What is the newest installment of 'Random Thoughts' on Physics Forums?

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The discussion revolves around frustrations with current documentary programming, particularly criticizing the History Channel's focus on sensational topics like time travel conspiracies instead of real historical content. Participants express disappointment over National Geographic's sale to Fox, fearing a decline in quality programming. The conversation shifts to lighter topics, including humorous anecdotes about everyday life, such as a malfunctioning kitchen fan discovered to be blocked by installation instructions. There are also discussions about the challenges of understanding various dialects in Belgium, the complexities of language, and personal experiences with weather and housing in California. Members share their thoughts on food, including a peculiar dish of zucchini pancakes served with strawberry yogurt, and delve into mathematical concepts related to sandwich cutting and the properties of numbers. The thread captures a blend of serious commentary and lighthearted banter, reflecting a diverse range of interests and perspectives among participants.
  • #2,201
Evo said:
I found out today that someone stole my car's license plate renewal sticker. I just got through filing a police report of the theft, I'll have to call the DMV tomorrow and see if they will mail me another when I get the permanent police report. I do not want to have to go down to the DMV animal house.

Oh, my. That's a hassle. :frown: It has happened to friends of mine too.

In California the stickers are made such that once they are affixed to the license plate it's difficult to remove them without tearing them off in little bitty pieces. It's still possible though. And it doesn't stop thieves from doing so (or at least trying).

You would think that with mobile communications systems as sophisticated as they are today -- and in conjunction with computer resources and object character recognition (OCR) software -- there might not be much need for physical stickers at all anymore.
 
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  • #2,202
collinsmark said:
You would think that with mobile communications systems as sophisticated as they are today -- and in conjunction with computer resources and object character recognition (OCR) software -- there might not be much need for physical stickers at all anymore.

You'd think at least they'd be barcoded, eh ?
So 'Lovely Rita MeterMaid' could scan them .
 
  • #2,203
jim hardy said:
You'd think at least they'd be barcoded, eh ?
What a bummer! ... poor Rita is losing her job because of ANPR ... :oldgrumpy:
 
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  • #2,204
OCR said:
What a bummer! ... poor Rita is losing her job because of ANPR ... :oldgrumpy:
It's far worse. There are places where they register your number at two places and calculate your average speed in between for getting you with speeding. No more breaking for the camera and that's it ...
 
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  • #2,205
fresh_42 said:
No more breaking for the camera and that's it ...
:oldgrumpy: .. :oldmad: .. :headbang:
 
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  • #2,206
The anti-drug ads " This is your Brain on Drugs" have had a great impact on me.
I am eating around 50% more fried eggs every year since the campaign got started.
 
  • #2,207
A friend told me some bad news by email and I just replied with " Sorry to Hear That";
it seems strange to say " Sorry to Read That". Maybe it is just me.
 
  • #2,208
Enough, all ready. Third evening in a row. :oldgrumpy:

TWX_loop.gif
 
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  • #2,209
dlgoff said:
Third evening in a row. :oldgrumpy:

Wow Don !
Keeping fingers crossed for ya.

old jim
 
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  • #2,210
Wonder what the underlying analytics are:
I aced an online Baseball quiz, after which I started getting ads (in that page) to work for the US secret service, CIA, etc ??
 
  • #2,211
WWGD said:
Wonder what the underlying analytics are:
I aced an online Baseball quiz, after which I started getting ads (in that page) to work for the US secret service, CIA, etc ??
If you like baseball, then you are an American (most likely), a Japanese (can be easily ruled out later in the process) or Cuban (could be interesting anyway). This is ultimate the target group!
 
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  • #2,212
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  • #2,213
WWGD said:
Could be, but what about the interest in joining spying services?
How should they find out? If they'd add a question about your neighbors at the end of the quiz, it appeared a bit weird, wouldn't it? I wonder why I don't get ads like this, I mean at least three American politicians regularly email me: Duckworth (D), Cruz (R), Ernst (R). Plus some lobbyists. And there is this strange email from the Smithonian, that regularly says "Betty, we want you back!" Apparently my tv isn't monitored, yet, as I'm a fan of Bellisario series, which are without any doubt a bit of a propaganda.
 
