From borgholio at storymind.com Tue Dec 1 04:34:01 2009 From: borgholio at storymind.com (Borgholio) Date: Tue Dec 1 04:35:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] On jealousy Message-ID: So yeah I've always been a pretty jealous person when it comes to people I have an interest in. It borders on obsession at times. I recognize this and struggle to keep it from getting away from me and luckily I tend to do a pretty good job. It just sucks having to deal with it, you know? Ugh. I mean I meet someone, date them for awhile, decide to go steady, all the while taking the high road by saying "Yeah I don't care if you spend time with your male friends, because I trust you." Of course, while I say that, deep down inside I'm practically puking. I want to have her to myself, I'm not comfortable if she goes out with her friends, or on short vacations out of town with guy friends whom she's known a hell of a lot longer than me...etc. But I don't dare tell her of course. Not only do I not want to come off as a hypocrite but I should let her live her life...right? I don't have the right to control who she spends time with, do I? Nah. So I'm kinda stuck dealing with it. I keep telling myself over and over that I trust her. Do I really? Or is it a self-esteem thing where I feel that a girlfriend would lie to me and cheat on me at the first available opportunity? Hmm, that actually makes a bit of sense...it's not an issue with trusting her, it's an issue with trusting myself. Just my usual being an obsessive worry-wort, I guess. As I said before, ugh. Anywho...late night ramblings are never a good idea. From nobody at spamcop.net Tue Dec 1 06:25:45 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Heidi) Date: Tue Dec 1 06:30:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: On jealousy References: Message-ID: "Borgholio" wrote in message news:hf2nu7$ahb$1@news.spamcop.net... > So yeah I've always been a pretty jealous person when it comes to people I > have an interest in. It borders on obsession at times. I recognize this > and struggle to keep it from getting away from me and luckily I tend to do > a pretty good job. It just sucks having to deal with it, you know? Ugh. > > I mean I meet someone, date them for awhile, decide to go steady, all the > while taking the high road by saying "Yeah I don't care if you spend time > with your male friends, because I trust you." > > Of course, while I say that, deep down inside I'm practically puking. I > want to have her to myself, I'm not comfortable if she goes out with her > friends, or on short vacations out of town with guy friends whom she's > known a hell of a lot longer than me...etc. But I don't dare tell her of > course. Not only do I not want to come off as a hypocrite but I should > let her live her life...right? I don't have the right to control who she > spends time with, do I? Nah. So I'm kinda stuck dealing with it. > > I keep telling myself over and over that I trust her. Do I really? Or is > it a self-esteem thing where I feel that a girlfriend would lie to me and > cheat on me at the first available opportunity? Hmm, that actually makes > a bit of sense...it's not an issue with trusting her, it's an issue with > trusting myself. Just my usual being an obsessive worry-wort, I guess. > As I said before, ugh. > > Anywho...late night ramblings are never a good idea. If she wants to spend time with other friends, male friends especially, and doesn't include you in the group, then you're far more attached to her than she is to you. Take a step back and look at the situation objectively, acting jealous and posessive is a vibe that will drive people away whether you're overt about it or not. You don't know this person well enough to trust her, so why do you try to convince yourself that you do? You don't have any right or reason to be so obsessive, you're not engaged, it's clear to me only one of you thinks it's an exclusive relationship. It's your issue, not hers, for expecting too much too soon from someone who doesn't really seem to be as involved as you are. I think you proabably don't have very realistic expectations..... From MikeE at ster.invalid Tue Dec 1 10:07:18 2009 From: MikeE at ster.invalid (Mike Easter) Date: Tue Dec 1 10:10:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: On jealousy In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Heidi wrote: > So... what did you have for breakfast? I've recently become a big fan of softboiled eggs, which optimal results require -1- always keeping a couple of eggs out so that they will be at room temperature before the cooking begings -2- having a 1950s vintage egg (or rice or whatever) cooker which has great precision if used with precisely measured distilled water and a timer and -3- having a fantastic 'egg knife' as I've been calling it, which I've since learned is properly named a 'topper' which my mother gave me long ago and which rested in a drawer for quite a number of years. If the eggs are cold, they don't cook right. The inner coldness causes the white which is next to the yolk to take too long to cook, and the whole 'balance' of egg cookery is thrown off. If there isn't 'precision' in how hot the egg cooker gets for how long, the egg cookery is less perfect. The same precision could be achieved in other ways such as a pot of boiling water, but then the 'transition' from cooking to being in the egg cup and getting 'topped' would be less scientifically perfect. If I didn't have an egg knife topper, I would never be able to properly remove the top of the egg and I would have to give the whole thing up. Borgh, you are going to have to get straightened out somehow re not only how you behave, but what you are feeling. I wonder how you are going to do that. You are in fact an animal's feelings and behaviors hooked up to a human being's world, but, still.... -- Mike Easter kibitzer, not SC admin From borgholio at storymind.com Tue Dec 1 14:32:13 2009 From: borgholio at storymind.com (Borgholio) Date: Tue Dec 1 14:35:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: On jealousy In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Charles wrote: > It wasn't me! It was "Heidi" ! > >> If she wants to spend time with >> other friends, male friends especially, and doesn't include you in the >> group, then you're far more attached to her than she is to you. > > Come now! This isn't necessarily true. We get different things from > different people in different relationships. Sure, I've had exclusive > relationships where we tried to be almost everything for one another. That > didn't work nearly as well as having friends and relations outside of the > family does. It's awfully difficult to be everything to someone. Besides, > if it's just dating... Well... Dating... It's not like being married - > it's typically much less permanent. You don't want to abandon all of your > friends and then come crawling back 6 months or more later. It's better > for all parties involved to seek peace and balance. > > At least, that's my take from my new green pants and purple shirt. I'm > working on the balance thing. It's not easy. > > Jealousy... Yeah. Well, it's not an easy one. I'll let you know when > I've resolved it and how I did it! Yeah she just has some guy friends like she has girl friends, that's all. I should be more comfortable with that. From me at privacy.net Tue Dec 1 16:13:03 2009 From: me at privacy.net (Frog Prince) Date: Tue Dec 1 16:20:07 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: cheap magazines References: Message-ID: "Sylvesterthekat" wrote in message news:Xns9CD47320C6DDCsylvesterthekat@216.154.195.61... > https://subs.timeinc.net/faf/ns.jhtml?source_id=efef79 > > Just got this offer via email (I subscribe to EW). None of them interest > me > but they're hugely discounted and may be of interest to others. Watch out it may be a short cycle sub. Might also be a fly by night that will take the order tell you it's 3+ months deliver and skip with the cash (BTDT and calling the CC company is useless) From me at privacy.net Tue Dec 1 17:05:28 2009 From: me at privacy.net (Frog Prince) Date: Tue Dec 1 17:10:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Antique Xmas tree decoration mystery References: Message-ID: "Indigo" wrote in message news:hf17gl$5tp$1@news.spamcop.net... > > "Mike Easter" wrote in message > news:hf15ua$5ag$1@news.spamcop.net... >> >> I'm so old that we had such screw-in incandescent Xmas light bulbs which >> were wired in series, so that if one light was out, they were all out and >> it was a 'puzzle' to find the bad light bulb. >> What I'm not familiar with is the bulb configuration and the hand-painted >> exterior. Ours were 'flame'/bullet shaped and the coloring was inside >> the bulb not out. > > > We had the same kind, they ran hot as hell, no wonder so many dried out > trees caught fire! Whenever I can find replacement bulbs, which is getting > harder with each passing year, I buy a pack of blue bulbs and put them in > my hallway night light -- the blue light is much less garish than the > normal clear bulbs, and it doesn't take any time for my eyes to adjust > from waking up in the darkness of my bedroom to walk to the kitchen with > the pleasantly blue-lit hallway. Unfortunately, the wattage of those blue > bulbs is apparently higher than the standard plug-in night lite can > handle, and as a result the nite light circuit fries after 6-9 months of > use. But what the hell, they only cost a buck apiece, so I always have > spares stored in a kitchen drawer. One blew up in spectacular fashion > years ago and left a scorch mark on the wall above the outlet, but all the > other ones just stopped working with no theatrics. > > >> >> So, yours are older than my days, but I suspect that the base was the >> same. >> > > > Here's a link to photos of the ornaments I got: http://tinyurl.com/yfw9t5y > > And I was wrong about what's painted on them, none of them are really > "Christmasy" in my view, unless there's some connection between Jack > Horner and Xmas that I'm not aware of...... > >> >> ... which for some reason reminds me that I once had a thick greenish >> clear glass insulator that went on old powerlines that weren't carrying >> all that much voltage compared to today. > > We used to find those all the time when hiking when I was a kid, they were > used on electric railroad posts too, and lots of hiking trails either run > along old abandoned railroad beds or cross over them. I never got to one > fast enough (finders keeper, ya know), it was like finding a chunk of > gold -- anyone who had one was automatically elevated to "cool" ;-) Yea we had some (lost to Katrina) as I recall they were not only hand painted but hand made. If you know what you're doing you can replace the OEM bulbs with a modern version that is safe. If you decide to sell let me know as wife and I have been doing a Santa & Mrs. gig (www.imagine-that.ws/Santa.jpg) for years and we're working on collecting ole Christmas stuff to complete the project. If you want to convert them I may be able to help with that as well. check out www.santa-america.org for some of what we do. Right now we're looking for two sets (one his one hers) wire frame glasses. I've jeweler friend that will rework them and an ophthalmologists that will make old fashion glass lenses for our RX by hand. If you've not figure it out we're serious about this. From me at privacy.net Tue Dec 1 17:07:46 2009 From: me at privacy.net (Frog Prince) Date: Tue Dec 1 17:10:09 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Antique Xmas tree decoration mystery References: Message-ID: "Sylvesterthekat" wrote in message news:Xns9CD3860E332F3sylvesterthekat@216.154.195.61... > "Indigo" wrote in > news:hf13b0$4e8$1@news.spamcop.net: > > >> FP, you're old enough to >> maybe have even owned them, or at least seen them in action -- do you >> know anything about them? >> >> > > LOL (than dirt) Some say my first Christmas was the first Christmas. FWIW my great grand parents had candles on their tree and did not get electricity until the early 50's (they lived way out in the country) From nobody at spamcop.net Tue Dec 1 19:00:07 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Heidi) Date: Tue Dec 1 19:05:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: On jealousy References: Message-ID: "Mike Easter" wrote in message news:hf3bfa$tmf$1@news.spamcop.net... > Heidi wrote: > >> > > So... what did you have for breakfast? I had this: http://www.newenglandnaturalbakers.com/www/bang.html#ORG Outrageous Rasberry, mmm...real ones. > I've recently become a big fan of softboiled eggs, which optimal results > require -1- always keeping a couple of eggs out so that they will be at > room temperature before the cooking begings -2- having a 1950s vintage egg > (or rice or whatever) cooker which has great precision if used with > precisely measured distilled water and a timer and -3- having a fantastic > 'egg knife' as I've been calling it, which I've since learned is properly > named a 'topper' which my mother gave me long ago and which rested in a > drawer for quite a number of years. > > If the eggs are cold, they don't cook right. The inner coldness causes > the white which is next to the yolk to take too long to cook, and the > whole 'balance' of egg cookery is thrown off. > > If there isn't 'precision' in how hot the egg cooker gets for how long, > the egg cookery is less perfect. The same precision could be achieved in > other ways such as a pot of boiling water, but then the 'transition' from > cooking to being in the egg cup and getting 'topped' would be less > scientifically perfect. > > If I didn't have an egg knife topper, I would never be able to properly > remove the top of the egg and I would have to give the whole thing up. Huh. That's way complicated. I don't have egg cups OR a topper, I have a bowl and a butter knife, I scoop them out into the bowl, add a little salt and pepper and some toasty soldiers and that's a nice comforting brekkie. Usually I manage to cook them just right, thickened but still a littly runny yolk, with just a timer. I just throw some vinegar in the water and place them in gently, sometimes they crack sometimes they don't but I ususally don't have room temperature eggs. Mostly I just poach them (again with some vinegar in the water to keep the white together), or I scramble. My BIL has chickens, nothing like fresh almost free range eggs. > > Borgh, you are going to have to get straightened out somehow re not only > how you behave, but what you are feeling. I wonder how you are going to > do that. You are in fact an animal's feelings and behaviors hooked up to > a human being's world, but, still.... Is that reverse anthropomorphism? Animals are not 'jealous' per se, they are territorial and females are usually considered territory, because it perpetuates their genes. Males have even been known to kill the offspring of another male so that they can breed with the female themselves. I would hope Borg wouldn't go that far.... From nobody at spamcop.net Tue Dec 1 19:04:57 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Heidi) Date: Tue Dec 1 19:05:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: On jealousy References: Message-ID: "Charles" wrote in message news:Xns9CD44F5514F5ETheShrubIsAnAss@216.154.195.61... > It wasn't me! It was "Heidi" ! > > Come now! This isn't necessarily true. We get different things from > different people in different relationships. Sure, I've had exclusive > relationships where we tried to be almost everything for one another. > That > didn't work nearly as well as having friends and relations outside of the > family does. It's awfully difficult to be everything to someone. > Besides, > if it's just dating... Well... Dating... It's not like being married - > it's typically much less permanent. You don't want to abandon all of your > friends and then come crawling back 6 months or more later. It's better > for all parties involved to seek peace and balance. Abandoning your life and your friends for a new boyfriend is the worst thing you can do, however you should incorporate that new person into your life, it doesn't seem like that's happening. > > At least, that's my take from my new green pants and purple shirt. I'm > working on the balance thing. It's not easy. Green and purple is one of my favorite combos, those were my stable colors, tack trunks, horse blankets, everything in green and purple. I think it's a very soothing combination, something about opposites that pleases the eye. From nobody at spamcop.net Tue Dec 1 19:07:23 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Heidi) Date: Tue Dec 1 19:10:09 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: On jealousy References: Message-ID: "Sylvesterthekat" wrote in message news:Xns9CD49C5BDE486sylvesterthekat@216.154.195.61... > Borgholio wrote in > news:hf2nu7$ahb$1@news.spamcop.net: > >> I mean I meet someone, date them for awhile, decide to go steady, all >> the while taking the high road by saying "Yeah I don't care if you >> spend time with your male friends, because I trust you." > > Is there some reason why you're not invited to these gatherings? It seems > to me that if you're really 'going steady' that she should want to take > you > along to such events rather than leaving you behind. > > I dont know, it might be better if you did tell her that it makes you a > bit > jealous. If you come off as indifferent, she might think you don't care > that much. Just try to balance it so you don't come off as some crazy > stalker. If some guy I've just been dating for a couple of weeks told me that ANYTHING I did made him jealous? BUH-BYE. Not an appropriate emotion toward someone you barely know. I don't think it's a healthy emotion in a relationship, period. If you have a trusting relationship, then jealousy is irrelevant. From nobody at spamcop.net Tue Dec 1 20:34:09 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Tue Dec 1 20:35:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Antique Xmas tree decoration mystery In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "Frog Prince" wrote in message news:hf4459$6qg$1@news.spamcop.net... > If you know what you're doing you can replace the OEM bulbs with a modern > version that is safe. If you decide to sell let me know as wife and I > have been doing a Santa & Mrs. gig (www.imagine-that.ws/Santa.jpg) for > years and we're working on collecting ole Christmas stuff to complete the > project. If you want to convert them I may be able to help with that as > well. Any idea what they might be worth? From nobody at spamcop.net Tue Dec 1 21:54:56 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Tue Dec 1 21:55:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: What the heck is "spirituality"? And why do we need it? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "Sylvesterthekat" wrote in message news:Xns9CD49B5F690BEsylvesterthekat@216.154.195.61... > "Indigo" wrote in > news:hf1vg6$ebp$1@news.spamcop.net: > >> Want some of mine? I typically have exceptionally vivid dreams almost >> every night/morning, and when they're bad they ruin my whole day! >> >> > > In that case, no thanks! Yeahbutt.....the good ones leave a great feeling that can last for days.....you would not believe the two crazy dreams I had this morning........one good, one not so good.....but damn, was the good one GOOD!!! From user at domain.invalid Tue Dec 1 22:07:26 2009 From: user at domain.invalid (Farelf) Date: Tue Dec 1 22:10:07 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: What the heck is "spirituality"? And why do we need it? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Charles wrote: > No way it was me! It was Sylvesterthekat! > >> That's nothing short of sadistic. > > "It's for their own good." Why is there no word which means "wronged for their own good"? I bet it would get used a lot, if there was one. The results of such "interventions" range from genocide on down. There is a need. From user at domain.invalid Tue Dec 1 22:25:38 2009 From: user at domain.invalid (Farelf) Date: Tue Dec 1 22:30:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: What the heck is "spirituality"? And why do we need it? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Farelf wrote: > Charles wrote: >> No way it was me! It was Sylvesterthekat! >> >>> That's nothing short of sadistic. >> >> "It's for their own good." > > Why is there no word which means "wronged for their own good"? I bet it > would get used a lot, if there was one. The results of such > "interventions" range from genocide on down. There is a need. I suppose the expression "benevolent abuse" is getting close(r). Starkly oxymoronic - it might even be better than a single word in that regard. Words are important when we discuss bad things dispassionately. From me at privacy.net Tue Dec 1 22:58:33 2009 From: me at privacy.net (Frog Prince) Date: Tue Dec 1 23:15:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Antique Xmas tree decoration mystery References: Message-ID: "Indigo" wrote in message news:hf4g6g$b6s$1@news.spamcop.net... > > "Frog Prince" wrote in message > news:hf4459$6qg$1@news.spamcop.net... >> If you know what you're doing you can replace the OEM bulbs with a modern >> version that is safe. If you decide to sell let me know as wife and I >> have been doing a Santa & Mrs. gig (www.imagine-that.ws/Santa.jpg) for >> years and we're working on collecting ole Christmas stuff to complete the >> project. If you want to convert them I may be able to help with that as >> well. > > Any idea what they might be worth? Not a clue. From borgholio at storymind.com Wed Dec 2 01:43:40 2009 From: borgholio at storymind.com (Borgholio) Date: Wed Dec 2 01:45:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: On jealousy In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Sylvesterthekat wrote: > Borgholio wrote in > news:hf2nu7$ahb$1@news.spamcop.net: > >> I mean I meet someone, date them for awhile, decide to go steady, all >> the while taking the high road by saying "Yeah I don't care if you >> spend time with your male friends, because I trust you." > > Is there some reason why you're not invited to these gatherings? It seems > to me that if you're really 'going steady' that she should want to take you > along to such events rather than leaving you behind. > > I dont know, it might be better if you did tell her that it makes you a bit > jealous. If you come off as indifferent, she might think you don't care > that much. Just try to balance it so you don't come off as some crazy > stalker. > > > Hardly a gathering, just a friend hanging out with a friend. From MikeE at ster.invalid Wed Dec 2 09:22:55 2009 From: MikeE at ster.invalid (Mike Easter) Date: Wed Dec 2 09:25:09 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: What the heck is "spirituality"? And why do we need it? References: Message-ID: Charles wrote: > is back on > spirituality. No wonder if you (think you) were severely damaged by attending Sunday school and hearing something or other. -- Mike Easter kibitzer, not SC admin From MikeE at ster.invalid Wed Dec 2 14:26:56 2009 From: MikeE at ster.invalid (Mike Easter) Date: Wed Dec 2 14:30:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: What the heck is "spirituality"? And why do we need it? References: Message-ID: Charles wrote: > "Mike Easter" >> Charles wrote: > >>> is back on spirituality. >> >> No wonder if you (think you) were severely damaged by attending Sunday >> school and hearing something or other. > > It's not that. Or it is but it isn't. "You've walled off this part of > yourself. You need to get back in touch with it. I think it's there." > Whoa. Well, maybe there is a lot more there than you think. People who grow up in voodoo societies - those in the US or otherwise - are very susceptible to its spells and afflictions. ...if your earliest childhood inculcated some beliefs which are below your (conscious) radar screen in terms of your rational self and then you became (inwardly) 'conflicted' about those (subconscious) beliefs (including deathly fears) to the point you are (almost) 'phobic' (about something or other unstated here) [I hate that phobic term to describe an aversion] -- then maybe she wants to explore some of the (inner) feelings you have that you don't know how to 'admit'/(see for yourself) all by yourself. -- Mike Easter kibitzer, not SC admin From borgholio at storymind.com Wed Dec 2 16:40:05 2009 From: borgholio at storymind.com (Borgholio) Date: Wed Dec 2 16:40:09 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: On jealousy In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Sylvesterthekat wrote: > Borgholio wrote in > news:hf52ao$mqv$1@news.spamcop.net: > >> Hardly a gathering, just a friend hanging out with a friend. >> > > For a weekend? It happens? From borgholio at storymind.com Wed Dec 2 20:03:20 2009 From: borgholio at storymind.com (Borgholio) Date: Wed Dec 2 20:05:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: my two cats, one mouse In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Sylvesterthekat wrote: > Charles wrote in > news:Xns9CD5C12083054TheShrubIsAnAss@216.154.195.61: > >> So now you have a mouse, too? Hmm... I know where to let pets loose! >> > > lol yeah, it's getting out of hand. in the space of 3 weeks we've gone from > a one cat family to two cats and a mouse. at this rate we'll be a full > fledged zoo in no time Love your accent, btw. :-P From nobody at spamcop.net Wed Dec 2 21:13:11 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Heidi) Date: Wed Dec 2 21:15:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: What the heck is "spirituality"? And why do we need it? References: Message-ID: "Charles" wrote in message news:Xns9CD561D74E798TheShrubIsAnAss@216.154.195.61... > It wasn't me! It was "Mike Easter" ! >> Charles wrote: > >>> is back on spirituality. >> >> No wonder if you (think you) were severely damaged by attending Sunday >> school and hearing something or other. > > It's not that. Or it is but it isn't. "You've walled off this part of > yourself. You need to get back in touch with it. I think it's there." > Whoa. You gotta be careful of those shrinky types, they can really mess with your head. And not in a good way.... From user at domain.invalid Wed Dec 2 22:23:57 2009 From: user at domain.invalid (Farelf) Date: Wed Dec 2 22:25:07 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: What the heck is "spirituality"? And why do we need it? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Sylvesterthekat wrote: > Charles wrote in > news:Xns9CD5C0B258B63TheShrubIsAnAss@216.154.195.61: > >> No way it was me! It was Sylvesterthekat! >> >>> So tell her that you think spirituality is a nonsense. Have you told >>> her about the abusive religious types in your childhood? >> >> I have. She thinks I just pushed my spirituality under the rug. >> > > ok now she's pissing me off. find another therapist! Interesting. "Does it hurt when I prod here?" "Ow, yes!" "Okay, we'll leave that alone and find something you're more comfortable with." Is that how it's supposed to work? From MikeE at ster.invalid Wed Dec 2 22:51:34 2009 From: MikeE at ster.invalid (Mike Easter) Date: Wed Dec 2 22:55:07 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: What the heck is "spirituality"? And why do we need it? References: Message-ID: Charles wrote: > Sylvesterthekat >> So tell her that you think spirituality is a nonsense. Have you told >> her about the abusive religious types in your childhood? > > I have. She thinks I just pushed my spirituality under the rug. Does this have anything to do with how you feel about dying? (ever). Rather.... I wonder if this (counselor's role/ spirituality issue in your counseling) has anything to do with how you (might) feel about dying. Ever, eventually, whenever is the end of your life, possibly even sooner than you might have ever thought about (before that person died). For some value of 'feel', including fear and its relatives. -- Mike Easter kibitzer, not SC admin From fiyntyd02 at sneakemail.com Thu Dec 3 01:20:12 2009 From: fiyntyd02 at sneakemail.com (Mr K. Mean) Date: Thu Dec 3 01:25:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: On jealousy In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: On 12/02/2009 11:00 AM, Heidi wrote: > "Mike Easter" wrote in message > news:hf3bfa$tmf$1@news.spamcop.net... >> Heidi wrote: >> >>> >> >> So... what did you have for breakfast? > > I had this: > http://www.newenglandnaturalbakers.com/www/bang.html#ORG > Outrageous Rasberry, mmm...real ones. Nothing beats my morning porridge. Some cinnamon and honey on top, yum, keeps me going until lunch. > vinegar in the water to keep the white together), or I scramble. My BIL has > chickens, nothing like fresh almost free range eggs. I guess it is allowed here to have up to 4 chickens in your backyard. Some friends have them and they get some nice fresh eggs from them. Except recently, the chickens seem to be eating the eggs as soon as they lay them. Maybe I could have some too, but the garden is more than enough work for now. I might have to work up to chickens. > Is that reverse anthropomorphism? Animals are not 'jealous' per se, they > are territorial and females are usually considered territory, because it > perpetuates their genes. Males have even been known to kill the offspring > of another male so that they can breed with the female themselves. I would > hope Borg wouldn't go that far.... I though Borg was just madly in love like a few months ago. It doesn't seem to be a very far trip from dating to being a little bit obsessive. You know, it has to be a two way thing, you can't just get somebody to feel the same way about you by will alone. I guess in some ways, jealous isn't exactly it, it is more like being crushed by different expectations/perceptions of a relationship. It you can't trust somebody to hang out with their friends, then it isn't the same relationship you think it is. From nobody at spamcop.net Thu Dec 3 06:46:15 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Heidi) Date: Thu Dec 3 06:50:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: On jealousy References: Message-ID: "Mr K. Mean" wrote in message news:hf7lau$lat$1@news.spamcop.net... > > Nothing beats my morning porridge. Some cinnamon and honey on top, yum, > keeps me going until lunch. By porridge you mean steel cut oats? I eat those in the winter, mixed with oat bran for healthy fiber. I like cooked oatmeal, that instant crap or rolled oats doesn't do it for me, I like the toothsome chew of nice steel cut oats. With some walnuts and a dab of maple syrup. MMMM. It's been unseasonably warm here this fall, so I've been eating cold cereal. For now. > > I guess it is allowed here to have up to 4 chickens in your backyard. Some > friends have them and they get some nice fresh eggs from them. Except > recently, the chickens seem to be eating the eggs as soon as they lay > them. Maybe I could have some too, but the garden is more than enough work > for now. I might have to work up to chickens. Man, I would love that, but I would want to know everything about keeping them healthy beforehand, they can get some odd diseases and problems. It would be a chicken obsession. The perfect diet, the perfect house. And I want colored eggs too, I want some blue ones, because they're pretty. > > I though Borg was just madly in love like a few months ago. It doesn't > seem to be a very far trip from dating to being a little bit obsessive. > You know, it has to be a two way thing, you can't just get somebody to > feel the same way about you by will alone. I guess in some ways, jealous > isn't exactly it, it is more like being crushed by different > expectations/perceptions of a relationship. It you can't trust somebody to > hang out with their friends, then it isn't the same relationship you think > it is. ITA...obesessive, controlling, jealous behavior isn't part of a healthy relationship, usually it's a very one sided one. So Kerry Mean, I've missed seeing your photos from England, is there a photo journal from Oz? I've lost touch with things..... From nobody at spamcop.net Thu Dec 3 06:48:41 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Heidi) Date: Thu Dec 3 06:50:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: What the heck is "spirituality"? And why do we need it? References: Message-ID: "Mike Easter" wrote in message news:hf7cke$i5i$1@news.spamcop.net... > > Does this have anything to do with how you feel about dying? (ever). > > > > Rather.... I wonder if this (counselor's role/ spirituality issue in > your counseling) has anything to do with how you (might) feel about > dying. Ever, eventually, whenever is the end of your life, possibly > even sooner than you might have ever thought about (before that person > died). > > For some value of 'feel', including fear and its relatives. She seems to want him to have some kind of belief system that reconciles with hers, or at least that she can understand. From MikeE at ster.invalid Thu Dec 3 07:35:14 2009 From: MikeE at ster.invalid (Mike Easter) Date: Thu Dec 3 07:35:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: What the heck is "spirituality"? And why do we need it? References: Message-ID: Heidi wrote: > "Mike Easter" > She seems to want him to have some kind of belief system that reconciles > with hers, or at least that she can understand. Where did you see Chas say that she said that (what you said after 'seems to want')? I only recall... Charles wrote: > But my therapist wants me to get in touch with my spiritual > side. ... and similars. -- Mike Easter kibitzer, not SC admin From user at domain.invalid Thu Dec 3 10:08:59 2009 From: user at domain.invalid (Farelf) Date: Thu Dec 3 10:10:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: What the heck is "spirituality"? And why do we need it? