Octopus Overlords

Posted: **Sun Mar 17, 2024 10:57 pm**

Kraken wrote: ↑Thu Mar 14, 2024 12:06 am I never lock my Miata because a determined thief could just slice open the cloth top. Fortunately it's not a target for pros because the parts aren't in demand, and joyriders aren't interested because it's not anonymous-looking and it's a stick. Nobody's bothered it in the 20 years I've been driving one. 'Course, I don't live in a high-crime area. The mall parking lot 3 miles from here is an auto theft smorgasbord but I never go there.

I had my soft top sliced three times, even when I stopped locking the doors after the first one. I finally broke down and got the hard top and never put the soft top up.

Posted: **Mon Mar 18, 2024 12:38 am**

Porch pirates. Luckily Ive not been hit. Most of my delivery folk tend to put packages to the side of my front porch after coming up the stairs. My home faces the road which is about 50' away. The porch opens directly to that view after about 7 steps up. I like my packages set to the sides. Every now and then I get some off beat delivery person who thinks the back area of my house is a good spot since theres a door there. I have no idea why they do that. Stuff could sit out there days.

But every now and then I get the not so bright / nice ones who sit the stupid box right at the top of my steps on the edge of the porch for the world to see. Im lucky no one steals stuff.

Posted: **Mon Mar 18, 2024 11:55 am**

porch pirating is a huge problem here in Seattle - i have deliveries sent to my workplace or, when funemployed, to a secured locker. a lot of people here still haven't learned this lesson and hence so many 'package stolen' messages on Nextdoor on a regular basis....

Posted: **Mon Mar 18, 2024 2:45 pm**

Daughter in law told me today that the doctors had just told her that they don't know how much longer she has to live. They wanted to put her in hospice but she didn't want to go. She has Lupas.

Posted: **Mon Mar 18, 2024 2:57 pm**

I'm so sorry to hear that.

Posted: **Mon Mar 18, 2024 3:03 pm**

Oof. That really sucks. It might also explain her reactions. That's a lot to deal with.

Posted: **Mon Mar 18, 2024 4:03 pm**

That sucks. Maybe you can gently change her mind about home hospice?

Posted: **Mon Mar 18, 2024 4:07 pm**

I recieved an email from century link, supposedly some "good news"

I'm getting migrated to quantum fiber, instead of century link fiber, so I suppose that means my lifetime pricing is going to disapear.

I knew that "lifetime" didn't really mean lifetime, so I guess 6 years is a pretty good run.

I have not opened the email yet, I am making assumptions, but no coorporate change is ever "good news" for the consumer.

Posted: **Mon Mar 18, 2024 6:06 pm**

dbt1949 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 18, 2024 2:45 pm Daughter in law told me today that the doctors had just told her that they don't know how much longer she has to live. They wanted to put her in hospice but she didn't want to go. She has Lupas.

I'm sorry to hear that. That's what took my Dad's mother.

Posted: **Mon Mar 18, 2024 9:40 pm**

Jaymon wrote: ↑Mon Mar 18, 2024 4:07 pm I recieved an email from century link, supposedly some "good news"

I'm getting migrated to quantum fiber, instead of century link fiber, so I suppose that means my lifetime pricing is going to disapear.

I knew that "lifetime" didn't really mean lifetime, so I guess 6 years is a pretty good run.

ohhhhhhh i bet that happens here as well!!

my two options here are Comcast and Century Link; igws both are less than appealing. when i'm forced into a new Quantum contract i'll surely be downgrading my service (500 for $50 will be tooootally fine for me; i don't need my current 945 for $65)

Posted: **Mon Mar 18, 2024 11:26 pm**

I'm paying for capacity that I don't need -- $90 for 1,000 down and whatever-up FIOS. I tried to drop to 500 to save some bucks, but by voiding some bundle/bonuses that I got when I signed up downgrading would only save $1.50 per month. So I'm stuck. But it's not a bad place to be stuck; Verizon's service and equipment have been rock solid, and I'm using my company to pay the bill with untaxed dollars.

Posted: **Mon Mar 18, 2024 11:49 pm**

I get spammed by Spectrum every month to join their mobile crap for $20 for 12 months. Why would I want to do that when I get my phone totally free forever? Duh!

Looks like this Covid $30 thing running out April unless the US Government acts...and I dont see them even mentioning it. So my net will shoot up $30 instantly soon at that poofs.

Posted: **Tue Mar 19, 2024 12:47 am**

Daehawk wrote: ↑Mon Mar 18, 2024 11:49 pm Looks like this Covid $30 thing running out April unless the US Government acts...and I dont see them even mentioning it. So my net will shoot up $30 instantly soon at that poofs.

