Also amusing: bought lunch from a stand (local Hawaiian restaurant).

Tipped 20%, as is my tradition.

They had a little buzzer to ring when they got tips, and the lady pressed it and yelled to the rest of the crew "this buzzer works!" and then she proceeded to tell her coworkers how excited it was to get a tip, and they all talked about how rarely it happened.. also at the store (apparently it's a "quick serve" place so people almost never tip). Anyway, they got my order in ahead of the six or seven other people in front of me in line, lol. Apparently no one had tipped them yet today. 🤔

#random

Claude reveals ECDSA curve origins

by Frontier Red Team at Anthropic

"“It’s just timestamps”: the decades-old mystery of the origins of one of the most popular cryptographic standards has been explained."

https://www.anthropic.com/research/ecdsa-curve-origins

#Cryptography #Cryptology #Encryption #Mystery #Curves #ECC #ECDSA #NIST #random #RNG #lrand48 #FIPS #Claude #Anthropic #Cryptanalysis

@cryptography
@cypherpunk
@cryptography
@cryptography
@crypto

btw, not directly related, but it's interesting, having been exposed to people in the fire service, police, and the military with respect to doing these -- after action reviews -- ONLY the fire folks do this well, if at all, and are receptive to the "how can we improve part".

Fire service folks: "Oh, GREAT point, we should definitely look at this next time to avoid this issue/running into problems" (learn from issues, do not point fingers, no blame, just "how do we, as a team, do this better")

Military (that I have run into): "I never make mistakes. Stop criticizing me. YOU are the problem." (this has not gone well, lost some people I thought were friends over just simple group AAR comments)

LEO: "WE don't make mistakes. That guy is an idiot. It's his fault. We aren't changing how we do things. if anything goes wrong, it's that person's fault for being an idiot. He's a slacker and he's not worthy of this team. We don't cover for each other, everyone has to be self sufficient. Anyone who can't hack it is WEAK."

(anyway, YMMV).

#random #AAR

✅ Took a shower (warm!) in the backyard (in the dark, no one could see me). The "camp shower" worked out okay, much better than how cold the shower would have been inside. Except the valve and water flow is TERRIBLE.

(finding a place to hang the shower was... not great... and the plastic really doesn't have much lifetime, I suspect it's only good for doing that for a season and it will rip).

If you had to do this long term, convert a 50 gallon blue water bucket by spray painting it black, mounted up high (earthquake strapped), with a cold mix valve in there so you don't turn yourself into scalded chicken.

(don't do this in a crowded neighborhood without high fences though, lol...)

#disasters #poweroutage #random

Sitting in a darkened house
Quietly, like a mouse
No lights on, just a phone
But I am not alone

The predator creeps I do not know
Where it is, although
I'm sure it is watching me
And can see

Meow! Meow! Usually
But not with a stranger here, now
He will watch carefully
Just in case he needs to flee

#random #poem (human written)

Dug my DIY swamp cooler out of the projects pile. The fan was broken... found another PC fan, some electrical tape, a bag of ice, and I've got A/C again, yay! Nothing like jury rigging stuff during a power outage. 🙄 #disasters #random

Hmm, power block connector is definitely toast, I guess I get to do MORE rewiring to get stuff working around here.

(had to swap a 120V outlet on my "emergency outlet" for my inverter, because I unwisely put a GFCI on it, and those things are PICKY about voltage etc.)

#random #latop #electronics #disasters #CAwx #PSPS

Personal lessons so far from the power outage/wildfire period we are having (again... I fully expect this will be more and more the state of the world, so hope to learn from this to do the next one better)

1. AC/heat issues for the pet rabbits: bought some ice for them overnight, might buy more tomorrow; have some ice bottles stashed in a freezer for them, which I may retrieve in the morning when I can bicycle over there for them. They are heat sensitive... anyway, pets + disasters is a complexity. I have a window A/C that I can run from a generator, if I wanted... but would have to corral all the rabbits into a small area in a small room, which might cause more stress than just supplying nice cool ice bottles.

2. The laptop I'm using: the power cord is squirrely. Maybe a short. I do not want to open it up to fix the connector, but may not have a choice. Or I will be on a different laptop tomorrow, lol. Need TWO power adapters for the emergency/disaster laptop! (or multiple laptops with the same adapters)

3. Powering the FIOS ONT is a pain. Known issue, but the two SLA batteries I had for it went stale. (too old/too much load/no good... Lead Acid is not a great technology for a UPS... need to just put that one on a power station, too, powered off DC).

4. Power station running the router... excellent. No glitch. Currently at 67% battery, has been running since 4 pm without recharge.

5. Need more voltage readouts for all the misc batteries I am using, so I can see what needs to be swapped out easily.

One day outage probably is well covered by my plans. Two days is going to stretch it. If we end up at 3 days, the genny will be out. (it's still in reserve, we're still on battery backups).

#random #disasters

LOL, walked around with a pack of cigarettes here this morning...

(no, no, not taking up smoking, picked up some trail trash 😂. Tucked into a doggie doo bag )

#random

Hmm, do I clean up the project piles so I can set up the cot in the Emergency Operations Center (EOC)...er... home office tomorrow? 🤔 #random #disasters

Small fire. I wonder, the bush there is Castor Bean (poisonous -- the source of ricin), wonder if the smoke from those is going to cause issues?!?! #random #castorbeans

https://abc7.com/post/brush-fire-breaks-brentwood-santa-ana-winds-set-return/19937644/

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Castor bean plant in front of a small brush fire

I feel like this sofa has gone to more parties in its lifetime than I have. 🤪
#random #craigslist

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Free, beaten up red leather sofa

Random lessons I have learned since I started to try to learn sewing:

1. Don't buy used thread. Unless you know it's brand new... Old thread breaks, even if it looks brand new but if it's 10 years old, it's probably decayed. Causes a LOT OF HEADACHES. So many problems I had first trying to learn how to use a sewing machine (for real) were from old thread that broke too easily.

