Random Thoughts Part 4 - Split Thread

[nuuskur]

wiseguy attempt failed :<

 

[Ibix]

Leap years intrigue me. There are big celebations in Santiago de Compostela whenever St James' day falls on a Sunday (from the religious because it's extra-holy, and from the rest of the local economy because there's a lot of pilgrims because it's extra-holy). But the pattern of interactions between a seven-day cycle and a one-day-but-sometimes-two-days-a-year shift is surprisingly complex.

 

[zoobyshoe]

If people under a certain age went back in time to 30 years ago I think they might be horrified to find out how small real strawberries actually were.

 

[Borek]

Those large ones never got popular here.

 

[Ibix]

Depends what you mean. You seem to export a lot of them to the UK...

 

[nuuskur]

We also get large red apples' import from Poland :D

 

[Borek]

I mean - while these large strawberries are not unknown here, they never gained much popularity, and they are rarely sold on the Polish market. They are mostly grown for export.

Given a choice I always buy smaller ones. IMHO they are much tastier, the large ones are like watered cotton.

 

[collinsmark]

Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is turning out to be pretty good. I can't say yet whether it beats Skyrim; it's too early to tell.

Unlike Skyrim, the new baddies In Witcher 3 don't level with the player. So you want to stay away from monsters/enemies that are obviously superior until you level up. Similarly you don't want to take on higher level quests too early. Fortunately, the system has a way of informing you ahead of time if the monsters/enemies will certainly kill you easily, and gives you a chance to back out before it's too late.

Once you get used to that, it's pretty fun. The game definitely has potential.

Here's an image of the protagonist, Geralt of Rivia:

 

[zoobyshoe]

Given a choice I always buy smaller ones. IMHO they are much tastier, the large ones are like watered cotton.

There is a lot of inconsistency in the quality of the large ones here. The past three years they were inedible: bitter and hard, but this year they are suddenly tasty again.

When I was a kid in New Hampshire, they grew wild in a field next to my house. Those always tasted wonderful, but they were very small.

 

[dlgoff]

All the rain we've been having here is making life good for insects. When I got home this evening, I was reminded of this Random Thought.

 

[Borek]

Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is turning out to be pretty good.

I know people behind.

Well, some of them. Hard to know 200+ people of which many were born after I ended working as a computer game journalist.

 

[Astronuc]

Drone footage shows extent of flooding in Texas and Oklahoma
http://news.yahoo.com/floods-houston-texas-oklahoma-drone-video-120314248.html

I used to live downstream from the location of the 4th video, which is near Brays Bayou in Houston. My folks sold the house just before a similar flood many years ago.

The recent flooding is considered unprecedented. Officials in Houston and Texas used to describe these floods as 100 year floods, but the Houston area has been getting them every few years it seems. I expect one or two floods like this every decade, or even every three or four years.

 

[Silicon Waffle]

There is a lot of inconsistency in the quality of the large ones here. The past three years they were inedible: bitter and hard, but this year they are suddenly tasty again.

When I was a kid in New Hampshire, they grew wild in a field next to my house. Those always tasted wonderful, but they were very small.

Talking about strawberries, I love big and sweet ones but most big ones I tasted weren't so good as those of medium to big sizes.

 

[OmCheeto]

Drone footage shows extent of flooding in Texas and Oklahoma
http://news.yahoo.com/floods-houston-texas-oklahoma-drone-video-120314248.html

I used to live downstream from the location of the 4th video, which is near Brays Bayou in Houston. My folks sold the house just before a similar flood many years ago.

The recent flooding is considered unprecedented. Officials in Houston and Texas used to describe these floods as 100 year floods, but the Houston area has been getting them every few years it seems. I expect one or two floods like this every decade, or even every three or four years.

Speaking of floods.

Was at the coast this last weekend. Talked to one of the guys that supplies 9% of America's oysters. Interesting fellow. There seems to be a problem with Willapa Bay.

I researched the situation a bit since then, and read somewhere that one reason they are having a problem, is because of invasive shrimp, which, because of dams, prevents freshwater flooding.

My solution, was a 3 mile long canal, to flood the estuary.

Of course, the problem is quite old. The native oysters were harvested to effective commercial extinction, long, long ago.

 

[Evo]

Wow, I really miss living near the ocean, always have until I moved to the middle of the US.

 

[OmCheeto]

Wow, I really miss living near the ocean, always have until I moved to the middle of the US.

Did your daughter ever become my neighbor?
I think you posted that was her plan, sometime last year.
You could come visit, and we could all go to the coast!

 

[Evo]

Did your daughter ever become my neighbor?
I think you posted that was her plan, sometime last year.
You could come visit, and we could all go to the coast!

No, she got another better job here and has gone back to school to get another degree. So working full time, school full time, again.

 

[zoobyshoe]

I just went to Subway. Their bread is starting to taste like it's 30% paper pulp.

