Random Thoughts Part 5: Time to Split Again

[Ibix]

My wife and I once went to an exhibition of Lord of the Rings costumes and props. My favourite was a little gimmick - a green screen booth with a pair of benches at different scales, a pair of marks to look at, and a pair of cameras at different distances. The end result is that we have a pair of photos of us sat in Gandalf's cart, one of us hobbit sized and the other wizard sized, smiling at each other and driving through the Shire.

 

[zoobyshoe]

Chief Executive Officer of the Digit Hoops

 

[WWGD]

I envy the people who go crazy with these sport events like March Madness. All they need for a party is a TV and some chips.

 

[Psinter]

You don't understand. I made my own superior version of those movies in my head when I read the books as a young teenager. They can't be topped, and they would be ruined by having to view an inferior version.

You, on the other hand, won't be able to film your own in-head version now, if you read the books, because you've been corrupted by exposure to a pre-existing set of movies.

You don't know that! You don't know me! I can picture it if I try! I can picture it if I try.

I'm just kidding, can't argue with that.

My wife and I once went to an exhibition of Lord of the Rings costumes and props. My favourite was a little gimmick - a green screen booth with a pair of benches at different scales, a pair of marks to look at, and a pair of cameras at different distances. The end result is that we have a pair of photos of us sat in Gandalf's cart, one of us hobbit sized and the other wizard sized, smiling at each other and driving through the Shire.

That must have been awesome!

 

[zoobyshoe]

Magnate of the Round Phalanges Ornimentations

 

[WWGD]

Magnate of the Round Phalanges Ornimentations

 

[WWGD]

Magnate of the Round Phalanges Ornimentations

Enunciate the caret of the bivalvic disjunction in its full ellipsis.

 

[WWGD]

Enunciate the caret of the bivalvic disjunction in its full ellipsis.

Sorry, that should be :
Elucidate the caret of the bivalvic disjunction in its full ellipsis.

 

[Psinter]

Enunciate the caret of the bivalvic disjunction in its full ellipsis.

I'm having a really hard time looking at the dictionary every time you write something.

You have two flavors for ice cream to choose: vanilla or chocolate. Which one do you choose? No need to answer. Obviously the chocolate one with chocolate toppings in a chocolate cone waffle and chocolate fudge. That's not even a question.

 

[WWGD]

I'm having a really hard time looking at the dictionary every time you write something.

You have two flavors for ice cream to choose: vanilla or chocolate. Which one do you choose? No need to answer. Obviously the chocolate one with chocolate toppings in a chocolate cone waffle and chocolate fudge. That's not even a question.

Sorry, this comment needed to use bizarre words. Will try to keep it simpler otherwise, or link to an explanation.

 

[Psinter]

Sorry, this comment needed to use bizarre words. Will try to keep it simpler otherwise, or link to an explanation.

Thanks.

Bizarre sounds alright. But right now I'm in the mood for a pizzarre!

 

[zoobyshoe]

Here's a more ancient version of the same:



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malapropism

 

[collinsmark]

Speaking of the Lord of the Rings movies and The Hobbit movies (not to be confused with the books), I've always been somewhat of a fascinated observer of the then, up and coming New Zealand film industry.

In my recollection, films and television series made in New Zealand became big with American audiences back with Hercules and, of course, Zena, Warrior Princess.

(Image source: http://hercules-xena.wikia.com/wiki/Xena)

Peter Jackson, director of the Lord of the Rings movies and The Hobbit movies, was of course much younger at that time, but he was still in the thick of this budding film industry with such movies as Bad Taste.

(Image source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bad_taste_poster.jpg)

Oh, how I adore such movies. They bring back such good memories.

And they became quite good at that certain sort of mystique. One movie that comes to mind is Black Sheep, a story about zombie (or at least zombie-like) sheep:

(Image source: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000TJ6PB0/?tag=pfamazon01-20)

Eventually, as we now know, the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies established the New Zealand film industries as very capable. They came a long way from lower-budget TV drama and knee-slapping horror to high-budget, world-wide block-busters.

Now when I see Spartacus, while not wholly New Zealand in its production (it's more of a hybrid American + New Zealand thing with actors speaking in some sort of odd, pseudo-Shakespearean dialect), I cannot miss the unmistakable New Zealand film industry influence on it. It's definitely worth checking out.

(Image source: http://www.starz.com/originals/spartacus/photos)

On a more serious note, if I want a good chuckle about serious matters, I tend to catch some New Zealand Parliament.
http://www.inthehouse.co.nz/
Some of those house members have as good of sense of humor as they do dedication to serious issues. I think elected officials in other countries could find it useful to follow their lead in that respect.
(I think it was @StevieTNZ that got me hooked on that.)