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Charles wrote: > It wasn't me! It was Farelf! > >> Interesting. "Does it hurt when I prod here?" >> "Ow, yes!" >> "Okay, we'll leave that alone and find something you're more comfortable >> with." >> >> Is that how it's supposed to work? > > Sounds good to me! Haw! Well, you're the 'consumer', that counts. But I suspect a slightly different paradigm might be more productive. Whatever, you're the driver. From user at domain.invalid Thu Dec 3 10:10:42 2009 From: user at domain.invalid (Farelf) Date: Thu Dec 3 10:15:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: I'll soon be naked In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Charles wrote: > Lying on the floor. Please don't send pictures. From nobody at spamcop.net Thu Dec 3 17:54:37 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Heidi) Date: Thu Dec 3 17:55:07 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: I'll soon be naked References: Message-ID: "Charles" wrote in message news:Xns9CD683023BF8ETheShrubIsAnAss@216.154.195.61... > It's frowned on to post those here and it does't look like you're using a > real address. But, hey, I could do ascii art of my zoloft, or something, > maybe. Did you do lots and lots of research on zoloft before you took it? Just asking...no, I am not Tom Cruise... From nobody at spamcop.net Thu Dec 3 17:56:42 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Heidi) Date: Thu Dec 3 18:00:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: What the heck is "spirituality"? And why do we need it? References: Message-ID: "Mike Easter" wrote in message news:hf8b9q$urq$1@news.spamcop.net... > Heidi wrote: >> "Mike Easter" > >> She seems to want him to have some kind of belief system that > reconciles >> with hers, or at least that she can understand. > > Where did you see Chas say that she said that (what you said after > 'seems to want')? > > I only recall... > > Charles wrote: >> But my therapist wants me to get in touch with my spiritual >> side. > > ... and similars. He didn't say it, but she asked about it, and then keeps asking about it, even when he answered. Obviously she has an answer in mind that he hasn't given her yet. Doesn't mean his answer is wrong, but why else would she keep asking about it? Does someone HAVE to have a 'spiritual side' anyway? From MikeE at ster.invalid Thu Dec 3 18:14:50 2009 From: MikeE at ster.invalid (Mike Easter) Date: Thu Dec 3 18:15:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: What the heck is "spirituality"? And why do we need it? References: Message-ID: Heidi wrote: > "Mike Easter" > He didn't say it, but she asked about it, and then keeps asking about > it, even when he answered. I don't know how you would know /how/ he answered. I don't. > Obviously she has an answer in mind that he > hasn't given her yet. Doesn't mean his answer is wrong, but why else > would she keep asking about it? Does someone HAVE to have a 'spiritual > side' anyway? We never did comprehensively define spirituality; but the significant wiki section on 'defining' spirituality was mentioned. It seems that many members of this group aren't particularly 'religious', but in spite of that, it also seems that there is some kind of assumption that the therapist might be (religious whatever that means). What if we assume that she is only as religious as the average participant (not counting lurkers) in this group is religious. Then what do we get? -- Mike Easter kibitzer, not SC admin From borgholio at storymind.com Thu Dec 3 19:14:57 2009 From: borgholio at storymind.com (Borgholio) Date: Thu Dec 3 19:15:07 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: my two cats, one mouse In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Sylvesterthekat wrote: > Borgholio wrote in > news:hf72oi$eno$1@news.spamcop.net: > > >> Love your accent, btw. :-P >> > > aha, you noticed me scolding the beasts ;o) Yeah and commenting on that "poor creature" :) From borgholio at storymind.com Thu Dec 3 20:07:55 2009 From: borgholio at storymind.com (Borgholio) Date: Thu Dec 3 20:10:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: my two cats, one mouse In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Sylvesterthekat wrote: > Borgholio wrote in news:hf9k9o$b1b$2 > @news.spamcop.net: > >> Yeah and commenting on that "poor creature" :) >> > > poor creature is now ensconced in a little hutch in my den, makes forays > out of his nest to his food bowl and is otherwise not visible! some pet! > but the option was to leave it to certain death and i couldn't do that. > i'll have to put it in the hamster ball for a bit of a hoot. apparently you > can get 'hamtrack' track for the ball to roll around. that cracked me up My sister used to have hamsters, and we had a thing called a Habitrail. http://www.habitrail.com/ From nobody at spamcop.net Thu Dec 3 20:37:24 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Heidi) Date: Thu Dec 3 20:40:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: my two cats, one mouse References: Message-ID: "Sylvesterthekat" wrote in message news:Xns9CD6A1434124Fsylvesterthekat@216.154.195.61... > Borgholio wrote in > news:hf72oi$eno$1@news.spamcop.net: > > >> >> Love your accent, btw. :-P >> > > aha, you noticed me scolding the beasts ;o) 'orrible beasts! :D From me at privacy.net Thu Dec 3 22:57:58 2009 From: me at privacy.net (Frog Prince) Date: Thu Dec 3 23:15:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: I'll soon be naked References: Message-ID: "Sylvesterthekat" wrote in message news:Xns9CD6A1AF79B6Esylvesterthekat@216.154.195.61... > Charles wrote in > news:Xns9CD65C1BE4BC7TheShrubIsAnAss@216.154.195.61: > >> Lying on the floor. >> > > whoa dude... do we want any more info? Reminds me of a Jonny Carson punch line ".... lieing like a rug" From dfmanno at mail.com Thu Dec 3 23:23:15 2009 From: dfmanno at mail.com (D.F. Manno) Date: Thu Dec 3 23:25:07 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: I'll soon be naked References: Message-ID: In article , "Heidi" wrote: > Charles wrote: > > > It's frowned on to post those here and it does't look like you're using a > > real address. But, hey, I could do ascii art of my zoloft, or something, > > maybe. > > Did you do lots and lots of research on zoloft before you took it? Just > asking...no, I am not Tom Cruise... Riiiight. Because a seriously depressed person has lots and lots of energy to do lots and lots of research. -- D.F. Manno | dfmanno@mail.com Religion ... the only winning move is not to play! From avoozl at spamcop.net Fri Dec 4 15:46:50 2009 From: avoozl at spamcop.net (Chris Willoughby) Date: Fri Dec 4 15:50:09 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: my two cats, one mouse References: Message-ID: "Sylvesterthekat" wrote in message news:Xns9CD59265C513Asylvesterthekat@216.154.195.61... > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFvcG4Cemsc poor kitties.. no snack for them! ;) You ruined their fun.. hehehe From fiyntyd02 at sneakemail.com Fri Dec 4 17:41:57 2009 From: fiyntyd02 at sneakemail.com (Mr K. Mean) Date: Fri Dec 4 17:45:09 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: On jealousy In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: On 12/03/2009 10:46 PM, Heidi wrote: > "Mr K. Mean" wrote in message > news:hf7lau$lat$1@news.spamcop.net... >> >> Nothing beats my morning porridge. Some cinnamon and honey on top, yum, >> keeps me going until lunch. > > By porridge you mean steel cut oats? I eat those in the winter, mixed with > oat bran for healthy fiber. I like cooked oatmeal, that instant crap or > rolled oats doesn't do it for me, I like the toothsome chew of nice steel > cut oats. With some walnuts and a dab of maple syrup. MMMM. It's been > unseasonably warm here this fall, so I've been eating cold cereal. For now. I'm very particular about my porridge. I don't think I've seen steel cut around much. At least I've tried every type I've seen. Most of them are pretty mushy. There was one in the UK that Sainsburys sold that was really great, pretty thick, got almost pretty chewy when you cooked it and had like a sweet glaze on top of the pot. I'm still on a quest to find something that good. But I think as long as the rolled oats still have the bran in them (seems lots of rolled take it out), they work pretty well. So, I use the best I can find, mix it all up the night before and cook it over a super low flame the next morning. Even though the summer. I think I've kind of gone off cold cereal in the last few years. > Man, I would love that, but I would want to know everything about keeping > them healthy beforehand, they can get some odd diseases and problems. It > would be a chicken obsession. The perfect diet, the perfect house. And I > want colored eggs too, I want some blue ones, because they're pretty. It does seem like a lot to take on. Of different animals, they seem like they don't need a huge amount of attention, but still enough to need to keep on top of things. I know my friend had one of the chickens getting pecked by the other ones and they had to intervene before it got killed by them. The perfect house seems to be any old bits of things you find in a scrapyard, stuck together in some way. The perfect feed seems to be any old food that doesn't go into the compost bin. > ITA...obesessive, controlling, jealous behavior isn't part of a healthy > relationship, usually it's a very one sided one. > > So Kerry Mean, I've missed seeing your photos from England, is there a photo > journal from Oz? I've lost touch with things..... Not so many photos recently. I haven't taken a whole lot, mostly just of the garden. And I'm still recovering from a hard drive crash recently. It has taken a long time to rebuild a system the way I like it. I just haven't gotten to organizing a lot of pictures either. I still have 5 months of travel pictures that I haven't gotten through yet. It seems like I had more time when I was working, or at least my time was more structured. Or I guess I had more time when I had a job where I could spend 30 minutes a day working on my personal life stuff, the last job though was too crazy to do any of that. And now I'm just trying to figure out what to do with my life. I really feel done with writing software. I'm looking to go back to school, get a degree in sustainability of some sort (energy, water, horticulture, etc). I just can't take a job where I don't want to get up in the morning anymore. But that's taken a lot of time and research. Most of the pictures end up on facebook now. What do I have: Garden - http://tinyurl.com/yga5pmj Weekend in the Grampians - http://tinyurl.com/yjvabvr House - http://tinyurl.com/ygz8xvo Another weekend - http://tinyurl.com/yfgfvos Birds - http://tinyurl.com/yz2a8xr Melbourne - http://tinyurl.com/yhg4ezs Some bands - http://tinyurl.com/yfavjou Old Wirral pictures - http://tinyurl.com/yg97pkk From nobody at spamcop.net Fri Dec 4 21:16:36 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Fri Dec 4 21:20:07 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: What the heck is "spirituality"? And why do we need it? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "Charles" wrote in message news:Xns9CD561D74E798TheShrubIsAnAss@216.154.195.61... > It wasn't me! It was "Mike Easter" ! >> Charles wrote: > >>> is back on spirituality. >> >> No wonder if you (think you) were severely damaged by attending Sunday >> school and hearing something or other. > > It's not that. Or it is but it isn't. "You've walled off this part of > yourself. You need to get back in touch with it. I think it's there." > Whoa. > It *is* there....you've just trained yourself to forget or bury the bad memories, just like I did. A good therapist should be able to coax them out of your subconcious memory using various techniques. From nobody at spamcop.net Fri Dec 4 21:34:18 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Fri Dec 4 21:35:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: What the heck is "spirituality"? And why do we need it? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "Heidi" wrote in message news:hf9fnb$bkd$1@news.spamcop.net... Does someone HAVE to have a 'spiritual side' anyway? > I've come to believe that we all have one, regardless of how hard we try to suppress it.....and this is coming from a one of the most "used to be" agnostic/atheist guys you'll ever meet or know. But like I've said before, spirituality and religion have almost nothing in common. To me, spirituality is more like being able to sense the energy enamating you and from others, even energy from those no longer alive.....it's very real if you allow yourself to "feel" it. For a long time I believed that those sensations were created by my own brain, being the skeptic that I've always been, but over the last 5-10 years I've discovered that there's a lot more to it than simple rationalization of strange feelings and sensations. For instance, I've learned how to detect when my lymphatic system is in disarray, and feeding this information to my various health care providers short-cuts them having to take the time to discover it on their own. Some of you may laugh or ridicule me for my current beliefs, but I know what I know....and for me to turn 180 degrees about the issue(s) under discussion should be proof enough. From nobody at spamcop.net Fri Dec 4 21:41:18 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Fri Dec 4 21:45:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: I'll soon be naked In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "Charles" wrote in message news:Xns9CD6C0C037FCATheShrubIsAnAss@216.154.195.61... I mean, what will my new normal look like - since I'm NO > WAY IN HELL going back to the old normal. Where am I now? What am I now? > I'm fucking lost! > Chill a bit...it take a couple weeks for something like Zoloft to build up to a constant level in your bloodstream to have it's proper effect. From nobody at spamcop.net Fri Dec 4 21:50:24 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Fri Dec 4 21:55:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: I'll soon be naked In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "Charles" wrote in message news:Xns9CD6C1B6BA33CTheShrubIsAnAss@216.154.195.61... > It is Weezer. Alas, today it sure felt like I had come undone. Now... > Now I'm on zoloft. And having some kind of reaction. This is probably > not > good. Hmm. Anyway, it's making me hyper. Hard to wallow when you're > hyper! BTDT...both with my BP/Lyme med Benicar and with the low dose of hydrocortisone I'm currently on (10 mg/day). Taking the second 5 mg of hydro after 6:30 pm or so means no sleep that night, and taking the Benicar before bedtime means a racing heartbeat and no sleep too. You need to learn how/when to take the Zoloft to minimize the negative side effects, it's a process everyone has to go thru when they start taking a relatively powerful new med. And I have loads of experience when it comes to that! Sheesh, this new antibiotic I'm on for Lyme disease has really gotten me into terrible state, the herxheimer reactions are killing me right now....at least that's a sign that it's working..... From nobody at spamcop.net Fri Dec 4 21:59:20 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Fri Dec 4 22:00:09 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: On jealousy In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "Heidi" wrote in message news:hf4b3r$9c2$1@news.spamcop.net... > If some guy I've just been dating for a couple of weeks told me that > ANYTHING I did made him jealous? BUH-BYE. Not an appropriate emotion > toward someone you barely know. I don't think it's a healthy emotion in a > relationship, period. If you have a trusting relationship, then jealousy > is irrelevant. Well hang on there a second....in part I totally agree with you, but Borg says she's going away on weekend trips with these guy friends? What are the sleeping arrangements? Who's paying for the lodging? How long have they been such close friends, and has she explained it to Borg? There's smoke from what I can see......and BTW, you can't possibly have a "trusting relationship" with someone you barely know. From MikeE at ster.invalid Sat Dec 5 01:46:18 2009 From: MikeE at ster.invalid (Mike Easter) Date: Sat Dec 5 01:50:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: What the heck is "spirituality"? And why do we need it? References: Message-ID: Indigo wrote: > and for me to turn 180 degrees about the issue(s) under > discussion should be proof enough. For you to turn 180 degrees about the issues under discussion are apparently proof enough to you that you have turned 180 degrees about the issues under discussion. For you to turn 180 degrees about anything isn't 'proof enough' of anything to anyone else. One must be a little more cautious about how they throw around a term/phrase like '(should be) proof enough', especially in discussions of such as spirituality and related. -- Mike Easter kibitzer, not SC admin From nobody at spamcop.net Sat Dec 5 09:35:16 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (bar0) Date: Sat Dec 5 09:40:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Antique Xmas tree decoration mystery References: Message-ID: "Indigo" wrote in message news:hf13b0$4e8$1@news.spamcop.net... > On Thanksgiving, my Dad brought down boxes of old and unsused Xmas > decorations for us "kids" to go thru, we all took what we wanted and he > threw out the rest. I scored some very weird antique Xmas tree round light > bulb decorations that used to belong to my Grandma -- they have raised > features on them (not a smooth bulb), they look like they were hand > painted with various holiday themes (most likely with lead paint), and > they have a very tiny male screw-in light bulb connector on the bottom. > > My guess is that they were used on a string that held powered female light > sockets wired in series, and you could pick and choose where to place each > decorative bulb by screwing them into the light string once it was on the > tree. I'm positive that at some point in the 1900's (maybe 1950 or so?) > they were banned because of the electricution and fire hazard. The female > sockets would have been large enough for tiny fingers and/or pine needles > to get inside very easily, causing injury or fire. Someday I'll get around > to looking them up on Ebay to see exactly what they are and what they're > worth, if I figure out the correct search term. > > Has anyone here ever seen or heard of such decorative light bulbs and can > point me in the right search direction? FP, you're old enough to maybe > have even owned them, or at least seen them in action -- do you know > anything about them? > Check for a stamp on the metal at the base, you may need a maginifying glass. But that should indicate one of the voltage or power from which you can deduce the voltage by measuring resistance. I remember early series wired luight strings and also parallel wired strings with small roughly 3/8ths" or so sockets. Strings with such sockets are still available in Europe and here in specialty shops (it's been some time sice I checked). I have a 16 lamp series string like that, but my lights look like 6" tapers. Since replacement bulbs are hard to find, I have it wired through a 2 position dimmer switch when I put these "candles" on my tree. The ones you describe were made in England I think, mine are German. Are you looking for the string? From nobody at spamcop.net Sat Dec 5 18:22:38 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Heidi) Date: Sat Dec 5 18:25:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: What the heck is "spirituality"? And why do we need it? References: Message-ID: "Indigo" wrote in message news:hfcgr9$enc$1@news.spamcop.net... > > "Heidi" wrote in message > news:hf9fnb$bkd$1@news.spamcop.net... > Does someone HAVE to have a 'spiritual side' anyway? > > Some of you may laugh or ridicule me for my current beliefs, but I know > what I know....and for me to turn 180 degrees about the issue(s) under > discussion should be proof enough. That was a rhetorical question, BTW. I'd like to know the therapist's definition of 'spiritual', and whether or not it involves religion. From nobody at spamcop.net Sat Dec 5 18:40:10 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Sat Dec 5 18:45:09 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] It's SNOWING! Message-ID: Yesterday after my chiropractic appt. I came home, looked at the sky, and could tell some weather was coming, rain I thought, since the temp was about 45 F. So I took my little battery powered leaf blower and cleaned up the scattered leaves that my neighbor kid missed while cleaning up my yard last Sunday, and also cleaned up the hill behind my house where I'd planted grass seed on about 70% of the area. The grass had grown in beautifully, and I didn't want it smothered all winter by huge wet oak leaves. While leaf blowing the side yard, I was very dismayed to discover that the seed I had planted there at the same time I did the hill had _not_ grown in well, and as a result the side yard was half mud and half grass. So I raked the bare spots to stir up the soil and scattered the remaining grass seed, thinking "how lucky for me, it's probably going to rain for a couple days and the seed will germinate fast without me having to water it". Well, I was right about the precipitation, but very wrong about what kind! Laying in bed this morning I could here the occasional drips of moisture dropping off the shed roof, and felt quite self-satisfied for accurately predicting the weather without going to weather.com. When I finally dragged my tired ass out of bed around 1:30 this afternoon (last night was monocycline night, still herxing the day after I take it), I went to the kitchen to take my morning pills, looked out the window, and was truly shocked to see a veritable blizzard going on outside! Around 4:30 it had finally stopped snowing, so I went out to shovel off my car and deck before the stuff froze overnite (it was exactly 32 F outside at the time)-- the concrete driveway and front steps were just wet, they had retained enough heat from the days before to melt the snow. But boyo, was the stuff that piled up on the deck and car HEAVY -- it was very, very wet, almost slush, nearly 3" deep. I was very careful to use proper body ergonomics while cleaning up, and luckily I didn't aggravate my neck or back just one day after getting a lot of relief from the chiropractic adjustments. Unfortunately my new tires had to be back ordered and won't arrive until the middle of next week. Hopefully the weather will warm up and the local roads won't freeze, because if they do I am grounded.....and it just started snowing again, dammit....I DON'T WANT WINTER TO COME YET!!!! From nobody at spamcop.net Sat Dec 5 22:09:01 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Sat Dec 5 22:10:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Antique Xmas tree decoration mystery In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "bar0" wrote in message news:hfdr39$7tv$1@news.spamcop.net... The ones you describe were made in England I think, mine are German. > Are you looking for the string? Not really, just trying to find out as much info as I can about them. From nobody at spamcop.net Sat Dec 5 22:37:28 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Sat Dec 5 22:40:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: It's SNOWING! In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "Sylvesterthekat" wrote in message news:Xns9CD8C2857FEA9sylvesterthekat@216.154.195.61... > > Shoulda done what Heidi did and get your snow tires fitted before the > first snow hit! Or aren't they snow tires? Just balding regular ones? Nobody really fits on a set of winter "snow tires" anymore, especially for high performance sedans. It's too expensive unless you have stamped steel wheels with hubcaps, not custom OEM rims, let alone finding the storage space for the winter tire set. We used to do that when I was a kid, but back then you were allowed to use studded tires, which made a gigantic difference in the winter. They've been banned for many years now in the US because they destroyed roads in dry conditions. My old tires are rated "M+S", which means mud and snow, i.e. All-Weather Tires (or tyres to you ;-) But all of the customized rubber across the width of the tire has been scrubbed off, so I'm left with the hard base rubber compound, which absolutely sucks in the rain, lateral grip-wise. They still have enough tread depth to channel water away from the ground patch, so at least I'm not hydroplaning yet. The new tires I'm waiting on have three different rubber compounds and tread patterns on the inside, middle, and outside, each for a different condition, be it snow, rain, or dry. One cool thing about them is they have the letters "DWS" stamped onto the tread, and as the tire wears the letters start to disappear. So when the "S" is no longer visible that means the rubber compound added for grip in the snow has worn off of the tire, when the "W" disappears the performance in the wet is compromised, etc. They're a brand new tire design issued this year, so there's no historical data on how long they'll last, but they're waranteed for 50k miles, so I expect that they're the last set of tires I'll be buying for this car before I get rid of it. I'm paying off the car loan on Monday so I'll own it free and clear. Edmunds says it's worth around 1/2 the original dealer price (I've only put 40k miles on it in more than 4 years because of my illness), so if push comes to shove I could sell it and buy a pretty decent car without having to lay out any cash. Hopefully it won't come to that though! Won't ever be buying another new TL though (currently own a 2005 RL), I saw one yesterday and was disgusted by how Acura has bastardized the great 2003-2007 design. From MikeE at ster.invalid Sun Dec 6 00:15:22 2009 From: MikeE at ster.invalid (Mike Easter) Date: Sun Dec 6 00:20:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: It's SNOWING! References: Message-ID: Sylvesterthekat wrote: > Hubby in England and I'm bored! Where I come from, we call that 'horny' -- all that stuff about meaningful palaver with your significant other is just some kind of intellectual foreplay. :-) -- Mike Easter kibitzer, not SC admin From borgholio at storymind.com Sun Dec 6 10:33:50 2009 From: borgholio at storymind.com (Borgholio) Date: Sun Dec 6 10:35:09 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: It's SNOWING! In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Mike Easter wrote: > Sylvesterthekat wrote: > >> Hubby in England and I'm bored! > > Where I come from, we call that 'horny' -- all that stuff about > meaningful palaver with your significant other is just some kind of > intellectual foreplay. > > :-) > > > Yes but Skat is English, she has to at least pretend to be more civilized than the rest of us. :-P From fiyntyd02 at sneakemail.com Sun Dec 6 15:40:22 2009 From: fiyntyd02 at sneakemail.com (Mr K. Mean) Date: Sun Dec 6 15:45:07 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: It's SNOWING! In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: On 12/07/2009 02:33 AM, Borgholio wrote: > Mike Easter wrote: >> Sylvesterthekat wrote: >> >>> Hubby in England and I'm bored! >> >> Where I come from, we call that 'horny' -- all that stuff about >> meaningful palaver with your significant other is just some kind of >> intellectual foreplay. > > Yes but Skat is English, she has to at least pretend to be more > civilized than the rest of us. :-P I guess you have never been in Newcastle on a Friday/Saturday night during the height of hen/stag party (bachelor parties) season. From nobody at spamcop.net Sun Dec 6 16:22:59 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Sun Dec 6 16:25:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: It's SNOWING! And my Furnace is BROKEN!!! In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "Indigo" wrote in message news:hff8to$phb$1@news.spamcop.net... > I'm paying off the car loan on Monday so I'll own it free and clear. SHIT!!! SHITFUCK! SHITFUCKMOTHERFUCKER! Felt like crap this morning and slept in until 1:30 again. Got out of bed (naked, like usual) and started shivering. Looked at the electronic thermometer on my dresser and saw that it was 62 F in my bedroom! But the furnace blower was running?!? Got dressed, checked the thermostat, turned up the heat setting, nothing. Went downstairs and opened up the furnace, the blower motor was hot as hell but the burners were out. Got out the user's "manuals" for the furnace, it said to reset the power breaker, did that, went up stairs, now the brand new BGE installed thermostat screen was totally blank. Went back downstairs, got out my voltmeter to check the power terminals inside the furnace that connect to the thermostat, and the second I touch the first two terminals with the VM leads the blower restarted! Went upstairs and now the thermostat screen is lit, but it's reset (from flipping the breaker) and asking for current time and date. I just click ok ok ok to get to the main screen, turn up the heat setting, go downstairs to check the furnace, and now I smell gas! I shut off the main gas feed and killed the power to the furnace, then got on the phone with BGE to have a thermostat tech come out and have a gas guy come out to check for the souce of the gas. Long story short: thermostat is working the way it should, the ignitor in the furnace is controlled by the furnace, not the thermostat, and there's no gas leak. What apparently happened is that my ignitor, a simple resistor that probably costs about $3, is fried -- I either get an open circuit or 0.4 ohm reading depending on what scale I have the VM on. Since the thing is supposed to glow red hot to ignite the gas in the burners, and I'm guessing the real resistance is WAY higher than 0.4 ohms! When the thermostat told the furnace to start, it opened the gas solenoid valve, but since the igniter is fried there was nothing to burn off the gas, ergo me smelling the "leak". So now I have to do a mad google search for the igniter part number and pray that I can go to Home Depot and buy one, else I face an emergency weekend service call that will cost hundreds of dollars just to replace a FUCKING THREE DOLLAR PART! From nobody at spamcop.net Sun Dec 6 16:46:39 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Heidi) Date: Sun Dec 6 16:50:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: It's SNOWING! And my Furnace is BROKEN!!! References: Message-ID: "Indigo" wrote in message news:hfh7bl$fl0$1@news.spamcop.net... > >> So now I have to do a mad google search for the igniter part number and >> pray > that I can go to Home Depot and buy one, else I face an emergency weekend > service call that will cost hundreds of dollars just to replace a FUCKING > THREE DOLLAR PART! It just cost Mr. Rent $97 to do the same thing for my furnace, which is only a couple of years old.... From nobody at spamcop.net Sun Dec 6 19:27:53 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Heidi) Date: Sun Dec 6 19:30:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: On jealousy References: Message-ID: "Indigo" wrote in message news:hfcia8$f8f$1@news.spamcop.net... > > Well hang on there a second....in part I totally agree with you, but Borg > says she's going away on weekend trips with these guy friends? What are > the sleeping arrangements? Who's paying for the lodging? How long have > they been such close friends, and has she explained it to Borg? There's > smoke from what I can see......and BTW, you can't possibly have a > "trusting relationship" with someone you barely know. None of those questions are relevant, if she is still choosing to go away without her new "boyfriend", sans explanation of the details, then it's pretty clear "she's just not that into you", or at best it's perfectly innocent and he has no reason to worry. Either way, if she's choosing to exclude him and doesn't give details, then there's a reason for it, and it means that they are not on the same page. Either he has unrealistic expectations of a relatively new relationship, or she isn't as serious as he is or is maybe put off by the posessiveness. From nobody at spamcop.net Sun Dec 6 23:18:06 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Sun Dec 6 23:20:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: It's SNOWING! And my Furnace is BROKEN!!! In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "Heidi" wrote in message news:hfh8o1$g2i$1@news.spamcop.net... > > "Indigo" wrote in message > news:hfh7bl$fl0$1@news.spamcop.net... >> >>> So now I have to do a mad google search for the igniter part number and >>> pray >> that I can go to Home Depot and buy one, else I face an emergency weekend >> service call that will cost hundreds of dollars just to replace a FUCKING >> THREE DOLLAR PART! > > It just cost Mr. Rent $97 to do the same thing for my furnace, which is > only a couple of years old.... Turns out hardware stores don't carry furnace repair parts, probably because the appliance manuals stop at the point where "if this doesn't work, call a qualified service professional" so stupid people don't try to replace high voltage parts without doing something as simple as killing the power to the furnace first. So I'm without heat tonight, and will be using a small space heater in my bedroom to keep the room above 60 F, hopefully. After googling for the furnace replacement parts (much more difficult than anyone here probably realizes), I drove to Lowes to see if they had any of the parts I needed. I had a "smack the forehead" moment on the way there, when I realized that the BGE gas leak checker was incorrect about what he said about that thing that looks like a resistor that was supposed to be "glowing red". I had discovered that it's actually a high temp cutoff _thermistor_ , not the ignitor source like he told me. Unfortunately, while trying to remove the actual ignitor from the burners, I shattered it when the vise grips slipped -- the bolts holding it in place were so rusted wrenches were just "spinning their wheels" trying to loosen up the bolts. What I figured out (too late) is that the overtemp sensor, a kind of thermostat, had fried (measured as an open circuit) and that was what was preventing the ignitor from getting powered up. I could have just jumpered the two leads and bypassed the overtemp switch temporarily to get the furnace working again until I could replace the sensor at my leisure. But because I shattered the fragile silicon ignitor, I'm stuck until tomorrow when I can hopefully find a shop that will sell me the replacement parts (not a done deal, most places only sell parts to licensed HVAC contractors). The ignitor I broke is going to cost around $30 to replace if I'm lucky, and the thermistor only costs two bucks! It was a really lousy day to be suffering from "brain fog" due to my herxing, I probably could have figured out the real problem before I tried to remove the burners and ignitor before breaking it......damn, it's getting hard to type now, my hands are freezing.....the temp is down to 56 F in the rest of the house, barely holding around 60 F in the bedroom.....I left all the lights in the basement on, plus I plugged in a 1000 watt halogen work lamp down there to provide some more heat (and it puts off gobs of heat!).....the basement is quite toasty now, but unfortunately the heat hasn't migrated upstairs yet......and it might not ever get upstairs due to the lousy basement insulation. From nobody at spamcop.net Sun Dec 6 23:25:39 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Sun Dec 6 23:30:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Google wave anyone? