Miscellaneous Discussion Thread

Quote: Mission146

What if I only thank posts from DRich and any posts I quote and reply to? It seems rude not to thank a post I have replied to.

That seems demeaning to me. Other people may start to think that they deserve the same recognition that I do. We can't have that.

Quote: DRich

That seems demeaning to me. Other people may start to think that they deserve the same recognition that I do. We can't have that.

I could always make sure to quote and respond to every single post you will ever make to balance that out.

Quote: Mission146

I could always make sure to quote and respond to every single post you will ever make to balance that out.

I would expect nothing less from you.

Quote: DRich

I would expect nothing less from you.

I would. If you were to expect nothing, then you would never be disappointed.

Quote: Mission146

What if I only thank posts from DRich and any posts I quote and reply to? It seems rude not to thank a post I have replied to.

What if you only thank a post when you agree with the content or want to show appreciation for the unusual level of effort that went into it?

- thanking every post makes the whole thing meaningless, as other have said. And some posts are insulting to someone else in some degree and the fact that you praise those posts may be discouraging to the person who was disparaged.

- having a set of robotic rules for which posts you must thank also makes it mean less. It becomes an obligatory thank you, rather than a true expression of sentiment

- I'm sure you know that DRich enjoys humor and teasing with people and IMO he is teasing with you.

Sometimes less is more. Receiving a "Thank You" that has been earned and that has been sincerely given can be a wonderful feeling.

Quote: Mission146

Anyway, fine, you guys have it your way. I'm not going to thank anybody's posts anymore from now on.

Such a thankless task.

Thanks!

Quote: Mission146

I would. If you were to expect nothing, then you would never be disappointed.

Can you switch to an avatar of you throwing up in a trashcan?

Then you can thank my posts with it.

Doesn't every post deserve a trophy?

Quote: rxwine

Can you switch to an avatar of you throwing up in a trashcan?

Then you can thank my posts with it.

No, but perhaps I’ll thank all of your posts in advance and switch my avatar to a picture of my middle finger. JK

Quote: gordonm888

What if you only thank a post when you agree with the content or want to show appreciation for the unusual level of effort that went into it?

- thanking every post makes the whole thing meaningless, as other have said. And some posts are insulting to someone else in some degree and the fact that you praise those posts may be discouraging to the person who was disparaged.

- having a set of robotic rules for which posts you must thank also makes it mean less. It becomes an obligatory thank you, rather than a true expression of sentiment

- I'm sure you know that DRich enjoys humor and teasing with people and IMO he is teasing with you.

Sometimes less is more. Receiving a "Thank You" that has been earned and that has been sincerely given can be a wonderful feeling.

This is an example of a post that /should receive a thank you. Sorry, no Mod upgrade gade though.

p.s i guess we do have a good spot for my post and it was in the pet peeves thread. *facepalm

Don't know about you guys but I find myself unable to seriously watch cop and detective shows from the seventies.

Columbo has like 80 episodes so sat down to binge watch. Made it through only one mystery.

Cops were trampling over the evidence. Picking up evidence with no gloves. Sticking them all together into bags (no separately packaged bags for each evidence. Forget labels.

Smoking during evidence collection.

Murder victim family member being interviewed MIDDLE OF CRIME SCENE WITH COPS BUSTLING ABOUT.

Columbo comes in acting superior but with same bad cop habits.

Columbo finds out information by disguising his voice as someone else and convinces a phone operator to give him personal Info on an unlisted number (yeah right).

Oh, the climax. Columbo tricks the murderer into confession. No Miranda rights read (they did exist in the seventies) just Columbo saying "you are under arrest for the murder... Book him).

I couldn't take it anymore.

TV writers and audiences were so dumb in the seventies!

DarkOz you missed a real opportunity to lead the last point of your post with Columbo’s famous tag line.

Darkoz, If you think Columbo is bad try watching the Charles Bronson movies from the 70s when he was a vigilante. The budget must have been really low on those.
You can see walls moving and things look so fake.

Quote: Hunterhill

Darkoz, If you think Columbo is bad try watching the Charles Bronson movies from the 70s when he was a vigilante. The budget must have been really low on those.
You can see walls moving and things look so fake.

