That's a big part of what I was referring to.
"Freedom" is a long gone fantasy that WE experienced.
They never will but no, they also wont know the difference.
Piss & Moan Table
- Thread starter Farmergreg
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That's a big part of what I was referring to.
"Freedom" is a long gone fantasy that WE experienced.
They never will but no, they also wont know the difference.
Since I'm in my fifth decade of personal computer ownership, I'm well aware of the additional expense of laptops, and yes, for my purposes, a laptop is an absolute necessity. As to building PCs, those days are over for me. I built many desktops over the years, and even built a server at one point a quarter century ago. I like having a warranty, with at home service, as I have better things to do with my time than screw around with computers. They used to be a hobby, but today, they are just tools. As to complaints about operating systems, they're all less than ideal, so for me, it's a "lesser of all the evils" situation. Windows 11 is tolerable to me.
And to update my earlier post, the same tech came back yesterday. He called me on the way and said, "I hope I'm not on your naughty list," to which I replied, "well, let's just say you're not on the nice list, just yet, but if you get this thing running correctly by the time I get home today, you might just make it onto the nice list." He's now on the nice list. Laptop is working like it should!
Many do, but it doesn't mean much if they can't back it up, for whatever reason, or it takes an absurd amount of time to address. I do a lot of work on my computers, if they were to go down, I now can't do the "better things". Being my own IT has worked to my benefit.
As do I. None of them have taken more than an hour or two to build and configure and I can't recall the last time I had any work-stopping issues. To each their own.
Always been tools to me, hence me building my own. I didn't like paying for things I didn't want just to get something I did, and preloaded OS and software can feck right off.
I wish I could say the same. It does work better when you shut off a lot of the shit, but still bloatware with a piss-poor UI at best.
Your way doesn't make sense for me, and my way doesn't make sense for you. I get it, and that's okay. As you said, "to each their own."
You can build pretty small, yet powerful, desktops these days. Well, you could until maybe a year ago...
The last desktop my employer sent me a few years back was literally 1/8th the size of the previous. Sans peripherals, it's a fair bit smaller than the laptop. Even with a small display, keyboard and mouse, not bad for portability. Now I'm not really "surfing the web in coffee shops" portable, more "I need this in the garage to do diagnostic shit on my car" or "prefer to 'CAD it' while field-measuring rather than sketch it by hand to draft later on", for context. I don't connect to public networks with it, ever.
Yes, well aware of Linux, and would if I could (have in the past for fun), but many of the programs I run require a Windows OS. Powerful CAD, 3D modeling, rendering and animation software is essentially non-existent in the Linux world. For the record, I despise M$ and have for a very long time, I think they make shit software, have shit business ethics (oxymoronic as that may be) and what some might call a dangerous monopoly...but I digress. The aforementioned laptop may well get some flavor of Linux in the near future.
WINE works pretty well for most Windows software these days, but can be a bit fiddly to setup.
Isn't it though? People need to wake up. I'm no Christian, but I was horrified to read about what's going on at Mt. Athos - there's nothing these devices from Hell can't pollute, ruin and destroy. My dislike of PHOOOOOONNEs was rather naive until I read that book.
The Mt. Athos section of the book pretty much dispels any idea that there's any immunity to the contagion of the machine.
I take a far broader view than you, to me the phoooooone is nothing more than the current incarnation of the shaduf he referenced, the latest link in the evolutionary chain standing on the shoulders of every other cog of the machine that led up to it, & if Elon is right the phone will eventually give way too.
We are so fucked
I stopped drinking pop around 6 years ago, felt significantly better all around after it. This past winter I discovered "Liquid Death", they have soda flavored sparkling water which is really good! Not as strong as pop, less sugar, no caffeine and certified kosher. I like their severed lime flavor.
Have you tried the Big & Tall women’s shop?
Sorry just figured you were looking for a skirt or dress and, well you know……
Where do you think I get most of my stuff? I'm looking for a "Mermaid Skirt" for Belly Dance. I found one that I might be able to get one leg into, yet is 44 inches long (36-38 is "usual" and fits me) - it must be intended to be worn Empire waisted by a 6 foot, 6 inch pencil (Belly dance skirts are worn low on the hip.). Most of my dance sisters have the same problems I do, one gal says "fits most" means "fits nobody", and she's on the small side!