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "Gezgin" wrote in message news:hemlkq$a78$1@news.spamcop.net... > "Sylvesterthekat" wrote > >> I wonder how >> they're going to make money out of it. > > That's something I've always wondered about Google: How *do* they make > money? *I've* never paid them anything. Have you ever notice the right side of the Google search page? Those are paid ads, and the higher up on the list you are the higher you have to pay per eyeball, whether they click on the link or not....I think it costs even more if they DO click on your advertised link. IMHO those paid links are the LEAST useful of any of the links displayed in the normal left side of the page, since they have such an enormous amount of keywords that anything remotely close to your true search shows those paid ads, making them pretty useless. I've quit clicking them because of their over-broad nature. From fiyntyd02 at sneakemail.com Mon Dec 7 01:38:51 2009 From: fiyntyd02 at sneakemail.com (Mr K. Mean) Date: Mon Dec 7 01:40:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: On jealousy In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: On 12/07/2009 11:27 AM, Heidi wrote: > "Indigo" wrote in message > news:hfcia8$f8f$1@news.spamcop.net... >> >> Well hang on there a second....in part I totally agree with you, but Borg >> says she's going away on weekend trips with these guy friends? What are >> the sleeping arrangements? Who's paying for the lodging? How long have >> they been such close friends, and has she explained it to Borg? There's >> smoke from what I can see......and BTW, you can't possibly have a >> "trusting relationship" with someone you barely know. > > None of those questions are relevant, if she is still choosing to go away > without her new "boyfriend", sans explanation of the details, then it's > pretty clear "she's just not that into you", or at best it's perfectly > innocent and he has no reason to worry. Either way, if she's choosing to > exclude him and doesn't give details, then there's a reason for it, and it > means that they are not on the same page. Either he has unrealistic > expectations of a relatively new relationship, or she isn't as serious as he > is or is maybe put off by the posessiveness. That's sort of my thinking. Then add in that about every 3 months or so, Borg seems to be finding the 'one' after just a few dates. It leads me to think that he is often misjudging the relationships as something much more than they are. Unless both of you have discussed and agreed that you are in an exclusive relationship, well, you ain't. You can't make it into that unilaterally by just wanting it enough, trying hard, being jealous, etc. You know, instead of worrying so much about finding the one, getting that all wrapped up so you don't have to worry about finding that anymore, well, life doesn't work like that. Things change, people change, people evolve at different rates, everybody is at different stages of their lives, you will probably have to deal with that. Even if you are in some stable exclusive relationship, you should be out there still, meeting new people, living your own life, growing your own life, because just holding onto that one relationship as the only thing in your life is going to drive things apart eventually. From nobody at spamcop.net Mon Dec 7 16:12:40 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Bar0) Date: Mon Dec 7 16:15:07 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Look! References: Message-ID: "Charles" wrote in message news:Xns9CDA9B8F3D357TheShrubIsAnAss@216.154.195.61... > Look at all of the pretty colors! I didn't know counsellors could dispense acid. From nobody at spamcop.net Mon Dec 7 22:22:15 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Mon Dec 7 22:25:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Look! In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "Charles" wrote in message news:Xns9CDAB8599D1B2TheShrubIsAnAss@216.154.195.61... > No way it was me! It was "Bar0" ! > >> I didn't know counsellors could dispense acid. > > According to them none of the things that are happening to me are supposed > to be possible. And I'm feeling MUCH worse than before. Care to expand on that? Pretty vague....suffering a kind of nervous breakdown or what? From joegill at removethis Mon Dec 7 22:25:46 2009 From: joegill at removethis (Joe Gill) Date: Mon Dec 7 22:30:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Look! In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "Charles" wrote in message news:Xns9CDA9B8F3D357TheShrubIsAnAss@216.154.195.61... > Look at all of the pretty colors! Crank up "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds".... or Jefferson Airplane's "White Rabbit"... or Moody Blues.. From nobody at spamcop.net Mon Dec 7 22:46:11 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Mon Dec 7 22:50:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] What a PITA! Message-ID: If you ever take it upon yourself to replace the ignitor in your gas furnace, think twice.......I spent an hour on the phone this morning before finding a place that would actually sell me the two parts I needed to replace in my furnace, the hot gas ignitor and the flame sensor, which is a simple thermistor (a type of temperature sensor commonly used in aerospace applications). I finally found a Trane warehouse 30 miles from me that was willing to sell the parts to me directly (every other place I called only sells to licensed HVAC contractors), so this afternoon I went up there to pick up the two parts, a total of $40. When I got home, I shattered the old gas ignitor just by trying to remove the rusted bolt that held it to the mounting bracket. No big deal, it was a part I was replacing anyway, right? WRONG. When I tried to bolt the new ignitor to the burner assembly, I "luckily" noticed that the replacement bolt was too long and was putting pressure on the new ceramic/silicon ignitor, so I backed out the bolt a little bit so I could snip off the end using a pair of wire cutters (the bolt was only 1/8" thick). Well.....the shock and vibration of cutting off the end of the bolt shattered the new ignitor coil! FUCK!!!! I got back on the horn with the Trane distributor and asked if there were any dealers/contractors closer to me that had another ignitor, and luckily they found one that had one, just one, new ignitor, and they were only 15 minutes away. So I drove to their place, and they gave me a new one free of charge (felt pity for me?) under their warantee program, even though I'd broken the other new one by mishandling it. So I VERY carefully re-assembled the burners, the ignitor, and the flame sensor, re-installed them into the furnace, closed it up, opened up the gas valve and closed the circuit breaker, then went upstairs to reprogram the thermostat.....and after an agonizing 20 second wait the furnace fired up, and heat was coming out of the vents! Thank ghod.....it was down to 53 F in the house at the time.....then I rushed out to get my 4 new tires mounted to my car, which only took an hour. So know I have a safe vehicle (in the short 20 minute drive home I already fell in love with the new tires), and my house is no longer a refrigerator......so what's going to break next? 50 quatloos to whomever guesses correctly.....you can pick from the clothes dryer, the oven/stove (yeah, right, I've put soooo much of a burden on that!), the fridge, the dishwasher, or the roof, I guess.....all the other major items have been serviced, repaired, or replaced in the last 16 years......dammit, this is EXACTLY why I never planned on staying in this house this long! From nobody at spamcop.net Tue Dec 8 08:53:36 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Tue Dec 8 08:55:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: What a PITA! In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "Charles" wrote in message news:Xns9CDB55DBEE508TheShrubIsAnAss@216.154.195.61... > It wasn't me! It was "Indigo" ! > >> .the shock and vibration of cutting off the end of the bolt >> shattered the new ignitor coil! > > Doh! I do imagine the expression on my face at the instant it happened was quite precious.....the split second before the flood of screams and curses came flooding out of my mouth ;-) I called my Dad while I was waiting for my new tires to be mounted to talk to him about my furnace problems, and told him that my combined gas/electric bill had skyrocketed to nearly $300 last month, over $120 higher than I've ever paid, and it wasn't even cold yet! We started to wonder whether a failing igniter could have led to poor efficiency in the furnace, or if something more insiduous was going on.....when I tore apart the heat exchanger section last December to unplug the condensate line I noticed the coils were pretty rusted, but my summer electric bills for airco weren't unusually high this year. So maybe the reading was off.....according to the county, my water usage also tripled over the 3 month period from July-Sept of this year...to an unreal 200 gals of water/day! And I didn't even water the grass but 3-4 times all summer! So I got to mebbe suspect meter readings here.......or a huge unseen water leak somewhere under the house.....but my sump pump would've been running all summer if I had a leak that size..... From me at privacy.net Tue Dec 8 10:52:33 2009 From: me at privacy.net (Frog Prince) Date: Tue Dec 8 10:55:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Look! References: Message-ID: "Charles" wrote in message news:Xns9CDB5574F8556TheShrubIsAnAss@216.154.195.61... > It wasn't me! It was "Indigo" ! > >> Care to expand on that? Pretty vague....suffering a kind of nervous >> breakdown or what? > > Feels like it. I lost my shopping cart twice the other day. And it took > me 1 1/2 hours to shop for 3 little bags of groceries. Pathetic. Let's > just say that it was a bad day. Looks like I've worked 16 hours the past > 3 > days. Today seems to be starting OK. Let's hope it holds. > > So, anyway, yes, of course I'm keeping it vague. That would be me! But, > yes, I do feel a hell of lot more empathy with you and your travails these > days, trust me. Living and learning and growing... Classic signs of mental and perhaps physical exhaustion typically caused by stress and depression. When my physical pain levels go over the hill I'm often in that state. I know what works for me but solutions are individual specific. In my case pain meds make matters worse. My thoughts and prayers are with you my friend. From fiyntyd02 at sneakemail.com Tue Dec 8 17:58:16 2009 From: fiyntyd02 at sneakemail.com (Mr K. Mean) Date: Tue Dec 8 18:00:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: What a PITA! In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: On 12/09/2009 01:20 AM, Charles wrote: > It wasn't me! It was "Indigo"! > >> 200 gals of water/day > > The little green people are fanatical about being clean. You should see > their little bidets... So cute! Wow, the Victorian water police would probably be beating down my door by then. We are supposed to be at 155 litres(40 gallons)/day per person. With rain water collection and grey water reuse, we were at like 180/day for a 2 person household last quarter. So, that was good, even with spring and putting in a garden and that week of 100+ temperatures last month. They have been at stage 3a restrictions for years (no car washing, no lawn watering, garden watering 2x week) and have been threatening to move to stage 4 (basically no water use allowed outside). From nobody at spamcop.net Tue Dec 8 20:54:24 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Tue Dec 8 20:55:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: What a PITA! In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "Charles" wrote in message news:Xns9CDB5EF881EE3TheShrubIsAnAss@216.154.195.61... > It wasn't me! It was "Indigo" ! > >> 200 gals of water/day > > The little green people are fanatical about being clean. You should see > their little bidets... So cute! I called the county water-sewer utilility to complain about my water bill, they're sending someone out on Thursday to check the meter. The two previous summers (much hotter than this one, I watered the lawn a lot more those past years), and the water usage for the same period was 151 gal/day in 2007, 172 gal/day in 2008, but a whopping 197 gal/day in 2009. That's by far the highest amount of water I've ever used during any summer. Something ain't right, I barely watered my lawn at all this summer since it was much cooler than normal and I was sicker this summer than last year and didn't take as much care of my yard as I normally do. From nobody at spamcop.net Tue Dec 8 20:55:54 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Tue Dec 8 21:00:07 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Look! In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "Frog Prince" wrote in message news:hflsob$6ee$1@news.spamcop.net... > > "Charles" wrote in message > news:Xns9CDB5574F8556TheShrubIsAnAss@216.154.195.61... >> It wasn't me! It was "Indigo" ! >> >>> Care to expand on that? Pretty vague....suffering a kind of nervous >>> breakdown or what? >> >> Feels like it. I lost my shopping cart twice the other day. And it took >> me 1 1/2 hours to shop for 3 little bags of groceries. Pathetic. Let's >> just say that it was a bad day. Looks like I've worked 16 hours the past >> 3 >> days. Today seems to be starting OK. Let's hope it holds. >> >> So, anyway, yes, of course I'm keeping it vague. That would be me! But, >> yes, I do feel a hell of lot more empathy with you and your travails >> these >> days, trust me. Living and learning and growing... > > Classic signs of mental and perhaps physical exhaustion typically caused > by stress and depression. Could also be a sign of PTSD.... From avoozl at spamcop.net Wed Dec 9 03:16:50 2009 From: avoozl at spamcop.net (Chris Willoughby) Date: Wed Dec 9 03:20:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: What a PITA! References: Message-ID: "Sylvesterthekat" wrote in message news:Xns9CDBD454F916Fsylvesterthekat@216.154.195.61... > My money's on the roof. > > It's been f*cking freezing here, I kid you not. This morning there was > FROST, yes F.R.O.S.T. on the lawns, roofs and trash bins. UNbelievable! > And tonight it's supposed to be colder!!! EEEEK! Thank goodness the > furnace is working (famous last words). > hehe, Did you guys get snow like the rest of the valley did? From me at privacy.net Wed Dec 9 10:49:29 2009 From: me at privacy.net (Frog Prince) Date: Wed Dec 9 10:50:09 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: It's SNOWING! References: Message-ID: We're suppose to get several inches in N. Texas next week. It's expected to stick and may be 'dry snow' so the kids are wound up like 8 day clocks. We've a week's supply of comfort food (I'm not leaving the house -- too dangerous -- if god wanted Texans to know how to deal with show he'd have made B* white). Folk that own the farm/ranch next door have told the complex management the kids are welcome to come over and play in the snow. Since I'm on the 3rd floor I have a full view of the festivities so ... let the games begin. From fiyntyd02 at sneakemail.com Wed Dec 9 21:31:38 2009 From: fiyntyd02 at sneakemail.com (Mr K. Mean) Date: Wed Dec 9 21:35:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: What a PITA! In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: On 12/09/2009 03:56 PM, Sylvesterthekat wrote: > "Mr K. Mean" wrote in news:hfmlm9$fg3$1 > @news.spamcop.net: > >> So, that was good, even with spring and putting in a garden and that >> week of 100+ temperatures last month. They have been at stage 3a >> restrictions for years (no car washing, no lawn watering, garden >> watering 2x week) and have been threatening to move to stage 4 >> (basically no water use allowed outside). > > Methinks they'd better build more desalination plants. Cars there must look > shocking lol. There's something I've never understood, the whole obsession with washing cars. Mid winter and the door handle gets all muddy, or washing off the road salt, well ok, but is there really any rational reason to waste something like 50 gallons of water because your car is a little dusty? What a ridiculous vain thing to be doing. Even when I had a car, I never saw the point in washing it more than a few times a year. Yeah, Victoria is building a desalination plant. There is almost no water recycling and reuse going on, still only limited use of rain water tanks, so lets throw billions at desalination - high energy usage (and high emissions), all the damage caused by dumping hot brine back into the ocean. Sadly, conservation never seems to be on the table. Hmm, http://www.greenlivingpedia.org/Victorian_desalination_plant But then, the Liberal Party just remade themselves over as hardline climate change skeptics last week. Gotta ship more coal to China, you know, damn the torpedoes. From nobody at spamcop.net Wed Dec 9 21:21:52 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Wed Dec 9 21:45:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: What a PITA! In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "Sylvesterthekat" wrote in message news:Xns9CDBD454F916Fsylvesterthekat@216.154.195.61... > My money's on the roof. That would be my bet too, I think.....I have a flyer from some local contractor to clean out gutters and install plastic gutter guards for a seemingly incredibly low price of $115 (probably per side, althought the flyer says "Install gutter guards on all sides of the house for $115). I have these self installed wire mesh gutter guards, and not only do they allow the local skinny leaves of a certain tree to penetrate, they're installed in 3 foot sections and a royal PITA to handle without bending them. This contractor also offers a roof inspection and re-sealing of all vent boots where the various plumbing vents penetrate the roof for only $35, the primary source of a rotted and failing roof. Calling them is and has been on my "to do" list, so I'll probably get to them this week since I've cleared a ton of items of the list in the last 2-3 weeks. From nobody at spamcop.net Wed Dec 9 21:31:08 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Wed Dec 9 21:45:09 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: What a PITA! In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "Sylvesterthekat" wrote in message news:Xns9CDBD4ACBA01Bsylvesterthekat@216.154.195.61... > > ... oh lordy > > do you ever compare their readings with your own? i'd have been out there > looking at all the meters to see if they were right. could be that they > hadn't actually been out to read them in a long time and were under > estimating? I spent yesterday poring over both the water readings/bills over the last three years plus the whopping electric/gas utility bill I had last month, double my usual amount. In the previous 3 summers in the period from July-Sept I used 151 gal/day in 2007, 172 gal/day in 2008, then this ridiculous reading of 197 gal/day in 2009. I barely even watered the grass this year because it was such a cool summer, previous years I'd watered the yard almost weekly for those 3 months. I called the local gov. water/sewer dept yesterday and they're coming out tomorrow to check my meter and look for leaks. I also went over my BGE bill with a fine tooth comb and discovered that I'd paid double what the bill should have been. Turns out that I paid the bill electronically on the due date, but BGE's systems to 5 days to register the payment, so in effect I paid for last month's bill twice! With just computers involved, I don't understand the delay in BGE's system, but I guess I'll have to pay it a week in advance to avoid a similar situation in the future. At least I discovered that my gas usage hadn't soared because of my furnace problems..... From nobody at spamcop.net Wed Dec 9 21:33:04 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Wed Dec 9 21:45:09 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: It's SNOWING! In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "Sylvesterthekat" wrote in message news:Xns9CDBD5CEF6A74sylvesterthekat@216.154.195.61... > > How cool! So if you drive it in mud, say, does it leave a letter > impression in it? > Only if there's an immediate volcanic eruption that solidifies the "footprint" into the mud for all of eternity ;-) From nobody at spamcop.net Wed Dec 9 21:37:23 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Wed Dec 9 21:45:10 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Look! In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "Charles" wrote in message news:Xns9CDC504D47BA6TheShrubIsAnAss@216.154.195.61... > It wasn't me! It was "Indigo" ! > >> Could also be a sign of PTSD.... > > You're killing me. Whaddya mean? You just went thru a tremendously traumatic event! I suffered from PTSD after my root canal from hell in Nov 06, but that was physical pain, not emotional......not saying the the same level of emotional/mental stress can't cause the same level of PTSD....it's definitely something you should address with your therapist, and I'm kind of surprised she hasn't zeroed in on it (unless she has and you just haven't said so here, which of course is always your right). From nobody at spamcop.net Wed Dec 9 21:40:27 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Wed Dec 9 21:45:10 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Look! In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "Charles" wrote in message news:Xns9CDC99854A28BTheShrubIsAnAss@216.154.195.61... > No way it was me! It was Sylvesterthekat ! > >> what psychotropics are you on now dude? > > As of this afternoon, none. Side effects are pretty strong... What specifically did you experience with Zoloft that made you stop taking it, if you feel comfortable discussing it in public? I'm *still* on a low dose of it (50 mg/day), and at the higher dose I started at 100 mg/day, it absolutely killed my libido in particular, which I didn't exactly mind at the time since I was single and very sick, with no intention of dating anyway, so it was kind of a blessing in disguise back then. From me at privacy.net Thu Dec 10 07:12:17 2009 From: me at privacy.net (Frog Prince) Date: Thu Dec 10 07:25:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] A closer look: "eco-friendly" tires Message-ID: FYI A) They don't provide that much better gas milage B) Have less stopping power C) Cost more http://blog.gasbuddy.com/posts/A-closer-look-eco-friendly-tires/1715-390659-182.aspx?m=GfDz%2b%2boMDLS%2fKv%2fZ7ZCUpA%3d%3d From nobody at spamcop.net Thu Dec 10 09:21:49 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Thu Dec 10 09:25:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: A closer look: "eco-friendly" tires In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "Frog Prince" wrote in message news:hfqp3o$8tf$1@news.spamcop.net... > FYI > > A) They don't provide that much better gas milage > B) Have less stopping power > C) Cost more > > http://blog.gasbuddy.com/posts/A-closer-look-eco-friendly-tires/1715-390659-182.aspx?m=GfDz%2b%2boMDLS%2fKv%2fZ7ZCUpA%3d%3d > > Without even looking at that link, I'll bet Michelin has a hand in those tires. That's one of the reasons I just dumped mine - all the rubber that was left was the hard base compound, which gives you good mileage but has terrible traction. My Dad used to have some "high tread life" Michelins on one of his cars years ago, and the tires were like rocks, and drove like it! Couldn't stop, couldn't turn, just slipped anywhere and everwhere because the rubber was so hard. Got my first "road test" of my new tires yesterday with a fresh tank of gas to check the gas mileage, and like some folks on another MB suggested it does indeed look like they're going to cost me about 2-3 mpg on the highway, at least until they start to wear a bit. However, they also will allow my car to stop in about a 20-25 ft shorter distance from 60 mph than my original tires in new condition, and that's HUGE..... From nobody at spamcop.net Thu Dec 10 09:23:18 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Thu Dec 10 09:25:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Look! In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "Charles" wrote in message news:Xns9CDD574A78247TheShrubIsAnAss@216.154.195.61... > No way it was me! It was "Indigo" ! >> "Charles" wrote in message >> news:Xns9CDC99854A28BTheShrubIsAnAss@216.154.195.61... >>> No way it was me! It was Sylvesterthekat ! >>> >>>> what psychotropics are you on now dude? >>> >>> As of this afternoon, none. Side effects are pretty strong... >> >> What specifically did you experience with Zoloft that made you stop >> taking it, > > Things are still up in the air - I am on it but we're evaluating. As I > said, the transition was really freaking intense. > > >> it absolutely killed my libido in particular, > > Opposite effect here. Holy freaking cow and how. LOL....thank ghod that's not what it did to me! Guess your SO ain't too unhappy about the turn in events, eh? From nobody at spamcop.net Thu Dec 10 09:23:57 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Thu Dec 10 09:25:09 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Look! In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "Charles" wrote in message news:Xns9CDD5702F533BTheShrubIsAnAss@216.154.195.61... > No way it was me! It was "Indigo" ! >> "Charles" wrote in message >> news:Xns9CDC504D47BA6TheShrubIsAnAss@216.154.195.61... >>> It wasn't me! It was "Indigo" ! >>> >>>> Could also be a sign of PTSD.... >>> >>> You're killing me. >> >> Whaddya mean? You just went thru a tremendously traumatic event! > > Well it's all better now. Om. Or, at least it's all different now. Not > supposed to be able to take effect this quickly but after a BRUTAL > transition period here I am. Maybe a bit on the hyper side but certainly > not able to cry or to feel sad for any length of time or anything. I need to think about this more before I reply....gottta get to acupuncture right now anyway.... From nobody at spamcop.net Thu Dec 10 12:58:32 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Thu Dec 10 13:00:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] My goodness, it actually works! Message-ID: Last Sunday I was watching a football game using straight cable while recording another one using my DVD recorder, something that occurs several times/week. I had recently bought a nice 7" LCD HDTV for my kitchen so I wouldn't miss exciting plays while preparing dinner or whatever. But on Sunday the moveable external antenna couldn't consistently pull in the channel the game was on (sunspots?), so I missed a kickoff return for a touchdown. ME NOT HAPPY! So Monday I ordered an AC powered and gain-adjustable indoor UHF HDTV antenna from MCM Electronics, it was on sale for only $15. It looks just like miniature outdoor TV antenna: http://www.mcmelectronics.com/product/30-2100 In the past I've purchased two different (and relatively expensive) powered FM antennas to try to improve my FM radio reception (my neighborhood is kind of in a hole in the ground, topologically speaking), but both of them proved to be totally worthless and are now gathering dust in my basement. So I initally hesitated about buying the HDTV antenna, but figured for a mere $15 plus shipping (and I had some other stuff to order anyway), it was worth a chance. I got it yesterday afternoon, put it on top of my fridge in an out-of-the-way spot, hooked it up, set the gain to the 13 db max, ran channel scan on the mini TV, and WOW, what a difference that antenna made! It pulled in a couple of channels that the original detachable antenna couldn't find, and on top of that every channel I checked came in crystal clear, no digital noise on the display and no LOS. Yippee! Then I went downstairs to my electronics parts storage box and grabbed a couple of short co-ax cables, a male-male connector, and a two-way switch. I mounted the switch under the kitchen cabinet that's next to the cabinet the TV sits underneath of on a little shelf I made, connected all three co-ax cables, tidied up the cable/wire runs, then tested out the switch. It works beautifully, and all of the cables and wires are completely hidden except for a two inch gap where the antenna cable + AC wires cross from the side of the cabinet to behind the fridge , a nice clean install, just the way I like it. I just got finished printing out and taping labels to the switch so me and other folks will know which side does what and what channel the TV needs to be set to for watching the cable signal. Very kewl, all in all....and now I won't have to miss any more touchdowns! (or passes/wrecks come F1 season, S-kat ;-) And best of all, despite all the weird positions I had to get my head and neck into to work in between the bottoms of the cabinets and the countertop, my neck and/or back muscles didn't go into spasm....I'm finally healing for real! From nobody at spamcop.net Thu Dec 10 13:11:20 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Thu Dec 10 13:15:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Look! In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "Indigo" wrote in message news:hfr09t$bik$1@news.spamcop.net... > > "Charles" wrote in message > news:Xns9CDD5702F533BTheShrubIsAnAss@216.154.195.61... >>>> You're killing me. >>> >>> Whaddya mean? You just went thru a tremendously traumatic event! >> >> Well it's all better now. Om. Or, at least it's all different now. Not >> supposed to be able to take effect this quickly but after a BRUTAL >> transition period here I am. Maybe a bit on the hyper side but certainly >> not able to cry or to feel sad for any length of time or anything. What's all better now? What's different? Do you mean you're no longer overwhelmed by the emotions triggered by the tragic event? And that's because the Zoloft has finally "kicked in"? I think I noticed a pretty dramatic change within the first 3-4 days after I started it, but how fast it starts to work is dependent upon the dosage, the individual's body/brain chemistry, and how stable or unstable the person was before they "lost it". IOW, nobody reacts the same way, which is true for the vast majority of medications, even OTC meds. From nobody at spamcop.net Thu Dec 10 19:22:47 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Heidi) Date: Thu Dec 10 19:25:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Collecting addresses for nefarious purposes References: Message-ID: "Charles" wrote in message news:Xns9CDDC086BD8EBTheShrubIsAnAss@216.154.195.61... > Um. Like I had xmas postcards printed and they mailed me twice what I > ordered. So anyone I'm friendly with who wants one should email me (at my > valid address as listed above) with their snail addy. ME ME! I'll trade you....... From nobody at spamcop.net Thu Dec 10 19:27:36 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Heidi) Date: Thu Dec 10 19:30:09 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Look! References: Message-ID: "Charles" wrote in message news:Xns9CDD574A78247TheShrubIsAnAss@216.154.195.61... > > Things are still up in the air - I am on it but we're evaluating. As I > said, the transition was really freaking intense. > There's a lot of info out there, some anecdotal, actually most because the drug companies won't admit there's a problem, but it's very hard to get off of once you're on it, the withdrawal makes you feel so shitty you start taking it again so it will stop. Can they not adjust the dosage so it isn't like a freight train? From nobody at spamcop.net Thu Dec 10 19:36:07 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Thu Dec 10 19:40:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Look! In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "Charles" wrote in message news:Xns9CDD89921A663TheShrubIsAnAss@216.154.195.61... > No way it was me! It was "Indigo" ! > >> What's all better now? What's different? Do you mean you're no longer >> overwhelmed by the emotions > > I mean I feel high all of the time and I can't cry. It's not necessarily > pleasant or a good place to be. In fact, it doesn't feel like me at all! > But the sadness looks like it's gone. Hmm...anti-depressants aren't supposed to be "puppy uppers"....your dose may be too high....but don't change it without conferring with your doc, you have to wean off that stuff slowly or you can suffer badly.....your body has to get used to the new dose and it takes weeks, if not months, depending on how long you've been taking it. For instance, if I just totally stopped taking my hydrocortisone I'd get sick as a dog because my adrenal glands are not used to having to produce all of the hormones my body demands, they'd have to go into hyperdrive to catch up and I'd end up with adrenal exhaustion again, which is what put me into this condition in the first place. Today I lowered my dosage again to the min level, 5 mg/day, because I was seeing signs of too much adrenal hormone production (I'll leave it to all y'all's imagination what the side effects were, some were good and some were bad). From nobody at spamcop.net Thu Dec 10 19:59:32 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Thu Dec 10 20:00:07 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] If you recieve a shocking water bill..... Message-ID: I now have the answers for you. My water bill for the months of July-September of this year TRIPLED from around 5,000 cu. ft in the previous quarter to over 17,000 cu ft! I had the county come out today to inspect my water meter, and boy, did I learn a ton of information about how the water system works. 