Random Thoughts Part 4 - Split Thread

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The discussion revolves around a variety of topics, beginning with the reopening of a thread on the Physics Forums. Participants express relief at the continuation of the conversation and share light-hearted banter about past threads. There are inquiries about quoting from previous threads and discussions about job opportunities for friends. The conversation shifts to humorous takes on mathematics, particularly the concept of "Killing vector fields," which one participant humorously critiques as dangerous. Participants also share personal anecdotes, including experiences with power outages and thoughts on teaching at university. The tone remains casual and playful, with discussions about the challenges of winter, the joys of friendship, and even a few jokes about life experiences. The thread captures a blend of humor, personal stories, and light philosophical musings, all while maintaining a sense of community among the forum members.
  • #2,351
Borek said:
Happens, could be one of the Mentors did some cleaning and deleted a thread that went off course.
It could also possibly be due to a thread being moved into this area where they don't count. There's no way to know.
 
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  • #2,352
WWGD said:
Someone thought it was a soccer ball and kicked it?
I might use that.
Perhaps I can convince one of the chemistry guru's to write up an Insight on how batteries work, analogizing someone's "patiently waiting for a spherical chicken to walk by so it can kick it" leg, to the battery.
Since I've gotten to PF, I've decided that I really don't know how batteries work.
Actually, I don't think I know how anything works anymore.
I hate PF. :oldwink:
 
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  • #2,353
OmCheeto said:
Since I've gotten to PF, I've decided that I really don't know how batteries work.
I read a few years back that the engineers who work for battery manufacturers haven't completely figured out the chemistry to their satisfaction.
 
  • #2,354
Seems like around half the people I know regret not having studied enough in college, just went there to have fun and the other half regret having studied too much, not having had enough fun. No one seems happy with their college days.
 
  • #2,357
OmCheeto said:
I'm afraid I have to agree with his sentiment, 110%.
On a related side note, I've just learned that my friends' houseboat burned down last night.

Om's friend; "Fun watching everything you own going up in flames...tweaker neighbors burned 3 houses...left with just my backpack..."​

Marina fires have always struck me as ironic. So much water, so little thought of fire suppression.

A stunning view, from a riverside porch, from a house, that is no more.
:oldcry:
 
  • #2,358
OmCheeto said:
...

A stunning view, from a riverside porch, from a house, that is no more.
:oldcry:

Last night's view, of the nolongerahouseboat:

2015.09.20.view.jpg

:oldcry:

Off to rescue their non-flammable trinkets now.
Fortunately, no one perished. :oldsmile:

Note to stoners: When your houseboat is in flames, a good escape route, is into the river. Just remember to swim.
 
  • #2,359
Wow that didn't spread to nearby boats ?

I guess it burned to the waterline...
 
  • #2,360
The CALM Act is supposed to keep TV commericals from being significantly louder than the program. I haven't really noticed any difference except the other day when I noticed that a commercial was significantly quieter. It was a hearing aid commercial. Nice marketing trick. :oldeyes:
 
  • #2,361
Borg said:
The CALM Act is supposed to keep TV commericals from being significantly louder than the program.
They can shift the spectrum to a psychologically annoying frequency range. High voiced whiney males make me change radio stations.

I wrote one station manager about a particular commercial saying :

"" ...
That particular advertiser has done more to increase NPR's listenership than all their membership drives combined.
May he be awarded a medal.
Posthumously.
Soon."
 
  • #2,362
jim hardy said:
Wow that didn't spread to nearby boats ?
Just returned. Only the 3 houses, and a bit of the walkway, were destroyed.
I guess it burned to the waterline...
My friends' house still has a roof.
The other two burned to the waterline.

notahouseboat.jpg

The house on the left is my friends'.
The interior is a black body cavity.

The boat in the background, city river Fire Bureau, was still there when I arrived.
I pointed out some smoke to them, that was still smoldering after 14 hours, and they decided to leave*, and told me I was in charge. :bugeye:

Note to self: Never point out the obvious to firefighters.

*The river level is actually so low, I could have probably waded around the entire marina. I'm sure they left because they did not want to get stuck until the next tide came back in.
 
  • #2,363
I wonder how much a Schwarzenegger-type terminator weighs.
 
  • #2,364
Shouldnt the voleyball brand "Mikasa" change its name to "Sukasa"? I hear so often the statement " Mikasa es Sukasa"
 
  • #2,365
OmCheeto said:
Just returned. Only the 3 houses, and a bit of the walkway, were destroyed.

:nb) :oldfrown:
 
  • #2,366
2 motorcycles raced down the freeway. Both were doing at least 180 km/h. What a spectacle.
 
  • #2,367
Fixed the washing machine yesterday saving the cost of a repairman. Still made payment in the form of scraped and pinched fingers that comes whenever I work on unfamiliar appliances.
 
  • #2,368
lisab said:
:nb) :oldfrown:

I think you met one of the owners, back in 2011. She was the one who camps far away, as in 100 feet, from the rest of us.

Odd year for me, at Country Fair. as I took no pictures, nor, did I take notes. I always take notes.