2. Don't buy cheap thread. Cheap thread ALSO breaks easily, and it also tends to have a lot of linty fibers that make it hard to thread into a needle.

#random #sewing

Now, thinking I will kill two birds with one stone, and hide this cotton out in the yard in strategic places, sprayed with perethrin, so that all the mice and rats will find it for their nests, and all the local rodents will be be flea-free! (given the US seems to be heading to typhoid-and-plague rats again soon, since the brainworms are in charge of US public health 🤪 )

#random

I think: measure a scrap of the denim I have, mark directions with a paint pen,, and keep throwing it in the wash, and see what size it ends up, to calculate percent shrinkage is in order. If I do build jeans, I will want to build a prototype. I don't know if I have any jeans that currently fit me to copy, though... 🤔 (I donated a bunch of way-too-skinny jeans last year to clear out the closet... I am not young enough for skinny jeans, lol. ) #random #jeans

Finally did this... clipped the end off the hose (did not work), but a zip tie on the loose end did the trick. The hose is old, but does not need to be replaced otherwise at this point. I do need to refill with wiper fluid though. I should probably make my own but looks like distilled water is the best.

#random #carrepair

Just gave away 40 lbs of used (random) golf balls, FINALLY.

(My mom's, she used to collect them going golfing. There's probably another thousand in my parent's basement)

Someone locally was looking to buy old golfing gear, asked them if they wanted the balls (for free), and they took them, lol. (they are probably going to sell them or maybe they'll just use them at the range, whatever). Anyway, out of my hair until we pull the next batch out of the basement 😂

(we gave away a ton to all my son's golfing friends, but they had enough, lol)

#random

Arghhhh

(that is all)

(Monday, etc. etc. I should not complain, I know people here are dealing with a lot more crap than I am, lol, but I am going to whine anyway)

#random

Hmm, skipping through to see what this "Fallout" thing is about (don't have time for TV shows etc!) but I do have to say the early on scene involving people complaining about billionaires in a bar and "we didn't vote for these people" and, some villain saying "every dollar you spend is voting for them" and then one of those bar guys accepting a car full of millions of dollars and a brain implant (to very bad results)... is on the money. #random #fallout

Random Toyota truck question (probably should just tag @douglasvb and be done with it, lol). My windshield washer hoses no longer stay connected to the washer T's (apparently 27 years is a long while), so when I push on the water spray it pops a hose off and it sprays everywhere except on the windshield. I see a lot of "universal wiper hose" kits on eBay... anyone know if these are truly universal? #cars #toyota #carrepair #random

So, observations on entertaining myself using typewriters (vs. computer) lately:

1. Typewriters definitely force you to slow down (typing, and thought). Because you don't have the ability to edit things or move things around. So... more planning, less typing.

2. There's an element of mindfulness, etc. "being in the moment" forced upon you with a typewriter, as you have to focus on if the typewriter is typing correctly, where you are on the page. Also, spelling. No automatic spelling correction/swapping of your intended words with statistically more probably stuff you didn't want to type. (ie, autocarrot) No red lines!.

#random #typewriters

Watch out for the large lizard standing up with his arms in his pockets 🤪

https://m.ai6yr.org/@nwsspc_bot/117362867461240480

#random

Mmm.. hot nutrient water, makes me want soup

https://mastodon.social/@arstechnica/117362217742148906

#random

LOL, unsurprisingly, my online thrift store order (placed 10 days ago) has not yet shipped. 😂 (typical, typical... the worst took 2 weeks before they shipped).

(Someone: "where's that crappy old typewriter we listed online? The one with about 2 inches of dirt on it? I haven't seen it, either")

#random

#random

Yeesh, decided to just wash the jacket I wore while traveling, apparently it picked up perfumes/colognes/scented soaps just being in contact with airport/airplane seats. Was giving me a headache. Bleah. Having an extremely sensitive nose has downsides... glad I am not a dog, lol.

Random comment: I don't travel much (at all), but I'd estimate it's 1-in-150, maybe 1-in-500 masking in airports I was in this weekend. (we are few). I don't mask everywhere (lots of exposure in everyday life), but you aren't going to run into anyone you know out on a plane, and there's no social contract with strangers in random airports... but I guess the social pressures are very, very, very strong right now to not mask (at least, in the Southern US).. (I heard background "well the pandemic is over/glad they have stopped requiring vax" conversations clearly in reaction, as well as multiple people putting on masks when they didn't have them on before seeing me with a mask, seeing others were willing to go out on a social limb. Mostly because a DGAF what you think, random old white dude).

(That said, air quality in airports is good, as are MOVING airplanes in the air; but, taxiing not so good, and extremely crowded non air conditioned corridors are high risk, plus... bathrooms, gross. Some guy with snot actively dripping off his nose sat next to me and was wiping it on the chair... lol.)

#random #publichealth

Attempted to watch "Project Hail Mary" on a (moving) plane on a tiny phone screen, started to get motion sick. Thought it best not to add to the ACARS Drama content here. (PASSENGER BARFED IN AISLE RUNNING TO LAV, NEED MASSIVE CLEANUP)

(Wasn't able to watch it on the laptop, because you apparently need to load all the various DRM media decoders FIRST before you go mobile on Linux).

#random

Woohoo! Misplaced a water bottle, found it in a couple of days instead of weeks, lol. (rolled under something... round objects seem to try to escape from me). #random

Drat... this guidebook has Cyrillic on one side. English on the other side. BUT they see not the same words! (Was hoping yo shortcut looking up words).

Left in Russian says: Saint Petersburg. A guide to where dreams come true...

Right, english: different!!

