The Random Crap Thread 2: It Hits the Fan.

Frank

Frank

Telling a FISCAL CONSERVATIVE LIBERTARIAN MAGA chud on Twitter who's been writing me paragraphs of nonsense about concentration camps to go wipe up his pseudo intellectual jizz with his Gadsden flag underoos and getting blocked has been the highlight of my day.

So, how shitty was the rest of your guys' days?
 
figmentPez

figmentPez

Staff member
Today I've been thinking about one of the worst lessons my parents taught me growing up was them pushing me to always buy the cheapest version of everything.

I wanted a skateboard, and they talked me into getting the absolute cheapest board the store had to offer. It ended up having bad bearings in one wheel, which meant it didn't roll well, and made it pretty much impossible to learn how to actually use a skateboard. (It rolls, it's not broken.)

I wanted roller blades, and they tried to talk me into roller skates because they were cheaper, and even then they talked me into buying the cheapest mode of roller blades possible. Which, I only realized later were much heavier than more expensive models, which made skating into an exhausting exercise, which meant I didn't go roller blading very often.

I've got similar stories for the cheapest bicycle (bad breaks, very heavy frame), the cheaper RC car (used AA batteries instead of a rechargeable NiCd battery pack), an even cheaper RC car (that could only turn right by design), the cheapest digital watch (died pretty fast), the cheapest Nerf gun (Blast-a-Ball didn't shoot even half as far as the Nerf Bow), etc. etc. I know they've even made trouble for themselves buying the cheapest dishwasher, clothes washing machine, and other appliances.

I don't have a point to all this. Just lamenting how long it took me to realize this was a pattern. Even now I'm shocked by how many examples there are.

Breaking out of that mindset took some work too. The first computer I bought with my own money was a Dell I configured myself... With a top of the line Pentium 2 450Mhz processor. If I remember it was like an extra $300+ to get that compared to a 350Mhz version. To afford that upgrade I cheaped out on RAM and HDD, getting the minimum on both of those. 64MB of RAM and an 8GB HDD. Oh, and I didn't save any money to buy games with, either. It was not a good computer build. (Though I did make good choices on my monitor, mouse, and speakers.)
 
Tinwhistler

Tinwhistler

figmentPez said:
Today I've been thinking about one of the worst lessons my parents taught me growing up was them pushing me to always buy the cheapest version of everything.

I wanted a skateboard, and they talked me into getting the absolute cheapest board the store had to offer. It ended up having bad bearings in one wheel, which meant it didn't roll well, and made it pretty much impossible to learn how to actually use a skateboard. (It rolls, it's not broken.)

I wanted roller blades, and they tried to talk me into roller skates because they were cheaper, and even then they talked me into buying the cheapest mode of roller blades possible. Which, I only realized later were much heavier than more expensive models, which made skating into an exhausting exercise, which meant I didn't go roller blading very often.

I've got similar stories for the cheapest bicycle (bad breaks, very heavy frame), the cheaper RC car (used AA batteries instead of a rechargeable NiCd battery pack), an even cheaper RC car (that could only turn right by design), the cheapest digital watch (died pretty fast), the cheapest Nerf gun (Blast-a-Ball didn't shoot even half as far as the Nerf Bow), etc. etc. I know they've even made trouble for themselves buying the cheapest dishwasher, clothes washing machine, and other appliances.
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I didn't come from money, and this sounds so much like my house growing up. For years and years, I rode a Huffy bike, which weighed in at close to 40 lbs. When I finally got a job and could afford my own stuff, I bought a Race, Inc. bmx bike (which sadly went out of business in '84) that came in at 8 pounds. OMG, such a difference. First computer my parents would spring for was a Timex Sinclair because it was only $99.
 
PatrThom

PatrThom

Tinwhistler said:
First computer my parents would spring for was a Timex Sinclair because it was only $99.
Click to expand...
Same!