If you're referring to the FCC's Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), that doesn't appear to have much of anything to do with COVID-19. Also, while the ACP will be winding down absent additional funding from Congress, you may be able to receive a lesser discount on your Internet Service through the FCC's Lifeline Program:

FCC.gov wrote:Affordable Connectivity Program & Lifeline FAQs
Are there other FCC programs I may qualify for?
Yes, there is another FCC program called Lifeline. It helps to lower the monthly cost of phone and/or internet service.

The benefits of the Lifeline Program include:

A service discount of up to $9.25/month, or

A service discount of up to $34.25/month if you live on qualifying Tribal lands

Learn more about the Lifeline program.

What is Lifeline?
Lifeline is a federal program dedicated to making phone and internet service more affordable for low-income households. This benefit provides eligible consumers with a monthly discount of up to $9.25. Consumers living on Tribal lands are eligible for an enhanced discount of up to $34.25 per month.

Posted: **Tue Mar 19, 2024 1:26 am**

Speak of the devil and he shall appear. Got the email from Spectrum.

Dear Spectrum Customer,

Unfortunately, the U.S. Congress has not taken action to save the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), and, therefore, the government has alerted providers that the program will soon end for all Internet and mobile providers nationwide. Spectrum appreciates the efforts of thousands of our customers who contacted Congress to try to save the program and we understand how important the ACP has been in keeping over 23 million U.S. families connected. We are very disappointed with this latest news and will continue to express to the government our concern over the impacts this change may have for you.

What This Means for You

As a result of the program ending, your April bill will be the last bill to include the ACP credit of up to $30 you have been receiving toward your monthly Internet service.

bah. And I get the Lifeline thing already. I use it with Safelink to get a free phone and service.. Not like I got anyone to talk to though now.

Posted: **Tue Mar 19, 2024 5:31 am**

It's 5:30am I give up. Laid here since 1am. If I si ply stay up and feel like crap all day I'll sleep OK tonight. Man back when I was a kid and teen staying up a couple days was nothing but they hardly let me. Now that I can do what I want I don't feel like it much any longer lol.

Posted: **Tue Mar 19, 2024 2:56 pm**

TIL that you shouldn't put books in your no sort recycling. Glad I looked it up. Now I need to dig them out and throw them away. Unless any good will want 20-30 year game manuals.

Posted: **Tue Mar 19, 2024 3:19 pm**

LordMortis wrote: ↑Tue Mar 19, 2024 2:56 pm TIL that you shouldn't put books in your no sort recycling. Glad I looked it up. Now I need to dig them out and throw them away. Unless any good will want 20-30 year game manuals.

I donated books to the public library.

Posted: **Tue Mar 19, 2024 3:22 pm**

I've got to get that figured out when I get to the potentially "useful" books I don't want taking up space any more. Right now I'm just going through books and books of old game documentation. Next I'll be pitching computer reference books for things like Office 95 or Windows NT Server but I haven't even come close to getting to that side of my "office" yet.

Posted: **Tue Mar 19, 2024 3:23 pm**

LordMortis wrote: ↑Tue Mar 19, 2024 2:56 pm TIL that you shouldn't put books in your no sort recycling. Glad I looked it up. Now I need to dig them out and throw them away. Unless any good will want 20-30 year game manuals.

I've been seeing AD&D books like Fiend Folio and Deities & Demigods going for a fair bit of coin lately.

Posted: **Tue Mar 19, 2024 3:27 pm**

Brian wrote: ↑Tue Mar 19, 2024 3:23 pm
LordMortis wrote: ↑Tue Mar 19, 2024 2:56 pm TIL that you shouldn't put books in your no sort recycling. Glad I looked it up. Now I need to dig them out and throw them away. Unless any good will want 20-30 year game manuals.
I've been seeing AD&D books like Fiend Folio and Deities & Demigods going for a fair bit of coin lately.

Those I am keeping (both of which I own). I'm talking Heroes of Might and Magic I-V and expansions manuals. CIV and SMAC manuals and many other big bulky manuals as well as tons of not so bulky manuals. Lots of memories but not really meaningful ones, I guess, having done nothing but sat in filing cabinets for decades.

Posted: **Tue Mar 19, 2024 3:45 pm**

i have a feeling some of those old thicc game manuals would sell well on ebay... (and you can send them Media Mail for less postage)

LordMortis wrote: ↑Tue Mar 19, 2024 2:56 pm TIL that you shouldn't put books in your no sort recycling.

umm...
https://earth911.com/recycling-guide/ho ... magazines/

For paperback books, you can recycle the book whole, including the binding. For hardcover books, you’ll need to remove the cover because it has non-paper components.

so is your locality different? you can recycle paperback books whole here in Seattle.

Posted: **Tue Mar 19, 2024 3:51 pm**

My locality says they jam the machines. Don't do it. (I actually found guidance in Ann Arbor's recycle guidance to no sort recycling. I couldn't find my city/county's guidance on books) It's not in the recycling notices they sent which I have magneted to my fridge, so I looked it up on line. In order to recycle them I have to go to a recycle center, presumably because that involves presorting.

https://www.recycleannarbor.org/a-z-rec ... -paperback

Recycle Right!