1) The #1 cause of high water bills is leaking toilet flapper valves -- by the time the leak is big enough for you to hear it, the valve has likely been leaking for months. Relatively speaking, a leak the size of a 14 point font "period" dot can cause a daily water loss of about 120 gals/day! I remember replacing one of my flapper valves around that time period, probably towards the end of the quarter by the size of the water bill. 2) Modern water meters have a tiny spinning flow rate wheel inside of a flap on top of the meter -- you can lift up the flap, look at the tiny blue wheel, and if it's moving at all while no appliances using water you have a small leak somewhere. 3) A while ago, I think when the cold water feed to my water heater split last Dec and flooded my basement, there was a long debate about whether the pressure adjustement valve installed in modern houses can function as a "surge surpressor", dampening out any high pressure surges in the primary water feed line. The answer is yes, it does block outside pressure surges, and it also prevents internal pressure drops, like when someone flushes a toilet while someone is in the shower -- when I was a youngster, I can't count how many times someone taking a shower shrieked in pain as the water from the showerhead turned ice-cold or boiling hot after someone else opened a faucet or flushed a toilet. Older houses don't have those pressure adjustment valves. 4) As a result of item #3, the various plumbing line ruptures I've had since I've been in the house are now known to have been caused by the lack of an expansion tank on my old water heater (the county didn't used to require them, much to my current chagrin). 5) A very simple trick to see if your toilets are slowly leaking water, too slowly for you to hear, is to put a few drops of food coloring in the main water tank, then check the toilet bowl over the next few hours. If the food coloring shows up in the water in the toilet, your flapper valve needs replaced. 6) Rarely used toilets stashed away in corners of a normally unused basement should have their water valves closed, because they could leak for many, many months before someone went into that bathroom and heard/noticed the water leak. From me at privacy.net Fri Dec 11 08:27:16 2009 From: me at privacy.net (Frog Prince) Date: Fri Dec 11 08:30:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Look! References: Message-ID: "Charles" > >> it absolutely killed my libido in particular, > > Opposite effect here. Holy freaking cow and how. You braggin' or complain'? From gezgin at spamcop.net.which.is.not.invalid Fri Dec 11 09:36:07 2009 From: gezgin at spamcop.net.which.is.not.invalid (Gezgin) Date: Fri Dec 11 09:40:09 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Cambell's monkeys sing this song (Krako-oo, Krak-oo) Message-ID: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8405806.stm -- Bob http://www.kanyak.com From borgholio at storymind.com Sat Dec 12 01:53:30 2009 From: borgholio at storymind.com (Borgholio) Date: Sat Dec 12 01:55:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] What you wont' find laying around these days... Message-ID: Went bowling with my sister this afternoon and on the way back to our car, I noticed a crushed USB Thumbdrive laying on the ground. Upon closer inspection although the case was toast the circuitry seemed intact. So after bending the USB connector back to it's normal shape and popping it in, looks like I'm now the proud owner of an 8gb thumbdrive (sans case). AVG went apeshit over a few viruses that were on it...so I'm doing a full scan of my system now just to be safe. Seems ok though, since I didn't execute anything. Now what to do with the 6gb of personal information, pictures, and stuff... From MikeE at ster.invalid Sat Dec 12 05:13:28 2009 From: MikeE at ster.invalid (Mike Easter) Date: Sat Dec 12 05:15:07 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: What you wont' find laying around these days... References: Message-ID: Borgholio wrote: > Went bowling with my sister this afternoon and on the way back to our > car, I noticed a crushed USB Thumbdrive laying on the ground. Upon > closer inspection although the case was toast the circuitry seemed > intact. So after bending the USB connector back to it's normal shape > and popping it in, looks like I'm now the proud owner of an 8gb > thumbdrive (sans case). > > AVG went apeshit over a few viruses that were on it...so I'm doing a > full scan of my system now just to be safe. Seems ok though, since I > didn't execute anything. Now what to do with the 6gb of personal > information, pictures, and stuff... That is indeed a moral/ethical dilemma. Consider it to be similar to finding a billfold (in 'attractively' useful condition) with a few dollars and a lot of personal pictures and such as that. The number of dollars in the exemplary billfold could be considered to be approximately the value of an operational but de-cased 8G USB. Would you look thru' the information in the billfold to determine the identity of the owner so that you could call them up and tell them you had found their billfold and dollars and pics so that they could meet you somewhere or your house at your convenience and get it, including their dollars, or would you consider it to be a case of losersweepers finderskeepers? The dilemma analogy breaks down a little bit, because in the case of the billfold it is commonplace for it to have easily identifiable identification info expressing - this billfold and its ID cards belongs to so and so; whereas the thumbdrive is not going to contain something so easily associated with someone's identity. So, most likely it would turn into a major sleuthing operation, in which you had to examine 'everything' of a personal nature found on the drive and even then you might not be able to determine the identity of the previous owner. So, the moral/ethical dilemma becomes - is invading their privacy for the possibility of determining the identity of the owner offset by the potential 'value' to the owner of the thumbdrive -- or -- is the likelihood greater that since the info is digital that it was copied from something else and therefore the owner hasn't lost anything but the value of the 8G thumbdrive which was subsequently crushed into a condition which they no longer want. That is, even if you invaded the privacy and determined the owner identity and somehow contacted them and told them that you had found their thumbdrive and looked thru' all of the personal stuff and figured out who it belonged to, that they would not want the smashed USB anyway and be offended that you looked at their stuff. -- Mike Easter kibitzer, not SC admin From borgholio at storymind.com Sat Dec 12 05:33:50 2009 From: borgholio at storymind.com (Borgholio) Date: Sat Dec 12 05:35:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: What you wont' find laying around these days... In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Mike Easter wrote: Yeah I agree it's kind of a catch-22. I'm going to go on the assumption that the drive was lost accidentally, and play it safe by keeping the data intact (minus the virus scan). I will look at it from my perspective in regards to examining the files. If I lost a thumbdrive with important info on it, would I want someone to look through the data to try and return it to me? And if that person was honest enough to hunt me down in the first place, would I trust him to destroy the data afterwards? From MikeE at ster.invalid Sat Dec 12 06:04:15 2009 From: MikeE at ster.invalid (Mike Easter) Date: Sat Dec 12 06:05:07 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: What you wont' find laying around these days... References: Message-ID: Borgholio wrote: > Mike Easter wrote: > > > > Yeah I agree it's kind of a catch-22. I'm going to go on the assumption > that the drive was lost accidentally, and play it safe by keeping the > data intact (minus the virus scan). > > I will look at it from my perspective in regards to examining the files. > If I lost a thumbdrive with important info on it, would I want someone > to look through the data to try and return it to me? And if that > person was honest enough to hunt me down in the first place, would I > trust him to destroy the data afterwards? The assumption that the drive was lost accidentally - which I assumed was a given - doesn't help the dilemma. The problem with the 'do unto others...' clause for managing this moral dilemma is that you can't know 'what you would want the other person to do if they were you' because you don't know the 'conditions' under which the personal stuff was put on the usb. For example; for some/many/most people, 8G is sufficient to backup everything they have 'important' on their computer. So, it is possible that the 8G usb is their entire backup strategy that they employed when they discovered that their computer was 'dying' from virus infection -- and that explains why the usb was so contaminated. So then, their entire backup strategy which involved the usb preceded the death of their computer and all of its data when they took the computer to the fixit shop and the fixit man told them that it would cost so much to recover their old computer and data and they decided to jettison it in favor of a new computer. Then... ... the data on the usb becomes 'irreplaceable' - and it isn't the smashed usb they are dying to get back, but the data which you have rescued from the throes of infection. -- Mike Easter kibitzer, not SC admin From borgholio at storymind.com Sat Dec 12 06:37:49 2009 From: borgholio at storymind.com (Borgholio) Date: Sat Dec 12 06:40:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: What you wont' find laying around these days... In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Mike Easter wrote: > > ... the data on the usb becomes 'irreplaceable' - and it isn't the > smashed usb they are dying to get back, but the data which you have > rescued from the throes of infection. > Right, I plan on returning the data in CD format if I can find the owner. From nobody at spamcop.net Sat Dec 12 13:47:05 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Sat Dec 12 13:50:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: What you wont' find laying around these days... In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "Borgholio" wrote in message news:hfvel7$4ip$3@news.spamcop.net... > > AVG went apeshit over a few viruses that were on it...so I'm doing a full > scan of my system now just to be safe. Seems ok though, since I didn't > execute anything. Now what to do with the 6gb of personal information, > pictures, and stuff... Probably contains the personal info like SS #'s and addresses for all the employees of some company or customers of a credit card company somewhere.....or it belonged to someone working for the DOD taking stuff home to work on over the weekend.... From nobody at spamcop.net Sat Dec 12 13:56:31 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Sat Dec 12 14:00:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: What you wont' find laying around these days... In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "Mike Easter" wrote in message news:hfvqc5$96d$1@news.spamcop.net... > Would you look thru' the information in the billfold to determine the > identity of the owner so that you could call them up and tell them you > had found their billfold and dollars and pics so that they could meet > you somewhere or your house at your convenience and get it, including > their dollars, or would you consider it to be a case of losersweepers > finderskeepers? > No moral dilemma here, I've had my wallet stolen before and know the agony and fear that poor soul is going thru, so I'd find an ID inside and get in touch with the owner to return it, contents complete. > The dilemma analogy breaks down a little bit, because in the case of the > billfold it is commonplace for it to have easily identifiable > identification info expressing - this billfold and its ID cards belongs > to so and so; whereas the thumbdrive is not going to contain something > so easily associated with someone's identity. Don't all removable media contain some basic info about the computer that wrote the info to the drive? I forget what the name of the tiny file is (some kind of root file maybe?), but you might find it if you uncheck the box in folder options for "hide system files" or something similar. Even if that file isn't there, right-clicking on some other files and clicking on Properties/Details can reveal a LOT of personal info, especially files created by MS Office, for instance. From nobody at spamcop.net Sat Dec 12 13:58:54 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Sat Dec 12 14:00:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: What you wont' find laying around these days... In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "Borgholio" wrote in message news:hfvvaa$4ip$7@news.spamcop.net... > Mike Easter wrote: > >> >> ... the data on the usb becomes 'irreplaceable' - and it isn't the >> smashed usb they are dying to get back, but the data which you have >> rescued from the throes of infection. >> > > Right, I plan on returning the data in CD format if I can find the owner. You mean DVD, right? Unless you want to use up 10 CDs burning the near 8 GB of info. From MikeE at ster.invalid Sat Dec 12 14:44:05 2009 From: MikeE at ster.invalid (Mike Easter) Date: Sat Dec 12 14:45:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: What you wont' find laying around these days... References: Message-ID: Indigo wrote: > "Borgholio" >> Mike Easter wrote: >>> ... the data on the usb becomes 'irreplaceable' - and it isn't the >>> smashed usb they are dying to get back, but the data which you have >>> rescued from the throes of infection. >> Right, I plan on returning the data in CD format if I can find the >> owner. > > You mean DVD, right? Unless you want to use up 10 CDs burning the near > 8 GB of info. In the OP the personal data was about 6G on the 8G thumb. But I wouldn't put it on a DVD/s (6 might compress to less than 5) until such time that I had communicated with the owner and determined how the data was going to be transferred, if such even occurs. Lots of people don't 'do' DVDs; their optical is just for CD. Putting it all on any disk/s may not be as good an idea as uploading it to a file sharing site. Many of those will do gigs. Or, for some people, sending a blu-ray DVD in the mail would be the best strategy if the sender can burn it and the recipient can read it. Or mini bluray. It all depends. It all depends on the capabilities of the two parties and how the 'feelings' run about the privacy of the info. -- Mike Easter kibitzer, not SC admin From user at domain.invalid Sat Dec 12 22:05:20 2009 From: user at domain.invalid (Farelf) Date: Sat Dec 12 22:10:07 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: What you wont' find laying around these days... In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Indigo wrote: > > > Don't all removable media contain some basic info about the computer > that wrote the info to the drive? I forget what the name of the tiny > file is (some kind of root file maybe?), but you might find it if you > uncheck the box in folder options for "hide system files" or something > similar. Even if that file isn't there, right-clicking on some other > files and clicking on Properties/Details can reveal a LOT of personal > info, especially files created by MS Office, for instance. Could even be notes and stuff in "Alternate Data Streams". Most Windows users don't know about them, but the Apple world is different. http://infernallogic.com/text/ads.html From nobody at spamcop.net Sun Dec 13 13:38:08 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (bar0) Date: Sun Dec 13 13:40:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Oh, good feeling References: Message-ID: "Charles" wrote in message news:Xns9CE073FCA704TheShrubIsAnAss@216.154.195.61... > won't you stay with me - just a little longer? ... Now your daddy don't mind, And your mommy don't mind, From user at domain.invalid Wed Dec 16 11:44:46 2009 From: user at domain.invalid (Farelf) Date: Wed Dec 16 11:45:07 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Good interaction In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Charles wrote: > It wasn't me! It was Sylvesterthekat! > >> Charles wrote in >> news:Xns9CE36028778FCTheShrubIsAnAss@216.154.195.61: > >>> Dining table seats - so the kids can use regular chairs. >> >> ahh gotcha. well i bet the thieves were rather disappointed with their >> haul lol > > $20 seats at that! Not even worth reselling! It's crazy... You were robbed by the seven dwarfs? From kenbrody at spamcop.net Wed Dec 16 12:53:42 2009 From: kenbrody at spamcop.net (Kenneth Brody) Date: Wed Dec 16 12:55:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Good interaction In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Charles wrote: > It wasn't me! It was Sylvesterthekat ! > >> Charles wrote in >> news:Xns9CE36028778FCTheShrubIsAnAss@216.154.195.61: > >>> Dining table seats - so the kids can use regular chairs. >> ahh gotcha. well i bet the thieves were rather disappointed with their >> haul lol > > $20 seats at that! Not even worth reselling! It's crazy... Keep an eye out for them on eBay. -- Kenneth Brody From borgholio at storymind.com Wed Dec 16 13:13:10 2009 From: borgholio at storymind.com (Borgholio) Date: Wed Dec 16 13:15:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: What you wont' find laying around these days... In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Sylvesterthekat wrote: >> value of the 8G thumbdrive which was subsequently crushed into a >> condition which they no longer want. > > Personally, I would just throw the whole thing out, after wiping it. It > sounds like it's in bad shape anyway and riddled with viruses and > they're so cheap it's not worth keeping it. > I cleaned the viruses out of it...and I made a new case out of cardboard and tape. :) I'm keeping it. From borgholio at storymind.com Wed Dec 16 13:30:57 2009 From: borgholio at storymind.com (Borgholio) Date: Wed Dec 16 13:35:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: What you wont' find laying around these days... In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Borgholio wrote: > Sylvesterthekat wrote: > >>> value of the 8G thumbdrive which was subsequently crushed into a >>> condition which they no longer want. >> >> Personally, I would just throw the whole thing out, after wiping it. >> It sounds like it's in bad shape anyway and riddled with viruses and >> they're so cheap it's not worth keeping it. >> > > I cleaned the viruses out of it...and I made a new case out of cardboard > and tape. :) I'm keeping it. Wow...started going through the data. Not only are there large numbers of excel spreadsheets showing commission reports for a mobile phone store, as well as login names and passwords, but the guy left his 2008 tax return here. I now know his name, his wife's name, the name of his children, their social security numbers, everything... That's good, however, means I can track him down and give him the stuff back. I found two phone numbers, one for him and his wife. I will give them a call and arrange to return the data. From me at privacy.net Wed Dec 16 14:33:43 2009 From: me at privacy.net (Frog Prince) Date: Wed Dec 16 14:50:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: My goodness, it actually works! References: Message-ID: "Sylvesterthekat" wrote in message news:Xns9CE3434B851DCsylvesterthekat@216.154.195.61... > "Indigo" wrote in > news:hfrcs9$fvv$1@news.spamcop.net: > > >> Very kewl, all in all....and now I won't have to miss any more >> touchdowns! (or passes/wrecks come F1 season, S-kat ;-) And best of >> all, despite all the weird positions I had to get my head and neck >> into to work in between the bottoms of the cabinets and the >> countertop, my neck and/or back muscles didn't go into spasm....I'm >> finally healing for real! >> >> > > omigod i'm beside myself, we just got Speed in HD so next year, F1 is > gonna > be in glorious HD woo hoooooo! > > good job on the antenna, i'm surprised it worked so well, didn't have much > luck with those things in our apartment in west LA, maybe cos the walls > are > concrete and steel Rebar and extra reinforcement played h*ll with the initial coverage and installation of cellular in La and most other CA areas. > From nobody at spamcop.net Wed Dec 16 15:04:02 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Wed Dec 16 15:05:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] It works! Message-ID: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bal-md.hubble13dec13,0,1722443.story Pushing the Hubble Space Telescope's newest camera to its limits, astronomers say they have captured images of some of the most distant galaxies ever seen - more than 13 billion light years away. Amid a swarm of oddly shaped objects in the photograph are some dim, reddish spots that the scientists believe to be some of the earliest galaxies ever formed, seen as they appeared just 600 million years after the Big Bang that marked the beginning of the universe. "Preliminary indications are that we are indeed seeing some galaxies at [greater distances] than we saw previously," said Massimo Stiavelli, an astronomer at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore. He is a co-investigator on the latest observations, and a member of the team that developed the telescope's powerful new Wide Field Camera 3. His team is "seeing some of our early hopes confirmed," he said after the first image was released this week. "I think the instrument works very well. There are always teething problems, but they are very minor compared to other instruments. It's been a pretty impressive success, I would say." Scientists who study the beginnings of the universe have long pushed for more powerful cameras and telescopes to enable them to see ever deeper into the cosmos - and thus farther back in time. That, they say, will help them piece together the sequence of events that led to the birth of the first stars, the assembly of the first galaxies and the evolution of those galaxies into the vast spirals and glowing ellipticals visible much closer to us in time and space today. "Essentially, you have an archaeological record there," said Henry C. Ferguson, another astronomer at the institute who is conducting separate studies of the earliest galaxies. "You're ... trying to piece together a statistical picture of each slice in time; to see what the galaxies look like, estimate how many stars are in them, how much dust is in them, and their ages," he said. "You try to build a picture of how we got from tiny pieces of galaxies to the big galaxies we see today." Ferguson called the early results of Stiavelli's project "spectacular." Astronauts installed the new Wide Field Camera 3 in May. Unlike previous instruments used to probe the deepest reaches of the universe in visible light, the new WFC3 is tuned to the near-infrared wavelengths. It's a crucial advance, astronomers say, because, as the universe has expanded since the Big Bang, the waves of visible light from the first stars have been stretched - like wire Slinky toys - as they streamed toward Earth. And that has shifted them from shorter, visible or "optical" wavelengths to longer infrared wavelengths invisible to instruments built to see in the same range as the human eye. "At a certain point, the galaxies are so red-shifted they disappear from the optical," Ferguson said. "Hubble previously would not have seen them." The new camera not only sees galaxies too far, too dim and too red-shifted to show up in previous images, it can also see them across a much broader field of view - collecting data on far more of these ultra-distant galaxies at once, and doing it 30 times faster. Of course, "broad" is a relative term to astronomers. Ferguson said the new image encompasses a seemingly empty patch of sky about the size of a grain of sand held at arm's length. Stiavelli's team began its observations in late August, as Hubble was still being checked out and calibrated in the wake of the May repairs and upgrades. They made exposures totaling 173,000 seconds over four days. Then, they began a period of data processing. Typically, computer programs first rid the images of "artifacts," such as those caused by solar radiation, Ferguson said. Then the software sorts through all the galaxies and classifies them by size, color and brightness, looking for the most interesting, most red-shifted ones. The astronomers then step in "and decide whether you believe what the computer has found," Ferguson said. Light from those galaxies is analyzed to determine how distant they really are, and the physical properties revealed by their light spectra. That could take years, but even as they continue working to process additional data and improve its quality, Stiavelli said, "the data is already good enough to begin scientific analysis," he said. **** Note: The paper edition had a cool photo alongside the article, but for some reason it doesn't show up in the online version. To see it, go to http://www.scientificamerican.com/gallery_directory.cfm?photo_id=6FB7880C-9F1E-88E3-B8EABBEAF59E4D6E From nobody at spamcop.net Wed Dec 16 15:25:45 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Wed Dec 16 15:30:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: What a PITA! In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "Sylvesterthekat" wrote in message news:Xns9CE3413E4C21Dsylvesterthekat@216.154.195.61... > > Good thinking, they're probably desperate for business, hence the offer > price. don't be surprised if they 'find' a lot of things that need to be > done. Are you able enough to get up a ladder and take a look at what they > may be talking about? Yes, I cleaned out the gutters on the sump pump side of the house when I dug up and cleaned out that entire drainage system this summer. The worst clogging culprit is always the little cinders that fall off of the asphalt roof shingles, they get shoved into a big pile over time that even a big rainstorm isn't stong enough to break up the little "dam" in the gutter. > Roof is fairly new, made of composite stuff so should last a while. i had > some edges sealed before the first rain as the inspector pointed out the > flashing was separating from the roof material. No way in hell I was > getting up there and doing it! No way in hell I'm getting up on the roof to check the flashing either! Even in my younger, healthy years I never felt comfortable climbing around on the roof, one slip and you're dead. I'd buy the plastic cutter covers and install them myself, but they must have gotten a helluva good deal on them because it would cost me more than double what they want to charge just to buy the damn things, let alone the time and effort on a tottering ladder involved in installing them! From borgholio at storymind.com Wed Dec 16 16:32:31 2009 From: borgholio at storymind.com (Borgholio) Date: Wed Dec 16 16:35:09 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: It works! In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Indigo wrote: > http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bal-md.hubble13dec13,0,1722443.story > > > Pushing the Hubble Space Telescope's newest camera to its limits, > astronomers say they have captured images of some of the most distant > galaxies ever seen - more than 13 billion light years away. > > Amid a swarm of oddly shaped objects in the photograph are some dim, > reddish spots that the scientists believe to be some of the earliest > galaxies ever formed, seen as they appeared just 600 million years after > the Big Bang that marked the beginning of the universe. > > "Preliminary indications are that we are indeed seeing some galaxies at > [greater distances] than we saw previously," said Massimo Stiavelli, an > astronomer at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore. He is > a co-investigator on the latest observations, and a member of the team > that developed the telescope's powerful new Wide Field Camera 3. > > His team is "seeing some of our early hopes confirmed," he said after > the first image was released this week. "I think the instrument works > very well. There are always teething problems, but they are very minor > compared to other instruments. It's been a pretty impressive success, I > would say." > > Scientists who study the beginnings of the universe have long pushed for > more powerful cameras and telescopes to enable them to see ever deeper > into the cosmos - and thus farther back in time. > > That, they say, will help them piece together the sequence of events > that led to the birth of the first stars, the assembly of the first > galaxies and the evolution of those galaxies into the vast spirals and > glowing ellipticals visible much closer to us in time and space today. > > "Essentially, you have an archaeological record there," said Henry C. > Ferguson, another astronomer at the institute who is conducting separate > studies of the earliest galaxies. > > "You're ... trying to piece together a statistical picture of each slice > in time; to see what the galaxies look like, estimate how many stars are > in them, how much dust is in them, and their ages," he said. "You try to > build a picture of how we got from tiny pieces of galaxies to the big > galaxies we see today." > > Ferguson called the early results of Stiavelli's project "spectacular." > > Astronauts installed the new Wide Field Camera 3 in May. Unlike previous > instruments used to probe the deepest reaches of the universe in visible > light, the new WFC3 is tuned to the near-infrared wavelengths. > > It's a crucial advance, astronomers say, because, as the universe has > expanded since the Big Bang, the waves of visible light from the first > stars have been stretched - like wire Slinky toys - as they streamed > toward Earth. And that has shifted them from shorter, visible or > "optical" wavelengths to longer infrared wavelengths invisible to > instruments built to see in the same range as the human eye. > > "At a certain point, the galaxies are so red-shifted they disappear from > the optical," Ferguson said. "Hubble previously would not have seen them." > > The new camera not only sees galaxies too far, too dim and too > red-shifted to show up in previous images, it can also see them across a > much broader field of view - collecting data on far more of these > ultra-distant galaxies at once, and doing it 30 times faster. > > Of course, "broad" is a relative term to astronomers. Ferguson said the > new image encompasses a seemingly empty patch of sky about the size of a > grain of sand held at arm's length. > > Stiavelli's team began its observations in late August, as Hubble was > still being checked out and calibrated in the wake of the May repairs > and upgrades. They made exposures totaling 173,000 seconds over four days. > > Then, they began a period