  • #2,214
fresh_42 said:
How should they find out? If they'd add a question about your neighbors at the end of the quiz, it appeared a bit weird, wouldn't it? I wonder why I don't get ads like this, I mean at least three American politicians regularly email me: Duckworth (D), Cruz (R), Ernst (R). Plus some lobbyists. And there is this strange email from the Smithonian, that regularly says "Betty, we want you back!" Apparently my tv isn't monitored, yet, as I'm a fan of Bellisario series, which are without any doubt a bit of a propaganda.
Yes, I guess the costs of sending additional emails are from 0 to epsilon. Info age advertising.
 
  • #2,215
Evo said:
I found out today that someone stole my car's license plate renewal sticker. I just got through filing a police report of the theft, I'll have to call the DMV tomorrow and see if they will mail me another when I get the permanent police report. I do not want to have to go down to the DMV animal house.

One of our cars got repoed. I *just* got hired full time and we have started catching up bills, but we aren't there yet. We missed the phonecall that they were going to repo, because we didn't have phones because they had been cut off. (We got phones again the day AFTER the call, but a different number).

Went out to go to work and the car was gone. Sheesh.
 
  • #2,216
dkotschessaa said:
One of our cars got repoed. I *just* got hired full time and we have started catching up bills, but we aren't there yet. We missed the phonecall that they were going to repo, because we didn't have phones because they had been cut off. (We got phones again the day AFTER the call, but a different number).

Went out to go to work and the car was gone. Sheesh.
OH NO! Will you be able to get it back or do you have one of those sinister companies that once they get your car, they won't give it back, even if you pay up? Had that happen to a friend.
 
  • #2,217
Evo said:
OH NO! Will you be able to get it back or do you have one of those sinister companies that once they get your car, they won't give it back, even if you pay up? Had that happen to a friend.

We are pretty much going to get gouged for it's return. $200 Towing fee, $20 a day "storage fee" along with whatever other fees they decide to tack on once you show up to pick up the vehicle.

We at first accepted the alternative of losing the car ("well, it's a second car, maybe that's above our means right now") until we realized that otherwise, you still have to pay the difference between your remaining payment and what you get at auction as well as ruining your credit for awhile.

Took out a personal loan using our OTHER car as collateral. Hopefully that plus my new paycheck will help us back on our feet.

sheesh
 
  • #2,218
Outlook's spam filter is so ineffective that I have taken things into my own hands. I received a message on " How to Pay off your House", and I just replied. Thank you, but I don't owe my house any money. I doubt they expect it, hope it will throw them off, tho maybe I will start receiving more messages on dementia/Alzheimer's cures.
 
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  • #2,219
WWGD said:
Outlook's spam filter is so ineffective that I have taken things into my own hands. I received a message on " How to Pay off your House", and I just replied. Thank you, but I don't owe my house any money. I doubt they expect it, hope it will throw them off, tho maybe I will start receiving more messages on dementia/Alzheimer's cures.

:D

OTOH, Yahoo's is surprisingly good. I've had my yahoo account for... 15 years? I recently deleted or archived everything in my inbox, then started unsubscribing from every (legitimate) e-mail subscription I received as they came in. I'm down to almost zero unsolicited emails per day now.
 
  • #2,220
dkotschessaa said:
We are pretty much going to get gouged for it's return. $200 Towing fee, $20 a day "storage fee" along with whatever other fees they decide to tack on once you show up to pick up the vehicle.

We at first accepted the alternative of losing the car ("well, it's a second car, maybe that's above our means right now") until we realized that otherwise, you still have to pay the difference between your remaining payment and what you get at auction as well as ruining your credit for awhile.

Took out a personal loan using our OTHER car as collateral. Hopefully that plus my new paycheck will help us back on our feet.

sheesh
When it rains it pours. Why is it when people are having hard times financially, creditors do everything they can to make things more expensive and harder on the people trying to get out of debt?
 
  • #2,221
WWGD said:
Thank you, but I don't owe my house any money.
Typical human. Have you forgotten thanksgiving two years back, when you've found the 20 dollar bill in the niches of your living room?
 
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  • #2,222
Evo said:
When it rains it pours. Why is it when people are having hard times financially, creditors do everything they can to make things more expensive and harder on the people trying to get out of debt?