Do not put paperback books in your curbside recycling bin! The covers and bookbinding are too thick to make it through MRF sorting machines. They can jam up the machinery, causing damage and delays and creating unsafe conditions for our workers. Loose pages can be recycled, but only if they are torn from the binding and cover.

Posted: **Tue Mar 19, 2024 3:54 pm**

Posted: **Tue Mar 19, 2024 5:32 pm**

Isgrimnur wrote: ↑Tue Mar 19, 2024 3:54 pm

The Ann Arbor I remember had a used bookstore on every corner.

Posted: **Tue Mar 19, 2024 6:00 pm**

Did you know that prophylactics now come covered in bubble wrap?

Posted: **Tue Mar 19, 2024 6:48 pm**

Well you dont want to hit your head on anything.

Posted: **Tue Mar 19, 2024 7:53 pm**

I saw a porn picture once where a guy stuck his head up a woman's vagina.

Posted: **Tue Mar 19, 2024 8:44 pm**

Are you sure that wasn't a Lamaze video in reverse?

Posted: **Tue Mar 19, 2024 9:31 pm**

Did he at least lube the snorkel?

Posted: **Tue Mar 19, 2024 10:01 pm**

dbt1949 wrote: ↑Tue Mar 19, 2024 6:00 pm Did you know that prophylactics now come covered in bubble wrap?

So you know if a pin has been pushed through it? (just a guess)

Also, I'm impressed. Because, no, I had no idea.

Posted: **Wed Mar 20, 2024 9:22 am**

It so you have something to do with your hands, other than the obvious, while you're waiting to have sex.

Posted: **Wed Mar 20, 2024 11:43 am**

"Honey, come back to bed..."

"Be right there."

*pop pop pop pop pop*

Posted: **Wed Mar 20, 2024 3:37 pm**

dbt1949 wrote: ↑Tue Mar 19, 2024 7:53 pm I saw a porn picture once where a guy stuck his head up a woman's vagina.

I bet it was Naughty Alysha. Did she look like a slightly thicker Heather Locklear?

Posted: **Wed Mar 20, 2024 3:40 pm**

Either that or Large Marge.

Posted: **Wed Mar 20, 2024 6:47 pm**

Late 1930s. Hard to believe but thats when my mom was born. She was born into an era of flappers and prohibition and model-A Fords. Though most had ended by the time she was born that was her decade.

And now her kids that are left, a brother and a sister, are sitting here a quarter of a way through the 21st century.

Time fly's.

Posted: **Wed Mar 20, 2024 8:17 pm**

The first car we had that I remember was a Model A Ford. No, it was not new.

Posted: **Wed Mar 20, 2024 10:47 pm**

dbt1949 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 20, 2024 8:17 pm The first car we had that I remember was a Model A Ford. No, it was not new.

Earliest car I remember is my mom's "jitney." It was a '50s Chevy with '40s styling -- a rounded body with a windshield that was straight plates of glass that met at a post in the middle. It was navy blue with a white top. They got rid of it when we could watch the street go by through the holes in the floorboard. IDK what year or model but it looked roughly like this.

Posted: **Thu Mar 21, 2024 7:03 am**

Kraken wrote: ↑Wed Mar 20, 2024 10:47 pm
dbt1949 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 20, 2024 8:17 pm The first car we had that I remember was a Model A Ford. No, it was not new.
Earliest car I remember is my mom's "jitney." It was a '50s Chevy with '40s styling -- a rounded body with a windshield that was straight plates of glass that met at a post in the middle. It was navy blue with a white top. They got rid of it when we could watch the street go by through the holes in the floorboard. IDK what year or model but it looked roughly like this.

You could buy it as a toy:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/175907891165?c ... kIQAvD_BwE

although this is a Bel Aire, and I think you showed a Styeline Deluxe (which I only see in a lighter blue w/ white top)

Posted: **Thu Mar 21, 2024 9:17 am**

I cant remember what I was dreaming just now when my alarm went off but I woke up laughing. It was perfect timing with my dream because in it somerthing was going on and the alarm took over. Like..."Thank you sir, heres your BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!". I just lay there and laughed while fumbling to turn it off.

Maybe its the sign of a good day today.

Posted: **Thu Mar 21, 2024 10:20 am**

Brian wrote: ↑Tue Mar 19, 2024 3:23 pm
I've been seeing AD&D books like Fiend Folio and Deities & Demigods going for a fair bit of coin lately.

Deities and Demigods has an early print, less than 1000 if I remember correctly, that had copyrighted material in it. Later printings are missing that material, so the early versions are worth a fair bit.

I had one. Someone I played with at University swapped his in and took mine without me noticing. I'm still bitter.

@LM: If you happen to have one of the first printings and want to sell it, I might be willing to pay the going price, just to finally, finally get over my bitterness.

Octopus Overlords

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