Octopus Overlords

When I traveled Europe and the United States I would use them all the time. This would have been the 70s.

Inventory shows we have $188,250 TCs in stock.

The last time I bought traveller's cheques was in 1991 when I was deployed out-of-country for a few months, and I didn't use them because it turned out that I could just withdraw cash from local ATM machines using my bank card. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Unagi wrote: ↑Fri Mar 03, 2023 9:28 am So what is the proper grammar here...


I am being told (by Grammarly) this is wrong:
I'm thankful a couple were still around.

and this is correct?
I'm thankful a couple was still around.

But I don't agree.
I realize it's a singular 'a couple', but it doesn't sound right to speak of that group as a single.


For example:

When looking for double A batteries yesterday, I was thankful a couple were still good.
When looking for double A batteries yesterday, I was thankful a couple was still good.

It's related to the count-noun/mass-noun distinction.

Some nouns are usually count nouns: The dogs were peeing happily.
Some nouns are usually mass nouns: The air was thick with odor.

But many nouns can commonly be both, with different contextual implications:
1) Beer is Lenny's favorite vice.
2) Fourteen beers are available on tap.

"Couple" can easily go both ways. A couple is dancing on the patio and Of all my students, a couple are impressive are both correct.

Grammarly is not good here.

'Were' sounds correct to me.

Daehawk wrote: ↑Fri Mar 03, 2023 7:18 pm 'Were' sounds correct to me.

And sometimes that's what it comes down to.

That, or I just rewrite the entire sentence.

Holman's got it right, and said it better than I could've done. It depends on whether you're writing about a couple as a unit, such as a married couple, or as a quantity, as in a couple of people. "That couple was late for their reservation," or "A couple of couples were late for their reservations." In Unagi's example, "I'm thankful a couple were still around," we lack the context to know if "was" or "were" is correct, but "were" is more likely because unitary couples are a special case.

Too much coupling.

I was helping eldest daughter move some heavy things around and we had temporarily placed a couple of said heavy items on a cart.
When moving the heavy things back into place I somehow ended up pushing the cart over her foot and she went, "Ahhh, ooooooooh" and I blurted out, "Werewolves of London."

Laughing hysterically while holding heavy things is not something I would recommend.

I laughed.

What could possibly go wrong?

Elon Musk Is Planning a 'Utopian' Company Town Called Snailbrook

Tesla, Twitter, SpaceX, and Boring Company CEO Elon Musk is adding one more title to his resume: town owner. The multi-billionaire is reportedly working on building his own “utopia” in Texas and plans to name it Snailbrook.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Musk plans to build the town outside of Austin near his Boring and SpaceX facilities which are currently under construction, according to the outlet. Facebook photos revealed the area already has a collection of modular homes, a pool, an outdoor sports area, and a gym, and already has signs posted that read: “Welcome, snailbrook, tx, est. 2021.”

According to the Journal, Musk’s plans include building a place for his employees to live and charging them roughly $800 per month for one and two-bedroom homes, with the caveat that they would have 30 days to vacate the premises if they were laid off or quit. Although the plans are still in the works, it seems like a good time to ask: Is this even a good idea?

You write sixteen apps, what do you get?
Another day older and deeper in debt
St. Steve Jobs, don't you call me 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store

Isgrimnur wrote: ↑Fri Mar 10, 2023 1:53 am You write sixteen apps, what do you get?
Another day older and deeper in debt
St. Steve Jobs, don't you call me 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store

Exactly what I thought.

Bonus if it gets shut down because of an endangered snail.

Is this even a good idea?

Right after Disney and Fl butt heads, I'm sure it's an excellent idea. Also, Austin? For someone who is "Libertarian", you'd think Austin is the literally the last place in Texas, he'd want to build his own personal Waco.

Outside of Austin is also known as rural Texas hill country.