Shaft's big score

Last twenty minutes is a car chase through half New York, then switches to boat chase, crashed boat (bad guy mangled), followed by Shaft running from helicopter.

He shoots helicopter down with machine gun in a fiery ball.

Not one cop on the scene yet of this terrorist style escapade.

Finally, the head cop shows up.(paraphrasing the conversation but it's pretty close)

"You again, Shaft. What you know about this?"

Shaft: "Took down the Man".

"Okay Shaft, get outta here!".

Shaft walks home over end credits.

No, interrogation, no questions about half the city destroyed, people dead, machine gun bullet casings, eyewitness testimony

My theory:. Crime was high in the seventies cause people actually believed that's how cops worked. What's to be scared of?

Quote: unJon

DarkOz you missed a real opportunity to lead the last point of your post with Columbo’s famous tag line.

Just one more question if you don't mind.

Why do TV cops always stick unknown substances in their mouths as a test for drugs. No real cop does that. They don't know if that white powder is rat poison.

But every television and movie cop through at least the new millennium does it

(Feel better Unjon?)

Quote: darkoz

Just one more question if you don't mind.

Why do TV cops always stick unknown substances in their mouths as a test for drugs. No real cop does that. They don't know if that white powder is rat poison.

But every television and movie cop through at least the new millennium does it

(Feel better Unjon?)

If you watch many of the old detective shows, the lead character gets knocked out, usually with the butt of a gun many times over the season. Since all the blows invariably leave them unconscious, it's not indicative of light blows. Never any permanent brain damage though.

However I'm not bothered by the lack of realism. But I like old monster movies and B movies in general. Kinda of in the spirit of Mystery Science Theater 3000.

Quote: gordonm888

What if you only thank a post when you agree with the content or want to show appreciation for the unusual level of effort that went into it?

- thanking every post makes the whole thing meaningless, as other have said. And some posts are insulting to someone else in some degree and the fact that you praise those posts may be discouraging to the person who was disparaged.

- having a set of robotic rules for which posts you must thank also makes it mean less. It becomes an obligatory thank you, rather than a true expression of sentiment

- I'm sure you know that DRich enjoys humor and teasing with people and IMO he is teasing with you.

Sometimes less is more. Receiving a "Thank You" that has been earned and that has been sincerely given can be a wonderful feeling.

If all of human existence is ultimately meaningless, then nothing that exists within that framework (including the thanking of posts) has any meaning regardless of whether or not I apply, 'Thank yous,' to posts that meet certain capricious and subjective assessments of concepts such as, "Agreeing with the content,", or, "Showing appreciation for the effort that went into it."

People on here have made a habit of thanking posts that other people have made for the purpose of insulting others. These posts have frequently gotten the poster of them Suspended, but the thank yous were made, I assume, to indicate that these people have supported, if not agreed with, the insult. I can dig up some examples, if forced, but I think we're both reasonable human beings.

If nothing about human existence has any ultimate meaning, then sets of robotic rules can neither add to nor subtract from meaning. There's no meaning anyway. I think that most instances of, "Thank you," in life are obligatory thank yous. Someone holds a door, for example, and I say, "Thank you," but I could certainly have gotten the door myself. They really didn't save me so much effort that I have any genuine gratitude. I also hold doors, out of obligation.

This is the internet. I wouldn't assume that anything that anyone does or says is sincere as a default position. We can still use polite words all the same.

Quote: darkoz

Oh, the climax. Columbo tricks the murderer into confession. No Miranda rights read (they did exist in the seventies) just Columbo saying "you are under arrest for the murder... Book him).

Columbo was one of the dumbest shows ever on TV and I thought so at the time. Sometimes he would arrest the somebody just because the guy inferred he did the crime. Or he said the wrong word and it made him look guilty. No confession, no evidence, no witnesses. Just Mr. Trench Coat going, aha, I knew you did it. Arrest him.

Miranda has been around since the mid 60's, BTW.

I think it was in one of the ‘Saw’ movies or maybe a Bond movie that someone dies in a manure pit. Apparently 3 farmer brothers just met that fate. Poor family….