And the video modulator was off, so when it heated up, the characters displayed on the screen would change into other characters in rippling waves. But I got used to it (knowing which columns would screw up and which letters became what). Also they didn't remember to give me the 16k expansion pack until some months later (thought it was a battery pack), and it would only work if I let it hang over the back of a table, because sitting on the table with the computer would push it upwards and disconnect it from the board, causing the whole thing to freeze.

--Patrick
 
bhamv3

bhamv3

figmentPez said:
Today I've been thinking about one of the worst lessons my parents taught me growing up was them pushing me to always buy the cheapest version of everything.

I wanted a skateboard, and they talked me into getting the absolute cheapest board the store had to offer. It ended up having bad bearings in one wheel, which meant it didn't roll well, and made it pretty much impossible to learn how to actually use a skateboard. (It rolls, it's not broken.)

I wanted roller blades, and they tried to talk me into roller skates because they were cheaper, and even then they talked me into buying the cheapest mode of roller blades possible. Which, I only realized later were much heavier than more expensive models, which made skating into an exhausting exercise, which meant I didn't go roller blading very often.

I've got similar stories for the cheapest bicycle (bad breaks, very heavy frame), the cheaper RC car (used AA batteries instead of a rechargeable NiCd battery pack), an even cheaper RC car (that could only turn right by design), the cheapest digital watch (died pretty fast), the cheapest Nerf gun (Blast-a-Ball didn't shoot even half as far as the Nerf Bow), etc. etc. I know they've even made trouble for themselves buying the cheapest dishwasher, clothes washing machine, and other appliances.

I don't have a point to all this. Just lamenting how long it took me to realize this was a pattern. Even now I'm shocked by how many examples there are.

Breaking out of that mindset took some work too. The first computer I bought with my own money was a Dell I configured myself... With a top of the line Pentium 2 450Mhz processor. If I remember it was like an extra $300+ to get that compared to a 350Mhz version. To afford that upgrade I cheaped out on RAM and HDD, getting the minimum on both of those. 64MB of RAM and an 8GB HDD. Oh, and I didn't save any money to buy games with, either. It was not a good computer build. (Though I did make good choices on my monitor, mouse, and speakers.)
Click to expand...
I recall reading somewhere that someone (might've been Adam Savage) once suggested you should buy a cheap version of something when you buy it the first time, and then if/when it breaks, that means you use it enough to justify splurging for a good quality replacement. If it never breaks on you, then that means you don't use it enough to need to replace it with a better one.

For example, I will pay extra for good quality shoes. There's a Taiwanese brand of shoes called La New, and I buy pretty much exclusively from them. I'm also willing to pay for good quality PC components, cause I'm on my computer all the time.

Anyway, your post reminded me of this idea. I suppose I don't really have a point to all this either.
 
PatrThom

PatrThom

I'm for buying a cheap thing when you're new at something. Buy a cheap used car when you're learning to drive. Buy a cheap chef's knife and pot/pan set and one of those bucket-o-tools tool kits when you move out on your own. But these are all under the assumption that we're talking about something you have to learn to use properly, and that you might ruin/damage while you are learning how to use it. Washer/Dryer? Microwave? Television? Computer? I will always research before buying, because the learning process is unlikely to damage the device.

--Patrick
 
figmentPez

figmentPez

Staff member
Sometimes a cheap option is a good one, sometimes it's absolutely not. Take one of the cheapest knife options from my childhood, Ginsu. I'd highly recommend against learning with such a knife. They tear through food more than cut, and they can't be honed or sharpened. Using an outright bad knife is going to teach bad habits. (I say this from experience, having had one of those weirdly serrated blades in our kitchen drawer. I think it was a Ginsu knock-off, so even cheaper.)

That said, the world of "cheapest option on the internet (2019)" is radically different from the "cheapest option at a suburban store (in the 80s or 90s)". It's crazy how much easier it is to find a decent option these days.
 
PatrThom

PatrThom

Dave said:
Back at work after an 11 day vacation. I'd say it's good to be back but I don't like to lie.
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Including today, I still have 3 left of my 9-day vac, where everything we planned to do got canceled but hey vac so <obama_not_bad.jpg>.