Yes, this is my sentiment as well. We are really very responsible with our money and this situation was totally out of our control.

The company calling for the car payment literally asked us (my wife) why we couldn't borrow money from our parents. She said (and this is true) "They're all dead. That's why." Kind of morbidly funny. Sure shut them up though.

-Dave K
 
  • #2,223
  • #2,224
fresh_42 said:
Typical human. Have you forgotten thanksgiving two years back, when you've found the 20 dollar bill in the niches of your living room?
I have collected a few over the years, maybe I should write them down. When the telemarketer asks: have you called your aunt Rita? I say: no. Why? Because her name is not Rita. I am thinking of doing a street show with these.
 
  • #2,226
A lawyer friend once told me Florida is a debtor's paradise.
Bankruptees there get to keep their home and a car. And they immediately become a great credit risk because they can't file bankruptcy again for seven years.

I've never tried it, though.
 
  • #2,227
jim hardy said:
A lawyer friend once told me Florida is a debtor's paradise.
Bankruptees there get to keep their home and a car. And they immediately become a great credit risk because they can't file bankruptcy again for seven years.

I've never tried it, though.

I got as far as googling "how to file for bankruptcy" but it was just one of those desperate moments.
 
  • #2,228
dkotschessaa said:
I got as far as googling "how to file for bankruptcy" but it was just one of those desperate moments.
Maybe your numbers mean something : 999/ 666 ?
 
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  • #2,229
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  • #2,230
upload_2017-6-20_14-59-51.png


Done!
 
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  • #2,231
WWGD said:
Outlook's spam filter is so ineffective that I have taken things into my own hands.

For me, clicking "unsubscribe" seems only to trigger more spam.

I've taken to clicking option "View Source"
which displays the header.
Then to the very bottom "Received From" line with one of those isp number addresses that doesn't decode to microsoft.
Next i google that number looking for the isp who's hosting the spammer.
Then i start forwarding spam to 'abuse'@ that isp, usually their webpage will include an abuse link. If not i send it to sales@ that isp, and support@ there too.

Have got six spammer accounts terminated in the last week.
A pain in the butt but feels as good as swatting a pesky fly.

Here's a sample from a header. I highlighted the ip address

look how sneaky they are - it looks like it came from microsoft at 10.152... but complaining to them did no good
Received: from follmer.kachlouul.life (23.91.4.190) by
TY1JPN01FT013.mail.protection.outlook.com (10.152.187.28) with Microsoft SMTP
Server id 15.1.1157.12 via Frontend Transport; Thu, 15 Jun 2017 19:32:37

sure feels good to get this back:

Hi,
We have suspended the IP related to the abuse. If you still notice abuse
from 23.91.4.190, please reply to this ticket right away and we will
investigate the issue.

Thanks,
Support Team
support@psychz.net

I copy and paste the header into the forwarded email, and tell them how i got to them, highlighting the isp number that google reported as them by formatting it as HUGE and RED.

old jim
 

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  • #2,232
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  • #2,233
dkotschessaa said:
LOL!

I should get some kind of prize for hitting those numbers.
Sorry for the like, I am taking you farther from the ideal numbers ;).
 
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  • #2,234
jim hardy said:
For me, clicking "unsubscribe" seems only to trigger more spam.

I've taken to clicking option "View Source"
which displays the header.
Then to the very bottom "Received From" line with one of those isp number addresses that doesn't decode to microsoft.
Next i google that number looking for the isp who's hosting the spammer.
Then i start forwarding spam to 'abuse'@ that isp, usually their webpage will include an abuse link. If not i send it to sales@ that isp, and support@ there too.

Have got six spammer accounts terminated in the last week.
A pain in the butt but feels as good as swatting a pesky fly.

Here's a sample from a header. I highlighted the ip address

look how sneaky they are - it looks like it came from microsoft at 10.152... but complaining to them did no goodsure feels good to get this back:
I copy and paste the header into the forwarded email, and tell them how i got to them, highlighting the isp number that google reported as them by formatting it as HUGE and RED.

old jim
Thanks for the detective work, Jim.
 
  • #2,235
WWGD said:
Thanks for the detective work, Jim.