Quote: SOOPOO

I think it was in one of the ‘Saw’ movies or maybe a Bond movie that someone dies in a manure pit. Apparently 3 farmer brothers just met that fate. Poor family….

Sad story.

https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/brothers-die-passing-fumes-manure-pit-79409445

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/90-103/default.html

Deleted wrong thread

In the 1970s, police evidence procedures would have been quite different. There was no DNA evidence, fingerprints were useless unless you had a suspect to compare them to. Today, a tech can scan a knife, send it to a central base and computers will compare it to every set on file and often get a result in minutes. Back then you'd have to mail the prints to the FBI and if you were lucky you'd get a result in a month or two.
There was a police show called Life on Mars where a Detective from 2008 is transported back to 1973 and has to learn to use the procedures of that day. No computers, no cell phones, no DNA testing, ect ,ect. If you've never seen the show, I highly recommend it. It captures NYC in the 1970s better than almost anything I've seem, and has a fantastic soundtrack to boot. It all comes together in the last episode and actually makes sense out of how the guy ended up forty years in the past.

Quote: Keeneone

Sad story.

https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/brothers-die-passing-fumes-manure-pit-79409445

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/90-103/default.html

What a crappy way to die.

Somebody had to say it.

__________


when I was just a little kid, about 11, I went to a pinball joint in Baltimore

the Owner/Manager had a sweet angle

he turned the little kiddies into gamblers

when the machines had enough credits he would pay off in 𝑪𝑨𝑺𝑯

$1.25 here, $1.75 there. $3.50 was a gigantic score

the man had a heart of gold letting those little kiddies win cash like that

Good Old Baltimore - they never missed a trick in that city



.

Quote: DRich

What a crappy way to die.

Yes, it really stinks!

PTSD triggered for Biff Tannen on that one. We've covered two BTTF characters in as many days.

Quote: lilredrooster

__________


when I was just a little kid, about 11, I went to a pinball joint in Baltimore

the Owner/Manager had a sweet angle

he turned the little kiddies into gamblers

when the machines had enough credits he would pay off in 𝑪𝑨𝑺𝑯

$1.25 here, $1.75 there. $3.50 was a gigantic score

the man had a heart of gold letting those little kiddies win cash like that

Good Old Baltimore - they never missed a trick in that city



.

Did the machine give free games? In NY, the machines all had signs saying no free games awarded. You could get extra balls but no games, iirc.

Quote: billryan

Did the machine give free games? In NY, the machines all had signs saying no free games awarded. You could get extra balls but no games, iirc.

I can’t remember that - but I know they got a choice of the free credits or the cash. The kids all took the cash. And then lost it all and more back.



.

------------------


Great (imo) old underrated movie free on YT. usually you have to pay for the good ones unless they're a lot older than this one. Brian De Palma's best, again imo, although some of his others sold many more tickets. He took the idea from the classic movie "Blow Up.' the uploader put the movie title in Spanish which translates as "A Shot in the Night" but it's not a Spanish movie. maybe he did that so YT wouldn't take it down for copyright violation. the title of the movie is "Blow Out."






.

Not sure which thread I’ve been ranting about ‘the service industry’, but here goes! Arrived a tad before noon at luxury spa/hotel Mirbeau in Skaneatles NY. Wife has 1pm spa appointment for some 100 minute zen thing/massage/etc…. Room not ready (they will text me no later than 4pm…) so we went to get a quick lunch. Approached hotel restaurant hostess who asked if we had a reservation, we didn’t, and she said ‘I’ll see what I can do.” If there were 30 tables within view perhaps two were occupied. She returns and says she can seat us in 20 minutes, at 12:15. We sit at the adjacent bar and order food, and the bartender warns us that it will be slow for the same reason we couldn’t be seated. We get drinks and in 15 minutes our ‘hummus plate’ is brought to us. The bartender goes over to a girl a few seats down from us and apologizes that our food came out first because they were able to make the hummus plate quicker than her 6 oysters! Raw oysters. 12:30 a couple approaches the hostess asking to be seated…. just told no! ‘We just drove 4 hours to this luxury hotel and you can’t serve us lunch?’ I pointed to the two seats next to us at the bar and there they sat.
I think we are paying $700 a night for the room (we’ve stayed before, they are super nice) and my wife will drop at least $300 in the spa….
It’s 2:30 and room not ready yet…
(Shouldn’t complain…. Sitting by swimming pool sized hot tub with a drink…..)