The only things I remember, were sitting far away from everyone, as I had some type of personal plague going on.
And sitting at the rock slide with you.
And you went down to the pond to go snorkeling, alone, as I was a bit plugged up.

I also remember your hug.

I'm positive now, that you met her, as after you left, the owner of the aforementioned notahouseboat and I, swam and sat underneath the basalt waterfall cantilever ledge thingy.
I hate that thing, as it defies gravity, and scares the bejeezits out of me.
 
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  • #2,369
Borg said:
Fixed the washing machine yesterday saving the cost of a repairman. Still made payment in the form of scraped and pinched fingers that comes whenever I work on unfamiliar appliances.

But you are richer by the knowledge gained.
I'm learning how to do house siding...

What was wrong with the washer ?

I recently learned about the drain filter in modern Maytag front-loaders, and the obscure computer code for "slow to drain".
Maytag "customer support" claims there is no service manual for them and will not divulge meaning of the code.
Thank heaven for enthusiasts who post their "lessons Learned" on Youtube.
 
  • #2,370
jim hardy said:
But you are richer by the knowledge gained.
I'm learning how to do house siding...

What was wrong with the washer ?

I recently learned about the drain filter in modern Maytag front-loaders, and the obscure computer code for "slow to drain".
Maytag "customer support" claims there is no service manual for them and will not divulge meaning of the code.
Thank heaven for enthusiasts who post their "lessons Learned" on Youtube.
The underside of the top was rusted. The rust was getting into the wash and staining things. I took off the top and ordered a new one. However, none of the videos or tutorials that I saw had any details for replacing the top. It was only while I was putting it back together that the whole casing came off that I realized that that was how I should have removed it in the first place. While I was reassembling it (the wrong way), the lid came down on one of my fingers causing some minor cursing. Everything worked fine but the housing wasn't quite sitting right. I pulled the housing off, finally got that aligned and ran a second test. Then it wouldn't drain even though it drained fine before I readjusted the housing. Googled washer won't spin or drain and realized that I probably forgot to reconnect the lid switch. Yes, I'm a millionaire of washing machine knowledge now. :oldtongue:

Was it something like this with your washer?


I haven't done house siding before. You'll have let us know how it goes. I installed wood floors and stairs about 6 years ago that turned out great. Nothing like a job well done. Hmm, maybe we need a home-projects thread. :smile:
 
  • #2,371
Borg said:
Was it something like this with your washer?

Exactly. Filter is in the same place on the Maytag, console looks a bit different but they're all Whirlpools I'm sure.
I removed a sock, some coins and bobby-pins, assorted nuts bolts and electronic parts that i know came from pant pockets that didn't get emptied before washing, a ball point pen refill and a handful of lint.

Rust you say ?
Phosphoric acid treatments work exceedingly well. I keep a gallon of this on hand (i'm not hawking that brand just it's what my local hardware store carries..)
pACE3-20073849t181.jpg

Overnight it turns surface rust into a black hard coating that takes paint. I follow with a coat of that classic red primer(Rustoleum is a common brand), then a coat of finish in desired color.
Then you have a job they couldn't afford to do at the factory, too time consuming.
Just let the treatment get really dry before priming, i give it a day in the sun...
A freezer top that rusted in less than a year(South Florida) lasted twenty more after that treatment.

A home-handyman thread might be fun... we get a lot of practical inquiries. It's interesting to see input from PF'ers because they usually explain the science behind their advice.
 
  • #2,372
The rust was well beyond the surface. Large chunks were beginning to flake off.
 
  • #2,373
Borg said:
Yesterday I had 1308 posts. Today I have 1302? o_O
Now I've got 1280? What the heck is going on?
 
  • #2,374
WWGD said:
Shouldnt the voleyball brand "Mikasa" change its name to "Sukasa"? I hear so often the statement " Mikasa es Sukasa"
"Your house/home"?

I once saw a few "welcoming" mats at the store that had it switched the other way around. "Mi casa es mi casa." Hee hee. "My house is my house."
 
  • #2,375
collinsmark said:
"Your house/home"?

I once saw a few "welcoming" mats at the store that had it switched the other way around. "Mi casa es mi casa." Hee hee. "My house is my house."
I saw some even friendlier ones: "Get the *** off my lawn", followed by a very big NRA membership logo.
 
  • #2,376
Borg said:
Now I've got 1280? What the heck is going on?

Lucky you, I went from 1667 to 1500+ 2i ?
 
  • #2,377
Borg said:
The rust was well beyond the surface. Large chunks were beginning to flake off.
After reading your conversation, I've decided not to replace my 25 year old washer and dryer set.
Thanks!

The only thing I know how to fix on the wash machine, is how to clean out the inlet hose sediment screen.
Odd that something can run that long with zero preventative maintenance.
 
  • #2,378
Borg said:
Now I've got 1280? What the heck is going on?
Your stock is plummeting :D
 
  • #2,379
nuuskur said:
Your stock is plummeting :D
It feels more like a scene from Back to the Future where I'm being erased from existence.
 
  • #2,380
Borg said:
Now I've got 1280? What the heck is going on?
Market is down
nuuskur said:
Your stock is plummeting :D
Sell !
 