Dresses generally need to be custom made for males - our proportions are different from the gals. In the classic measurement system, I would be 44/39/45. Dresses aren't normally cut that way - never mind the "44" is from broad shoulders, not from those chest protuberances the gals have! Troupe leader decided 6 months ago that we'd all get LBDs (Little Black Dress) for "pop-up performances". I warned her about fitment issues. She found one that nominally fit me, but it looked so bad that she quietly gave up the whole idea which was fine by me. Dresses are a nuisance to get into, even worse to get out of, esp. when covered with sweat, and tend to be HOT to wear. Its best if I have help getting out at least.
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I was absolutely appalled. How the ever loving FUCK did this happen? They've kept women off the peninsula for over 1,000 years, but they let someone build a cell tower?
Noise. Why do people think everyone enjoys hearing their fucking NOISE? From vehicles with stupid loud stereos to fartcan mufflers on rice burners, to "Hardly-Davidson's" small wee-wee compensations - I'm tired of it. My neighborhood is generally pretty quiet, but I was out in my garden just today trying to get centered/grounded for a working - and had some TWIT on some kind of a mini-bike blatting away one street over. Well, this isn't gonna work - so I did some garden work instead of a garden working, will try again tomorrow.
I should be thankful though - the first two years had us dealing with a certain ethnicity directly behind us who thought the whole fucking neighborhood should be grateful for his 115db music blasting away until the wee hours of the morning EVERY FUCKING WEEKEND. I'd call the cops EVERY TIME, and they'd shut it down, but it would start AGAIN the next weekend if not the next day. I started to document, and was just about ready to find an attorney to sue the landlord (who refused to do anything about it) when they moved out. Thank Goddess - but I still have PTSD over NOISE even now.
I should be thankful though - the first two years had us dealing with a certain ethnicity directly behind us who thought the whole fucking neighborhood should be grateful for his 115db music blasting away until the wee hours of the morning EVERY FUCKING WEEKEND. I'd call the cops EVERY TIME, and they'd shut it down, but it would start AGAIN the next weekend if not the next day. I started to document, and was just about ready to find an attorney to sue the landlord (who refused to do anything about it) when they moved out. Thank Goddess - but I still have PTSD over NOISE even now.
Speaking of NOISE - I was on my way to a dance class, and made an unscheduled stop for diesel fuel at a BP station. I normally buy fuel at Cumberland and sometimes at Sunoco. Sunoco went through a phase a couple or three years back with some kind of blaring video at the pump. Fortunately, you could mute that crap, and they eventually got the message and stopped doing it.
I guess BP didn't get the memo, not only did they have the blaring video, but it was really BLARING and no mute button - and trust me, I tried every single button on the pump, some of them multiple times. Seems that some weird dude in a Belly Dance costume complete with huge "Gypsy" skirt, and a "good ole boy" on the other side of the pump had more in common than you'd think - he was just as pissed off about it as I was! I won't be going back to that station for sure - I'd rather push my car than put up with that bullshit...
EDIT: Complained on BP's website, they did respond...
Dear Zorba,
Thank you for contacting BP Consumer Support. Firstly, we would like to thank you for reporting this issue and please accept our sincere apologies for the inconvenience caused.
We have escalated the issue to our concerned team for them to look into this issue as soon as possible. Please be rest assured that your complaint will be reviewed with the station and necessary actions will be taken within the next 7-10 business days.
If you have any further inquiries, please reach out to us at anytime.
Kind Regards,
bp Consumer Support Team
I guess BP didn't get the memo, not only did they have the blaring video, but it was really BLARING and no mute button - and trust me, I tried every single button on the pump, some of them multiple times. Seems that some weird dude in a Belly Dance costume complete with huge "Gypsy" skirt, and a "good ole boy" on the other side of the pump had more in common than you'd think - he was just as pissed off about it as I was! I won't be going back to that station for sure - I'd rather push my car than put up with that bullshit...
EDIT: Complained on BP's website, they did respond...
Dear Zorba,
Thank you for contacting BP Consumer Support. Firstly, we would like to thank you for reporting this issue and please accept our sincere apologies for the inconvenience caused.
We have escalated the issue to our concerned team for them to look into this issue as soon as possible. Please be rest assured that your complaint will be reviewed with the station and necessary actions will be taken within the next 7-10 business days.
If you have any further inquiries, please reach out to us at anytime.
Kind Regards,
bp Consumer Support Team
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I went to see my orthopedic doctor today. He said you were right. I replied of course but what are you referring to since I'm right about everything. He said well you said you're always the one who has an issue, well in the thirty years I've been doing these surgeries you are the first to almost die from bilateral pulmonary embolisms. I've never had a patient with clots period let alone bilateral embolisms.