You're one of the good ones, SOOPOO!

Having been on the other side of the service industry, (the side providing the service) in my opinion, it's the wealthy people who go to the sorts of places that I'd have been working with expectations of...well, anything really...that are a problem.

In your case, here you are dropping $700/night on a room saying you shouldn't complain about what is clearly terrible service! Why couldn't more people like you have stayed with us!? By the book, my service is 400% better than that of these people, but the wealthy folks who would stay with us would complain about things either completely out of our control or us not having things that we never claimed to have in the first place!!!

One of my favorite complaints was, "Shady looking people staying here and hanging out outside," by which they usually meant the workers in town who would be staying for weeks or months at a time. Yeah, sorry I didn't make it a point to ensure that you were able to personally vet every guest to make sure that they would meet your approval starting as of six months prior to your stay.

I'd sometimes see people pull up in the Lexus---open polo shirt tucked into khakis and immaculate loafers for the guy...older woman dressed to the 9's with the usual scowl on her face...sunglasses running well over $100 for each and I'm just like, "Nope. Sorry. This hotel isn't for you. I am cancelling your reservation at no charge; I recommend x hotel, y hotel or z hotel...I'll be happy to give you the numbers."

Even then, they'd insist they wanted to stay. I'd say, "Okay, but only if I show you the room first and you say you're fine with it."

So, we would do that, and I would make them sign something that says I offered to let them cancel at no charge and they declined. After that, I would go into our online portal and claim that they complained about every single thing that I could possibly ever think of---but declined a refund in exchange for their stay being cancelled.

Well, you know what happened in many of these instances, I'm sure. They called the franchisor and had a laundry list of complaints and wanted a refund, but I'd already covered them all in my report, so the franchisor would tell them, "You were offered to check out an hour after checking in at no charge and you declined. We already have a copy of the form you signed."

Of course, I would put the time on the form for an hour or two later than they had actually signed it. My goal was just to make sure we kept all of their money if they were going to absolutely insist on staying there. I never wanted them there in the first place, but you don't know anything about who books online.***

***Added---because they would usually be people I could weed out if they tried to book directly by phone.

Quote: SOOPOO

Not sure which thread I’ve been ranting about ‘the service industry’, but here goes! Arrived a tad before noon at luxury spa/hotel Mirbeau in Skaneatles NY. Wife has 1pm spa appointment for some 100 minute zen thing/massage/etc…. Room not ready (they will text me no later than 4pm…) so we went to get a quick lunch. Approached hotel restaurant hostess who asked if we had a reservation, we didn’t, and she said ‘I’ll see what I can do.” If there were 30 tables within view perhaps two were occupied. She returns and says she can seat us in 20 minutes, at 12:15. We sit at the adjacent bar and order food, and the bartender warns us that it will be slow for the same reason we couldn’t be seated. We get drinks and in 15 minutes our ‘hummus plate’ is brought to us. The bartender goes over to a girl a few seats down from us and apologizes that our food came out first because they were able to make the hummus plate quicker than her 6 oysters! Raw oysters. 12:30 a couple approaches the hostess asking to be seated…. just told no! ‘We just drove 4 hours to this luxury hotel and you can’t serve us lunch?’ I pointed to the two seats next to us at the bar and there they sat.
I think we are paying $700 a night for the room (we’ve stayed before, they are super nice) and my wife will drop at least $300 in the spa….
It’s 2:30 and room not ready yet…
(Shouldn’t complain…. Sitting by swimming pool sized hot tub with a drink…..)

One word. Harpoon.