Brian wrote: ↑Sat Mar 04, 2023 10:05 pm I was helping eldest daughter move some heavy things around and we had temporarily placed a couple of said heavy items on a cart.
When moving the heavy things back into place I somehow ended up pushing the cart over her foot and she went, "Ahhh, ooooooooh" and I blurted out, "Werewolves of London."

Laughing hysterically while holding heavy things is not something I would recommend.

Excellent.

I literally do this to any words that trigger an involuntary recall of lyrics. My daughter just rolls her eyes at me now. I have songs from multiple decades buried in there, and they jump out the moment I can complete someone else's sentence with a song lyric. Even I find it bizarre.

I don't pay much attention to music and have never even had a music collection that I can recall anyway. It's like a 1970's DJ takes control for a few seconds.

In any case, I approve of your actions. Well done.

Happy MAR10 Day!

In today's episode of I am the olds.

Yesterday, I was looking for a good three step stool. Home Depot has just the one I want, 9' for $29.99 on "Special Buy". They make no mention of if this a sale or when the same may end. I plan to go Saturday to get one as I think Jury Duty today. Today arrive Jury Duty is cancelled. I had loaned my printer to my parents and they ran it out of ink, so I do a quick google search to figure out the price of ink, and everyone has it for the $30 and mention of it's in stock, while WallMart shows it for $26 and is in stock and it right across the street from Home Depot.

For the sake of ease and saving a couple of bucks, I break my personal never go to WallMart policy. I get to WallMart. The place stinks. Literally. So I get to and the price is $29.98. I check the website and the price has changed from $26 to $29 which is still cheaper than $29.98 pricetag on the shelf. Knowing that I'm here and it's the same price everywhere else, I suffer the universe cruel trick, buy my ink and head across the street the Home Depot. My $29.99 step stool is no longer on "Special Buy" and is $49.99 step stool. I check their site and a different 3 step stool (lesser quality, lesser weight capacity, no top tray and only 8'7'' is on "Special Buy" for $39.99.

I'm cursing the clouds in old man fashion on the drive home and they answer by having stopped train on my drive.

Is it just me, or has Colm Meaney been 50 for the last 40 years?

hepcat wrote: ↑Sat Mar 11, 2023 12:18 am Is it just me, or has Colm Meaney been 50 for the last 40 years?

Not just you. He was that in the 90s on DS9

Nah, he wasn't more than 47 on TNG. But he's been 50 since DS9.

Statistically speaking, his average age over the last 40 years is approximately 50. It's just math, so I don't see why people are making a fuss about it.

He's about 4 years younger than me.

The Mrs and I will have entire conversations sometimes in song lyrics. just because we can.

I pissed off a health nut the other day.

- at the buffet table

HN - Try the salad.
ME - No thanks, I don't like kwin noh wa
HN - its pronounced keenwha (self satisfied health nut smirk)
ME - Oh I know, I mispronounce the name as intentional disrespect
HN - (frowns)
ME - (leans closer) thats how much I hate it
ME - kwiiiiinnnnnohwa
HN - (turns and leaves the table)

Jaymon wrote: ↑Mon Mar 13, 2023 1:55 pm I pissed off a health nut the other day.

- at the buffet table

HN - Try the salad.
ME - No thanks, I don't like kwin noh wa
HN - its pronounced keenwha (self satisfied health nut smirk)
ME - Oh I know, I mispronounce the name as intentional disrespect
HN - (frowns)
ME - (leans closer) thats how much I hate it
ME - kwiiiiinnnnnohwa
HN - (turns and leaves the table)

A VA doctor once tried to send me to a health nutritionist. I said no. I wasn't going to follow their advice anyways so why go.
He thanked me for being honest and not wasting their time.

Jaymon wrote: ↑Mon Mar 13, 2023 1:55 pm I pissed off a health nut the other day.