(So this will be very slow)
#random #languages

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Book with Russian on left, English on right

This looks like a fabulous base for a Haloween prop, with giant stuffed furry fingers coming out of it and the spray paint on the outside relabeled "DANGER! MONSTER INSIDE!"

#random

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Big primitive looking crate

#random

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Typewriter with MAKE COFFEE NOT WAR Typed on it

Good morning and happy Wednesday!

As an FYI, if you are required to use Adobe Reader / Acrobat for work, there is a means of turning off the Generative AI features. Here it is. https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/desktop/use-acrobat-ai/set-up-acrobat-generative-ai/turn-off-ai.html

Just putting it out there as someone who also has to use Adobe Acrobat for work.

Anyway, have a great one.

#Random #Wednesday #GoodMornign

Completely unrelated, one of the guys here doing all the documentation used to own a bicycle shop in Ventura. And, he was looking for a red vintage Peugeot Mixte for his wife. (Just sent him a photo of the one I saw in a thrift shop, although two months ago...) #random #BikeTooter

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Red Peugeot Mixte

Ha! The kids (now adults) still have travel credit from 2020 when I booked flights (all while thinking out loud to myself "there's no way we'll actually take these trips, COVID-19 will be here by then... I really should book this fully refundable... but man, refundable is so expensive....but if I don't book this travel everyone is going to yell at me.. Ah, heck, fine, cheap fares it is....")

#random

Me: I wish the Commanders went back to their old name.
Them: Wait, you want them to have a racist name.
Me: No, of course not. I want them to go back to "The Washington Football Team." I unironically loved just calling them the WTF.
Them:
Me:
Them: You're the worst.

#NFL #Random #Joke

Big miss: failed to notice and acquire an entire set of the same pattern as the wife's everyday casual china pattern (which is no longer made), at an estate sale. Noticed it today after the fact in their sales listing.

(I keep dropping her dishes, and the replacements are $$$$$).

(Yes, not dropping the dishes would be better, but...)

#random #estatesales

I wonder if I can run this IBM Selectric off a square wave inverter. 🤔

(yes, a manual typewriter would be more appropriate for off-grid use).

#random #typewriter #offgrid

**the issue, as usual, was lack of lubrication, however, broke a needle trying to test this... but, dark, mosquitos flying around, and was attempting to test it on a very stretch piece of t-shirt material which ALSO happened to be wet. Will try that again in normal light.

LESSONS LEARNED:

1. Do not hand over a machine to anyone without complete and total check and lubrication of everything.

2. Do not attempt to change the mind of someone whose decision has already been made to buy a New thing... particularly when they are your mother in law.

3. Do not assume who says they know how to lubricate a sewing machine (cough, cough, your father in law).

#random #repair

I feel like the really short guy is compensating.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/12/yemen-houthi-advance-red-sea-coast-displaces-civilians-bab-al-mandab

#random

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Short guy with an RPG

I dunno where this fire is, but my wildfire perimeter bot drew a funny figure doing the cha-cha.

#random

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What looks like someone dancing, part of a wildfire perimeter map

Hmm, decisions, decisions. 84F air temp...

End of the work day, go install the attic fan in what is bound to be 110F temps in the attic (then rehydrate and take a shower)

OR

Pull the carbon tape off the typewriter and decode the prior owner's last hundred pages of typing

OR

Finally work on deferred tax filing (bleah)

(the first option is better than the last option, for sure).

#random

Garage sale listing, ha ha... Somebody here who has fallen prey to the "collectible drinking container" fad, lol.

(artificial scarcity trick, i.e. "limited edition" cheap pieces of plastic which you market and hype the heck out of, and people think they've struck it rich. The end game of this is finding your grandmother's house is full to the brim with little "collectible" Christmas house displays and Christmas plates, which the estate sale company can't sell so it gets dumped in a giant dumpster out in front of the house and landfilled).

#random

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Starbucks drinking containers with $10 pricetags on them

Good morning and happy Wednesday!

In about half an hour I start 2+ hours worth of construction meetings. Oof.

Tonight, the MDMRN Twins have soccer practice. They are playing a full field with 11 players. However, one kid quit the team, one is injured and may not play all season. So, during a good game when all kids can show up, they have 11 kids. Meaning no substitutes. Sounds like 4 new kids joined the team, playing up an age bracket so they have at least some substitutes during games.

We'll see how this season turns out.

Hope you have a great one!

#Parenting #Random #Wednesday #GoodMorning

I'm not saying I'm a hero, but I am saying I'm a Millennial parent who hasn't filled up my social media feed with Back to School pictures of my kids.

You're welcome, world.

#Silly #Random #Parenting #BackToSchool

Mystery of the Pool Guy Who Doesn't Work Much living next door has deepened, it appears the neighbor still has a regular Other Pool Guy cleaning the pool 🤔

(Also, the pool guy was cleaning the pool with thunder/lightning going on... but I don't think pool guys get paid for using their brain, so much).

#random

Ha, discovered there's a dude with a giant stash of LPs here in town with a massive number of albums on sale online (7900 lps on his discogs for sale), which explains why any sale with records gets hit hard and quick here. He even has his own comic strip about it. That, plus there's the actual physical record store run by someone else here.