I'd imagine the upstate resorts are having the same problem my cousins places on Cape Cod are. Staffing is a bear since the US has cut way way back on the work visa that European kids used to get for summer employment. We didn't notice it last summer because of the lockdowns but now resorts are trying to open but can't get help.
Having open tables doesn't matter if you have no servers, and having servers doesn't matter if you have no kitchen staff. Same with the housekeeping. My cousin used top hire about three dozen Irish and other Europeans each summer. This year they have none. There just aren't enough locals on Cape Cod to fill the jobs. Same thing in the Thousand Islands region.
By the way, Lake Skaneateles( pronounced Skinnyatlas) is one of the most beautiful spots on the planet in the summertime.

Quote: billryan

By the way, Lake Skaneateles( pronounced Skinnyatlas) is one of the most beautiful spots on the planet in the summertime.

Agree. I enjoy walking right on the north shore. Cute shops, restaurants, etc…. Last trip I went to the public beach. And took the tour boat trip down the lake. Also convenient to meet friends who live in Binghamton. I think I read that it’s zip code has amongst the richest Americans. Hard to believe more than some California ones….

The last time I visited my sister up there, around 2010, there was a huge complex being built in a Tudor style. I asked when it would be open and was told it was going to be a private house.

Quote: Mission146

Why do people say Red Lobster is expensive!? Look at all of those deals! Thanks for the tip!

Biloxi, MS the Treasure Bay Casino has all you can eat Dungeness crabs for $27 Mr. Mission. That might be worth a road trip, and there are lots of old cemeteries throughout the Southland that could hold your interest and stroke your imagination. Also, the casino carnival card games cost as little as $2 with a payout of as much as $5,000 for that $2 initial bet.

tuttigym

Quote: SOOPOO

Not sure which thread I’ve been ranting about ‘the service industry’, but here goes! Arrived a tad before noon at luxury spa/hotel Mirbeau in Skaneatles NY. Wife has 1pm spa appointment for some 100 minute zen thing/massage/etc…. Room not ready (they will text me no later than 4pm…) so we went to get a quick lunch. Approached hotel restaurant hostess who asked if we had a reservation, we didn’t, and she said ‘I’ll see what I can do.” If there were 30 tables within view perhaps two were occupied. She returns and says she can seat us in 20 minutes, at 12:15. We sit at the adjacent bar and order food, and the bartender warns us that it will be slow for the same reason we couldn’t be seated. We get drinks and in 15 minutes our ‘hummus plate’ is brought to us. The bartender goes over to a girl a few seats down from us and apologizes that our food came out first because they were able to make the hummus plate quicker than her 6 oysters! Raw oysters. 12:30 a couple approaches the hostess asking to be seated…. just told no! ‘We just drove 4 hours to this luxury hotel and you can’t serve us lunch?’ I pointed to the two seats next to us at the bar and there they sat.
I think we are paying $700 a night for the room (we’ve stayed before, they are super nice) and my wife will drop at least $300 in the spa….
It’s 2:30 and room not ready yet…
(Shouldn’t complain…. Sitting by swimming pool sized hot tub with a drink…..)

If you like fish and lobster rolls check out Dougs Fish Fry right in the center of town, center of town.

Quote: tuttigym

Biloxi, MS the Treasure Bay Casino has all you can eat Dungeness crabs for $27 Mr. Mission. That might be worth a road trip, and there are lots of old cemeteries throughout the Southland that could hold your interest and stroke your imagination. Also, the casino carnival card games cost as little as $2 with a payout of as much as $5,000 for that $2 initial bet.

tuttigym

Depending on the machine spread and the competition, perhaps I’d even quickly get that $27/apiece in expectation anyway.

Do they have any cemeteries in Louisiana that date back to when it was French territory? I guess they would. I’ve also heard that mausoleums are very popular in many places down there that are below or very close to sea level.

As far as the carnival games are concerned, perhaps I could spot some dealer errors at those nosebleed minimums that would compel me to play. If not, the minimum could be $0.50 and I’d have no inclination.

Just added a 12" LP to my vinyl record collection and going to play Roulette on it.

Not sure how though?

LP is by a group called Sleeper. Never heard of them. Got the album because of its design.

Album is called Vegas.

Here is the A side



But here is the B side.



It even comes with a Roulette game board.



Now how to play? The Wheel is obviously flat.




I guess I will try a musical chairs variation. When I stop the music whichever number the needle is stopped is the winner.