 

[Borg]

I just went to Subway. Their bread is starting to taste like it's 30% paper pulp.

You should unwrap the sandwich first.

 

[lisab]

I just went to Subway. Their bread is starting to taste like it's 30% paper pulp.

I don't go there often, but it's always amazed me how their bread tastes stale - even fresh out of the oven.

 

[OmCheeto]

I just went to Subway. Their bread is starting to taste like it's 30% paper pulp.

On my trip to the coast, my friends fired up their pellet stove barbecue. I was worried that there was glue holding the pellets together, and would make the food taste funny, so I nibbled on one. It wasn't all that bad. My friends though, said I was "a bit daft"*, and shouldn't do such things. hmmm... Does anyone know if termites are in the human lineage?

*my PF appropriate translation of what they called me.

 

[OmCheeto]

Ah ha!

per wiki, regarding the production of pellet fuel; "The high pressure of the press causes the temperature of the wood to increase greatly, and the lignin plasticizes slightly forming a natural "glue" that holds the pellet together as it cools."

hmmm... What on Earth is a "Lignin"?

per wiki, regarding lignin; "Lignin is a complex polymer of aromatic alcohols known as monolignols."

Ok then. This all makes sense now. I was just adding "Lignin" to my already ... infused (hic!) weekend.

 

[Evo]

I don't go there often, but it's always amazed me how their bread tastes stale - even fresh out of the oven.

I don't eat at subway, they make the skimpiest subs I've ever eaten. Evo Child worked at one during High School and the meat was pre-measured in wax paper separators so that a worker couldn't accidentally give a customer an extra wafer thin slice of meat. Cheapskates!

 

[WWGD]

It seems they've found video of James Holmes, the one that went on a rampage in a movie theater in Colorado.
He was shouting : " I said, _no butter

I don't eat at subway, they make the skimpiest subs I've ever eaten. Evo Child worked at one during High School and the meat was pre-measured in wax paper separators so that a worker couldn't accidentally give a customer an extra wafer thin slice of meat. Cheapskates!

I haven't seen many sandwich shops around, other than delis. There were a few Quiznos around, but they seem to have disappeared.

 

[Evo]

It seems they've found video of James Holmes, the one that went on a rampage in a movie theater in Colorado.
He was shouting : " I said, _no butter I haven't seen many sandwich shops around, other than delis. There were a few Quiznos around, but they seem to have disappeared.

I love Jimmy John's, they are so packed full of meat & cheese, and they come with a lettuce wrap, low carb option. And they deliver.

 

[WWGD]

I love Jimmy John's, they are so packed full of meat & cheese, and they come with a lettuce wrap, low carb option. And they deliver.

I heard they include non-compete clauses on their sandwich makers:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...sandwich-makers-have-non-compete-clauses-now/

Seems kind of extreme. What secrets can they have?

 

[Evo]

That article is extremely misleading (as in lying) Jimmy john's workers are not prevented from working for competitors, they just promise not to tell the competitors about Jimmy John's secrets. This is the same as in any competitive industry, I had to sign non-competes, I went to work for a competitor, I just couldn't solicit my current client base from my old company for a period of years and never divulge their proprietary trade secrets.

From the article

Jimmy John's workers have to promise not to take any of the trade secrets they learned assembling subs to any nearby sandwich shop for at least two years

Sounds completely fair and reasonable.

 

[WWGD]

But what significant competitive secrets can you have at that level? I understand at the higher-rank professional level, but not at such a basic one.

And now I am remembering Blimpie's . Too lazy to check if they are still around. And I agree with you,
Subway subs are pretty skimpy.

 

[Evo]

But what significant competitive secrets can you have at that level? I understand at the higher-rank professional level, but not at such a basic one.

Sorry, I am under non-disclosure and cannot answer that. I have no clue, they do have a delicious vinagrette that they put on some sandwiches, have a great tuna salad, those recipes might be considered trade secrets, they have awesome bread. It might be a gimmick to attract customers that want to see what's so special about their sandwiches.

 

[WWGD]

Sorry, I am under non-disclosure and cannot answer that. I have no clue, they do have a delicious vinagrette that they put on some sandwiches, have a great tuna salad, those recipes might be considered trade secrets, they have awesome bread. It might be a gimmick to attract customers that want to see what's so special about their sandwiches.

Pretty sure Subway has no flavor secrets, after tasting their sandwiches --- other than putting gravel on their bread (oops!. Their goes the Subways franchise.)

 

[Borek]

I don't go there often, but it's always amazed me how their bread tastes stale - even fresh out of the oven.

Reminds me about eighties in Warsaw.

There were not enough bakeries to bake enough bread for a Friday sales (larger demand before weekend, please remember we are talking about planned economy in a communist country, AKA Economics of Shortage). So those planning deliveries invented a scheme in which bread for Friday was baked and stored since Wednesday. Street pretty fast reacted with a joke that Polish bakers will receive a Nobel prize for inventing a recipe for baking a stale bread.