--Patrick
 
Dave

Dave

Staff member
We did everything we planned and more. Which is why we are exhausted, feeling poorly, and pinching pennies again.
 
Dave

Dave

Staff member
Ever since I've been back I've felt like crap. You never quite know how much mucus the human body produces until you have a sinus infection. My boss - a notorious hypochondriac - just informed me that I'm either taking the next two days off from work as sick days or I'll be working from home. Either that or HE'LL be working from home.

So I guess I had 11 days off, come back to work for 2 days, then have the next 4 days off. If only I felt good I'd be ecstatic.
 
jwhouk

jwhouk



YAVAPAI COUNTY, AZ (3TV/CBS5) -- Firefighters in Yavapai County had a surprise encounter this week when a feathered friend paid them an unexpected visit.
On Wednesday, crews from Central Arizona Fire and Medical were leaving the training center when they spotted an owl in the shallow end of a portable water tank.
Hoping not to spook the owl, they approached it carefully.

When the owl didn't fly away, firefighters knew it was injured.
After donning safety gear, one firefighter was able to get the owl wrapped in a blanket and pick it up.
Crews brought the injured owl to Prescott Valley Pet Clinic. Clinic staffers then contacted Arizona Game and Fish so the bird could be taken to the appropriate facility.

Central Arizona Fire and Medical posted on its Facebook page: "You never know what new adventure a day on the engine will bring!"
Click to expand...
 
HCGLNS

HCGLNS

"The Lord is my Sheppard,...,he leadeth me to lie down in green pastures."

Where do wild sheep prefer to sleep? Cause I'm thinking a wide open field is just a wolfs dream.

Coyotes with ACME accounts excluded obviously.
 
A

Anonymous

Anonymous

Okay, it's official. I'm a terrible person. First, let me set a little back story. My boss and I share an office and while I'm finally learning how he works things, it's still a pain in the ass and the silence is oppressive. He's just not a conversationalist and when he DOES talk it's about something obscure that he feels he needs to explain ad nausium. And he doesn't do this to enlighten, he does it to show how much he knows about stuff. I've learned that when I turn in ANYTHING to him I need to put in an unfinished project so that he can "give input"...and then I put in the finished thing I'd already completed and he's like, "Yup. Thanks for taking my suggestions." If I turn it in completed he will always - ALWAYS - find something wrong with it to change. If he can't find anything right away it'll be the wording of the documentation. He doesn't take credit for my accomplishments, but he lets people know he gave input. Always.

Anyway, he's also a hypochondriac and a germophobe. So my being sick this week has freaked him out. He sent me home Thursday and today. Here's why I'm terrible. I lied and told him I had a doctor's appointment and that it might be strep. We already know it's not, but next week he'll be out two or three days and I'll have the office to myself.

Evil. Just fucking evil.
 
HCGLNS

HCGLNS

What you need to do is get some form of side job or hobby where you "could have been exposed" to the flavour of the month disease.

Example "Uh, I think one of the Beaver Scouts had pink eye. Hope I didn't catch it."
 
HCGLNS

HCGLNS

To be fair, I had a t shirts that said "to heck with your mountains (coors logo) show me your Busch."
 
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Yoshimickster

Yoshimickster

HUZZAH-got upgraded to Pro on Grubhub, now I don't have to have impossibly lightning quick fingers to get the blocks I want on Saturday! Because for real, don't get stuck in Partner hell, its a NIGHTMARE! EITHER WAY-one step closer to god damned Premier!
 
bhamv3

bhamv3

The results for the exams in my postgrad course were released today. If I'm not mistaken, the cutoff for a Distinction classification (which is the highest level for a masters degree around here) is an average grade of 70 or more.

I got a 69.7. :rofl:

I can still bump it up to a Distinction overall if I do a great job on my dissertation. Honestly, I didn't care about whether I got a Distinction before, but now that I know I'm so close, I kinda want to go for it.
 
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