of data processing. Typically, computer > programs first rid the images of "artifacts," such as those caused by > solar radiation, Ferguson said. Then the software sorts through all the > galaxies and classifies them by size, color and brightness, looking for > the most interesting, most red-shifted ones. > > The astronomers then step in "and decide whether you believe what the > computer has found," Ferguson said. Light from those galaxies is > analyzed to determine how distant they really are, and the physical > properties revealed by their light spectra. > > That could take years, but even as they continue working to process > additional data and improve its quality, Stiavelli said, "the data is > already good enough to begin scientific analysis," he said. > > > > **** Note: The paper edition had a cool photo alongside the article, but > for some reason it doesn't show up in the online version. To see it, go > to > http://www.scientificamerican.com/gallery_directory.cfm?photo_id=6FB7880C-9F1E-88E3-B8EABBEAF59E4D6E > > That right there is proof that we're not alone in the universe. There are hundreds of billions of galaxies out there. Each galaxy has hundreds of billions of stars. Each star has at least a few planets. Some people want us to believe that in all that real estate we are the only civilization? Give me a break... From fiyntyd02 at sneakemail.com Wed Dec 16 18:03:18 2009 From: fiyntyd02 at sneakemail.com (Mr K. Mean) Date: Wed Dec 16 18:05:09 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: About time! Move to control ad volume. In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: On 12/17/2009 01:03 AM, Sylvesterthekat wrote: > http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8415214.stm > > The US House of Representatives has approved a bill which aims to limit the > volume of television advertisements. > > They've denied it for years, that the ads are louder, but we all know it's > BS. Sometimes the difference is shocking, I think they deliberately force > you to turn the volume up to listen to a show then it's all the more > deafening when an ad comes on. Guess they want you to hear their ads while > you're peeing. I worked in tv and radio for a long time. I know it is true that ads are not louder than the rest of it. However, the dynamic range of ads is much more compressed than the rest of the programming. If you are broadcasting, you watch the sound levels, if the average peaks go over 100%, you turn the sound down. So, basically, there will be no sound that really goes over 100% of whatever maximum volume is allowed to be broadcast over that frequency. Programming generally has a wide dynamic range. The sound of rain falling might be 20%, normal dialog might be like 60%, and an explosion might be 100%. But ads generally have their sound levels mixed so that everything hits 80-100%. The dynamic range is more compressed, the sound density is greater, but none of the sound is louder than anything else, in that average sound isn't louder than the maximum sound level permitted over that frequency. Yeah, I hate loud ads but I'm not quite sure how you could regulate them without getting really subjective or doing some sort of complex analysis of average peaks, sound density, etc. From nobody at spamcop.net Wed Dec 16 20:18:20 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (bar0) Date: Wed Dec 16 20:20:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Good interaction References: Message-ID: "Charles" wrote in message news:Xns9CE3805BE81B3TheShrubIsAnAss@216.154.195.61... > It wasn't me! It was Farelf ! > >> You were robbed by the seven dwarfs? > > Well, there were only 2 seats... So now at the dinner table there are only 5 dwarves. From MikeE at ster.invalid Wed Dec 16 22:16:38 2009 From: MikeE at ster.invalid (Mike Easter) Date: Wed Dec 16 22:20:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Good interaction References: Message-ID: bar0 wrote: > "Charles" >> Farelf < >>> You were robbed by the seven dwarfs? >> >> Well, there were only 2 seats... > > So now at the dinner table there are only 5 dwarves. Farelf sez dwarfs. bar0 sez dwarves, as in elves. Another final-f word with variable plurals. Wiktionary cites Tolkien as an important expositor of dwarves. Count the google hits. Think of white dwarfs and Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs. Search on both terms together. Find this discussion one http://snipr.com/tq44i Language Log - Dwarves vs. dwarfs That essay has some fascinating nuances -- such as fantasy usage (except SnowWhite) vs scientific -- and the consideration that one might *pronounce* roofs as 'rooves' but never spell it that way, just as one might pronounce dwarfs as dwarves but (maybe) never spell/write it that way. Pretty crazy, huh? -- Mike Easter kibitzer, not SC admin From user at domain.invalid Wed Dec 16 22:22:46 2009 From: user at domain.invalid (Farelf) Date: Wed Dec 16 22:25:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: About time! Move to control ad volume. In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Mr K. Mean wrote: > On 12/17/2009 01:03 AM, Sylvesterthekat wrote: >> http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8415214.stm >> >> The US House of Representatives has approved a bill which aims to >> limit the >> volume of television advertisements. >> ... > > I worked in tv and radio for a long time. I know it is true that ads are > not louder than the rest of it. However, the dynamic range of ads is > much more compressed than the rest of the programming. If you are > broadcasting, you watch the sound levels, if the average peaks go over > 100%, you turn the sound down. So, basically, there will be no sound > that really goes over 100% of whatever maximum volume is allowed to be > broadcast over that frequency. > ... > > Yeah, I hate loud ads but I'm not quite sure how you could regulate them > without getting really subjective or doing some sort of complex analysis > of average peaks, sound density, etc. Aye, though it's not prevented some trying hereabouts (UK too, I understand). Some wry comment on the Oz voluntary code - http://www.assg.org.au/op48.htm The ABA is long gone (fed up with being invited to perform) but I'm sure ACMA is a worthy and seamless successor. And Free TV Australia handles/accepts complaints about "loud commercials" to this day. Supposedly it is more addressable in this digital TV age (all magic to me) but I can't say I can hear any improvement. Ads still 'blare'. Some further discussion in this (even older) submission paper - http://www.freetv.com.au/SiteMedia/w3svc087/Uploads/Documents/f2f4d93a-dad5-4cb4-aff5-5c1c213f5d1e.pdf or http://snipurl.com/tq3yg I guess it is all "too hard", we must suffer for our pleasures - as always. Well, I'm not complaining, not too much. The years pass and I find myself struggling to follow the dialogue in normal programme material (that -15dB right ear thing must be getting worse, or maybe it's the tinnitus). At least I can still hear the 'ads'. :) You young whipper-snappers will just have to put up with it as they try to inveigle us old sacks of flatulence out of our few remaining denarii. It's for the good of the economy. Krudd has told us so and, being our primus inter pares, speaks truly for all of us. ;) From me at privacy.net Wed Dec 16 22:55:50 2009 From: me at privacy.net (Frog Prince) Date: Wed Dec 16 23:05:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: It works! References: Message-ID: "Borgholio" wrote in message news:hgbjl6$gf2$1@news.spamcop.net... > Indigo wrote: >> http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bal-md.hubble13dec13,0,1722443.story >> Pushing the Hubble Space Telescope's newest camera to its limits, >> astronomers say they have captured images of some of the most distant >> galaxies ever seen - more than 13 billion light years away. >> >> Amid a swarm of oddly shaped objects in the photograph are some dim, >> reddish spots that the scientists believe to be some of the earliest >> galaxies ever formed, seen as they appeared just 600 million years after >> the Big Bang that marked the beginning of the universe. >> >> "Preliminary indications are that we are indeed seeing some galaxies at >> [greater distances] than we saw previously," said Massimo Stiavelli, an >> astronomer at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore. He is a >> co-investigator on the latest observations, and a member of the team that >> developed the telescope's powerful new Wide Field Camera 3. >> >> His team is "seeing some of our early hopes confirmed," he said after the >> first image was released this week. "I think the instrument works very >> well. There are always teething problems, but they are very minor >> compared to other instruments. It's been a pretty impressive success, I >> would say." >> >> Scientists who study the beginnings of the universe have long pushed for >> more powerful cameras and telescopes to enable them to see ever deeper >> into the cosmos - and thus farther back in time. >> >> That, they say, will help them piece together the sequence of events that >> led to the birth of the first stars, the assembly of the first galaxies >> and the evolution of those galaxies into the vast spirals and glowing >> ellipticals visible much closer to us in time and space today. >> >> "Essentially, you have an archaeological record there," said Henry C. >> Ferguson, another astronomer at the institute who is conducting separate >> studies of the earliest galaxies. >> >> "You're ... trying to piece together a statistical picture of each slice >> in time; to see what the galaxies look like, estimate how many stars are >> in them, how much dust is in them, and their ages," he said. "You try to >> build a picture of how we got from tiny pieces of galaxies to the big >> galaxies we see today." >> >> Ferguson called the early results of Stiavelli's project "spectacular." >> >> Astronauts installed the new Wide Field Camera 3 in May. Unlike previous >> instruments used to probe the deepest reaches of the universe in visible >> light, the new WFC3 is tuned to the near-infrared wavelengths. >> >> It's a crucial advance, astronomers say, because, as the universe has >> expanded since the Big Bang, the waves of visible light from the first >> stars have been stretched - like wire Slinky toys - as they streamed >> toward Earth. And that has shifted them from shorter, visible or >> "optical" wavelengths to longer infrared wavelengths invisible to >> instruments built to see in the same range as the human eye. >> >> "At a certain point, the galaxies are so red-shifted they disappear from >> the optical," Ferguson said. "Hubble previously would not have seen >> them." >> >> The new camera not only sees galaxies too far, too dim and too >> red-shifted to show up in previous images, it can also see them across a >> much broader field of view - collecting data on far more of these >> ultra-distant galaxies at once, and doing it 30 times faster. >> >> Of course, "broad" is a relative term to astronomers. Ferguson said the >> new image encompasses a seemingly empty patch of sky about the size of a >> grain of sand held at arm's length. >> >> Stiavelli's team began its observations in late August, as Hubble was >> still being checked out and calibrated in the wake of the May repairs and >> upgrades. They made exposures totaling 173,000 seconds over four days. >> >> Then, they began a period of data processing. Typically, computer >> programs first rid the images of "artifacts," such as those caused by >> solar radiation, Ferguson said. Then the software sorts through all the >> galaxies and classifies them by size, color and brightness, looking for >> the most interesting, most red-shifted ones. >> >> The astronomers then step in "and decide whether you believe what the >> computer has found," Ferguson said. Light from those galaxies is analyzed >> to determine how distant they really are, and the physical properties >> revealed by their light spectra. >> >> That could take years, but even as they continue working to process >> additional data and improve its quality, Stiavelli said, "the data is >> already good enough to begin scientific analysis," he said. >> >> >> >> **** Note: The paper edition had a cool photo alongside the article, but >> for some reason it doesn't show up in the online version. To see it, go >> to >> http://www.scientificamerican.com/gallery_directory.cfm?photo_id=6FB7880C-9F1E-88E3-B8EABBEAF59E4D6E > > That right there is proof that we're not alone in the universe. There are > hundreds of billions of galaxies out there. Each galaxy has hundreds of > billions of stars. Each star has at least a few planets. Some people > want us to believe that in all that real estate we are the only > civilization? Give me a break... God may have found out "fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me'. Basically repeating the same mistake twice seeking a different outcome. From nobody at spamcop.net Wed Dec 16 23:03:52 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Wed Dec 16 23:05:09 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: A closer look: "eco-friendly" tires In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "Sylvesterthekat" wrote in message news:Xns9CE342AA041C7sylvesterthekat@216.154.195.61... > "Indigo" wrote in > news:hfr05u$bi8$1@news.spamcop.net: > > >> Got my first "road test" of my new tires yesterday with a fresh tank >> of gas to check the gas mileage, and like some folks on another MB >> suggested it does indeed look like they're going to cost me about 2-3 >> mpg on the highway, at least until they start to wear a bit. However, >> they also will allow my car to stop in about a 20-25 ft shorter >> distance from 60 mph than my original tires in new condition, and >> that's HUGE..... >> >> > > I'd value the stopping power over the lost mpg efficiency myself. Actually, I'm positive that the drastic drop in my recent MPG is because MD switched from the summer gas formulation to the ethanol "enhanced" fuel we have to use in the winter months to prevent ozone formation. Most of my previous cars typically saw a 2-3 mpg hit, but the new tires combined with the crappy winterized gas I took about a 4-5 mpg hit this year ;-( From user at domain.invalid Wed Dec 16 23:39:15 2009 From: user at domain.invalid (Farelf) Date: Wed Dec 16 23:40:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Good interaction In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Mike Easter wrote: > bar0 wrote: >> "Charles" >>> Farelf< > >>>> You were robbed by the seven dwarfs? >>> >>> Well, there were only 2 seats... >> >> So now at the dinner table there are only 5 dwarves. > > Farelf sez dwarfs. bar0 sez dwarves, as in elves. Another final-f word > with variable plurals. Wiktionary cites Tolkien as an important > expositor of dwarves. > > Count the google hits. Think of white dwarfs and Snow White& the Seven > Dwarfs. > > Search on both terms together. Find this discussion one > http://snipr.com/tq44i Language Log - Dwarves vs. dwarfs > > That essay has some fascinating nuances -- such as fantasy usage (except > SnowWhite) vs scientific -- and the consideration that one might > *pronounce* roofs as 'rooves' but never spell it that way, just as one > might pronounce dwarfs as dwarves but (maybe) never spell/write it that > way. Pretty crazy, huh? > Stuff like that used to drive me crazy. Now I love it. I guess I got driven all the way. It is all my (maternal) Grandfather's fault. He was a 'grammarian' of the old school, tied to the 'high Victorian' ideals of etymological purity and all the richness, power and diversity of the language, including the Anglo-Saxon parts of it and the strange, convoluted sentence/thought structures which sometimes resulted (read William Hope Hodgson's novels to see that in full flight). He was a cadet journalist, then a free-lancer at some stage - and quietly passionate. Well, 'quiet' in his old age. Like many (or perhaps most) Australians at the end of the nineteenth century he had no prejudice against 'American' spelling though the official version was British. People may have had bigger brains then, they had no difficulty accommodating both. Long after he died I came across what must have one of his main references (at the moment buried amongst 10,000 other volumes with insufficient shelving to hold them all). It was an 188? 'grammar', very thick but misprinted with a great section missing and replaced with a duplication of some earlier sections. Which accounts for a few things. It was heavily discounted from the listed price and must have been all he could afford at the time. I must dig it our again, much of what it told me I cannot recall but I guess is filed away somewhere in memory. Maybe it had something to say about dwarfs, certainly I considered dwarves but instantly preferred the other without further reference through some internal selection process, effectively effortless. I do remember (for instance) that Baxter, Sangster and Brewster are the feminine forms of Baker, Singer and Brewer respectively. Why was I not told such things before? Even by the long-ago days of my childhood, such things had become inconsequential. There were more important things to know, though I'm blessed if I recall exactly what those were, perhaps they're tucked away in case of need. Like the clear recollection, when the time came, that the (unimaginable) 21st century would begin on 1 January 2001 :). But I don't think anyone ever said exactly why, and kids can learn without the missing bits being filled in. There's more room that way. From fiyntyd02 at sneakemail.com Thu Dec 17 00:08:31 2009 From: fiyntyd02 at sneakemail.com (Mr K. Mean) Date: Thu Dec 17 00:10:09 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: A closer look: "eco-friendly" tires In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: On 12/17/2009 03:03 PM, Indigo wrote: > > Actually, I'm positive that the drastic drop in my recent MPG is because > MD switched from the summer gas formulation to the ethanol "enhanced" > fuel we have to use in the winter months to prevent ozone > formation. Most of my previous cars typically saw a 2-3 mpg hit, but the > new tires combined with the crappy winterized gas I took about a 4-5 mpg > hit this year ;-( You can thank millions of dollars of lobbying money from Archer Daniels Midland for the whole ethanol scam. What a horrible idea, converting food into fuel. And studies seem to indicate that it actually increases ozone levels, but nothing that spreading around a few campaign contributions won't fix (yep, Bob Dole, Bill Clinton, talking about you). From nobody at spamcop.net Thu Dec 17 09:33:22 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (bar0) Date: Thu Dec 17 09:35:09 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Good interaction References: Message-ID: "Mike Easter" wrote in message news:hgc7qj$sjr$1@news.spamcop.net... > bar0 wrote: >> "Charles" >>> Farelf < > >>>> You were robbed by the seven dwarfs? >>> >>> Well, there were only 2 seats... >> >> So now at the dinner table there are only 5 dwarves. > > Farelf sez dwarfs. bar0 sez dwarves, as in elves. Another final-f word > with variable plurals. Wiktionary cites Tolkien as an important > expositor of dwarves. > > Count the google hits. Think of white dwarfs and Snow White & the Seven > Dwarfs. > > Search on both terms together. Find this discussion one > http://snipr.com/tq44i Language Log - Dwarves vs. dwarfs > > That essay has some fascinating nuances -- such as fantasy usage (except > SnowWhite) vs scientific -- and the consideration that one might > *pronounce* roofs as 'rooves' but never spell it that way, just as one > might pronounce dwarfs as dwarves but (maybe) never spell/write it that > way. Pretty crazy, huh? And how about "warves"? From nobody at spamcop.net Thu Dec 17 09:46:51 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (bar0) Date: Thu Dec 17 09:50:07 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: About time! Move to control ad volume. References: Message-ID: "Farelf" wrote in message news:hgc866$sp0$1@news.spamcop.net... > Mr K. Mean wrote: >> On 12/17/2009 01:03 AM, Sylvesterthekat wrote: >>> http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8415214.stm >>> >>> The US House of Representatives has approved a bill which aims to >>> limit the >>> volume of television advertisements. >>> > ... >> >> I worked in tv and radio for a long time. I know it is true that ads are >> not louder than the rest of it. However, the dynamic range of ads is >> much more compressed than the rest of the programming. If you are >> broadcasting, you watch the sound levels, if the average peaks go over >> 100%, you turn the sound down. So, basically, there will be no sound >> that really goes over 100% of whatever maximum volume is allowed to be >> broadcast over that frequency. >> > ... >> >> Yeah, I hate loud ads but I'm not quite sure how you could regulate them >> without getting really subjective or doing some sort of complex analysis >> of average peaks, sound density, etc. There's the rub, I believe that in Canada and the US there were or are already well enforced, or, adhered to, industry practices "limiting" the volume of Ads to the surrounding programming volume. The problem is how do you define the volume. It's my impression that the volume is defined as some RMS amplitude over some defined time frame. since normal conversation and extraneous sounds have a huge dynamic range, programs seem (I was going to say appear, but that's an optical thing) to be typically quieter to catch the booms, bangs and emphases of the sound track. Since Ads are (relatively) short, and have few sounds besides muzak and speach, simply squashing the dynamic range with a short AVC and the same overall RMS amplitude will make them seem louder by many db than the programming. Advertisers of course exploit this to the max. Unfortunately ad blocking gear doesn't seem to exploit this very well. Of course, also, as a result of this I will NEVER knowingly purchase anything that was advertized by Billy Mays (or the like). Reason: these advertizers particularly pissed me off. (Yeah, I'll live with scratches on my cars finish) From nobody at spamcop.net Thu Dec 17 10:53:48 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (bar0) Date: Thu Dec 17 10:55:09 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Good interaction References: Message-ID: "bar0" wrote in message news:hgdffp$blt$1@news.spamcop.net... > > > And how about "warves"? maybe with an "aich" eh? From MikeE at ster.invalid Thu Dec 17 11:15:49 2009 From: MikeE at ster.invalid (Mike Easter) Date: Thu Dec 17 11:20:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Good interaction References: Message-ID: bar0 wrote: >> And how about "warves"? > > maybe with an "aich" eh? My wiktionary lists wharves and wharfs. I think that is another example of how I might write wharfs and say wharves, that is I would pronounce my 'fs' as something like 'fvvs', that's an f followed by a couple of v/s, not some kind of crazy w. I'm trying to express illustrate a phoneme which might be a personal one in ascii chars. -- Mike Easter kibitzer, not SC admin From nobody at spamcop.net Thu Dec 17 15:36:59 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Thu Dec 17 15:40:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: My goodness, it actually works! In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "Sylvesterthekat" wrote in message news:Xns9CE3434B851DCsylvesterthekat@216.154.195.61... > > omigod i'm beside myself, we just got Speed in HD so next year, F1 is > gonna > be in glorious HD woo hoooooo! > Damn, lucky you....those super-slo-mo shots of cars bouncing off the curbs (and each other) will look unbelievable on HD! I'm going to have to do a bit of research before the F1 season starts, so many teams have dropped out and been replaced by new ones (including one from the US!), drivers scattered to the winds, the return of Mikey....it promises to be a wild ride at the beginning of the season, at the very least! Got a good link? > good job on the antenna, i'm surprised it worked so well, didn't have much > luck with those things in our apartment in west LA, maybe cos the walls > are > concrete and steel > Much to my dismay, the one channel I wanted to get the most, my local CBS channel (13), was unavailable over the weekend, at least on Sunday, and most of the shows I watch are on CBS, dammit! I'm going to have to RTFM to figure out what UHF band they broadcast on so I can manually add it to the TV's memorized channel list so I can try to "hand-tune" the antenna position so I can receive it. All of the local TV stations broadcast from the exact same location, a place in Baltimore called "Antenna Hill", so if I can get the other ones I should be able to pick up CBS. I might have to fiddle with the gain control --- I recall the manual saying that powerful broadcasts might block other nearby channels if you have the gain set too high, and I have it set at the highest level. Channels 12 and 14 come in fine....so that might be the problem. From nobody at spamcop.net Thu Dec 17 15:45:24 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Thu Dec 17 15:50:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: It works! In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "Borgholio" wrote in message news:hgbjl6$gf2$1@news.spamcop.net... > That right there is proof that we're not alone in the universe. There are > hundreds of billions of galaxies out there. Each galaxy has hundreds of > billions of stars. Each star has at least a few planets. Some people > want us to believe that in all that real estate we are the only > civilization? Give me a break... Heh. I constantly used to get into arguments in the local college bar with one of my philosophy/logic professors over that exact issue -- I argued what you said, adding that it was incredibly egotistical to think that we were the only "blessed" planet in the universe, but I could never over come his logic, the exact terms of which I have since forgotten.....but his claim was basically that you can't use odds when calculating something like the existence of life on other planets based on the number of similar Earth-like planets that must be out there. He actually believed that in all likelyhood there *was* life elsewhere, but you could not prove it using any kind of logical analysis. I guess in theory he was correct, but it still bugged the hell out of me ;-) From nobody at spamcop.net Thu Dec 17 15:52:43 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Thu Dec 17 15:55:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: A closer look: "eco-friendly" tires In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "Mr K. Mean" wrote in message news:hgcecg$v13$1@news.spamcop.net... > On 12/17/2009 03:03 PM, Indigo wrote: >> >> Actually, I'm positive that the drastic drop in my recent MPG is because >> MD switched from the summer gas formulation to the ethanol "enhanced" >> fuel we have to use in the winter months to prevent ozone >> formation. Most of my previous cars typically saw a 2-3 mpg hit, but the >> new tires combined with the crappy winterized gas I took about a 4-5 mpg >> hit this year ;-( > > You can thank millions of dollars of lobbying money from Archer Daniels > Midland for the whole ethanol scam. What a horrible idea, converting food > into fuel. And studies seem to indicate that it actually increases ozone > levels, but nothing that spreading around a few campaign contributions > won't fix (yep, Bob Dole, Bill Clinton, talking about you). Well, the gasoline companies had to come up with something to replace MTBE, which was previously used to decrease combustion engine pollution in large cities, but the additive was nationally banned a year or two ago when it was found to be contaminating the ground underneath thousands of gas stations, thereby making it's way into the local water table and contaminating thousands of wells. Ethanol was the only short term solution available, the ban came very suddenly when the severity of the problem was revealed. Not saying that I in any way approve of the "corn to gas" program, which is a disaster of immense proportions. Too bad we can't grow enough sugar cane (like some South American countries do) to supply us with a very cheap source of ethanol without having to cannibalize our food production. From nobody at spamcop.net Thu Dec 17 16:06:45 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Thu Dec 17 16:10:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] #%#$& LTD Insurance Company just won't give up! Message-ID: Several weeks ago I received a letter denying the appeal of the denial of SSDI benefits for lyme disease, a result I totally expected since I do not meet the requirements for SSDI benefits. My LTD company UNUM subcontracts a second company, GENEX, to help their clients with the SSDI paperwork. Several individuals from a "hidden" Yahoo group I belong to wrote to me after a post I made there that I never should have let GENEX get involved, but I had no choice in the matter -- UNUM forces their clients to use GENEX to apply for and appeal SSDI claims on their behalf. I didn't respond to a subsequent email and phone call from GENEX asking me for any new information to use when I go before an ALJ (an SSDI judge) for my second appeal, hoping that they would just give up and go away. This morning I got another voice message from GENEX about the new appeal, and realized that UNUM/GENEX was not going to give up on my SSDI claim. So this afternoon I contacted the national SSDI administration on the phone, and spoke to a rep about the hoops UNUM was forcing me and my doctors to jump through for a claim that everyone involved knows will be denied no matter how high the appeals process goes. Much to my surprise, and against some of the advice I received in response to my original post on that Yahoo NG, she said that I had no choice but to continue with the appeals process or else UNUM had the legal right to terminate my benefits based on my refusal to follow the terms of the LTD insurance contract I have with them. In essence, they could take this all the way to the US District Court if they chose to do so and there is nothing I can do but go along with it. Well, they're not going to beat me down, I'll provide the minimum amount of support required of me and nothing more. I wonder what happens when I get in front of the judge and tell him that in my opinion I am not eligible for SSDI and that the whole thing is a charade forced upon me by UNUM? Perhaps that would be a very unwise thing to say, now that I think about it.....it could easily be construed as me obstructing my SSDI appeals process and give UNUM a reason to terminate my coverage. Guess I'd better take a bunch of "shut the hell up" pills the day I have to go to court! As a reminder to everyone, my LTD insurance was made available to me by my old employer, and I paid the monthly insurance fees after taxes from my paycheck. My LTD insurance contract states that I will continue to receive benefits until I am able to return to work full time to the same or a similar job with the same physical requirements that were in place before I went on disability. It is *not* an "able to return to work at ANY job full time" LTD policy. It was specifically designed for me (and others) to have the time for my health to return to a level that allows me to resume working full time at the same level of employment and earnings I had at the time I became disabled. In theory, if I am unable to regain my previous state of health, they must pay me full benefits until age 65. On another note of warning, while I was on the phone waiting to speak to the SSDI rep, I googled "replacement SS card" and got to an official looking website called "SSNHome.com", which appeared to want my CC info and $19.99 to apply for a new card (I lost my original SS card over 20 years ago). When I finally got connected with the SSDI rep and we finished our discussion about my case, I asked about the replacement card fee. She informed me that the website http://www.SSNHome.com was basically a fraud site and was in no way connected with the real SS administration. She pointed me to the correct website to download the SS-5 form for free, which is at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber/ . So watch out when you research for SS and SSDI information, you may stumble upon a website waving the American flag and looking quite official, but it's real role is to take money from you for freely available information! Luckily my SC-trained brain went on full alert when I noticed the request for a CC # from what I assumed was a government website, but I'd bet that a bunch of rubes have been caught by that scam. From fiyntyd02 at sneakemail.com Thu Dec 17 16:36:26 2009 From: fiyntyd02 at sneakemail.com (Mr K. Mean) Date: Thu Dec 17 16:40:09 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: About time! Move to control ad volume. In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: On 12/18/2009 01:46 AM, bar0 wrote: > > There's the rub, I believe that in Canada and the US there were or are > already well enforced, or, adhered to, industry practices "limiting" the > volume of Ads to the surrounding programming volume. The problem is how do > you define the volume. It's my impression that the volume is defined as some > RMS amplitude over some defined time frame. since normal conversation and > extraneous sounds have a huge dynamic range, programs seem (I was going to > say appear, but that's an