 

[Borg]

My wife always says their slogan wrong on purpose. Instead of "Subway - Eat Fresh", she says "Subway - Eat Trash".

A quick Google search shows that she's not the only one.

 

[wolram]

Children are just like women they say one thing and want another.

 

[Borek]

Children are just like women they say one thing and want another.

Agreed.

We are much simpler. No matter what we say, we always want the same.

 

[lisab]

Agreed.

We are much simpler. No matter what we say, we always want the same.

I want to be the gender-neutral "voice of reason" here and say, Oh no, we're all human, we're equal, blah blah blah.

But having lived over 50 years as a human and among humans, I can't honestly say that.

 

[Ibix]

But having lived over 50 years as a human and among humans, I can't honestly say that.

The question is whether it's nature or nurture - is this innate behaviour or socialisation? I think you are generalising somewhat (I certainly know some very direct women and some outright Machiavellian - or would-be Machiavellian - men), which suggests nurture to me.

 

[David Carroll]

Speaking of commercials: Has anyone else here seen that Lyrica ad on TV that says, "Nerve pain due to diabetes is caused by diabetic nerve pain." They should win the Nobel prize or something. They just solved one of medicine's most vexing mysteries.

 

[Borg]

Speaking of commercials: Has anyone else here seen that Lyrica ad on TV that says, "Nerve pain due to diabetes is caused by diabetic nerve pain." They should win the Nobel prize or something. They just solved one of medicine's most vexing mysteries.

I always enjoy the list of side effects that are worse than what the drug is trying to cure.

 

[David Carroll]

Yeah. Hahaha! or when some of the side effects are THE VERY THING that the drug is trying to cure. "Paxil XR may lead to suicidal thoughts or actions."

 

[WWGD]

Yes, I have random orgasms, uncontrollable diarrehea , heart palpitation, partial blindness and my hair is falling. But my pinky points in the right direction! Thanks to Depaxamet Rifocivil in suppositories, my life is much better now!

And how about those new, questionable diseases: dry tears? Restless leg syndrome?

 

[Astronuc]

Washington farmers are dumping unprofitable apples
Record crop and ports dispute prompt Washington farmers to dump $100 million worth of apples
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/washington-farmers-dumping-unprofitable-apples-061144538.html

Why can't they just donate the food to food banks? Whatever happened to apple pies?

 

[Ibix]

Whatever happened to apple pies?

Not American enough to trump the profit motive, presumably. :-/

 

[OmCheeto]

Washington farmers are dumping unprofitable apples
Record crop and ports dispute prompt Washington farmers to dump $100 million worth of apples
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/washington-farmers-dumping-unprofitable-apples-061144538.html

Why can't they just donate the food to food banks? Whatever happened to apple pies?

Sad situation.

Not American enough to trump the profit motive, presumably. :-/

hmmm...
$100,000,000 / ($20/ton) = 5 million tons of rotting apples.

Does anyone know the market value of fruit flies?

 

[Astronuc]

I should have mentioned apple cider.

 

[phion]

I just knowingly wrote a check that I know will bounce just so I could get rid of this caffeine headache.

 

[OmCheeto]

I just knowingly wrote a check that I know will bounce just so I could get rid of this caffeine headache.

Sounds like the recent history of the United States.

 

[phion]

Sounds like the recent history of the United States.

In what way?

 

[WWGD]

I just knowingly wrote a check that I know will bounce just so I could get rid of this caffeine headache.

Sounds like me, I am two shots short of a solo. Try a nice large Coke bottle for around $2.99, it will give you much more caffeine bang for your buck.

 

[Silicon Waffle]

Posts on PF sometimes are soo thrilling.

 

[OmCheeto]

In what way?

Ummmm... I'd rather not start a discussion on it, as this is "Random Thoughts", and I'm sure there are scores of threads here at PF, discussing my analogy.

New Random Thought:

Yesterday, I was invited to go fishing, to catch local garbage fish, to use as bait, in an upcoming crab tournament, next weekend.
Knowing that it was Friday, and the tags on my truck expired on Sunday, I went to my "to do" pile of paperwork on my auxiliary coffee table full of piles of paper of things to do and think about, to find the paperwork, and discovered that I'd forgotten to switch the title for my truck for nearly a year, and that my drivers license had expired 3 weeks ago. After a whirlwind scouring of the house to find my passport, (required for a new drivers license here), I got to the DMV 2 hours late, got out 1.5 hours earlier than expected, drove to the DEQ station, got tested, got my new tags, made my way to the river, and 4 hours later, had caught no fish.

But, all in all, it was a good day.

ps. Today is the one year anniversary of my retirement. I suppose I should post an update on my (hic!) progress, towards becoming a (hic!), trillionaire.