Random randomness

[Isgrimnur]

Yes, we're old.

[hepcat]

Man, I should start a side hustle as someone you can call for the time.

…although I’m guessing the ad would have be worded VERY carefully.

[Kraken]

Does anyone else remember when there was a number you could call on your telephone to get the time of day? I even remember the number was 853-1212.

Yup. I thought it was 555-1212 but I could be wrong. "At the tone the time will be...nine...oh-seven...and 20 seconds" <beep>

There was a number for weather, too.

[Isgrimnur]

I thought it was 555-1212 but I could be wrong.

Directory assistance.

[Isgrimnur]

Speaking clock

Telephone Time - US Naval Observatory

[Kraken]

I thought it was 555-1212 but I could be wrong.

Directory assistance.

Ah, right. I knew it was something...I still provide that number when web forms ask for my phone number.

[Daehawk]

We have a local one in town. Had it since the 80s. Its changed hands but stayed the same except for this last owner as they have stuck in a ad for them..ugh.

[wonderpug]

Does anyone else remember when there was a number you could call on your telephone to get the time of day? I even remember the number was 853-1212.

Was “popcorn” a regional thing? Growing up in California, that’s the number you would call. POP-CORN translates to 767-2676

[Isgrimnur]

For all area codes in Northern California, and on the West Coast generally, the reserved exchange was 767 which was often indicated by its phoneword, POPCORN

[Isgrimnur]

The website Telephone World has recordings of past and present "Time of Day" services that also include temperature and weather announcements.

[Unagi]

Anyone else remember a number you could call to hear a recorded joke? like dial-a-joke, or something?

[Blackhawk]

I remember a free touch-tone trivia thing that was listed on the back of the Reno phone books around '88 or so.

Young me found it far more entertaining than he should have.

[Anonymous Bosch]

Anyone else remember a number you could call to hear a recorded joke? like dial-a-joke, or something?

I remember a free touch-tone trivia thing that was listed on the back of the Reno phone books around '88 or so.

Young me found it far more entertaining than he should have.

Back in the good ol' days, we had a more interesting alternative in the UK, known as 'Teletext.' This was a technology built in to many British televisions of the eighties and nineties, that looked somewhat similar to dial-in BBSes (but did not require a telephone line). You can get a taste of exactly how it looked and worked using this interactive BBC Ceefax viewer and/or this online teletext viewer.

Here's a Youtube video that tells the story behind it:

[Daehawk]

Was thinking about when analog tv was ending and internet was coming to homes. In the 90s I remember being in Sears looking at their giant (40") rear projection tv. It was posted all over back then about the coming of HD digital tv in 2012. Seemed a age off so didn't give it much thought other than I thought it would be cool. Im not sure now but I think they changed over a bit before then. But anyways I found I missed the old tv cause now my little handheld tv and other stuff no longer worked.

As for internet I remember when it started in homes. Id had a pc a year by then so around 95 as I recall. Was so empty back then with few pages on gaming sites or anything. And the ones on the net were sparse and empty as well. it really blew up fast though. Wasn't but another year or two it was full or filling up at least fast . And all kinds of sites. fun times.

[dbt1949]

I can't remember the nineties anymore. I think 1905 is as far back as I can remember.

[Blackhawk]

Here's a highlight reel to jog your memory:

[dbt1949]

And in another first it was a gay film!

[Daehawk]

Is that dbt playing the fiddle?

[Jaymon]

My birthday is coming soon The Mrs asked what I wanted, and I said Christmas.

So thats what I am getting. Decorations, cookies, tree, a visit from Santa, the guests have been asked to wear Christmas wear. I am excited!

[LordMortis]

Is it weird that when it gets in to 50s I wear a thick wool (or wool like) old man's button up shirt and paper thin breathable shorts, warm socks, and shoes? it feels like it's weird but it's also what's comfortable, allowing me to have both the heat and AC off.

[Isgrimnur]

You do you, boo.

[hepcat]

Is it weird that when it gets in to 50s I wear a thick wool (or wool like) old man's button up shirt and paper thin breathable shorts, warm socks, and shoes? it feels like it's weird but it's also what's comfortable, allowing me to have both the heat and AC off.

Is it weird when it gets to be any temperature I wear a gimp suit with a cowboy hat and a feather boa?

[Pyperkub]

Man, I should start a side hustle as someone you can call for the time.

…although I’m guessing the ad would have be worded VERY carefully.

Must come with popcorn!

[Holman]

Is it weird that when it gets in to 50s I wear a thick wool (or wool like) old man's button up shirt and paper thin breathable shorts, warm socks, and shoes? it feels like it's weird but it's also what's comfortable, allowing me to have both the heat and AC off.

