shell goes before firing).

I am by no means an expert, but I know there are common shotgun types where you load extra shells in the bottom part and when you fire it basically pushes them down (toward the shooter) and pushes them up. So I would assume this is just a modified version of that, in that there is a line of shells extending from the drum, down the bottom part with the vertical lines and then up into the barrel.

Saiga 12 GA. You can also buy 10 and 20 round drum magazines for it.

Zombie pistol bayonet.

Why, the drum feeds into a tube magazine under the wooden foregrip. It is placed forward so that the weight will counter the recoil.

Apparently when they replace the head gaskets in your car, you get a complimentary oil change and detailing. Trying hard to find a silver lining in this...

That's better than I got. The "complimentary" part of the oil change is that they had to take it all out to do the work. The detailing is a nice touch. Me, they just left my cruise control disconnected.

Overheard while wheeling around the hospital:
Little Girl: "I want a doggy."
Father: "We're not getting a dog because I'll be the one who has to walk it."
Little Girl: "I'll walk it. You can watch me walk it."
Father: "We are not getting a dog."
Little Girl: "We'll get a doggy when you're dead."

Can you imagine what the teen years are going to be like for that family? 《Shudder》

Adobe Flash Player,

Please get your shit together. I am tired of updating you every few days. And quit sending me update notices!
And no, I don't want your freaking McAffie (or whatever-in-the hell-it's called) security download! And I never will!

dbt1949 wrote:Adobe Flash Player,

Please get your shit together. I am tired of updating you every few days. And quit sending me update notices!
And no, I don't want your freaking McAffie (or whatever-in-the hell-it's called) security download! And I never will!

Well...you may get part of your wish...the McAfee anti-virus may not be being pushed as much in the near future: http://gizmodo.com/5959812/john-mcafee- ... for-murder" target="_blank

Kraken wrote:Ordinarily I get out of going to weddings and similar social affairs because I don't have any nice clothes, and that was the excuse that I proffered to avoid this Sunday's nuptials between two people I've never met. But it turned out that the couple is encouraging 1960s costumes.

Crap. I just hope it doesn't turn out to be 1960s-era dress clothes, because I'm wearing my dashiki.

Turns out that there was a costume contest, and I won. The prize is a pair of aviator sunglasses that I can't wear because I need prescription glasses. Guess I'll be giving those away for xmas.

Remus West wrote:

GreenGoo wrote:

Remus West wrote:Parent teacher night......only 1.5 hours to go. Near 3 hours in and I am averaging a little over 1 parent an hour currently. Sigh. Another semester of wasted phone calls trying to drum up attendees.

Isn't that fascinating. You can't find parking at my kids' school during parent/teacher season.

Well on the plus side, you don't have parents "meddling" with how you go about your routine each day.

That all depends on how you look at "meddling". One of the parents today whose child failed my class (with below a 20% due to turning in less than one assignment a week) was complaining today that we, the teachers at my school, do not offer the kids enough chances to seek help. When I pointed out to her that her son could see me before or after school, during lunch, or during my planning period but had never chosen to come for help during any of those times in spite of being asked to do so told me I should have contacted her. When I showed her the phone log denoting the seven attempts I had made to contact her without a single reply to the voicemanils I had left she told me that maybe this school just wasn't the right fit for him and she was thinking about moving him somewhere else. I avoided telling her I doubted very much that she ever did any thinking. I'm proud of that. I am still happy that she came in though because even if her involvement is completely misguided right now it may be able to be a positive if she keeps with it and it is several steps above the absentee parents.

In a just world you could banish them to Louisiana.

MHS wrote:

dbt1949 wrote:Adobe Flash Player,

Please get your shit together. I am tired of updating you every few days. And quit sending me update notices!
And no, I don't want your freaking McAffie (or whatever-in-the hell-it's called) security download! And I never will!

Well...you may get part of your wish...the McAfee anti-virus may not be being pushed as much in the near future: http://gizmodo.com/5959812/john-mcafee- ... for-murder" target="_blank

JUSTICE!

LordMortis wrote:

Awesome.

dbt1949 wrote:Adobe Flash Player,

Please get your shit together. I am tired of updating you every few days. And quit sending me update notices!
And no, I don't want your freaking McAffie (or whatever-in-the hell-it's called) security download! And I never will!

+1

Also could you remember next time that I will choose when to install updates instead of trying to quick click me into selecting update automatically?

MHS wrote:

dbt1949 wrote:Adobe Flash Player,

Please get your shit together. I am tired of updating you every few days. And quit sending me update notices!
And no, I don't want your freaking McAffie (or whatever-in-the hell-it's called) security download! And I never will!

Well...you may get part of your wish...the McAfee anti-virus may not be being pushed as much in the near future: http://gizmodo.com/5959812/john-mcafee- ... for-murder" target="_blank

Which would be stupid since he hasn't had anything to do with McAfee for years. Just another reason not to use someones name when naming corporations.

Bath Salts FTW!