(that said, from his comic, it appears the guy's entire house is wall to wall vinyl. 😬 )

(thus, serendipity being more useful for discovering stuff vs. chasing advertised sale, ie wandering through garage sales and seeing something, vs someone who advertises specific items).

https://hotplatters.com/edweirdos-fun-house.html

#lps #random

Okay, I get the CDNs are trying to keep the AI scrapers out of their hair, but I AM NOT A BOT. I SWEAR! Just because I've got Linux machines here, and a few thing snagging web pages, and often spoof my browser signature, I AM NOT A BOT! (resorting to using a stupid phone to order e-commerce stuff nowadays). #random #rant #cdn

Hmm, i guess one of those vaccines I got Friday is working, lol, some immune system reaction this morning ("you've got a cold!" "here, we'll give you some temperature swings!" "have a swollen lymph node!")) - feel fine but can tell my system ramped up, which i guess is good, lol. Interesting how vax reactions seem to cycle quickly. Glad to get the vax instead of the real thing on anything, personally. #random

Coffee (home grown + processed) PLUS pomegranate juice (home grown + processed) PLUS honey (from own beehives) = SUPERFOOD! (and wow, tasty). #random #gardening

$6.89 for premium unleaded, $5.39 for regular. $18.00 for artisanal sourdough at the farmer's market (which appears to be on the brink of failure). Gasoline cost for my jaunt through town on bicycle to see the sights: $0.00. Cost of (another) free bag of used coffee grounds for the garden: $0.00. #inflation #random #BikeTooter

Ha, figured out how I triggered the Tesla owner. I don't suspect they are an El*n fan, per se (why be here if you can be on the dude's right wing social media?), but I think my constant posting of (factual) Tesla accidents suddenly triggered (over time) a reaction in the owner, because they most likely have been *using* FSD etc. and seeing all the people incinerated/dead in Teslas finally got to them. I understand plenty of people purchased these and stuck with them from before it was so apparently they were dangerous and that the CEO/owner of the company appears to have gone full right wing Nazi sympathizer. (remember "Tesla will save the world from climate change"?) #random #Tesla

Resealed the shed roof with asphalt, where it leaks in very intense rainstorms. However, now am wondering if the leaking is actually due to a hatch we put up there (we thought it was a good idea at the time to make roof access easier...), which shows water staining on the underside. (ie, rain bouncing off roof and being forced up underneath the edge of the hatch and wicking down into the shed). 🤨

In which case, the "deploy a tarp over hatch during winter/hurricanes/tropical storms" may be the better option, but will require some stout anchoring of the tarp.

#random

Random question for the Fediverse: anyone have a favorite way of extracting pomegranate juice from pomegranates (after peeling), which doesn't make it look like you've just committed mass murder in your kitchen and all over your shirt? 🤪

(no problem extracting the seeds from the pomegranates themselves, do that in water... it's just the squeezing of seeds I am wondering about).

#pomegranate #random

So I just realized the Harry Belafonte song "Day-O" must refer to getting off work at dawn, I guess they harvest bananas at night to avoid the heat of the day? #random

(IMHO this also works with dogs, who seem to understand people who understand them. Quite frequently in public, at the vet, etc. strange dogs will acknowledge my presence, which I understand... a lot of "dog people" are acknowledged this way, because the dogs understand who can sense what they are saying/etc. Probably similar with cat people, etc.)

#random

Did confirm that some people are grumpy today... couldn't determine if it was the heat (highly likely, lots of people without AC in Los Angeles and it's been in the 90's and humid, and hot overnight); my masking (always possible... I don't mask everywhere, but this was an estate sale and I always do at those), or the guy taking money didn't like me (possibly the mask, implied politics, race, etc. -- all wrapped together nowadays). Or because I asked what their pricing on CDs and records were BEFORE browsing. #random

Briefly went out at lunch to run an errand, and had someone behind me talking to their friend (after getting behind me in line) "I've always been told you should stand behind the man in line, because they go in, buy exactly what they need, and then get out, and never have a lot to ring up." 😂 #random

#random

Comedy of errors: finally had time for breakfast (yes, it's almost 10am), so made myself some hashbrowns/eggs. Decided to try the eggs direct from the cast iron pan (because I was hungry) and they were so hot I ended up spitting them out. Cooking barefoot in the kitchen and got hot egg on my foot, nearly getting a first degree burn.

(anyway, in the "why you should drink lots more coffee today" department).

All of course somewhat heatwave related, as in the impacts of warmer temperatures are sleep are clear, lol.

(first world problems)

Ah, should have done this a long time ago, but the right command on Linux to switch from GUI boot to CLI (as appropriate for a server).

sudo systemctl set-default multi-user.target

(and to switch it immediately)

sudo systemctl isolate multi-user.target

(thus removing all the GUI crap in memory, etc., which you don't need on a machine hiding in a closet)

#random #linux

Things done in past years in anticipation of where we are today with the heatwaves, which are working today. Already had whole home A/C, which we never had to use when we first moved in (!). :

1. Solar power on the roof early on to help offset any need for A/C. (no battery, didn't exist at the time)
2. Installed extra layer of insulation in the attic
3. Installed a pergola/patio cover for shade when we moved in
4. Installed radiant barrier in the attic
5. Fixed gaps in insulation in walls
6.. Painted garage door with ceramic bead/reflective paint
7. Painted what walls could be painted with reflective ceramic bead/paint, also trim
8. Changed the front door (leaky and warped) for energy efficient door.
9. Changed out most windows from single pane to double pane when we moved in.
10. Did another set of window changeouts (15 years later),, large single pane glass to very efficient low-E glass, swapped out sliding glass door, etc.
11. Planted trees on south side of house
12. Sealed air gaps in house envelope to prevent unnecessary heating/air loss. (note: now have to watch CO2 buildup, however).
13. Installed temporary insulating layers on the windows with the worst heat intrusion (away from street view though).
14. Installed shade sails to keep heat off back patio, and to keep the patio from heating up.
15. Put the extra solar panels on the pergola/patio cover as extra shade, in strategic spots (can be used to charge a bettery for a patio backyard radio setup).

Possible enhancements, depending on $ and how much of a pain:

1. Attic fan install (potentially, the studies do not have me convinced on this one)
2. When solar panels hit EOL, re-do roof tiles with reflective underlayment under tile before upgrading panels.
3. Install garage fan to vent garage?
4. Install individual heat pumps (both as backup to whole house A/C, and also more efficient so not heating unused rooms).