  • #2,381
I just tried to buy a can of spray lacquer at Home Depot. Their scanning system didn't recognize the bar code, so the girl went off to try to find the "skew" whatever the hell that is. I waited 5 minutes but she didn't come back so I left the store.

Had a similar experience at Walmart last week. I waited in the self scanner line for an unusually long time while some dingus struggled with some problem it was giving him, then the self scanner charged me 5 bucks for a 12 pack of pepsi that was supposed to be on sale for 3 bucks. The attendant said she couldn't fix it and that I had to go through the regular line for the price to be corrected. The regular line was really long.

As far as I can see there has been no improvement whatever over the old days where the cashier rang everything up from the price tag on the item.
 
  • #2,382
zoobyshoe said:
I just tried to buy a can of spray lacquer at Home Depot. Their scanning system didn't recognize the bar code, so the girl went off to try to find the "skew" whatever the hell that is. I waited 5 minutes but she didn't come back so I left the store. <Snip>

.
Pretty sure it is
http://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/stock-keeping-unit-sku.asp

SAA (Society Against Abbreviations) page agrees.
 
  • #2,383
Seems like copyright for " Happy Birthday to You" song has expired, and can be used in most settings without
needing to pay a royalty.
 
  • #2,385
WWGD said:
Seems like copyright for " Happy Birthday to You" song has expired, and can be used in most settings without
needing to pay a royalty.
The judge ruled that it was never valid in the first place.
King ruled that a copyright claimed by the predecessor of Birch Tree, the Clayton F. Summy Co., in 1935 only applied to the various piano arrangements, not the lyrics.
Music Company Does Not Own 'Happy Birthday' Song Copyright
 
  • #2,386
WWGD said:
Pretty sure it is
http://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/stock-keeping-unit-sku.asp
It would never have occurred to me that something pronounced "skew" would be spelled "sku". I would pronounce the latter "skoo".

Regardless, if Home Depot has a product on their shelves which is unaccounted for in their computer system I think they should have given it to me for free rather than make me wait interminable minutes for them to correct the inventory error. Same with Walmart: don't make the customers jump through ridiculous hoops because of your inventory mistakes.

Starbucks is rather good about this. If I go in for a coffee and they have no coffee ready, they start brewing some immediately and give me a cup for free when it's ready. They're a big chain like Home Depot and Walmart.
 
  • #2,387
Differential calculus...BAAAAAAAA!
 
  • #2,388
zoobyshoe said:
It would never have occurred to me that something pronounced "skew" would be spelled "sku". I would pronounce the latter "skoo".

Regardless, if Home Depot has a product on their shelves which is unaccounted for in their computer system I think they should have given it to me for free rather than make me wait interminable minutes for them to correct the inventory error. Same with Walmart: don't make the customers jump through ridiculous hoops because of your inventory mistakes.

Starbucks is rather good about this. If I go in for a coffee and they have no coffee ready, they start brewing some immediately and give me a cup for free when it's ready. They're a big chain like Home Depot and Walmart.

Entirely agree, poor business practice on their part.
 
  • #2,390
WWGD said:
So copyright owners must return royalties they received?
That was my first thought as well. I would guess that the payees will be asking for refunds.
 
  • #2,391
Borg said:
That was my first thought as well. I would guess that the payees will be asking for refunds.

Is that how it works?
 
  • #2,392
HomogenousCow said:
Is that how it works?
How would you feel if you paid for something that should have been free?
 
  • #2,393
Borg said:
How would you feel if you paid for something that should have been free?

I would feel ripped off obviously, but do I have legal ground to request a refund?
 
  • #2,394
HomogenousCow said:
I would feel ripped off obviously, but do I have legal ground to request a refund?
According to the judgement, they didn't have the authority to demand payment in the first place so I would say yes.
 
  • #2,395
Good deal, maybe I can soon stop paying royalties from saying "Good Morning", or even from saying "Hi" ; ). Seems like a ripoff to charge people for singing a popular song they did not even come up with themselves.
 
  • #2,396
Everytime something related to minorities happens and people get on their moral high horse I think of this Dutch band (Heideroosjes)
Same with people claiming to fight for equality while in reality they want privileges.



In light of all this I propose to supersede the LGBT movement to LGBTAHTWEL (Asexuals, Heterosexuals, Treesexuals and Whatever Else is Left)
In that case we have everything and the road to equality can finally begin.
 
  • #2,397
I am not as high-minded as you, Joris, I am just hungry: High quality bacon and sausages on sale. Pig-out time.
 
  • #2,398
I could go for something as well, unfortunately its midnight and I don't have cash handy to get me a kebab :(
And an apple is yuck
 
  • #2,399
JorisL said:
I could go for something as well, unfortunately its midnight and I don't have cash handy to get me a kebab :(
And an apple is yuck
We're lucky here we have these street vendors that will sell you a plate of chicken or lamb over rice for a reasonable amount, for a pretty low price. Aren't you based in Amsterdam? I am pretty sure they may have some similar over there.
 
  • #2,400
Today I overheard a coffee shop owner telling someone about a customer she has who buys a small coffee and puts 14 packets of sugar in it.
 

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