Are you talking about getting up into the 50s or going down into the 50s?

Dropping into the 50s in the Fall requires a sweater. Getting up into the 50s in the Spring gives permission for shorts.

[Unagi]

Is it weird that when it gets in to 50s I wear a thick wool (or wool like) old man's button up shirt and paper thin breathable shorts, warm socks, and shoes? it feels like it's weird but it's also what's comfortable, allowing me to have both the heat and AC off.

Are you talking about getting up into the 50s or going down into the 50s?

Of course, in MI right now the answer is: yes.

[Blackhawk]

Is it weird that when it gets in to 50s I wear a thick wool (or wool like) old man's button up shirt and paper thin breathable shorts, warm socks, and shoes? it feels like it's weird but it's also what's comfortable, allowing me to have both the heat and AC off.

Is it weird when it gets to be any temperature I wear a gimp suit with a cowboy hat and a feather boa?

That depends. Are you using the boa as a hatband, and does said hatband have a rakish feather stuck in it?

[Jaymann]

And what exactly would constitute a non-rakish feather?

[Blackhawk]

[dbt1949]

I ought to get one of those for my bowler.

[Blackhawk]

I can send you a pigeon feather from out of the vacuum if you'd like...

[LordMortis]

Is it weird that when it gets in to 50s I wear a thick wool (or wool like) old man's button up shirt and paper thin breathable shorts, warm socks, and shoes? it feels like it's weird but it's also what's comfortable, allowing me to have both the heat and AC off.

Are you talking about getting up into the 50s or going down into the 50s?

Of course, in MI right now the answer is: yes.

Aye. I guess technically, it's spring, so it's up? Unless you count the fact that we were regularly well in to the 70s in February this year. (I think that was a first. I can't remember ever doing that before. Damned groundhog.) I get the sentiment. When it's gets to about 45 and sunny in spring, it's shorts weather during the day. When it gets down to the 60 inside at night in the winter it's sweats weather.

[LordMortis]

My googlefu is weak. On my morning walk, I saw a black flag with what looked like a white ant head (maybe it was a wasp or be of some sort?) with red silhouette around it. I can't find anything on a potential meaning. Google naturally wants to do nothing but show me tons of sponsored adds for insecticide, even as I change around the search to not say "black flag"

[Smoove_B]

Wouldn't surprise me if it was some type of stylized helmet (not an ant head) with the colors signifying Knights Templar. There's a guy that lives in my town that tells people on social media he's a "modern Knights Templar", whatever the fuck that means.

[Isgrimnur]

Alien Ant Farm?

[LordMortis]

I'd take a picture on my walk tomorrow but I don't like to do that for people's property. It somehow feels like Doxing.

[TheMix]

Doesn't exactly match, but anything like this?
https://antscanada.fandom.com/wiki/Fire_Nation

[LordMortis]

Alien Ant Farm?

Maybe it was more beeish. Also the head was white silhouetted by red.

Thank you, That's better than I found.

Doesn't exactly match, but anything like this?
https://antscanada.fandom.com/wiki/Fire_Nation

Closer but not close enough. Also much better than I found.


Now I'm likely to take a picture tomorrow and try to crop out everything but the flag

[Daehawk]

I think I grazed a time loop. I paid my bills this month a week ago. But a few days later I get another bill statement from Spectrum. Then I get one in the mail today...just like the first one. I also got a new one from my garbage man and had one . There was something else that happened and I cant recall it now but it was something that already happened and I got another thing too. Been weird.

[Isgrimnur]

Utah is the BEST state in America for the second year in a row!

But once again, claims of Utah's grandeur are supported by the title of best state in America according to the U.S. News and World Report.

It's the second year in a row that Utah has topped the podium, swiping the gold medal from Washington in 2023.

Rankings are determined by analyzing the state's performance in eight categories including; natural environment, fiscal stability, education, infrastructure, health care, economy, opportunity and crime and corrections.

Interestingly, Utah did not rank number one in any particular category, but ranked in the top 20 in seven of the eight categories, signaling that consistency is key to success.

Utah's highest-ranked category was education, taking the number two spot out of all states, right behind Florida.

[Daehawk]

Any recommendations for a really sharp yet not too costly chopping knife. For something like onions. I have to use decades old steak knives. I have one big knife that should be for this but its dull and the blade is thin so it cuts all over the place.

I need it to be sharp and cheap. I had a really sharp peeling knife I got at Walmart once. It broke after 2 weeks. But it worked. I want to mince onions and not simply cut them into slices or chunks sometimes.