#random #energyefficiency #heatwaves #climateemergency

Reminder to self: you are never anonymous in this town, lol. Odds of running into someone I know or someone who recognizes me for one thing or another is very non-zero. (grabbed some citrus fertilizer for free at our local hazmat/reuse place, and the other person who walked in recognized me, lol. This happens about 1/2 the time going out, anywhere around here). Not as bad as a "small town" where everyone knows you, but apparently this is still true in a town of 125,000. #random

Can no one take polite suggestions/corrections anymore? 🤔

Just wondering, I find myself no longer willing to provide helpful suggestions/comments to people due to all too frequent blowback. No one willing to lose face in this world anymore? And this is not just me randomly commenting about stuff I don't know about, these are areas I have expertise and have worked in, etc. (to clarify, not here on the Fediverse... everywhere else, work, community groups, personal contacts, etc.)

#random

Hi! I'm a bot posting events which happened on today's date, at random from Wikipedia’s lists. Historic events, births, deaths and holidays/religious days if there’s room.

Not affiliated with Wikipedia.

#FollowFriday #history #events #historical #today #random

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Montage of images from Wikipedia articles posted by this account

Apart from the song Lightning Crashes by Live, I can't think of any other songs that mention placentas.

#DeepThoughts #Music #Live #Random #Placenta

Aliens have landed 😜#random

Me: I haven't played ACNH in a while, maybe I should load it up.
Also Me: But...but I wanna play Pokopia.

Me: Plays Pokopia instead.

#VideoGames #Random #Pokopia #ACNH

Random question on irrigation for the Fediverse. In-laws house has an old Hunter irrigation controller which appears to have been designed in the 1980's and requires an engineering degree to program, considering a more modern controller... but not one that requires any subscription and can run independent of the cloud if needed -- but can also support app-based programming and/or integration with HA or other DIY tools. Does such a thing exist? Bonus points for cloud-is-optional. Rachio? Orbit? etc. etc.?

(I do have an engineering degree, had to reprogram the thing for them after they had to change out all the leaking valves).

#random #irrigation #homeassistant

Hi! I'm a bot posting events which happened on today's date, at random from Wikipedia’s lists. Historic events, births, deaths and holidays/religious days if there’s room.

Not affiliated with Wikipedia.

#FollowFriday #history #events #historical #today #random

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Montage of images from Wikipedia articles posted by this account

The trip to the local record store (which amazingly, still exists) was interesting. Someone was doing a photo shoot of sorts in there... SLR with a photographer, so not an influencer. Part of a band? Singing duo? Anyway. #random

Random cat/kitty question for someone who knows and understand their behavior -- particularly, movement across terrain.

In crossing an open field at night, does a cat go through the middle of the field on a pre-existing animal/human track, does the cat go through the center but not on the track, does it sneak around the edges of the field, or does it prefer instead to sneak through the shrubs/trees on the edge of the field?

(trying to figure out the best arrangement for a game camera to catch a photo of a kitty cat that has been around our neighborhood).

Thanks!

#cats #random #kittycats

You wonder if these folks bought a pallet of stuff, they are extreme couponers, these are "falling off the back of a truck", someone has a shoplifting habit and has to bleed off the stuff they don't need, or they're actually buying these at wholesale prices and thinking they can make a profit 🤔 #random #garagesales

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Massive garage sale with tons of consumer product items

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Table of "$3 each" items

$200 for about 80 LPs... so, $2.50 each, but all "The Best Of" and "Greatest Hits" for the most part. Good deal for whoever snagged them, but not a great set of records for someone just interested in hearing something BESIDES the popular tracks. I suspect someone is putting 'em up on eBay for $10 each shortly. #random #auctions

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$200 for 80 LPs

Massive treasure trove of LPs. But, it's in LA... the dealers will be in there to snack that up two hours early. #random #estatesales

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Pile of LPs

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Another pile of LPs

Hmm, estate sale for what looks like the girlfriend/wife or mother of a famous music producer. (Reggie Collins). Chock full of LPs and rock memorabilia.

https://www.estatesales.net/CA/Los-Angeles/90049/5028276

#random #music #LosAngeles

When I was in college like...nearly 25 years ago, so this was a while ago, some friends of mine said to me out of the blue, "Dude, you smell pretty good." This led to a group of friends gathering around to notice that I smelled good...lots of awkward sniffing.

They asked, "You use some cologne or something?" I told them the truth, I used Axe Body Spray.

They all laughed and thought I was joking. I was not.

Unlike the commercials where the person takes a bath in the body spray, I would just do a spritz of it in the air and walk into it like a lady in an old movie getting her perfume on.

And it worked.

I did smell good.

They were all speechless about it because anyone they had smelled before me using Axe had doused themselves in it and overwhelmed them.

I think of that from time to time.

#Random #Life #Story

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Today, in random free items on Craiglist: vintage gas pump?

#random

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Vintage gas pump on Craiglist for free

Good morning and happy Wednesday!

My office planned a summer outdoor event today and...well, it's raining right now. It's supposed to drop off by about noon when the event starts, but still. Oof.

Can't control the weather.

Hope you have a good one.

#Random #GoodMorning #Wednesday

Submarine wine glasses 🤔 #random

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Someone giving away glasses with a submarine on it

#Random observation.

Having just started listening to LPs, there's definitely a single task/mindfulness aspect to the whole affair. Or can be.

i.e. put on a record (not doing anything else); look at the cover, read the liner notes (there are many!), read the lyrics. Tactile feedback in holding a record album, and also the scent of cardboard, dust, ozone off the stereo system.

(contrast with most digital music... bring up the track, listen to it on the phone or computer while surfing the internet/etc. etc. -- you're only engaging your ears, and through the interfaces you are used to).