Some support guys at a hosting service showed me how. They were being "framed" by spoofing their number into the middle of the header.

With just a little practice i learned to look where they'd told me.

You CAN fight back.

Hosting services Psychs, Krypt, and Serverdedicati have been helpful.

Good Luck !
 
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  • #2,236
WWGD said:
How has it gone since?
It's been fine except for all the grass mowing. Thanks for asking.
 
  • #2,237
There was this woman wearing an " I (heart) Algebraic Fractions"t-shirt at Starbucks today. I asked her how they were different from " regular" fractions. She mumbled something and walked away. Kind of strange, it seems neither an advanced topic a nerd would like, nor something taught in high school a teacher would wear. But then again, psychos and weirdos are a dime -a-dozen around here.
 
  • #2,238
I would like to open up a Shake'n bake store in the town of Sharm el Sheik. It just sounds good: The Shake'n Bake in Sharm el Sheik
 
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  • #2,239
WWGD said:
I would like to open up a Shake'n bake store in the town of Sharm el Sheik. It just sounds good: The Shake'n Bake in Sharm el Sheik
My Dad always wanted to move to the town of Idle, specifically to join their Working Men's Club.
 
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  • #2,240
I know someone who went to Hell and stayed there.
 
  • #2,241
dkotschessaa said:
People from the Philippines are Filipino, not Philipino, and I find that conphusing.
Well, that's because before the Americans came, the country was Las Islas Filipinas, and so its people were called Filipinos. :)
 
  • #2,242
Wonder if any patient has ever gone into the I-C-U and come out of the U-C-Me .
 
  • #2,243
commodorekitty said:
Well, that's because before the Americans came, the country was Las Islas Filipinas, and so its people were called Filipinos. :)
And no one's bothered because there are no " Hollandese" ( Or Hollandose ;) ). I know Holland is just a province, but many use the name Holland for the Low Countries ( or whatever the official name is). But there aren't any Netherlandese/dose either.

Sometimes when you are listening to music and you see people , it seems people are part of a video for the song you're listening to. Weird how the brain puts things together.
 
  • #2,244
WWGD said:
And no one's bothered because there are no " Hollandese" ( Or Hollandose ;) ).
But there is a Hollandaise.
 
  • #2,245
fresh_42 said:
But there is a Hollandaise.
A saucy answer at that.
 
  • #2,246
fresh_42 said:
But there is a Hollandaise.
Hollandaise is the tensor contraction of Hollandese and Netherlandese, tho I don't know which is covariant and which is contravariant.
 
  • #2,247
WWGD said:
Hollandaise is the tensor contraction of Hollandese and Netherlandese, tho I don't know which is covariant and which is contravariant.
This depends on which way you want to look at it. If you consider Holland ##\twoheadleftarrow## Netherlands as projective resolution of the entire Netherlands (reduction to Holland), then you get a covariant functor for the homological resolution and a contravariant functor for the cohomological resolution. Unfortunately it's the other way around, if you consider Holland ##\rightarrowtail## Netherlands as injective resolution (part of) of the entire Netherlands.

And now, excuse me, I have to go and pray I didn't confuse any co's and contra's here ...
 
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  • #2,248
fresh_42 said:
This depends on which way you want to look at it. If you consider Holland ↞\twoheadleftarrow Netherlands as projective resolution of the entire Netherlands (reduction to Holland), then you get a covariant functor for the homological resolution and a contravariant functor for the cohomological resolution. Unfortunately it's the other way around, if you consider Holland ↣\rightarrowtail Netherlands as injective resolution (part of) of the entire Netherlands.

Wow sounds like a paragraph out of a 1970's political science textbook.

Got me wondering "What's a Nether?"

Origin and Etymology of nether
Middle English, from Old English nithera, from nither down; akin to Old High German nidar down,
as in Low Lying Lands , perhaps ?
Dutch are certainly good at "draining the swamp".
 
  • #2,249
jim hardy said:
Wow sounds like a paragraph out of a 1970's political science textbook.Dutch are certainly good at "draining the swamp".

Sorry, Jim, I can't understand the slang you young hep cats use today.
 
  • #2,250
WWGD said:
Sorry, Jim, I can't understand the slang you young hep cats use today.

It was a dreadful pun. Sorry.
 
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