 

[Psinter]

On a more serious note, if I want a good chuckle about serious matters, I tend to catch some New Zealand Parliament.
http://www.inthehouse.co.nz/
Some of those house members have as good of sense of humor as they do dedication to serious issues. I think elected officials in other countries could find it useful to follow their lead in that respect.
(I think it was @StevieTNZ that got me hooked on that.)

I don't understand what they are talking about, but they do seem like funny people.

 

[collinsmark]

I don't understand what they are talking about, but they do seem like funny people.

Here's one from MP Maurice Williamson back in 2013 that made lots of rounds on the Internet.


Most days are not nearly that funny and eloquent. But still, most times I watch I'll catch a good zinger or two within ten to twenty minutes or so. It might be about something as mundane as a project delay due to substandard concrete formula that might have otherwise potentially, maybe, caused a risk of a minor landslide, and hearing, "Well I'll tell you about a landslide last September 20th!" (referring to the then most recent elections, September 20th, 2014). Every once in awhile there's a zinger or two like that.

 

[Psinter]

Here's one from MP Maurice Williamson back in 2013 that made lots of rounds on the Internet.


Most days are not nearly that funny and eloquent. But still, most times I watch I'll catch a good zinger or two within ten to twenty minutes or so. It might be about something as mundane as a project delay due to substandard concrete formula that might have otherwise potentially, maybe, caused a risk of a minor landslide, and hearing, "Well I'll tell you about a landslide last September 20th!" (referring to the then most recent elections, September 20th, 2014). Every once in awhile there's a zinger or two like that.

Hehehe. I like it.
___________________________________________________________

A random thought: That awkward moment when Super Markets at my place try to sell you 5 oranges for $5 USD when I can buy 100 fresh oranges for $5 USD from street sellers and at most $15 USD depending on the town you are. If you know where to find them of course. Usually old people know where to find them. (Old people appear to know each other)

Just don't buy them if you can't consume them all, it will be a pity to waste them just because you were greedy and couldn't consume them.

 

[WWGD]

Interesting: There is a Thai restaurant in Nuuk, capital of Greenland : http://www.lonelyplanet.com/greenland/nuuk-town-godthab/restaurants (I assume I am out of their delivery area) Maybe global warming will make Greenland live up to its name, if it is not fully under sea.

 

[fresh_42]

... if it is not fully under sea

In which case Sate will be made from octopus with lemongrass of its garden under the sea.

 

[WWGD]

In which case Sate will be made from octopus with lemongrass of its garden under the sea.

And that is the optimistic view...

 

[WWGD]

Here's a more ancient version of the same:



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malapropism

Thanks, unfortunately there is no sound in my computer, hasn't been in a long time. I just remembered the link I posted.

 

[Silicon Waffle]

Thanks, unfortunately there is no sound in my computer, hasn't been in a long time. I just remembered the link I posted.

please add sounds to it.

 

[WWGD]

please add sounds to it.

It's windows system, just no way of making sound come out, after checking all possibilities.

 

[fresh_42]

I know there is an automatic censorship here that deletes some especially unpleasant words. (At least as far as I remember, since I once lost a word which wasn't a bad word in my context but on itself. I have forgotten the word and context as well. I just found it funny.)

Now: Why aren't the real bad, mean and evil curse words forbidden? Words like:
Bohemian, simultaneous, duality, FLT, SUSY, new, virtual, fluctuation, locality, event horizon

 

[Ibix]

Belgium, man.

 

[Silicon Waffle]

It's windows system, just no way of making sound come out, after checking all possibilities.

Oh no...
Watch this @ 12:12. His advice is try blowing on it!

 

[zoobyshoe]

Thanks, unfortunately there is no sound in my computer, hasn't been in a long time. I just remembered the link I posted.

If you're really interested in watching a video (not that you would be really interested in watching the one I posted, but some hypothetical one) can't you watch it on your phone?

 

[WWGD]

If you're really interested in watching a video (not that you would be really interested in watching the one I posted, but some hypothetical one) can't you watch it on your phone?

I have a $10 dumb phone, unfortunately; will have to wait for a bonus at work to scale up.

 

[zoobyshoe]

I have a $10 dumb phone, unfortunately; will have to wait for a bonus at work to scale up.

Hehe. I beat you: I got my phone on sale for $5. Normally they're $15.99, but I guess they weren't moving even at that price.

 

[WWGD]

Hehe. I beat you: I got my phone on sale for $5. Normally they're $15.99, but I guess they weren't moving even at that price.

I'll be checking out for a $4.99 phone on the flea markets...

 

[fresh_42]

I have a $10 dumb phone, unfortunately; will have to wait for a bonus at work to scale up.

Hehe. I beat you: I got my phone on sale for $5. Normally they're $15.99, but I guess they weren't moving even at that price.