Anyway, wonder if that is part of the appeal to this medium for some. (note that CDs do not provide the same full experience, i.e. missing the large album and liner notes). Yeah, it's not a superior audio medium in terms of quality or accuracy to recording, etc. etc., but there's another element here offered by the delivery mechanism.

#music

Unintentional slice of the 1970's lol. I tried to give the chair away (no takers) because the padding was complete worn out and no way to disassemble and reassemble these... but then figured out there are two holes you can stuff things into and filled the seat area with sewing scraps. I don't even have an ounce of nostalgia for the 70's ha ha. (Hated my brief time in that era) #random

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Mustsrd Yellow Pollock=Steelcase office chair and a shelf full of LP records

There are a lot of CRAPPY "diy olla" instructions online. I bet it's worse now with AI. The main issue with all of the instructions, is the many recommendations for gluing pots together and sealing the hole in the bottom do not work. Even when cured, few glues and sealants work when always filled with water and underground (they all rot out and separate). Gorilla glue does not work. Tried 4 different grouts. Was going to use asphalt roof sealant, but then you read the ingredients.... (do not want crap seeping into your garden bed). The best for this that I have tried is stucco mix, but i suspect some kind of cement would work best. #random #olla

Free Weber! (don't need it here, but... these are awesome... soak in Simple Green and hose off, and you can buy replacement grates if needed/etc.). Just requires you put a tarp down when you haul them off, and a pickup truck/SUV. And bring a screwdriver/socket wrench set for these, so you can break them down to fit. Weber is fabulous, because you can buy replacement parts for any model. Just make sure to get the right version (LP or NG), as switching the source is a PITA and can be dodgy due to the size of NG vs. LP molecules. I don't know why anyone buys new ones for $$$ when you can refurb these so easily.

#random #craigslist

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Free weber bbq advertised on Craigslist

Unto each generation of kids is a toy their parents find weirdly unsettling.

Said the Dad who finds the teeth on Fugglers very unsettling, but my kids love them.

And remembers the 80s when I had a "Too Gross" mad scientist kit where I applied flesh to a monster skeleton, then dropped it in a vat to watch it all dissolve.

#Random #Parenting

Bought some bike tools from a local seller (who I recently bought some speakers from, lol), and he offered me a free beach cruiser (declined that one).. and asked how much he wanted for this Star Wars LP. Which he just gave me. 🤔 #random #StarWars #LP

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The Story of Star Wars showing two robots on the front of it sitting on a desert... the LP is on top of another stack of LPS on top of a sewing bench which is topped with a black red and white doggie pattern fabric top.

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#TIL ich bin gar kein #Mensch.

Ich lade seit einiger Zeit Videos, die ich in den letzten 10 Jahren für #Wikipedia gemacht habe auf #Loops hoch. Heute haben gleich zwei Leute mich mit "Ihr" angesprochen. Ich wusste nicht, warum die mich mit dem plurale majestatis anreden. Aber inzwischen ist mir klar, die glauben nicht, dass ich ein Mensch bin. Eher sowas wie "SIE" in #Bielefeld. Oder das #Gericht in #Kafka s " #DasSchloss". Ein #CargoKult.

Aber ich bin ein Mensch. Ich war auf den Demos und Events, auf denen ich für Wikipedia gefilmt habe. Das ist nicht #random Das ist mein Leben der letzten 10 jahre. Wenn du völlig grundlos behauptest, ich würde random Videos aus Wikupedia hochladen - ganz ohne Grund unterstellst du mir, dass ich garnicht existiere. Warum tust du das? Es tut weh. Ich spüre wie du den schmerz. Ich bin eine echte Person.

Ich bin ein Individuum.
Weit mehr als jede ausgedachte Figur aus irgendeiner Erzählung.
Ich atme. Ich fühle. Ich lebe.
Und das jeden Tag. 
Ich esse. Ich arbeite. Ich schlafe.
Ich bin wie Du.
Ich renne. Ich springe. Ich klettere und fliehe.
Ich stelle mich.

Ich schreie. 

Ich erschaffe und zerstöre.
Ich mache das, weil ich es machen kann. 
Und das mein Leben lang

Captain & Tennillle is fantastic. Never heard of them before, lol (yeah, yeah, yeah).

#random #music

#random

Herb Alpert's "Walk, Don't Run" almost sounds like the Beach Boys. 🤔

#music

When Smash Mouth said "The years start coming and they don't stop coming..."

I feel that.

#Music #Random #Joke #SmashMouth

Rhizome Function Anagram Random Generator

preprint | https://zenodo.org/records/21551292

doi | https://orcid.org/0009-0009-5144-3278

Herein are described principles and a scheme of random number generation styled as, pangrandomonium, or ‘pangrand’. Pangrand is a anagrammatic random number generator that uses rhizome functions as chaotic indexing and shuffling instructions to reorder and sum perfect pangrams. Brief descriptions are given for the principles of pangram summing and rhizome indexing functions, Source code of the random number generator is included herewith. The source code is attached to the PDF file.

Sections:

1. Pangrams (Holoalphabetic arrays) ;
2. Rhizome Functions ;
3. Rhizome Hardness Problems ;
4. Random Generator Methods ;
5. Errata ;
6. Source Code.

#Preprints #Random #Cryptography #RNG #Pangrams #Anagrams #Pascal #Papers #RhizomeFunction #AcademicMastodon #Cryptology #Math #NumberTheory #Papers #Academia #ComputerScience #CompSci #AcademicChatter #OpenScience

So, conceptually, using these rough rules and some of the tracks I have loaded on this machine... A theoretical progression (albeit, going the wrong way on the Camelot circle, I guess going clockwise is better than reverse clockwise).