Quote: Mission146

Depending on the machine spread and the competition, perhaps I’d even quickly get that $27/apiece in expectation anyway.

Not sure to what you are referring re: "machine spread"? The Dungeness crabs out perform the all you can eat shrimp anytime.

Quote: Mission146

Do they have any cemeteries in Louisiana that date back to when it was French territory? I guess they would. I’ve also heard that mausoleums are very popular in many places down there that are below or very close to sea level.

Many burial sites are above ground because the water table is just below the surface especially in New Orleans. Many cemeteries are pre-Civil War and War of 1812 and the Battle of New Orleans.

Quote: Mission146

As far as the carnival games are concerned, perhaps I could spot some dealer errors at those nosebleed minimums that would compel me to play. If not, the minimum could be $0.50 and I’d have no inclination.

It seems that most any form of gambling at any level is not your thing, for me, do you find any entertainment value or joy in gambling? If winning is your only criteria, how do you compensate for disappointment?

tuttigym

Quote: tuttigym

Not sure to what you are referring re: "machine spread"? The Dungeness crabs out perform the all you can eat shrimp anytime.

By, “Spread,” I just mean what types of variable state machines there are and how many.

Quote:

Many burial sites are above ground because the water table is just below the surface especially in New Orleans. Many cemeteries are pre-Civil War and War of 1812 and the Battle of New Orleans.

I figured. I think I read about that somewhere.

Quote:

It seems that most any form of gambling at any level is not your thing, for me, do you find any entertainment value or joy in gambling? If winning is your only criteria, how do you compensate for disappointment?

tuttigym

I don’t find much entertainment value or joy in gambling. I used to, but I don’t drink anymore, so there’s no situation where I’d just want to hang out in a casino at -EV. It’s tough to justify playing at an expected loss of any kind when one is sober.

There’s no real compensating for disappointment. You just remind yourself that you had the best of it mathematically and spend the remainder of the day angry that you lost.

Quote: Jimmy2Times

If you like fish and lobster rolls check out Dougs Fish Fry right in the center of town, center of town.

It might be on the agenda for lunch tomorrow!

I was mowing my back yard today and ran over a yellow jackets nest. Got away with only 4 stings!

I was covering my face with my arms and got 2 under my right arm. Its sore as can be! Luckily, Im not allergic.

Regardless, as soon as the sun went down, they won the battle, I won the war!

Quote: mwalz9

I was mowing my back yard today and ran over a yellow jackets nest. Got away with only 4 stings!

I was covering my face with my arms and got 2 under my right arm. Its sore as can be! Luckily, Im not allergic.

Regardless, as soon as the sun went down, they won the battle, I won the war!

You are very fortunate (or you run very fast) to have only gotten 4 stings. People I know who have disturbed a yellow jackets' nest have gotten double digit stings. They are nasty when disturbed.

Quote: gordonm888

You are very fortunate (or you run very fast) to have only gotten 4 stings. People I know who have disturbed a yellow jackets' nest have gotten double digit stings. They are nasty when disturbed.

They were more concerned with trying to attack the mower. It would've had hundreds of stings if it were a human!

I like oranges

Quote: mwalz9

I was mowing my back yard today and ran over a yellow jackets nest. Got away with only 4 stings!

I was covering my face with my arms and got 2 under my right arm. Its sore as can be! Luckily, Im not allergic.

Regardless, as soon as the sun went down, they won the battle, I won the war!

The "war"? How was that accomplished? Just curious.

Did you kill the nest? If not, I can tell you how. I have done that at my home.

tuttigym

Quote: tuttigym

The "war"? How was that accomplished? Just curious.

Did you kill the nest? If not, I can tell you how. I have done that at my home.

tuttigym

Yes. Waited till after dark. Gasoline. Today, no nest.

Quote: mwalz9

Yes. Waited till after dark. Gasoline. Today, no nest.

Exactly. Great Job!!!

Quote: Mission146

Do they have any cemeteries in Louisiana that date back to when it was French territory? I guess they would. I’ve also heard that mausoleums are very popular in many places down there that are below or very close to sea level.

If you haven't toured the cemeteries of New Orleans you are definitely missing out. It is worth the trip just for that.