I'll be checking out for a $4.99 phone on the flea markets...

Halleluja! I'm not the only person on the planet who thinks a phone has to receive and make phone-calls - fullstop.

 

[WWGD]

Halleluja! I'm not the only person on the planet who thinks a phone has to receive and make phone-calls - fullstop.

It's more of a matter of being able to pay for it. It is a useful tool in many respects; e.g., if you end up lost in the middle of nowhere.
Also, since I work at what is considered a technology job, it does not look good that I don't keep up with some recent technology.

 

[WWGD]

I got this message when trying to access PF in the morning:

500 server error...

Then a message stating the servers in the site are proudly run by company x...

 

[rootone]

Yes the server was down for a while, there's another thread about it somewhere, and some mention of hackers was made.
Afaik everything is sorted out now, but strange that PF might be targeted by hackers, I mean why would anyone want to?

 

[WWGD]

Yes the server was down for a while, there's another thread about it somewhere, and some mention of hackers was made.
Afaik everything is sorted out now, but strange that PF might be targeted by hackers, I mean why would anyone want to?

My point was that the company was announcing its pride next to a statement attesting to an error it just made.

 

[rootone]

The company most probably is just a server farm or an agent for one, not itself responsible for traffic going to or from a particular site which they host.

 

[fresh_42]

My point was that the company was announcing its pride next to a statement attesting to an error it just made.

Yes, that was a good one. I laughed, too. The more because the server as a machine was up!

Edit: Btw, what's the intersection of NYC and the middle of nowhere and the complement of cabs?

 

[Psinter]

I got this message when trying to access PF in the morning:

500 server error...

Then a message stating the servers in the site are proudly run by company x...

Yes the server was down for a while, there's another thread about it somewhere, and some mention of hackers was made.
Afaik everything is sorted out now, but strange that PF might be targeted by hackers, I mean why would anyone want to?

I am very sorry guys, but I have to correct. I saw the error and the server is not run by company x. Just the software that generated the error. And there was no mention of hackers anywhere. It's all here: https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/pf-down-for-a-long-time-what-happened.859584

AND I want some chocolate if you don't mind.

 

[WWGD]

Edit: Btw, what's the intersection of NYC and the middle of nowhere and the complement of cabs?

?

 

[fresh_42]

?

NYC is written on your missing avatar, middle of nowhere is where you feared to be without internet and cabs must not be around because they could help you to get away from nowhere. I'm just wondering where such a place could be.

 

[WWGD]

NYC is written on your missing avatar, middle of nowhere is where you feared to be without internet and cabs must not be around because they could help you to get away from nowhere. I'm just wondering where such a place could be.

Maybe Staten Island? And I may travel out at some point, outside of the city.

 

[zoobyshoe]

I am very sorry guys, but I have to correct. I saw the error and the server is not run by company x. Just the software that generated the error. And there was no mention of hackers anywhere.

Here's the hacker mention:
https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/greg-bernhardt.859732/
I found this thread creepy, and wonder what the hell kind of PM Rosenberry received. It certainly beats the Two Towers conspiracy.

 

[fresh_42]

Here's the hacker mention:
https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/greg-bernhardt.859732/
I found this thread creepy, and wonder what the hell kind of PM Rosenberry received. It certainly beats the Two Towers conspiracy.

I assume it wasn't a PM. The weird messages were in the Alerts list as new threads, six identical I think which have been quickly deleted.
I was simply thinking what kind of idiot this must have been. You could see from the title that it was pure crap.

 

[zoobyshoe]

I assume it wasn't a PM. The weird messages were in the Alerts list as new threads, six identical I think which have been quickly deleted.
I was simply thinking what kind of idiot this must have been. You could see from the title that it was pure crap.

Ah! I misunderstood it to have been an alert about a PM because Berkeman asked to be included in the conversation to nab the perp.

 

[fresh_42]

Ah! I misunderstood it to have been an alert about a PM because Berkeman asked to be included in the conversation to nab the perp.

Yes, he said PM but I don't think it was because I had those 6 similar ones in the Alert list at the time.

 

[zoobyshoe]

Yes, he said PM but I don't think it was because I had those 6 similar ones in the Alert list at the time.

OK. Anyway, Berkeman said they were dealing with hackers, so that's where that came from.

 

[zoobyshoe]

Tomorrow's LEAP DAY!

 

[WWGD]

Tomorrow's LEAP DAY!

Isn't there one every date that is divisible by 16, or is it every 4 years? Never mind, it is every 4 years.

 

[Psinter]

Tomorrow's LEAP DAY!

What is that?

 

[Ibix]

What is that?

The "extra" day in a leap year. An informal term, I think.

 

[zoobyshoe]

Babies born on Feb. 29th will not have their first birthday for four years.