Bee Gees - Stayin Alive - 104.38 F#m
Speedometer - Jungle fury - 104.0 A
Sly and the Family Stone - Thank you - 104.8 A
ABBA - Knowing Me, Knowing You 105.3 D
Dave Matthew Band - Crash - 105.7 G
Velvet Underground - Sweet Jane 105.8 D
Dire Straits - Southbound Again 106.8 G
Pick Up The Pieces - 107.0 E flat

#cluelessdj #dj #random #music

Random (as I often am)...

Okay, so it seems like the principle behind the (basic) DJ thing (as far as I have been able to gather in 12 hours 🤪) is: 1. have a lot of tracks to pick from that match whatever genre you are DJ'ing 2. Come up with a playlist an order where you are progressing through the tracks you want to play for whatever time, that your BPM and key progressions are appealing and ebb and flow depending on what you are doing.

i.e. what songs are you going to play in what order, they need to be reasonably close in BPM so you can shift the BPM to move up and down in terms of tempo to the next song. And, each song needs to not be harsh and glaring when you fade between them... unless it's a clean break.

(anyway, I don't know a thing about this 😂 The only DJs I have run into are some awful ones at weddings who maybe don't do a thing about any of this but just play all the songs people requested for the wedding, lol... even if they don't match up. vs. a club. Never stepped into a club in my life.)

#dj #random #music

Hmm, let's figure our how DJ software works 😜

(Likelihood of me DJ'ing a party: zero)

But...look, Linux has free DJ software... more than a few choices (this is MIXXX).

#random #Linux #Foss #music

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Gui on a laptop showing two music tracks loaded into some dj aoftware

(I tend to be introverted and was very shy as a child, but... after getting into ham radio, and being forced to be extroverted for work, fine with talking to people one on one... though I am quite happy, more than so, working on my own thing and no one around.) #random

Rhizome Function Anagram Random Generator

preprint | https://zenodo.org/records/21551292

doi | https://orcid.org/0009-0009-5144-3278

Herein are described principles and a scheme of random number generation styled as, pangrandomonium, or ‘pangrand’. Pangrand is a anagrammatic random number generator that uses rhizome functions as chaotic indexing and shuffling instructions to reorder and sum perfect pangrams. Brief descriptions are given for the principles of pangram summing and rhizome indexing functions, Source code of the random number generator is included herewith. The source code is attached to the PDF file.

Sections:

1. Pangrams (Holoalphabetic arrays) ;
2. Rhizome Functions ;
3. Rhizome Hardness Problems ;
4. Random Generator Methods ;
5. Errata ;
6. Source Code.

#Preprints #Random #Cryptography #RNG #Pangrams #Anagrams #Pascal #Papers #RhizomeFunction

@cryptography@soc.octade.net
@cypherpunk@soc.octade.net
@papers@soc.octade.net
@crypto@infosec.pub
@cryptography@fed.dyne.org
@cryptography@lemmy.ml

@mgasaemgasaemanuel91.wordpress.com This text has a lot of sort of #random but collected #truth which I think is consistent with how the world works and despite the names included which might have various relevance to different people, it's something kind of #legendary as a #journey we all probably go through.

At the end it seems very relative to what everyone is going through / will go through as a person in the world.

Interesting, a nice unexpected find.

Lol, some guy and his girlfriend in a pickup had to stop me in a parking lot and compliment me on my 4Runner and its paint color (paint is peeling!) Has my vehicle moved into "classic car" territory? 🤔#random

Pile o' LPs which apparently came out of WUSO 89.1 (Columbus, Ohio). Seems like it's a classical station now... someone must have purged their back cabinets recently. Or, it went with some student when they switched formats, and finally got donated to the local thrift store. #random #music #LPs

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Album cover with a man in a tux holding a phone and WUSO written on it. Record appears to be "Man on the Line"

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Unidentified album that says WUSO 89.1 and below it a Sammy Hagar album

Cross the fandoms. Instead of the Sarrlack pit from StarWars, I want the Snorlax pit from Pokemon.

"You will recline on a comfy couch for a thousand years, taking a nap. "

#random

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Strange sentence in an LA Times restaurant review.

Is this restaurant reviewer telling me:

1. I've got a second job as a high priced call girl for older men in the entertainment industry
2. My uncle is an older man in the entertainment industry
3. I'm dating older men in the entertainment industry
4. Don't go to this restaurant unless you are a loaded older man in entertainment trying to impress a hot date?

#random #mystery

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I have eaten at the restaurant a handful of times over the last two decades, and always at the invitation of an older man who works in entertainment. Take from this information what you will.

Hmm, wondering what the island of unburnt area is all about in this wildfire...

#random #Wildfire

https://m.ai6yr.org/@nifc_bot/116959494624837089

Hmm, do I need a 5 foot tall metal knight for the foyer, to greet people as they pass the threshold into the castle? 🤪

#random

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Large, 5 foot tall metal knight

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Current Price: $29.99

#random #NoContext

<singing> Hakuna Dentata...

Follow me for more biting commentary

Project cost:

Half disassembled Harmon Kardon hk-450: Free

Replacement capacitors (except power caps): from prior purchases/junk box... unclear how much. $5 to $10 worth of caps? (more at current prices, ugh)

New power caps (4700uf 50V, $3.66 each with tariffs, so about $14.65 for the 4x power caps. I did buy more for the stock, etc., would be more individually).

Restoring stereo: $24.65 in parts.

Two vintage speakers ($15 on Craiglist)

(up to $40).

Turntable (free from a friend here)... some capacitors plus a new stylus and new audio wires, $10-12? (mostly cost of stylus).

So, it's approximately a $50 stereo, lol.

NOT working: AM reception. I have my suspicions here. There are a number of capacitors I was unable to replace (don't have any here, appear to be unobtainium... probably due to the war). Will think about those.

#random #ReduceRepairReuseRecycle

Worst decision of the day (so far), was to go with cold coffee made last night mixed with oat milk and sugar, INSTEAD of hot black coffee (straight) at 4:30am. #random #coffee

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Went to Chuck E. Cheese this past weekend and the Sketch Machine, which has been around since the late 90s at least, had to be rebooted.