You are the luckiest, unlucky patient I've ever seen. He said the X-ray of your knee looks great, but it will be a year before you'll know exactly how your knee will be.
I told him that my hip is causing me more pain than my knee is. He said I'm not even going to look at your hip. We will see how you are doing in 9 months from now.
You are the luckiest, unlucky patient I've ever seen. He said the X-ray of your knee looks great, but it will be a year before you'll know exactly how your knee will be.
I told him that my hip is causing me more pain than my knee is. He said I'm not even going to look at your hip. We will see how you are doing in 9 months from now.
I was out for a mid-day walk at a park near my office the other day & while strolling down the paved walkway I heard what sounded like a burst of firecrackers in the distance. I turned around to look when I heard the sound again only much louder and it was coming from a bird that was dive-bombing me like a mini kamikaze, scared the living shit out of me & I took off running, once I got about 100 feet away I turned around again to see it circling around a nest on a pretty high tree branch further back on the path.
I've been walking many miles a day outdoors for decades & somehow never encountered such a vile bird, still not sure what the hell it was but I'd like to not run into it or its ilk again
Angry birds don't just suck on Jeeps
I've been walking many miles a day outdoors for decades & somehow never encountered such a vile bird, still not sure what the hell it was but I'd like to not run into it or its ilk again
Angry birds don't just suck on Jeeps
I was out for a mid-day walk at a park near my office the other day & while strolling down the paved walkway I heard what sounded like a burst of firecrackers in the distance. I turned around to look when I heard the sound again only much louder and it was coming from a bird that was dive-bombing me like a mini kamikaze, scared the living shit out of me & I took off running, once I got about 100 feet away I turned around again to see it circling around a nest on a pretty high tree branch further back on the path.
I've been walking many miles a day outdoors for decades & somehow never encountered such a vile bird, still not sure what the hell it was but I'd like to not run into it or its ilk again
View attachment 702262
Angry birds don't just suck on Jeeps
I've had that happen a few times with redwing blackbirds (in Commiefornia). Not fun.
KennethS
TJ Expert
Every year we have a mocking bird nest in the back yard and the birds dive bomb the dog when he gets close.
Not sure how many of you dick around with computers, but if you do, you're likely aware (or becoming so) of issues surrounding the cost of computer components. In particular, RAM and GPU, but CPU and drives as well. The focus has apparently shifted to supplying AI and data centers (a recurring theme elsewhere it seems), and I suspect may well kill off the consumer-level market in time (an added benefit to them as I see it).
I don't really care much for cell phones (other than as phones) and never really got into tablets. I have one laptop, but I prefer a powerful desktop with a properly sized keyboard, pointing device and a large monitor. Those other devices still can't hold a match to one. Human-sized with some horsepower, thank you very much. In February 2025, I built a new computer from components sourced on Amz, after using the previous build for about 10 years. Not necessarily the absolute fastest/latest/greatest components (markups are typically absurd), but no slouch, either. The components cost me about $1600.
Just for the "fun" of it, I put those same components in an Amz shopping cart this evening to see what's what. Bearing in mind that these components are now 1.5+ years old regarding speed and tech...the total came in at $3200.
I think it will only get worse.
I don't really care much for cell phones (other than as phones) and never really got into tablets. I have one laptop, but I prefer a powerful desktop with a properly sized keyboard, pointing device and a large monitor. Those other devices still can't hold a match to one. Human-sized with some horsepower, thank you very much. In February 2025, I built a new computer from components sourced on Amz, after using the previous build for about 10 years. Not necessarily the absolute fastest/latest/greatest components (markups are typically absurd), but no slouch, either. The components cost me about $1600.
Just for the "fun" of it, I put those same components in an Amz shopping cart this evening to see what's what. Bearing in mind that these components are now 1.5+ years old regarding speed and tech...the total came in at $3200.
I think it will only get worse.
I ordered a new tower last fall with 96 gigs of ram and an i9 processor for $1200. I just looked and it is now $2300.
Be glad you bought when you did, I know I am. I tend to procrastinate with things like this because it wasn't 100% necessary in the moment (I had a functioning workstation) and the money could have been spent elsewhere, but something drove me to do it at the time. The GPU, two 48G sticks of memory and the 2TB solid state drive were the biggest offenders, all doubled in price since then. The only thing that was less was the motherboard, which dropped a whopping $10...hell, even the CD drive doubled (though still quite inexpensive, relatively speaking).