- at the buffet table

HN - Try the salad.
ME - No thanks, I don't like kwin noh wa
HN - its pronounced keenwha (self satisfied health nut smirk)
ME - Oh I know, I mispronounce the name as intentional disrespect
HN - (frowns)
ME - (leans closer) thats how much I hate it
ME - kwiiiiinnnnnohwa
HN - (turns and leaves the table)

OMG let me remind you of my quinoa phobia.

For those not in the know, quinoa is a very healthy seed crop that I can never eat again. Here is why:

Holman back around 2013 wrote:I once let some quinoa sit my pantry for more than a year.

Quinoa, if you don't know it, is a kind of super healthy grain thing beloved by whole-foods fanatics. When cooked, it looks like this. Notice the little curved rings--those are normal, as they are the separation of the germ from the kernel (or vice-versa, whatever).



Quinoa is very healthy for you, and tasty when done right. I will never eat it again, however, because when I took my clear zip-lock bag of uncooked quinoa from the pantry, I realized that the germ had already separated. The little rings were everywhere. Only they weren't the germ rings, because they were moving. There were hundreds of them, and they were actually worms or grubs, writhing around inside the bag and gnawing their way in and out. The sudden snapping into focus of what I was seeing made me almost vomit, and I still can't look at well-cooked quinoa, with all those little natural healthy separated rings, without feeling it all over again.

Here, let me ruin so many other things for you. In the biz we call these food defect action levels.

Smoove_B wrote: ↑Mon Mar 13, 2023 7:50 pm Here, let me ruin so many other things for you. In the biz we call these food defect action levels.

(Not clicking the link...)

Seems like what was described was well past the point of action.

Have you ever been eating something when you notice the dog looking at you and you hide what you're eating from them so you don't have to share.

dbt1949 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 15, 2023 8:51 am Have you ever been eating something when you notice the dog looking at you and you hide what you're eating from them so you don't have to share.

Replace "dog" with "kids".

Me: *eating ice cream

Toddler: What are you eating?

Me: It's spicy. You wouldn't like it.

Jaymon wrote: ↑Mon Mar 13, 2023 1:46 pm The Mrs and I will have entire conversations sometimes in song lyrics. just because we can.

That is amazing. My singing lyrics is purely involuntary.

Eggs were down to $2.50 at Walmart the other day. I was planning on skipping past them but saw the price and snatched a dozen up. Always wanting an egg to eat or to use in a recipe.

Def Leppard Drummer Rick Allen Violently Attacked Outside Hotel in Florida

Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen was violently attacked outside the Four Seasons hotel in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, over the weekend. A 19-year-old man named Max Edward Hartley was arrested for the incident.

According to a police report obtained by The Daily Mail, Allen was outside smoking a cigarette when Hartley allegedly emerged from behind a pillar and rushed at the drummer, knocking the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer down. As a result of the assault, Allen apparently hit his head on the ground, causing injury.

A woman attempted to help Allen, but was repeatedly punched by Hartley. When she tried to escape back into the hotel, Hartley dragged her back outside by the hair. Hartley fled but was eventually arrested as he was breaking car windows nearby the hotel.

Allen famously lost his arm in a 1984 car accident, but persevered to continue playing with Def Leppard. Hartley was charged with two counts of battery, four counts of criminal mischief, and abusing an “elderly or disabled adult.”

That is some fucked up shit right there. Damn kid attacking a one armed older man just minding his business and it to be Def's drummer damn. What is wrong with the world.

Hope Rick recovers ok. Damn out of the blue.

Sugar makers. Can we just all go back to the 5 lbs bag and drop the 4 lbs crap. Its not enough. Its too small. And my cabinets say the 10 lbs sugar is too big. It fits but it shouldn't have to.

So lets stop changing the sizes of stuff and go back to changing the prices. I want my full 5 lbs of sugar that lasts just the right amount and costs the right amount and fits in my cabinet just like it always did. Ok?

Four pounds of raw sugar would last me years. Many, many years - possibly the rest of my life - if I don't decide to make cookies for Christmas.