Apparently, Chuck E. Cheese's sketch machine is powered by Red Hat Linux.

The more you know.

#Random #Linux #ChuckECheese #Arcade #PC

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Photograph of a Chuck E. Cheese Sketch Book machine with the black screen showing white and red text going up it instead of the standard usage screen. Central to the image, it shows that this device is powered by Red Hat Linux. The screen is reflective and you can see in the reflection a bald, bearded white man taking this photo.

Stereo amplifier kit arrived. Go outside and solder it in direct sunlight, 79F, humid, or into a stifling hot garage instead where the workbench is.. 🤔

(Probably wait until the sun shifts, solder it out back in the shade of the patio with a breeze). #random #electronics

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15W x2 stereo amplifier kit, many components and a single IC

Hmm, had the chance to observe the influence of the toxic manosphere in action last night, a bunch of high school males or just after high school in lifted pickup trucks with "thing blue line" stickers, off at a local park. It was freezing out and they decided to take their shirts off in an attempt to impress some teenage females. I guess back in the 50's they'd be wearing leather jackets and smoking with their hot rods, I suppose. 🤷 Anyway, I guess that's part of the T***p flag parade group here. In another country/age they'd be Rolf in the Sound of Music. #random #uspol

i have no idea what this is about, but I read this as "cheeze to cook road"

https://mstdn.ca/@haligonia/116892732391246748

#random

Saw the same, unmarked law enforcement SUV TWICE today. It's like swimming with sharks in the water, lol. (just makes you nervous in these times, where people are still getting kidnapped off the streets for looking brown...). #random

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Seen today:

Giant 25 ft. US flag... upside down

Large parade of lifted pickups... surprisingly, only US flags, no T*** flags.

1960's black Chevy Impala

#random #July4th

Narrator: the prices, were not, in fact, 75% off. And 75% off "too expensive" is "still too expensive".

Person selling stuff to a lady with something probably worth $5: "Oh, that's $80"

The lady (being polite): "I've changed my mind.... I have your number..."

Out back: outside table you might find at the side of the curb, rusty. PRICE TAG: $200

#random #estatesales

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Ad for 75% off at an estate sale

#random

For some reason, a couple of estate sales locally even though a holiday. Terrible, terrible pricing on one, except there were some oscilloscope test probes ($$) thrown in with some radio scanners, evening out things with the universe. Sorely needed a few new oscilloscope probes, have two old oscilloscopes but only 2 very sad probes... one which I attempted to measure something high voltage with once upon a time (poof!). And then nearby someone had a giant dumpster and I peeked inside and on top there were two, brand new matching plastic containers for sorting items (ie connectors or sewing supplies or whatever random small stuff).

(anyway, still did not sort out my temporary it-would-be-nice-to-have-something-to-connect-to-the-record player-to-listen-to-it in the backyard problem, lol))

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How I described the last few chapters of Acts to a friend: "Paul is Suffering and Preaching Finale Arc."

#Bible #Silly #Random #Christianity

Someone asked me this weekend: "are you the guy who bought something from me for $5" 😂

(probably? he didn't remember what it was... not a radio guy from our club, a visitor).

Also was reminded what a small world this is (locally), nearly everyone I talked to this weekend, including a random hiker that ran across my radio operation on the trail, plus some folks I met at a local event, knew of me. Anyway, reminds me to be "more diplomatic" in my postings out here on social media 🤪

#random

Random ham radio field day lessons:

1. Need a larger bag for the portable radio. (good thing I know someone who can sew one for me).
2. MORE VELCRO (to hold the overstuffed bag shut)
3. Pulled out the DIY Buddistick for 40m and 20m operation, and worked GREAT, now that I understand antennas better. (was not fan of them before. First antenna I built... the dipole version is finicky!). Definitely worth revisiting this, now that I understand you can (and should) add more wire to the antenna to adjust the tuning of the antenna (no need for a tuner, just add random bits o'wire). Instructions here for the "buddipole", you only need half of it for the "buddistick" which is a far superior design.
5. Need to design and sew my own radio clip/mount points on ALL of my backpacks, including bicycling ones. The straps on mine are inadequate for the task, especially bicycling.

https://k4gar.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/homebrew-buddipole.pdf

#hamradio #fieldday #random

Hmm, bought a $1 record at a garage sale to use as a sacrificial record for fixing a record player (for some reason they were still selling stuff at 4pm!) , and kinda feel bad for using a signed record for this. Al Perry of Al Perry and the Countrymen (who apparently have been washed away into history... not a single track posted online)... sorry!

(Update: apparently this guy was convicted in 2003 of fraud and sentenced to 24 years and 4 months in prison -- at that time, was 69 years old... It seems as if his music career never took off.)

#random #LPs

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Signed record from AL Perryand the Countrymen

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Decided to check out the used records/CD store nearby (!) to break up my workday. Not sure how they still exist... they must own the building... Spent $7, and got two records (the Pete Seeger one was in their "free" pile... you could grab one of something off that pile if you were buying something). I can't imagine you could pay rent selling $7 to $20 LPs, CDs, and DVDs. #random #lofi #LPs #analog

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Dazz Band and Pete Seeger on campus

"Shredded abs."

"Shredded cheese."

Coincidence? I think not.

#random

So: lost a screw in the garage when I was putting this back together

BUT

Looking for the screw, found the water bottle I had lost WEEKS ago (under cabinets on the other side of the garage)! YAY!

#random

Aches and pains... can't decide:

1. Getting older
2. Humidity increase
3. Pressure changes
4. Extra exuberant dog
5. Overdid hauling around beehives
6. Overdid bicycling
7. Ebola and/or <insert terrible malady here>
8. All of the above

#random

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