optical thing) to be typically quieter to catch > the booms, bangs and emphases of the sound track. Since Ads are (relatively) > short, and have few sounds besides muzak and speach, simply squashing the > dynamic range with a short AVC and the same overall RMS amplitude will make > them seem louder by many db than the programming. Advertisers of course > exploit this to the max. Unfortunately ad blocking gear doesn't seem to > exploit this very well. Of course, also, as a result of this I will NEVER > knowingly purchase anything that was advertized by Billy Mays (or the like). > Reason: these advertizers particularly pissed me off. (Yeah, I'll live with > scratches on my cars finish) Fortunately, for me the whole issue is basically moot. I can't imagine watching live tv. That's what DVRs are for, record everything and watch it later, while zipping over the ads (loud or otherwise). A large proportion of what I watch is on the ABC which is already commercial free, so even better. From borgholio at storymind.com Thu Dec 17 16:44:03 2009 From: borgholio at storymind.com (Borgholio) Date: Thu Dec 17 16:45:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: It works! In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Indigo wrote: > > "Borgholio" wrote in message > news:hgbjl6$gf2$1@news.spamcop.net... >> That right there is proof that we're not alone in the universe. There >> are hundreds of billions of galaxies out there. Each galaxy has >> hundreds of billions of stars. Each star has at least a few planets. >> Some people want us to believe that in all that real estate we are the >> only civilization? Give me a break... > > Heh. I constantly used to get into arguments in the local college bar > with one of my philosophy/logic professors over that exact issue -- I > argued what you said, adding that it was incredibly egotistical to think > that we were the only "blessed" planet in the universe, but I could > never over come his logic, the exact terms of which I have since > forgotten.....but his claim was basically that you can't use odds when > calculating something like the existence of life on other planets based > on the number of similar Earth-like planets that must be out there. He > actually believed that in all likelyhood there *was* life elsewhere, but > you could not prove it using any kind of logical analysis. I guess in > theory he was correct, but it still bugged the hell out of me ;-) He is correct, to a point, if his idea of "proof" involves a picture or other direct image. But then again, people "prove" there's a God based on a book that was admittedly written by a bunch of religious zealots two thousand years ago. So if it works for them then why shouldn't it work for us? :) From borgholio at storymind.com Thu Dec 17 16:45:44 2009 From: borgholio at storymind.com (Borgholio) Date: Thu Dec 17 16:50:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: What you wont' find laying around these days... In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Charles wrote: > It wasn't me! It was Borgholio ! > >> Wow...started going through the data. > > Holy freaking cow. Insane the things people do! Met the guy at the bowling alley where he lost the drive...he was grateful and offered to buy me a beer. I offered to give him the damaged drive back and he accepted...so I'm left with the feeling of having done something honest and kind to a fellow man. ...I would rather have kept the drive. :-P From nobody at spamcop.net Thu Dec 17 17:56:23 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Heidi) Date: Thu Dec 17 18:00:07 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Collecting addresses for nefarious purposes References: Message-ID: "Sylvesterthekat" wrote in message news:Xns9CE490B3433DBsylvesterthekat@216.154.195.61... > Charles wrote in > news:Xns9CE364A7B1FA9TheShrubIsAnAss@216.154.195.61: > >> It wasn't me! It was Sylvesterthekat ! >> >>> What's on the postcards? A pic of you and the family? >> >> Kids! But what does it matter??? Just send me your address already :) >> > > I highly recommend Heidi's cards, they're lovely, better than store > bought. > If you're considering taking up her offer lol. I've got a stockpile of > cards that will last me at least 3 years, it's ridiculous. I see something > i like and buy it, then realise I've already got 100 cards or more at > home. Why thank you.... He's already got one on the way! Go to SmugMug everyone, you can make your own cards, not cheap but excellent quality. I wish I'd ordered more.... From me at privacy.net Thu Dec 17 18:00:08 2009 From: me at privacy.net (Frog Prince) Date: Thu Dec 17 18:05:07 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] PING INDY Re: #%#$& LTD Insurance Company just won't give up! References: Message-ID: Please contact me back channel, it's important. brother_rabbit @ hotmail.com "Indigo" wrote in message news:hge6h5$jqa$1@news.spamcop.net... > Several weeks ago I received a letter denying the appeal of the denial of > SSDI benefits for lyme disease, a result I totally expected since I do not > meet the requirements for SSDI benefits. > > My LTD company UNUM subcontracts a second company, GENEX, to help their > clients with the SSDI paperwork. Several individuals from a "hidden" Yahoo > group I belong to wrote to me after a post I made there that I never > should have let GENEX get involved, but I had no choice in the matter -- > UNUM forces their clients to use GENEX to apply for and appeal SSDI claims > on their behalf. > > I didn't respond to a subsequent email and phone call from GENEX asking me > for any new information to use when I go before an ALJ (an SSDI judge) > for my second appeal, hoping that they would just give up and go away. > This morning I got another voice message from GENEX about the new appeal, > and realized that UNUM/GENEX was not going to give up on my SSDI claim. So > this afternoon I contacted the national SSDI administration on the phone, > and spoke to a rep about the hoops UNUM was forcing me and my doctors to > jump through for a claim that everyone involved knows will be denied no > matter how high the appeals process goes. > > Much to my surprise, and against some of the advice I received in response > to my original post on that Yahoo NG, she said that I had no choice but to > continue with the appeals process or else UNUM had the legal right to > terminate my benefits based on my refusal to follow the terms of the LTD > insurance contract I have with them. In essence, they could take this all > the way to the US District Court if they chose to do so and there is > nothing I can do but go along with it. Well, they're not going to beat me > down, I'll provide the minimum amount of support required of me and > nothing more. I wonder what happens when I get in front of the judge and > tell him that in my opinion I am not eligible for SSDI and that the whole > thing is a charade forced upon me by UNUM? Perhaps that would be a very > unwise thing to say, now that I think about it.....it could easily be > construed as me obstructing my SSDI appeals process and give UNUM a reason > to terminate my coverage. Guess I'd better take a bunch of "shut the hell > up" pills the day I have to go to court! > > As a reminder to everyone, my LTD insurance was made available to me by my > old employer, and I paid the monthly insurance fees after taxes from my > paycheck. My LTD insurance contract states that I will continue to receive > benefits until I am able to return to work full time to the same or a > similar job with the same physical requirements that were in place before > I went on disability. It is *not* an "able to return to work at ANY job > full time" LTD policy. It was specifically designed for me (and others) to > have the time for my health to return to a level that allows me to resume > working full time at the same level of employment and earnings I had at > the time I became disabled. In theory, if I am unable to regain my > previous state of health, they must pay me full benefits until age 65. > > On another note of warning, while I was on the phone waiting to speak to > the SSDI rep, I googled "replacement SS card" and got to an official > looking website called "SSNHome.com", which appeared to want my CC info > and $19.99 to apply for a new card (I lost my original SS card over 20 > years ago). When I finally got connected with the SSDI rep and we finished > our discussion about my case, I asked about the replacement card fee. She > informed me that the website http://www.SSNHome.com was basically a fraud > site and was in no way connected with the real SS administration. She > pointed me to the correct website to download the SS-5 form for free, > which is at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber/ . > > So watch out when you research for SS and SSDI information, you may > stumble upon a website waving the American flag and looking quite > official, but it's real role is to take money from you for freely > available information! Luckily my SC-trained brain went on full alert when > I noticed the request for a CC # from what I assumed was a government > website, but I'd bet that a bunch of rubes have been caught by that scam. From me at privacy.net Thu Dec 17 18:34:26 2009 From: me at privacy.net (Frog Prince) Date: Thu Dec 17 18:40:09 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: A closer look: "eco-friendly" tires References: Message-ID: "Sylvesterthekat" wrote in message news:Xns9CE49493E44D0sylvesterthekat@216.154.195.61... > "Mr K. Mean" wrote in news:hgcecg$v13$1 > @news.spamcop.net: > >> You can thank millions of dollars of lobbying money from Archer Daniels >> Midland for the whole ethanol scam. What a horrible idea, converting >> food into fuel. And studies seem to indicate that it actually increases >> ozone levels, but nothing that spreading around a few campaign >> contributions won't fix (yep, Bob Dole, Bill Clinton, talking about you). >> > > Not only that, but growing all the crops for ethanol is actually a very > poor land use and exacerbates pollution, apparently, due to the dirty > refineries that produce it. There are crops (weeds actually) that grow on scrap land don't require much water and zero upkeep, but the system won't let entrepreneurs into the process. Things like industrial hemp and kudzu to name two. From nobody at spamcop.net Thu Dec 17 18:43:53 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (bar0) Date: Thu Dec 17 18:45:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: #%#$& LTD Insurance Company just won't give up! References: Message-ID: "Indigo" wrote in message news:hge6h5$jqa$1@news.spamcop.net... ... > So watch out when you research for SS and SSDI information, you may > stumble upon a website waving the American flag and looking quite > official, but it's real role is to take money from you for freely > available information! Luckily my SC-trained brain went on full alert when > I noticed the request for a CC # from what I assumed was a government > website, but I'd bet that a bunch of rubes have been caught by that scam. Watch out for anything you research on government or even public agencies such as USPS. The internet is full of scammers standing by to take your money for something you can easily do for free or nearly so, and a few minutes of time at most. Their help is usually to collect your information and money and transpose the same data to a gobernment form. They are also very helpful by running websites with lookalike names and employing seo techniques or contractors to improve the likelihood of being found. Thats why, if you search for windows explorer or any windows system file, the first dozen or so links offered are for helpful software to remove the same from your PC. From me at privacy.net Thu Dec 17 21:01:28 2009 From: me at privacy.net (Frog Prince) Date: Thu Dec 17 21:05:09 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Early Dismissal Message-ID: It is near the Christmas break of the school year. The students have turned in all their work and there is really nothing more to do. All the children are restless and the teacher decides to have an early dismissal. Teacher: "Whoever answers the questions I ask, first and correctly can leave early today." Little Johnny says to himself "Good, I want to get outta here. I'm smart and will answer the question." Teacher: "Who said 'Four Score and Seven Years Ago'?" Before Johnny can open his mouth, Susie says, "Abraham Lincoln." Teacher: "That's right Susie, you can go home." Johnny is mad that Susie answered the question first. Teacher: "Who said 'I Have a Dream'?" Before Johnny can open his mouth, Mary says, "Martin Luther King." Teacher: "That's right Mary, you can go." Johnny is even madder than before. Teacher: "Who said 'Ask not, what your country can do for you'?" Before Johnny can open his mouth, Nancy says, "John F. Kennedy." Teacher: "That's right Nancy, you may also leave." Johnny is boiling mad that he has not been able to answer to any of the questions. When the teacher turns her back Johnny says, "I wish these bitches would keep their mouths shut!" The teacher turns around: "NOW WHO SAID THAT?" Johnny: "TIGER WOODS. CAN I GO NOW?" From nobody at spamcop.net Thu Dec 17 21:03:39 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Thu Dec 17 21:05:09 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: My goodness, it actually works! In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "Sylvesterthekat" wrote in message news:Xns9CE49648D3837sylvesterthekat@216.154.195.61... > This is also a good site > http://www.crash.net/f1 > > >> Much to my dismay, the one channel I wanted to get the most, my local >> CBS channel (13), was unavailable over the weekend, at least on >> Sunday, and most of the shows I watch are on CBS, dammit! > > We had exactly that problem with CBS when we used the HD antenna. It was > there at first but then disappeared. Try tuning it in via its 'real' > channel number. You'll have to find out where it is. I've got a link > somewhere that tells you what direction stations are from your location > and the numbers.... ah here you go > > http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/Address.aspx > > Thanks for both links, I couldn't figure out what channel to manually enter to try to get CBS. > > From user at domain.invalid Thu Dec 17 21:21:24 2009 From: user at domain.invalid (Farelf) Date: Thu Dec 17 21:25:11 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: What you wont' find laying around these days... In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Borgholio wrote: > > Met the guy at the bowling alley where he lost the drive...he was > grateful and offered to buy me a beer. I offered to give him the damaged > drive back and he accepted...so I'm left with the feeling of having done > something honest and kind to a fellow man. Good man! > > ...I would rather have kept the drive. :-P Of course. It ain't easy, this being 'good' business. :) From me at privacy.net Thu Dec 17 21:38:04 2009 From: me at privacy.net (Frog Prince) Date: Thu Dec 17 21:45:09 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Early Dismissal References: Message-ID: "Sylvesterthekat" wrote in message news:Xns9CE4BBAE6F721sylvesterthekat@216.154.195.61... > "Frog Prince" wrote in > news:hgenq2$q07$1@news.spamcop.net: > > >> When the teacher turns her back Johnny says, "I wish these bitches would >> keep their mouths shut!" >> >> The teacher turns around: "NOW WHO SAID THAT?" >> >> Johnny: "TIGER WOODS. CAN I GO NOW?" >> > > LOL, good and yet bad at the same time My DIL is a teacher and she says there is one like that in every school. From me at privacy.net Thu Dec 17 21:41:31 2009 From: me at privacy.net (Frog Prince) Date: Thu Dec 17 21:45:09 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: weird books References: Message-ID: "Sylvesterthekat" wrote in message news:Xns9CE4BADF88FCDsylvesterthekat@216.154.195.61... > weirdbD-_-01cta> > > i like the look of 'soldier bear' and it actually sounds interesting > (someone on amazon reviewed it). "the romance of proctology" sounds like a > jolly good read, as does "50 ways to use feminine hygiene products in a > manly manner (for the self assured male) By Dr. Goldfinger? From nobody at spamcop.net Thu Dec 17 21:51:39 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Heidi) Date: Thu Dec 17 21:55:07 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: What you wont' find laying around these days... References: Message-ID: "Borgholio" wrote in message news:hge8pr$h5g$2@news.spamcop.net... > > Met the guy at the bowling alley where he lost the drive...he was grateful > and offered to buy me a beer. I offered to give him the damaged drive > back and he accepted...so I'm left with the feeling of having done > something honest and kind to a fellow man. > > ...I would rather have kept the drive. :-P It's good for your karma, and you can buy yourself a new one, virus free.... From user at domain.invalid Fri Dec 18 03:10:02 2009 From: user at domain.invalid (Farelf) Date: Fri Dec 18 03:10:09 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: weird books In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Sylvesterthekat wrote: > > > i like the look of 'soldier bear' and it actually sounds interesting > (someone on amazon reviewed it). "the romance of proctology" sounds like a > jolly good read, as does "50 ways to use feminine hygiene products in a > manly manner (for the self assured male" Wow, the Codex Seraphinianus - sort of like a Voynich manuscript you can own. "The Romance of Proctology"? Guess that's what this is about: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QI1go72c5H8 But, generally, weird? Well, I suppose so, mostly. But I own one of them already. From me at privacy.net Fri Dec 18 09:22:21 2009 From: me at privacy.net (Frog Prince) Date: Fri Dec 18 09:25:09 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: #%#$& LTD Insurance Company just won't give up! References: Message-ID: "David Dean" wrote in message news:v8ltfuv02-C7A1E2.22515317122009@n003-000-000-000.static.ge.com... > In article , > "Indigo" wrote: > >> In essence, they could take this all >> the way to the US District Court if they chose to do so and there is >> nothing >> I can do but go along with it. > > You'd think this would be more expensive than just paying the damn > claims... > -- > -David LTD policies have a 'co insurance' T&C and they take the money paid by SSDI right off the top. If Indy would receive $1000 per month from SSDI (a number I pulled out of the air) then UNUM saves $12,000 per year and if Indy is down for a few years the number ads up. If they feel Indy is not cooperating in the claim or even if he is UNUM can 'decide' he should have received the SSDI benefit and cut his checks accordingly. BTDT with CIGNA. From me at privacy.net Fri Dec 18 10:48:57 2009 From: me at privacy.net (Frog Prince) Date: Fri Dec 18 10:55:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Good interaction References: Message-ID: "Sylvesterthekat" wrote in message news:Xns9CE5477E12C83sylvesterthekat@216.154.195.61... > Charles wrote in > news:Xns9CE54F5CA454FTheShrubIsAnAss@216.154.195.61: > >> I don't know they were stolen. I know I didn't receive them. And >> that one of my window screens was pried off. I made the connection >> (tenuous, perhaps) between the two events. I made the connection >> after I have already chewed overstock out. >> > > Ahh ok. Well let's hope they just didn't show up and that you don't in > fact > have prowlers lurking around. Bit unnerving to think of someone trying to > break in. > > Speaking of prying off the screens, I'm wondering how to get them off our > windows so I can clean the outsides. Any tips. Anyone? Is there a > technique? Depends on the screen. Most have small plastic tabs you can grab with finger or a pliers. When those break we use a putty knife. Need to keep your head about what you're doing as the screen frames can kink. If you know the manufacture you can go to their web site a get a how to. some even have vid. From user at domain.invalid Fri Dec 18 11:28:03 2009 From: user at domain.invalid (Farelf) Date: Fri Dec 18 11:30:09 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: weird books In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Sylvesterthekat wrote: > > Which one which one? I'd love that Codex but even the cheapest one is > expensive and it doesn't have the great cover. Why, "Mrs Byrne's Dictionary of Unusual, Obscure and Preposterous Words" of course - nanosophobia being a free sample. Just kidding, hircismus is the free sample. Well, you could always go for a foreign edition of the Codex ;) > > OMG, did you see some of the other vids suggested alongside that youtube > link? some guys here might vomit lol. I liked the way he was using the > probe as a mic. I liked the exquisite sensitivity. The other vids - I gather you (quite correctly) don't underestimate the squeamishness of the male. The guys might be more at home with http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1enmyAmpik than with some of those others - though I'm guessing most are too young to have been through such. Nothing like a little anticipation then. From borgholio at storymind.com Fri Dec 18 15:40:42 2009 From: borgholio at storymind.com (Borgholio) Date: Fri Dec 18 15:45:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Looking for a better online music source In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Charles wrote: > I've been listening to Rhapsody radio which has a few benefits. It's free. > It's ad free. I can skip songs. I guess I'd like to take that and go one > better... I'd like to have more say in selecting the songs. > > What do you all listen to? I listen to the voices in my head. From borgholio at storymind.com Fri Dec 18 15:54:16 2009 From: borgholio at storymind.com (Borgholio) Date: Fri Dec 18 15:55:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Who was talking about peeling hard boiled eggs? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: David Dean wrote: > This makes total sense, and I never would have thought of it: > > That is definitely an eggcellent idea. From MikeE at ster.invalid Fri Dec 18 16:18:56 2009 From: MikeE at ster.invalid (Mike Easter) Date: Fri Dec 18 16:20:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Who was talking about peeling hard boiled eggs? References: Message-ID: David Dean wrote: > This makes total sense, and I never would have thought of it: > > Don't worry about the salmonella you get in your mouth from the clean raw eggshell. It's probably not enough to hurt you. But I wouldn't go around licking all of the eggs in my refrigerator. Or all of the ones in that bowl in front of the guy in the video. -- Mike Easter kibitzer, not SC admin From MikeE at ster.invalid Fri Dec 18 17:10:56 2009 From: MikeE at ster.invalid (Mike Easter) Date: Fri Dec 18 17:15:09 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Who was talking about peeling hard boiled eggs? References: Message-ID: Mike Easter wrote: > Don't worry about the salmonella you get in your mouth from the clean > raw eggshell. Oops. These are hardboiled eggs. Nevermind that raweggshell idea.. > But I wouldn't go around licking all of the eggs in my refrigerator. That concern still pertains. They - the raw eggshells - are briefly washed with a detergent at a relatively low heat. -- Mike Easter kibitzer, not SC admin From nobody at spamcop.net Fri Dec 18 19:37:51 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Heidi) Date: Fri Dec 18 19:40:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Who was talking about peeling hard boiled eggs? References: Message-ID: "David Dean" wrote in message news:v8ltfuv02-641C76.12404518122009@killface.local... > This makes total sense, and I never would have thought of it: > > > -- > -David Holy crap, do I need new glasses. I read that as "peeing" hard boiled eggs.....and wondered how there could be video.... From borgholio at storymind.com Fri Dec 18 21:13:23 2009 From: borgholio at storymind.com (Borgholio) Date: Fri Dec 18 21:15:09 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Who was talking about peeling hard boiled eggs? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Heidi wrote: >I read that as "peeing" hard boiled > eggs..... Don't women do that once a month anyways? *ducks* From nobody at spamcop.net Fri Dec 18 22:44:59 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Fri Dec 18 22:45:07 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Look! In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "Charles" wrote in message news:Xns9CE364F646456TheShrubIsAnAss@216.154.195.61... > It wasn't me! It was Sylvesterthekat ! > >> no, glad to hear that you were off it > > Oh, hey, I've never been on anti-psychotics! Just anti-depressants... > And, well, hey. Today... Today is OK. Tomorrow is another day. This > afternoon is like another day. Every day is like another day. Hmm. Unless you're taking something else besides Zoloft (an anti-depressant), you still haven't been on anti-psychotics......which, IIRC, are like lithium and other meds. From nobody at spamcop.net Fri Dec 18 22:51:22 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Fri Dec 18 22:55:09 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: #%#$& LTD Insurance Company just won't give up! In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "David Dean" wrote in message news:v8ltfuv02-C7A1E2.22515317122009@n003-000-000-000.static.ge.com... > In article , > "Indigo" wrote: > >> In essence, they could take this all >> the way to the US District Court if they chose to do so and there is >> nothing >> I can do but go along with it. > > You'd think this would be more expensive than just paying the damn > claims... Dunno....at some point that will be true, but I'm costing them a pretty penny/month.... From nobody at spamcop.net Fri Dec 18 22:53:28 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Fri Dec 18 22:55:09 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: #%#$& LTD Insurance Company just won't give up! In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "Frog Prince" wrote in message news:hgg379$9po$1@news.spamcop.net... > If Indy would receive $1000 per month from SSDI (a number I pulled out of > the air) then UNUM saves $12,000 per year and if Indy is down for a few > years the number ads up. That's about the correct number. BTW, you asked me to email you, and I did from my Fastmail.fm account, subject "Whassup??", but no reply was received. From aunt.jemima at pancake.box Fri Dec 18 23:11:33 2009 From: aunt.jemima at pancake.box (dwacon) Date: Fri Dec 18 23:15:07 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Who was talking about peeling hard boiled eggs? References: Message-ID: There is always "Chicken Grenades" == place whole egg in microwave, then after the explosion, the shell is all over the oven... and all over the floor... and all over the walls... "David Dean" wrote in message news:v8ltfuv02-641C76.12404518122009@killface.local... > This makes total sense, and I never would have thought of it: > > > -- > -David From user at domain.invalid Sat Dec 19 00:09:54 2009 From: user at domain.invalid (Farelf) Date: Sat Dec 19 00:10:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: ... In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Charles wrote: > It wasn't me! It was Sylvesterthekat! >> Charles wrote in >> news:Xns9CE561EB01B1FTheShrubIsAnAss@216.154.195.61: >> >>> undead undead undead >> >> eh? > > Song lyrics, man. Ask Kerry. Ah well then, I can stop feeling for my pulse ... As long as it's not personal - b'fhearr liom t? n? c?ad b? bhainne Yeah, the last of the Clancy brothers died earlier in the month. He's not undead now. Nobody told me. Well, why would they? From me at privacy.net Sat Dec 19 01:00:01 2009 From: me at privacy.net (Frog Prince) Date: Sat Dec 19 01:05:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: #%#$& LTD Insurance Company just won't give up! References: Message-ID: "Indigo" wrote in message news:hghinn$qta$1@news.spamcop.net... > > "Frog Prince" wrote in message > news:hgg379$9po$1@news.spamcop.net... >> If Indy would receive $1000 per month from SSDI (a number I pulled out of >> the air) then UNUM saves $12,000 per year and if Indy is down for a few >> years the number ads up. > > That's about the correct number. BTW, you asked me to email you, and I did > from my Fastmail.fm account, subject "Whassup??", but no reply was > received. no mail via brother_rabbit @ hotmail.com and it is important. Going to bed shortly (sinus meds say night night) From me at privacy.net Sat Dec 19 02:32:41 2009 From: me at privacy.net (Frog Prince) Date: Sat Dec 19 02:35:07 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: #%#$& LTD Insurance Company just won't give up! References: Message-ID: You've got mail. From nobody at spamcop.net Sat Dec 19 14:51:06 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Sat Dec 19 14:55:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Oh......My.....God...... Message-ID: Holy sh*t.....there's over two feet of snow outside and it's still coming down! Where the hell did this come from?!?!! No panicky news bulletins on the TV last night like usual....unless I missed them because I was watching "The Dog Whisperer" and the Military Channel last night, no local stations. The only minor blessing is that it's light powder.....but I have the wrong kind of snow shovel stashed next to my deck door, it's a heavy pusher made for moving a couple inches of snow, max. This stuff is so thick already that it takes two full scoops to get down to the bottom (I test shoveled a little bit right outside my deck door). So I'll kill my back using the wrong shovel until I can make my way to the shed and retrieve my lighter L-shaped "lifting" snow shovel, which is made for this kind of snow and takes a load of stress off your back, not like that's going to save me given how much fscking snow I'm going to have to move. To top it off, lucky me strained my left elbow and dislocated my left arm radius bone (again) doing laundry last Sunday -- the 3rd time in the last 2 months I've injured myself hauling laundry out of the 17 year old top loading washer, I'm going to have to replace it with a front loader, which is going to cost me $500, and that's the "cheapest" decent front loader you can buy! A relaxing week of massage, chiropractic adjustments, and a PT session to fix my arm, neck, and back problems (~ $250) all just went to waste .....and no answer from the next door neighbor kid's cell phone, but he's going to have to shovel his own family's driveway first and will probably be too tired to shovel mine anyway. If I knew someone else to call I'd pay them $40 to do the job, even $50! And since my section of the neighborhood was built without garages, no one has a snow blower for hire. Based on past experience, the county plows won't show up in my neighborhood today, maybe not even tomorrow. Double Sh*t! A friend of mine is/was throwing a fancy Xmas party in my favorite restaraunt in Annapolis tomorrow evening, and I was SOOOO looking forward to getting out of the house and mingling with my old and possibly new friends.....I've been going stir crazy lately....CRAP!!! From nobody at spamcop.net Sat Dec 19 15:44:29 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Sat Dec 19 15:45:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Good interaction In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "Frog Prince" wrote in message news:hgg8bt$bl7$1@news.spamcop.net... >> Speaking of prying off the screens, I'm wondering how to get them off our >> windows so I can clean the outsides. Any tips. Anyone? Is there a >> technique? > > Depends on the screen. Most have small plastic tabs you can grab with > finger or a pliers. When those break we use a putty knife. Mine have two metal wing tabs, one on each side of the screen at the bottom. You lift them up to release the latch and push the screen outside (it helps to have someone out there to catch it ;-). I suppose you *could* try to wrangle them back inside the house if you were on a second floor, but it would be a dirty job, I'd put down plastic around the window first to prevent carpet stains from the probably filthy screen frame. Personally, I just powerwash the windows and frames once a year rather than go thru the hassle of removing them. Of course that doesn't clean off the interior side of the screen frame very well, but so what.....a simple wipe-down with a rag after the powerwash can at least clean off the inside lower half of the frame (can't get to the top of the frame because the window blocks your arm, unless you have very skinny arms!). From nobody at spamcop.net Sat Dec 19 15:52:00 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Sat Dec 19 15:55:09 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: About time! Move to control ad volume. In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "David Dean" wrote in message news:v8ltfuv02-9D4FEF.09431616122009@killface.local... > In article , > Sylvesterthekat wrote: > >> They've denied it for years, that the ads are louder, but we all know >> it's >> BS. Sometimes the difference is shocking, I think they deliberately force >> you to turn the volume up to listen to a show then it's all the more >> deafening when an ad comes on. Guess they want you to hear their ads >> while >> you're peeing. > > IME, it's not the networks to blame, but rather the cable companies. Can I also blame the cable company for varying sound levels amongst different channels themselves? Or is it more of a function of the basic signal strength that's at fault? I don't have that issue when I'm watching TV via the digital converter box (we're all digital here). For instance, one channel in particular, FOX's local channel 15, has a volume level that's at least 1/3 lower than say, CBS's channel 13. So when I use my PIP TV function to watch 2 football games on Sundays, when switching back and forth between the games I either have to strain to hear the announcers or get blasted by too-loud voices. The problem is significant enough that there is no "in between" volume setting that is satisfactory for viewing both channels at the same time, a royal PITA. From MikeE at ster.invalid Sat Dec 19 15:59:05 2009 From: MikeE at ster.invalid (Mike Easter) Date: Sat Dec 19 16:00:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Oh......My.....God...... References: Message-ID: Indigo wrote: > A friend of > mine is/was throwing a fancy Xmas party in my favorite restaraunt in > Annapolis tomorrow evening, and I was SOOOO looking forward to getting > out of the house and mingling with my old and possibly new > friends.....I've been going stir crazy lately....CRAP!!! If you had some X-country skis you could traverse to the nearest clear street and catch a cab or a bus to whatever kind of transportation would work to get you to the next leg of the journey. Traverse, ride, change transportation & ride some more, traverse some more. Maybe xcountries and snowshoes. It sounds like a snowmobile wouldn't work for this application. Annapolis is freezing fog forcasting heavy snow. -- Mike Easter kibitzer, not SC admin From nobody at spamcop.net Sat Dec 19 16:01:52 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Sat Dec 19 16:05:07 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: About time! Move to control ad volume. In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "Mr K. Mean" wrote in message news:hgbovn$iip$1@news.spamcop.net... > Programming generally has a wide dynamic range. The sound of rain falling > might be 20%, normal dialog might be like 60%, and an explosion might be > 100%. But ads generally have their sound levels mixed so that everything > hits 80-100%. The dynamic range is more compressed, the sound density is > greater, but none of the sound is louder than anything else, in that > average sound isn't louder than the maximum sound level permitted over > that frequency. In this day and age though, most people with cable TV have been switched over to digital STB's. Mine has various settings available for various functions, one of which is dynamic range -- you can choose wide, normal, or narrow. I have my STB's set to "narrow" to avoid the wide dynamic range volume issue, which essentially boosts the lower level sounds. It really helps for someone hard of hearing like myself, sometimes the dialog spoken on screen is also quite low, so the "narrow" range setting allows me to hear voices better without having to turn up the volume. That, plus I have my stereo system set for "dialog boost", where the mid-range voice signals are boosted and sent to the center speaker of my surround sound system (along with sending the standard level signal to all the other speakers). From nobody at spamcop.net Sat Dec 19 16:03:10 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Sat Dec 19 16:05:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: What you wont' find laying around these days... In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "Borgholio" wrote in message news:hgb90o$c4p$2@news.spamcop.net... > > Wow...started going through the data. Not only are there large numbers of > excel spreadsheets showing commission reports for a mobile phone store, Just as I had predicted!! From nobody at spamcop.net Sat Dec 19 16:14:36 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Sat Dec 19 16:15:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Looking for a better online music source In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "Charles" wrote in message news:Xns9CE5932C0E698TheShrubIsAnAss@216.154.195.61... > I've been listening to Rhapsody radio which has a few benefits. It's > free. > It's ad free. I can skip songs. I guess I'd like to take that and go one > better... I'd like to have more say in selecting the songs. > > What do you all listen to? XM online radio, mostly their comedy talk show channel "The Virus". Course I have to pay for the privilege, but since I have XM in my car it's only something like $2.99/mo to get the streaming audio on my PC. Oh, you wanted "free" sources, right? Here's a very good one: http://www.playlist.com . When I first got my old MP3 player I was scavinging the net for free MP3 downloads and found that website. You search their (very large) database and create your own playlist of songs. Using a variety of software apps you can also bypass their "no download" policy and capture the streaming audio too ;-) A couple of great free sites I use to find and download MP3's are http://www.emusic.com, http://www.mp3-codes.com , and the best of them all, http://beemp3.com . They've all been up for over a year, dunno how they avoid the RIAA's rath, but somehow they manage to do it. Of course there's always the old standby too: ripping YouTube videos using SysInternal's free video MP3 ripper. I've managed to get some pretty rare songs that way. From nobody at spamcop.net Sat Dec 19 16:31:54 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Sat Dec 19 16:35:07 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: #%#$& LTD Insurance Company just won't give up! In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "Frog Prince" wrote in message news:hghvj5$vf9$1@news.spamcop.net... > You've got mail. > > Replied at 4:29 pm DST Saturday afternoon. Let me know if you don't get it, I checked your addy in my FM address book and it's the same as the addy you emailed me from. From nobody at spamcop.net Sat Dec 19 16:38:11 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Sat Dec 19 16:40:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Oh......My.....God...... In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "Charles" wrote in message news:Xns9CE6992F9689CTheShrubIsAnAss@216.154.195.61... > No way it was me! It was "Indigo" ! > >> dislocated my left arm radius bone (again) doing laundry > > Um. Strange. But you're used to this by now and can just pop the sucker > back in by yourself? Nope. For one, I'm never sure that it's rotated, and within hours of it occurring all the muscles in my arm go into spasm to "protect" my wrist and elbow from further injury, so at that point it's stuck until I can get someone to work on it. The chiro plopped it back into place, but it took an hour of PT on Friday to get the muscles to relax, with the warning "don't do ANYTHING that will stress your left arm for at least two days". Great timing, eh? I just (finally) got a call from the kid next door, he was going to come over about now to shovel for me, but a minute later he called back and told me he couldn't even get outside his front door because of the snow piled in front of it! So he's coming over tomorrow to shovel the driveway and clean off my car. I just need to get to the shed to get the proper shovel and I'll let him do the rest. From user at domain.invalid Sat Dec 19 20:52:06 2009 From: user at domain.invalid (Farelf) Date: Sat Dec 19 20:55:09 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Off the wall Message-ID: While Googling for "Clapham Chapel of the Curmudgeon" (without quotes - looking for my temporarily misplaced spirituality) I came across http://chasemeladies.blogspot.com/ A recent musing - "I wonder how many people develop an abiding belief in the afterlife, not as much in the hope of personal salvation as in the happy anticipation of the divine retribution awaiting the sundry malefactors under whom they have suffered ungladly and for so long?" ... had me reflecting this was not a very *charitable* outlook (charity being the principal virtue in the Christian taxonomy of secular conduct). So, in search of some small-minded and vindictive sect or religion in which I might harbour, I instead stumbled into the foregoing. And, ah, what a gloriously mixed bag! The very thing! From the purely altruistic http://chasemeladies.blogspot.com/2004/04/chat-up-line-guaranteed-results.html or http://tinyurl.com/y9kyk3s (frailty, thy name is woman, they are putty in the hands of a master, here is how it is done) to the downright mean http://chasemeladies.blogspot.com/2005/03/bores-craft.html or http://tinyurl.com/yc8t96h (as if passing on consumer tips and misinformation and forcing cultural norms is not a critically vital mission of the interwebz). And people (well, Charles) dispute that Google is their friend! From me at privacy.net Sat Dec 19 21:40:25 2009 From: me at privacy.net (Frog Prince) Date: Sat Dec 19 21:45:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: #%#$& LTD Insurance Company just won't give up! References: Message-ID: "Indigo" wrote in message news:hgjgoa$hsq$1@news.spamcop.net... > > "Frog Prince" wrote in message > news:hghvj5$vf9$1@news.spamcop.net... >> You've got mail. >> >> > Replied at 4:29 pm DST Saturday afternoon. Let me know if you don't get > it, I checked your addy in my FM address book and it's the same as the > addy you emailed me from. Nothing from you (I checked the bad kid folder) but I did send an email to you on the Fastmail.fm account Let me know if you did not get it. From me at privacy.net Sat Dec 19 21:43:00 2009 From: me at privacy.net (Frog Prince) Date: Sat Dec 19 21:55:07 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: About time! Move to control ad volume. References: Message-ID: "Indigo" wrote in message news:hgjedf$h13$1@news.spamcop.net... > > "David Dean" wrote in message > news:v8ltfuv02-9D4FEF.09431616122009@killface.local... >> In article , >> Sylvesterthekat wrote: >> >>> They've denied it for years, that the ads are louder, but we all know >>> it's >>> BS. Sometimes the difference is shocking, I think they deliberately >>> force >>> you to turn the volume up to listen to a show then it's all the more >>> deafening when an ad comes on. Guess they want you to hear their ads >>> while >>> you're peeing. >> >> IME, it's not the networks to blame, but rather the cable companies. > > Can I also blame the cable company for varying sound levels amongst > different channels themselves? Or is it more of a function of the basic > signal strength that's at fault? I don't have that issue when I'm watching > TV via the digital converter box (we're all digital here). For instance, > one channel in particular, FOX's local channel 15, has a volume level > that's at least 1/3 lower than say, CBS's channel 13. So when I use my PIP > TV function to watch 2 football games on Sundays, when switching back and > forth between the games I either have to strain to hear the announcers or > get blasted by too-loud voices. The problem is significant enough that > there is no "in between" volume setting that is satisfactory for viewing > both channels at the same time, a royal PITA. Cable/sat companies don't do level adjust. Too labor intensive. Especially since the content providers play games with the levels (some charge extra to boost the audio for commercials) From me at privacy.net Sat Dec 19 21:50:20 2009 From: me at privacy.net (Frog Prince) Date: Sat Dec 19 21:55:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Oh......My.....God...... References: Message-ID: "Indigo" wrote in message news:hgjar9$fkd$1@news.spamcop.net... > Holy sh*t.....there's over two feet of snow outside and it's still coming > down! Where the hell did this come from?!?!! No panicky news bulletins on > the TV last night like usual....unless I missed them because I was > watching "The Dog Whisperer" and the Military Channel last night, no local > stations. There was several feet of sunshine out here and more expected tomorrow. Did a Santa & Mrs. gig for a neighbor group. Part of the kids preparation for the holidays was to make dough ornaments. Last week was dedicated to tree ornaments for the coming Santa visit. We were gifted with some of the nicest and most creative ornaments one could desire. Some took a bit of imagination to understand but once explained you could tell were the kids were going with their projects. From me at privacy.net Sat Dec 19 21:51:54 2009 From: me at privacy.net (Frog Prince) Date: Sat Dec 19 22:00:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Spend your way out of recession References: Message-ID: "Charles" wrote in message news:Xns9CE68FBC9E73ETheShrubIsAnAss@216.154.195.61... > Since the economy isn't in a depression then neither am I and maybe I > should get out the same way the economy is getting out. With this in mind > I bought a new bass. I love the bass in general and this one is > beautiful. > Now I just need to learn how to play. Well, that and to get out of my > funk. Seems like learning to play will be a hell of a lot easier! I love bass as well. I like mine batter fired with tarter sauce and onion rings. From me at privacy.net Sat Dec 19 21:54:14 2009 From: me at privacy.net (Frog Prince) Date: Sat Dec 19 22:00:09 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: What you wont' find laying around these days... References: Message-ID: "Farelf" wrote in message news:hgeov3$qec$1@news.spamcop.net... > Borgholio wrote: > >> >> Met the guy at the bowling alley where he lost the drive...he was >> grateful and offered to buy me a beer. I offered to give him the damaged >> drive back and he accepted...so I'm left with the feeling of having done >> something honest and kind to a fellow man. > > Good man! > >> >> ...I would rather have kept the drive. :-P > > Of course. It ain't easy, this being 'good' business. :) Not so hard as "you can't do wrong by doing right". From nobody at spamcop.net Sat Dec 19 22:23:17 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Sat Dec 19 22:25:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: About time! Move to control ad volume. In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "bar0" wrote in message news:hgdg92$bt5$1@news.spamcop.net... Of course, also, as a result of this I will NEVER > knowingly purchase anything that was advertized by Billy Mays (or the > like). Reason: these advertizers particularly pissed me off. (Yeah, I'll > live with scratches on my cars finish) LOL...I actually bought that product, the polishing cream and POS battery powered polisher, but it works as advertised, believe it or not! Minor scratches simply disappear after a minute or two, and the metal polish that came with it is excellent for cleaning the stains on my stainless steel kitchen sinks to boot! From nobody at spamcop.net Sat Dec 19 22:26:44 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Sat Dec 19 22:30:09 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Look! In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "Charles" wrote in message news:Xns9CE6505E83687TheShrubIsAnAss@216.154.195.61... > No way it was me! It was "Indigo" ! > >> Unless you're taking something else besides Zoloft (an anti-depressant), > > Just that and some whatever. That "some whatever" could be a critical piece of information....have you talked to your prescribing doctor about what's going on? Various chemicals in combination can have terrible complications for certain individuals... From nobody at spamcop.net Sat Dec 19 22:28:40 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Sat Dec 19 22:30:10 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Spend your way out of recession In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "Frog Prince" wrote in message news:hgk3of$ohq$1@news.spamcop.net... > I love bass as well. I like mine batter fired with tarter sauce and onion > rings. Small mouth, big mouth, local, or sea bass? Personally, I love Chilean sea bass with a garlic butter sauce, yum! From nobody at spamcop.net Sat Dec 19 22:37:24 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Sat Dec 19 22:40:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: #%#$& LTD Insurance Company just won't give up! In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "Frog Prince" wrote in message news:hgk2ra$oat$1@news.spamcop.net... > > Nothing from you (I checked the bad kid folder) but I did send an email to > you on the Fastmail.fm account Got it (again another successful reciept from you), but this was from a privacy.net account, not hotmail. Just replied again to the new addy, let me know if you don't get it, in which case I'll abandon FM and try my Yahoo account with the identical alias. Dunno what's going on with FM, it's my back channel addy for this NG and has never failed me before. From me at privacy.net Sat Dec 19 23:18:55 2009 From: me at privacy.net (Frog Prince) Date: Sat Dec 19 23:20:09 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Spend your way out of recession References: Message-ID: "Indigo" wrote in message news:hgk5l7$p6h$1@news.spamcop.net... > > "Frog Prince" wrote in message > news:hgk3of$ohq$1@news.spamcop.net... > >> I love bass as well. I like mine batter fired with tarter sauce and >> onion rings. > > Small mouth, big mouth, local, or sea bass? Personally, I love Chilean sea > bass with a garlic butter sauce, yum! Hot, on a plate with or without garnish. From me at privacy.net Sat Dec 19 23:44:53 2009 From: me at privacy.net (Frog Prince) Date: Sat Dec 19 23:45:07 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: #%#$& LTD Insurance Company just won't give up! References: Message-ID: "Indigo" wrote in message news:hgk65j$pcr$1@news.spamcop.net... > > "Frog Prince" wrote in message > news:hgk2ra$oat$1@news.spamcop.net... >> >> Nothing from you (I checked the bad kid folder) but I did send an email >> to you on the Fastmail.fm account > > Got it (again another successful receipt from you), but this was from a > privacy.net account, not hotmail. Just replied again to the new addy, let > me know if you don't get it, in which case I'll abandon FM and try my > Yahoo account with the identical alias. Dunno what's going on with FM, > it's my back channel addy for this NG and has never failed me before. Privacy account is a bit bucket. the one that works is brother_rabbit @ hotmail.com you can try lostkat @ charter.net No press so long as you received my email re UNUM. From MikeE at ster.invalid Sun Dec 20 09:49:06 2009 From: MikeE at ster.invalid (Mike Easter) Date: Sun Dec 20 09:50:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Look! References: Message-ID: Charles wrote: > Klonopin. Yowza! Why that one? Where 'that one' in this context can mean, why that partiular benzodiazepine? or why that particular anticonvulsant? or why that particular some other things. It is hard to get in the head of a prescriber who is concerned about depression who is also choosing to combine with that drug. Here's what the FDA currently requires them to put in the package insert (most recent modification as of 2009 Apr) http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/Safety-RelatedDrugL abelingChanges/ucm154476.htm Sections Modified - Summary of Changes to Contraindications and Warnings - WARNINGS Suicidal behavior and Ideation PRECAUTIONS - Information for Patients - WARNINGS - Suicidal behavior and Ideation- all new section -- Antiepileptics drugs (AEDs), including Klonopin, increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior in patients taking these drugs for any indication. Patients treated with any AED for any indication should be monitored for the emergence or worsening of depression, suicidal thoughts or behavior, and/or any unusual changes in mood or behavior.... -- Mike Easter kibitzer, not SC admin From MikeE at ster.invalid Sun Dec 20 11:23:29 2009 From: MikeE at ster.invalid (Mike Easter) Date: Sun Dec 20 11:25:09 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Look! References: Message-ID: Charles wrote: > "Mike Easter" >> Charles wrote: >> >>> Klonopin. >> >> Yowza! Why that one? > > Panic attacks and not being able to sleep. Yabbut; the problem with trying to medicate away powerful and ingrained 'reactions' is that there is no such thing as a free lunch. > In the family/genre/whatever > it's much "lighter" and has fewer risks than, say, valium. All of the members of the family have similar/overlapping problems and some of the members of the family have their own special problems, such as the problems of clonazepam. > You can > take it during the day and potentially still function. Yabbut, there's more 'noise' with clonazepam than (just) potential sedation ... A lot of modern monologs have been written about pharmacotherapy for panic disorders in which the authors strongly encourage a 'migration' away from the benzodiazepines and toward the SSRIs. Here's a clip: Pharmacotherapy -- Recently, pharmacological treatment guidelines for panic disorder have changed as newer treatment options have become available. In a review, Bruce et al.[16**] examined how the use of psychotropic drugs has shifted over the course of 10 years to determine if prescribing patterns have changed to reflect these revised treatment guidelines. Despite efforts aimed at increasing the use of SSRIs in patients with panic disorder, only a modest increase in their use was found. Treatment patterns for psychotropic drugs appear to have remained stable over the past decade, with benzodiazepines being the most commonly used medication for panic disorder. Recommendations to use SSRIs to treat panic disorder are not being followed. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/497207_2 The Treatment of Panic Disorder -- Mike Easter kibitzer, not SC admin From MikeE at ster.invalid Sun Dec 20 13:56:47 2009 From: MikeE at ster.invalid (Mike Easter) Date: Sun Dec 20 14:00:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Look! References: Message-ID: Charles wrote: > "Mike Easter" >> Charles wrote: > >>> Panic attacks and not being able to sleep. >> >> Yabbut; the problem with trying to medicate away powerful and >> ingrained 'reactions' is that there is no such thing as a free lunch. > > Life is complicated. The panic attacks, etc, are brought on by the > zoloft. And I'm just all messed up. Not necessarily getting worse but > DEFINITELY not getting any better! Given the extremely limited amount of information available, ie panic attacks, sleep disturbance, depressed mood -- ISTM itseemstome that judicious/wise use of some SSRI (or another) would be 'wiser and more judicious' than injudicious/unwise use of (some particular) benzodiasepine. SSRIs are indicated in all/each of those issues individually and collectively. Maybe the problem is the greater difficulty in prescribing and assessing the benefits (and disadvantages) of the SSRIs than that of the tranq class. The tranq action is observed 'immediately' and over a 24hour period of dosing. The beneficial results/effects of serotonin reuptake inhibition is much much pokier to observe. The disadvantages are seen 'quickly' - immediately. Snipped from the wiki section on the pharmacology "These (slowly proceeding) neurophysiological adaptations of the brain tissue are the reason why usually several weeks of continuous SSRI use is necessary for the antidepressant effect to become fully manifested,[citation needed] and why increased anxiety is a common side effect in the first few days or weeks of use." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ssri (Some say) Klonopin almost got the blackbox warning from the FDA about the suicide/depression problem. No other benzodiazepine has even come close to that and none of the others have the same 2009 April labeling change. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_box_warning -- Mike Easter kibitzer, not SC admin From nobody at spamcop.net Sun Dec 20 16:08:25 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Sun Dec 20 16:10:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: #%#$& LTD Insurance Company just won't give up! In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "Frog Prince" wrote in message news:hgka4h$qp3$1@news.spamcop.net... > Privacy account is a bit bucket. the one that works is brother_rabbit @ > hotmail.com you can try lostkat @ charter.net > D'oh! > No press so long as you received my email re UNUM. > Resent my reply. Can't thank you enough for that unbelievable (and horrifying) info....if it hadn't come from you I may not have believed it! I fired off a warning message to the other place we spoke about to let everyone there know how vulnerable (not paranoid) "we" are..... From nobody at spamcop.net Sun Dec 20 16:34:03 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Sun Dec 20 16:35:09 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Look! In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "Mike Easter" wrote in message news:hglj1t$9rt$1@news.spamcop.net... > > A lot of modern monologs have been written about pharmacotherapy for > panic disorders in which the authors strongly encourage a 'migration' > away from the benzodiazepines and toward the SSRIs. BTDT. SSRI's are not at all capable of dealing with panic disorders all by themselves, something additional is quite often required for short term use until sufficient progress is made via psychological therapy. From nobody at spamcop.net Sun Dec 20 16:45:22 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Sun Dec 20 16:50:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Ping FP and/or Mike Easter Message-ID: How do you permanently add "X-No-Archive: Yes" to news headers? I'm using WinMail on Vista, sent one reply to Charles and the header was there, but in my next reply to Mike it was gone. Googling hasn't turned up anything useful yet except on how to manually add it to individual posts, and that info was for OE, not WinMail. From MikeE at ster.invalid Sun Dec 20 17:35:07 2009 From: MikeE at ster.invalid (Mike Easter) Date: Sun Dec 20 17:35:09 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Ping FP and/or Mike Easter References: Message-ID: Indigo wrote: > How do you permanently add "X-No-Archive: Yes" to news headers? I'm > using WinMail on Vista, sent one reply to Charles and the header was > there, but in my next reply to Mike it was gone. Googling hasn't turned > up anything useful yet except on how to manually add it to individual > posts, and that info was for OE, not WinMail. Frank Saunders, MS-MVP in OE/WM sez^1 in a Vista group that it isn't possible to add such a custom header to WM. Google will accept/honor XNA-Y on the first line^2 of the body. ^1 http://www.vistax64.com/vista-mail/55527-custom-mail-headers-windows-mai l.html Custom Mail Headers with Windows Mail ^2 http://groups.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=46487 or as the very first text in the first line of the message body. -- Mike Easter kibitzer, not SC admin From me at privacy.net Sun Dec 20 17:36:28 2009 From: me at privacy.net (Frog Prince) Date: Sun Dec 20 18:00:07 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Ping FP and/or Mike Easter References: Message-ID: "Indigo" wrote in message news:hgm5tg$he5$1@news.spamcop.net... > How do you permanently add "X-No-Archive: Yes" to news headers? I'm using > WinMail on Vista, sent one reply to Charles and the header was there, but > in my next reply to Mike it was gone. Googling hasn't turned up anything > useful yet except on how to manually add it to individual posts, and that > info was for OE, not WinMail. I do mine manually, each time. If Mike knows how to make the data permanent I'd like to know as well. From user at domain.invalid Sun Dec 20 22:20:49 2009 From: user at domain.invalid (Farelf) Date: Sun Dec 20 22:25:09 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Off the wall In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Charles wrote: > No way it was me! It was Farelf! > >> And people (well, Charles) dispute that Google is their friend! > > And why wouldn't I? I don't see anywhere, in your post, that you found > your chapel. Did you? Care to share the link? I mean, hey, I could use a > little more spirituality (depending on who you ask). Ah, Charles, the whole website is the the 'brand' of whimsy that appeals to me. Absurdity is a relief, don't you find? No I guess not, it is everywhere yet doesn't give you solace. I suppose it is only good for small, everyday hurts. Sorry. You know my thoughts on 'spirituality' - simply being able to sometimes appreciate a viewpoint that is not centred on the self, that looms hugely greater than self, is close enough for me. Even Hubble telescope pictures awe me. And whimsical websites please me because of the unexpected perspectives and playfulness. Not everything has to be an earth-shattering epiphany, the little things are a plank in the construct. I mean, "having testicles is like being chained to the village idiot," how good it that? From nobody at spamcop.net Mon Dec 21 00:52:11 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Mon Dec 21 00:55:10 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Off the wall In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: -- X-No-Archive: Yes "Farelf" wrote in message news:hgmpie$ob6$1@news.spamcop.net... > Charles wrote: >> No way it was me! It was Farelf! >> >>> And people (well, Charles) dispute that Google is their friend! >> >> And why wouldn't I? I don't see anywhere, in your post, that you found >> your chapel. Did you? Care to share the link? I mean, hey, I could use >> a >> little more spirituality (depending on who you ask). > > Ah, Charles, the whole website is the the 'brand' of whimsy that appeals > to me. Absurdity is a relief, don't you find? No I guess not, it is > everywhere yet doesn't give you solace. I suppose it is only good for > small, everyday hurts. Sorry. > > You know my thoughts on 'spirituality' - simply being able to sometimes > appreciate a viewpoint that is not centred on the self, that looms hugely > greater than self, is close enough for me. Even Hubble telescope pictures > awe me. And whimsical websites please me because of the unexpected > perspectives and playfulness. Not everything has to be an > earth-shattering epiphany, the little things are a plank in the construct. > > I mean, "having testicles is like being chained to the village idiot," how > good it that? From nobody at spamcop.net Mon Dec 21 00:54:17 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Mon Dec 21 00:55:11 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Off the wall In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Testing alternative no archive method.....does everything below the -- disappear from anyones newsreader? -- X-No-Archive: Yes "Indigo" wrote in message news:hgn2ea$rha$1@news.spamcop.net... > > > -- > X-No-Archive: Yes > "Farelf" wrote in message > news:hgmpie$ob6$1@news.spamcop.net... >> Charles wrote: >>> No way it was me! It was Farelf! >>> >>>> And people (well, Charles) dispute that Google is their friend! >>> >>> And why wouldn't I? I don't see anywhere, in your post, that you found >>> your chapel. Did you? Care to share the link? I mean, hey, I could >>> use a >>> little more spirituality (depending on who you ask). >> >> Ah, Charles, the whole website is the the 'brand' of whimsy that appeals >> to me. Absurdity is a relief, don't you find? No I guess not, it is >> everywhere yet doesn't give you solace. I suppose it is only good for >> small, everyday hurts. Sorry. >> >> You know my thoughts on 'spirituality' - simply being able to sometimes >> appreciate a viewpoint that is not centred on the self, that looms hugely >> greater than self, is close enough for me. Even Hubble telescope >> pictures awe me. And whimsical websites please me because of the >> unexpected perspectives and playfulness. Not everything has to be an >> earth-shattering epiphany, the little things are a plank in the >> construct. >> >> I mean, "having testicles is like being chained to the village idiot," >> how good it that? > From user at domain.invalid Mon Dec 21 09:25:33 2009 From: user at domain.invalid (Farelf) Date: Mon Dec 21 09:30:09 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: ... In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Charles wrote: > It wasn't me! It was Farelf! > >> As long as it's not personal - >> >> b'fhearr liom t? n? c?ad b? bhainne > > I'm kind of bummed that this isn't personal... Well, be assured that you are esteemed more than any number of milk-cows. From MikeE at ster.invalid Mon Dec 21 11:38:55 2009 From: MikeE at ster.invalid (Mike Easter) Date: Mon Dec 21 11:40:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Look! References: Message-ID: Charles wrote: > The klonopin is to deal with the stresses caused by the zoloft. Maybe you should be taking a different dosage, dosage schedule, or a different SSRI in conjunction with the 'global' management strategy. Where the globe is /you/, not this planet. :-) Different SSRI or different dosage; different benzodiazepine and/or tranq dosing strategies to avoid whatever was trying to be avoided by choosing clonazepam which has a bad rep in this context. -- Mike Easter kibitzer, not SC admin From user at domain.invalid Mon Dec 21 12:18:04 2009 From: user at domain.invalid (Farelf) Date: Mon Dec 21 12:20:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Off the wall In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Charles wrote: > It wasn't me! It was Farelf! > >> Ah, Charles, the whole website is the the 'brand' of whimsy that appeals >> to me. Absurdity is a relief, don't you find? > > On this, the darkest day (more or less), well. I guess I don't. Then I'm sad. But it won't stay this way. From kenbrody at spamcop.net Mon Dec 21 15:21:26 2009 From: kenbrody at spamcop.net (Kenneth Brody) Date: Mon Dec 21 15:25:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Early Dismissal In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Sylvesterthekat wrote: > "Frog Prince" wrote in news:hgenq2$q07$1@news.spamcop.net: > > >> When the teacher turns her back Johnny says, "I wish these bitches would >> keep their mouths shut!" >> >> The teacher turns around: "NOW WHO SAID THAT?" >> >> Johnny: "TIGER WOODS. CAN I GO NOW?" >> > > LOL, good and yet bad at the same time No, no, no! The correct ending is: The teacher turns around: "NOW WHO SAID THAT?" Before Johnny can say anything, Mary says "it was Johnny". The teacher says "very good, Mary, you can go home now". -- Kenneth Brody From kenbrody at spamcop.net Mon Dec 21 15:22:36 2009 From: kenbrody at spamcop.net (Kenneth Brody) Date: Mon Dec 21 15:25:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Any docs out there? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Charles wrote: > Ha ha ha. I know there aren't. Just saying. Oh, whatever. What do you mean? A simple "dir c:\*.doc /s" shows me plenty of docs here. -- Kenneth Brody From kenbrody at spamcop.net Mon Dec 21 15:28:27 2009 From: kenbrody at spamcop.net (Kenneth Brody) Date: Mon Dec 21 15:30:09 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Looking for a better online music source In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Charles wrote: > I've been listening to Rhapsody radio which has a few benefits. It's free. > It's ad free. I can skip songs. I guess I'd like to take that and go one > better... I'd like to have more say in selecting the songs. > > What do you all listen to? Have you tried Slacker Radio? http://www.slacker.com (It's not ad free, however. The ads are minimal, though.) -- Kenneth Brody From borgholio at storymind.com Mon Dec 21 18:40:52 2009 From: borgholio at storymind.com (Borgholio) Date: Mon Dec 21 18:45:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Any docs out there? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Charles wrote: > No way it was me! It was Kenneth Brody ! > >> What do you mean? A simple "dir c:\*.doc /s" shows me plenty of docs >> here. > > Ah. You sir are correct. Many docs. Thx. What's up, Doc? From nobody at spamcop.net Mon Dec 21 22:09:08 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Mon Dec 21 22:10:09 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Look! In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "Charles" wrote in message news:Xns9CE7B327C98EFTheShrubIsAnAss@216.154.195.61... > No way it was me! It was "Indigo" ! > >> Hmmm....Wiki sez Klonopin can "occasionally" cause 1) Serious >> psychological and psychiatric side-effects, 2) Personality changes, >> and 3) Behavioural disturbances......mebbe you're one of those unlucky >> 1 percenters? > > The klonopin is to deal with the stresses caused by the zoloft. That's good ol' crazy 'merican medicine for ya....take pill B to deal with side affects caused by pill A....instead of trying a different pill A......and you still wonder why I depend on alternative medicines and therapies so heavily? When I went on BP medication the first one my doctor tried damn near killed me....you should NOT be putting up with such serious side effects! From nobody at spamcop.net Mon Dec 21 22:13:11 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Mon Dec 21 22:15:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Ping FP Message-ID: X-No-Archive: Yes You got mail, and many thanks. From kenbrody at spamcop.net Tue Dec 22 11:27:46 2009 From: kenbrody at spamcop.net (Kenneth Brody) Date: Tue Dec 22 11:30:09 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Any docs out there? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: On 12/21/2009 6:40 PM, Borgholio wrote: > Charles wrote: >> No way it was me! It was Kenneth Brody ! >> >>> What do you mean? A simple "dir c:\*.doc /s" shows me plenty of docs >>> here. >> >> Ah. You sir are correct. Many docs. Thx. > > What's up, Doc? For some reason, I thought of Daffy Duck's goofy song with the line "please pass the ketchup, I think it's going to rain". It actually took me more than a minute to find this clip: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xc4mx_boobs-in-the-woods-scene -- Kenneth Brody From nobody at spamcop.net Tue Dec 22 17:13:24 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Tue Dec 22 17:15:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Heart problem strikes another family member..... Message-ID: Man, is my family jinxed or what? My oldest brother, about 3 years older than me, has been having some kind of heart palpitations for over a year now. This morning he went in for a stress test, and during the 3rd (hardest) stage he had to stop. He sat down on a chair an immediately passed out, unconcious......the doctor said his heart actually stopped beating for 10-12 seconds.....they whisked him to the cardio wing, and this afternoon he had a heart catherization like my Dad had several months ago, but they didn't find any problems. They just got finished doing another test, one that checks the nerve conductivity to the heart, and he passed that too.....so his heart stopped and the doctors have no idea why, which is kind of even worse than actually finding a defect! I'm going to try to convince him to go see a chiropractor when I see him Xmas eve, from all of my travails over the years I've learned a ton of info about cervical vertebrae dislocations where the spine joins to the skull and what kind of physical problems they can cause. The biggest bundle is called the Vegus Nerve -- it carries the electrical signals sent from the brain through the nervous system to almost every organ in your body, most importantly the heart. If his Vegus Nerve is pinched somewhere in his neck (most likely at C1 or C2), it could be causing his heart problems. When my Vegus nerve or lymphatic system is pinched (the lymph system exchanges cero-spinal fluid with the spinal cord and is most vulnerable at C1/C2) I suffer from brain fog, bad vision, and digestive problems, among other things. I've learned to recognize certain symptoms to the point where I sometimes know exactly what's wrong with me and can go to my chiropractor or a PT and can tell them what and where to work on me. I think the hardest part of getting him to a chiropractor is over-riding his wife's opinion -- she's an RN and has a Master's degree in Pediatric care, and is a staunch "Western Medicine" believer.....just like my Mom was (also an RN).....then there's convincing my youngest brother to go get his heart checked out too.....he's just like my older brother and Dad physically speaking, in that they never played any sports or exercised regularly for their entire life.....and little bro smokes, to top it off....... From MikeE at ster.invalid Tue Dec 22 17:34:44 2009 From: MikeE at ster.invalid (Mike Easter) Date: Tue Dec 22 17:35:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Heart problem strikes another family member..... References: Message-ID: Indigo wrote: > This morning he went in for a stress test, and during the 3rd > (hardest) stage he had to stop. He sat down on a chair an immediately > passed out, unconcious...... Normally during a (genuine physical exertion old fashioned) stresstest you are hooked up to the heart monitor, but the leads aren't usually long enough for you to leave the exercise system and go 'somewhere' (else) and sit down. > the doctor said his heart actually stopped > beating for 10-12 seconds..... I wonder if this means that there was (absolutely) no conduction anomaly being observed in the instants/seconds prior to the time he dropped into severe bradycardia - asystole x 10-12 seconds would 'translate' to a pulse of about 5 or 6 if 'sustained' just like 2 heartbeats within half a second would translate to a pulse of 120 -- and/or if it also means that since he left the exertional platform, that he was not actually being monitored during the arrythmia's onset - which would be really dumb, since he went in for a palpitation/arrythmia evaluation. The cardiovascular event/ arrhythmia/ which *should have* been observed with the best possible tool, namely the multilead EKG leads would provide much more useful information than the cath in an arrythmia evaluation. The cath isn't for arrhythmia. > they whisked him to the cardio wing, and > this afternoon he had a heart catherization like my Dad had several > months ago, but they didn't find any problems. > They just got finished doing another test, one that checks the nerve > conductivity to the heart, and he passed that too.....so his heart > stopped and the doctors have no idea why, which is kind of even worse > than actually finding a defect! It sounds like the conduction anomaly should have been under direct electrical conduction observation during the stresstest, unless he disconnected from the machine to go sit down -- and even if he did that, it seems that something was going on (cardiovascularly) that caused him to have to stop. -- Mike Easter kibitzer, not SC admin From nobody at spamcop.net Tue Dec 22 22:02:09 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Tue Dec 22 22:05:09 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Look! In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "Charles" wrote in message news:Xns9CE94B1CFA1F4TheShrubIsAnAss@216.154.195.61... > It wasn't me! It was "Indigo" ! > >> you should NOT be putting up with such serious side effects > > "It's all perfectly normal for where you are." BS bailout answer IMNSHO. From nobody at spamcop.net Tue Dec 22 22:23:00 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Tue Dec 22 22:25:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Heart problem strikes another family member..... In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "Mike Easter" wrote in message news:hgrhi7$h1q$1@news.spamcop.net... > Indigo wrote: > >> This morning he went in for a stress test, and during the 3rd >> (hardest) stage he had to stop. He sat down on a chair an immediately >> passed out, unconcious...... > > Normally during a (genuine physical exertion old fashioned) stresstest > you are hooked up to the heart monitor, but the leads aren't usually > long enough for you to leave the exercise system and go 'somewhere' > (else) and sit down. > I believe what happened is he said "stop, I can't go any further", and they disconnected the leads, but probably left the lead patches on his body. When he passed out on the chair I assume the doctor checked for a pulse, perhaps with a stethoscope, and didn't find one for the 10-12 second "gap" until his heart restarted on it's own. I'll find out more definitive info Thursday when I talk to him at my Dad's house. In any case, this now establishes a history of heart problems in my immediate family, along with the already scary history of cancer in my extended family. Back in 1998 when I was going thru the agonizing throes of negotiating the separation agreement with my ex while under immense pressure from my job workload I also experienced heart arrythmia, it was basically skipping beats, making me dizzy and out of breath. A scrip for a low dose of valium (5 mg) to calm me down and the resolution of most of the stressors on my heart and mind stopped the problem rather quickly, and it's only re-occurred a handful of times in the last 10 years, and only for a few seconds per episode. I really don't understand how my bro lived with it for over a year without seeking medical help, if you've ever experienced something like that you'd know that it is quite a disturbing event! An ex g/f of mine had the same problem, I probably took her to the ER about 6 times over a one year period to get checked out, but she was an intensive care nurse and knew it was nothing to be trifling with. From fiyntyd02 at sneakemail.com Tue Dec 22 22:38:28 2009 From: fiyntyd02 at sneakemail.com (Mr K. Mean) Date: Tue Dec 22 22:40:09 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Cube fun In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: On 12/23/2009 06:36 AM, Charles wrote: > Fun. Fun? Fun. So it's bad cube manners (and form) to have your radio > play so that others can hear. But it's OK to wear headphones. Well, I'm > singing along. I suppose it's bad form but, hey, what do I care? It's not > like I can hear them anyway! Hey. I'm going home - it's way too nice out > to stay at work! Just don't clip your toenails in your cube. I've had that happen before. Crazy. I don't need to hear that sort of thing around me. From fiyntyd02 at sneakemail.com Tue Dec 22 22:43:58 2009 From: fiyntyd02 at sneakemail.com (Mr K. Mean) Date: Tue Dec 22 22:45:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Cube fun In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: On 12/23/2009 06:36 AM, Charles wrote: > Fun. Fun? Fun. So it's bad cube manners (and form) to have your radio > play so that others can hear. But it's OK to wear headphones. Well, I'm > singing along. I suppose it's bad form but, hey, what do I care? It's not > like I can hear them anyway! Hey. I'm going home - it's way too nice out > to stay at work! Is the Shrub still an ass or you going to update yourself into the present? Of course, I might start ranting about Millard Fillmore myself. From borgholio at storymind.com Tue Dec 22 23:11:29 2009 From: borgholio at storymind.com (Borgholio) Date: Tue Dec 22 23:15:10 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Cube fun In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Charles wrote: > Fun. Fun? Fun. So it's bad cube manners (and form) to have your radio > play so that others can hear. But it's OK to wear headphones. Well, I'm > singing along. I suppose it's bad form but, hey, what do I care? It's not > like I can hear them anyway! Hey. I'm going home - it's way too nice out > to stay at work! Here's some fun stuff. Use a hole saw to cut holes in the sides of your cubicle and on the other side, hang a sign that says "Glory Hole". Failing that, here are some ideas: http://www.hrworld.com/features/cubicle-pranks-032008/ http://theofficemaster.com/cubicle-decorations/the-ultimate-cubicle-prank/ From MikeE at ster.invalid Wed Dec 23 00:35:28 2009 From: MikeE at ster.invalid (Mike Easter) Date: Wed Dec 23 00:40:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Heart problem strikes another family member..... References: Message-ID: Indigo wrote: > "Mike Easter" > I believe what happened is he said "stop, I can't go any further", and > they disconnected the leads, but probably left the lead patches on his > body. When he passed out on the chair I assume the doctor checked for a > pulse, perhaps with a stethoscope, and didn't find one for the 10-12 > second "gap" until his heart restarted on it's own. But... this test, which is potentially dangerous and many feel should be conducted with a cardiologist in attendance, not some EKG tech, is exactly the perfect type of heart electricity observation which could have been so useful in making an accurate diagnosis of an arrythmia problem. Think how much better it would have been for him to lie on the floor beside the machine while still connected and being monitored. By the cardiologist. Sitting down in a chair when you feel faint is a 'stupid' pre-fainting (or fainting avoidance) position. It doesn't lower the head to the level of the rest of the body and legs, and it puts the person in a position to fall out of the chair - faint - onto the floor and hurt themselves. When people are out and about in a public place and feel like fainting, they should lie down on the floor, not sit in a chair. If they are really old, they might have trouble getting off the floor, but that is another different problem. -- Mike Easter kibitzer, not SC admin From user at domain.invalid Wed Dec 23 08:37:26 2009 From: user at domain.invalid (Farelf) Date: Wed Dec 23 08:40:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Cube fun In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Charles wrote: > > Of course, getting bigger balls could be cheaper: They hamper mobility - trust me. From nobody at spamcop.net Wed Dec 23 22:20:03 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Wed Dec 23 22:20:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Cube fun In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "Mr K. Mean" wrote in message news:hgs3bk$n71$1@news.spamcop.net... > On 12/23/2009 06:36 AM, Charles wrote: >> Fun. Fun? Fun. So it's bad cube manners (and form) to have your radio >> play so that others can hear. But it's OK to wear headphones. Well, I'm >> singing along. I suppose it's bad form but, hey, what do I care? It's >> not >> like I can hear them anyway! Hey. I'm going home - it's way too nice >> out >> to stay at work! > > Just don't clip your toenails in your cube. I've had that happen before. > Crazy. I don't need to hear that sort of thing around me. Omigod.............my ex boss used to clip his fingernails and toenails during informal "meetings" in his office with me and others.....so groooooosssssss..... From nobody at spamcop.net Wed Dec 23 22:20:57 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Wed Dec 23 22:25:07 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Cube fun In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "Farelf" wrote in message news:hgt6el$8kc$2@news.spamcop.net... > Charles wrote: > >> >> Of course, getting bigger balls could be cheaper: > > They hamper mobility - trust me. > Your boys need a home! From aunt.jemima at pancake.box Fri Dec 25 13:27:39 2009 From: aunt.jemima at pancake.box (dwacon) Date: Fri Dec 25 13:30:09 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Merry Christmas Message-ID: Seasoned greetings guys! From nobody at spamcop.net Fri Dec 25 15:24:06 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Fri Dec 25 15:25:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Merry Christmas In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "dwacon" wrote in message news:hh3076$d84$1@news.spamcop.net... > Seasoned greetings guys! And wishing you and all a very Happy Holiday also! The Science Institute just released a new very "Christmacy" photo, it's one of the most beautiful images HST has ever produced IMHO......it's from the second camera on the new WFC3 instrument. One camera is for IR wavelengths (IRC), this one is for UV wavelengths (UVIS) . http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/releases/2009/32/image/a/format/web_print/ From nobody at spamcop.net Mon Dec 28 16:10:23 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (bar0) Date: Mon Dec 28 16:15:09 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Done in by their own popularity? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "Charles" wrote in message news:Xns9CEF97E7C729FThisIsMyPost@216.154.195.61... > So... Is it just me or does it look like AQ are just a bunch of bumbling > idiots now? Or... Did this one not blow because someone set it up not to > blow? Or what? No, but the suicide bombers are, if they weren't they wouldn't be doing the job. Ever notice how it's never actual AQ operatives, but rather the suckers they con. Any "good" Muslim knows that murder of innocents and suicide are both mortal sins. You have to have a perverse notion of combatant to believe commercial plane passengers are not innocents. Basically all the same kinds of dupes that passed around and drank cyanide in Jonestown, or handed over all their possessions Near Beaverton. This guy was no dumber than Reid (the Shoe Bummer) nor, for that matter, the stewardess who offered Reid a light on a non smoking flight. From nobody at spamcop.net Tue Dec 29 11:04:46 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (bar0) Date: Tue Dec 29 11:05:09 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Done in by their own popularity? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "Charles" wrote in message news:Xns9CF05712CAC89ThisIsMyPost@216.154.195.61... > It wasn't me! It was "bar0" ! > >> Any "good" Muslim knows that murder of innocents and suicide are both >> mortal sins. > > But it's only a sin for the one committing the act and not for the ones > providing the bombs and training? Weird. Actually encouraging, or pressuring someone to commit a mortal sin is as mortal a sin as the offense itself. From nobody at spamcop.net Tue Dec 29 13:50:54 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (bar0) Date: Tue Dec 29 13:55:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] fscking DVR's Message-ID: I have a Ditch-net DVR, which records only New episodes of House (among other stuff) 1 episode was accidentally deleted and another was half wiped by a football game. So I've tried to find and record those episodes if and when they turn up on on the other BS rerun channels you get with satellite or cable, but it keeps failing coz it sez "I've recoreded this already" or messages to that effect. AArrgh And no, we don't want to crowd around the PC to watch these from the network dweeb site. Looks like I'll have to unschedule the recording when I locate the episodes again, set them up and try to remember to reimplement the schedule after. Damn machinery that's too smart but not smart enough. From joegill at removethis Tue Dec 29 14:51:52 2009 From: joegill at removethis (Joe Gill) Date: Tue Dec 29 14:55:10 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: fscking DVR's In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "bar0" wrote in message news:hhdj2e$6ta$1@news.spamcop.net... >I have a Ditch-net DVR, which records only New episodes of House (among >other stuff) 1 episode was accidentally deleted and another was half wiped >by a football game. > > So I've tried to find and record those episodes if and when they turn up > on on the other BS rerun channels you get with satellite or cable, but it > keeps failing coz it sez "I've recoreded this already" or messages to that > effect. > > AArrgh > > And no, we don't want to crowd around the PC to watch these from the > network dweeb site. > > Looks like I'll have to unschedule the recording when I locate the > episodes again, set them up and try to remember to reimplement the > schedule after. > > Damn machinery that's too smart but not smart enough. > > I have DISH What I have done, due to football and golf, is extend events 90 minutes past end time, with and 'override' What I have done for duplicates is to do a 'manual' recording by channel and time! From nobody at spamcop.net Tue Dec 29 15:19:13 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (bar0) Date: Tue Dec 29 15:20:09 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: fscking DVR's In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "Joe Gill" wrote in message news:hhdmku$8oj$1@news.spamcop.net... ... >> > I have DISH > What I have done, due to football and golf, is extend events 90 minutes > past end time, with and 'override' Yeah, Gotta do that for "60 Minutes". Last year I missed every episode 'til I got smart about it. > What I have done for duplicates is to do a 'manual' recording by channel > and time! > Sigh!, now I've got to wait for these 2 particular episodes to churn up again somewhere. From user at domain.invalid Wed Dec 30 11:52:30 2009 From: user at domain.invalid (Farelf) Date: Wed Dec 30 11:55:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Shnow In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Charles wrote: > Shnould shnow every day for the next 10. According to weather.com. And > they must now. Hmm. I've got to keep writing here otherwise it will be > tweetable length, again. Ah. That's better. Well, it was raining in Ithaca, the day I was born. http://www.wolframalpha.com/ But it hasn't a clue what it was like in East Victoria Park, where I was hatched (according to the incubation records). And it can't tell me how many (British) No. 7 pellets there are in an ounce and a quarter of lead shot. But it's not half bad with indefinite integrals (which is neat, because I'm a lousy mathematician). From user at domain.invalid Wed Dec 30 12:24:41 2009 From: user at domain.invalid (Farelf) Date: Wed Dec 30 12:25:09 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Shnow In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Charles wrote: > It was Charles! > >> Odd that you can get it to give you that. Why Ithaca? I see Boston >> weather in time but not where I was born. > > I can force weather where I was born but it doesn't come up with the city > and date alone. Weird. I wonder why that is. I just used weather Ithaca, NY on dd mmmm yyyy. Yes, it takes time to fill in all the detail. Ithaca? It's a shotgun thing. From user at domain.invalid Wed Dec 30 13:28:35 2009 From: user at domain.invalid (Farelf) Date: Wed Dec 30 13:30:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Shnow In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Farelf wrote: > ... But it's not half bad with indefinite integrals (which is neat, > because I'm a lousy mathematician). Heh, reminds me of "Tales from the White Hart" where the tale teller is bemoaning the shortcomings of his lab assistant. It goes something like "Why, he couldn't even integrate e to the x!" Groans of sympathy and disbelief from the assembly. "Well, that may be a little unfair. He couldn't integrate *inverse* e to the x." From me at privacy.net Wed Dec 30 15:19:08 2009 From: me at privacy.net (Frog Prince) Date: Wed Dec 30 15:25:09 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: straight to the moon References: Message-ID: "Charles" wrote in message news:Xns9CF1549447EADThisIsMyPost@216.154.195.61... > My 5 y/o bought my so and I little plastic rockets for xmas. It's kinda > crazy and funny and all. My 3+ y.o. grand son bought me a special Tomas The Train engine 'so I'd have my OWN train to play with (and to have to borrow his). I can still borrow his trailing cars etc if I want. From me at privacy.net Wed Dec 30 16:08:22 2009 From: me at privacy.net (Frog Prince) Date: Wed Dec 30 16:10:07 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: straight to the moon References: Message-ID: "Charles" wrote in message news:Xns9CF19E605FE69ThisIsMyPost@216.154.195.61... > It wasn't me! It was "Frog Prince" ! > >> My 3+ y.o. grand son bought me a special Tomas The Train engine 'so >> I'd have my OWN train to play with (and to have to borrow his). I can >> still borrow his trailing cars etc if I want. > > Which one did you get? Don't know the official name other than it's green and black. He got at a garage sale for $0.50 with his own money (kids opportunities to earn money is increased around the holidays.) My wife said someone, on line, was offering $65 as it was a rare fine and in good condition. Regardless it's not for sale. Kinda fun as he is the trainmaster and tells his sisters and me just how the game is to be played. You never know where he will drive the play/game bus. My DIL is home schooling our grand kids and the kids of friends. Part of the program includes language lessons. One of the teachers told the kids "no touch' in Spanish (no toque) my 3 y.o. grand kid was not paying attentionn and took this to mean 'No Tacos' which had him a bit upset as Texican was on the plan for lunch. (it was 11:45 AM) If you want have a fun (and funny) experience ask your 5 y.o. to set the ground rules for playing rocket and let him run with the ideas. A bit of input, either on topic or nonsense, will help. Props are optional. example a toilet roll tube can be used as a worm hole or parking place. From nobody at spamcop.net Wed Dec 30 21:00:49 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Wed Dec 30 21:05:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Small things In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "Charles" wrote in message news:Xns9CF17866AB20BThisIsMyPost@216.154.195.61... > I've gone and lost a total of 20 pounds, now. Woo hoo. Yeah. And, yet > again, a post that could be taken for a tweet. Sheesh. Listen... I've > got the best way, ever, for losing weight. At least, it worked great for > me. I'll sell you the secret for lots of money. Just give me lots of > money and we'll be all good. I haven't had that much of a swing, but from 12/20 to 12/27 I managed to put on 6 lbs from attending 2 Xmas parties, both of which served the "I can't leave it alone" delicacy, creamy MD crab dip, plus gorging at my family's Xmas eve get-together.....and for some reason, the new antibiotic I'm on has me craving sugar-type things like cookies and my all time fav sweet snack, Brown Sugar Cinnamon Pop Tarts with icing on top. I usually only eat a handful of cookies (literally meaning about 5) in the course of an entire year! But the parties are all over now for me, already lost 3 lbs since Sunday. Want to know why/how I did it? By spending over 10 hours/day desperately trying to recover my PC from near-death, from Sunday thru yesterday. I finally had to give up and format/re-install Vista and the HP stuff. What REALLY pissed me off are several things that are STUPID AS SHIT!! 1) I was installing a Vista Update -- I know, I said I'd never install another one since they seem go give me so much trouble, but.....I succumbed to the Evil Empire's demands in a moment of weakness.... and the PC turned off right in the middle of the update install! It was just like someone pulled the power from the puter, it was on and then POOF it was off. Of course y'all can guess what happened: a corrupted volume record file and a toasted MBR. I spent almost 3 days trying various means of repairing the damage, but nothing worked, it refused to boot. In fact, it wouldn't even SHUT DOWN normally! CHKDSK found errors to fix, but the PC refused to shut down properly from the recovery mode, which meant that CHKDSK wouldn't run on the next boot up because the command to run it wasn't saved. 2) After I gave up and decided to do a clean re-install I used HP's built in backup recovery app to save all my important files, or so I thought......after the machine was running again I went to "recover" certain important things, like my FireFox profile and saved photos, only to discover to my horror that the fscking HP app hadn't saved anything of use! For instance, in my photo directory/subdirectories, all it stored were thumbnail.info files, not the actual JPGs! FSCK!!!!! Luckily I use another app to regularly backup such directories, so I didn't lose any pictures or documents. 3) The one backup up app that I had really depended on for such an emergency, GFI Backup 2009 Home Edition (freeware), wouldn't run in the crippled DOS prompt mode, because it couldn't load the necessary DLLs!! Who TF designs a useless piece of shit backup app that only works if you're already booted into Windows? What's the point? I had a complete system snapshot from 12/2/09 stored in a gigantic ".zip" file, but WinRar, which did manage to run, couldn't open it. And after I restored everything and re-installed the GFI app today, _it_ couldn't open the file either, saying it was corrupted! GRRRRRRR...... At least I managed to recover all the important stuff except maybe my FF profile because of various backups on my 2 external HD's using other software, mostly IDrive created backups. But I had them set up as "Sync" files, which turned out to be a lot harder to extract than I thought....anyway, time to start installing most of my old apps.....*sigh*.....it'll take a couple weeks to restore the system back to the way I had it before....but at least a couple of those constantly recurring little glitches should be gone now.....knock on wood....right now WinMail keeps stealing focus from me while I type this message, which is driving me nuts....gotta install one of my old tweakers to kill that behavior. From nobody at spamcop.net Wed Dec 30 22:12:21 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Wed Dec 30 22:15:09 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Small things In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "Charles" wrote in message news:Xns9CF1D7E6CA650ThisIsMyPost@216.154.195.61... > No way it was me! It was "Indigo" ! > >> right now WinMail keeps stealing focus from me while I type this >> message, which is driving me nuts....gotta install one of my old >> tweakers to kill that behavior. > > Not the tweakers again :) Ok, give me the reg key to change and I won't install a reg tweaker! From nobody at spamcop.net Thu Dec 31 12:26:17 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Thu Dec 31 12:30:09 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Small things In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "Charles" wrote in message news:Xns9CF24D5FC2291ThisIsMyPost@216.154.195.61... > It wasn't me! It was "Indigo" ! > >> Ok, give me the reg key to change and I won't install a reg tweaker! > > Never! Never, I tell you! You can't suck me in to polluting your machine! Why....why....how benevolent of you..... From nobody at spamcop.net Thu Dec 31 21:46:28 2009 From: nobody at spamcop.net (Indigo) Date: Thu Dec 31 21:50:08 2009 Subject: [Scsocial] Re: Small things In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "Charles" wrote in message news:Xns9CF2809CCA4E9ThisIsMyPost@216.154.195.61... > It wasn't me! It was "Indigo" ! > >> how benevolent of you > > Oh, hey, I'm just full of it today. So was eye ;-) From me at privacy.net Thu Dec 31 23:55:33 2009 From: me at privacy.net (Frog Prince) Date: Fri Jan 1 00:00:08 2010 Subject: [Scsocial] Question Message-ID: If a polar bear walks on four legs... what does an bipolar bear walk on?