totm aug 2023 What funny/interesting thing happened in your life today?

[Shpaget]

https://www.rentthedelorean.com

Oddly specific.

[Geonovast]

33 minutes ago, Shpaget said:

https://www.rentthedelorean.com

Oddly specific.

Wow, only $1,500 for the day with $2-3 per mile.  Totally worth it...

[TheSaint]

I remember watching Back to the Future at a game convention back in high school. During the scene when the time machine DeLorean comes back with frost all over it, there was this quiet dramatic pause. And some wise guy loudly says, "Don't worry, that's cocaine, all DeLoreans do that."

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So, I found out yesterday I have a cataract in my left eye. I had a sudden loss of visual acuity in it last October, and in the intervening time I've been going through a large quantity of tests to rule out all sorts of possible causes. Is it a brain aneurysm? (There's a history there, so fair enough.) Brain tumor? Ocular tumor? Retinal disorder? All kinds of stuff. I've had MRIs, retinal scans with contrast, all sorts of exams. Everything came back negative, but nobody could explain my vision loss. Finally yesterday I went to see a plain old optometrist, but an old-school optometrist who was recommended by my GP. I told him everything that had gone on, he looked me over, took some scans of his own. When he was all done, he says, "In all of the tests and exams you've had, has anyone mentioned anything at all about cataracts?" I said, "Aside from the retinal specialist telling me I didn't have cataracts? No." He just bowed his head a little and sighed.

So, yeah, I have a posterior subcapsular cataract in my left eye. He said they're relatively uncommon in people my age, so I probably have a genetic predisposition aggravated by environmental factors. He said the two most common environmental factors are chronic use of steroids and exposure to ionizing radiation. Since I don't look like Arnold Schwarzenegger, I'm going to blame the Navy. The eye surgeon's office is going to call and schedule a consult in the next week or so. Yaaa!!! More surgery!!!

[StrandedonEarth]

1 hour ago, TheSaint said:

I remember watching Back to the Future at a game convention back in high school. During the scene when the time machine DeLorean comes back with frost all over it, there was this quiet dramatic pause. And some wise guy loudly says, "Don't worry, that's cocaine, all DeLoreans do that."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So, I found out yesterday I have a cataract in my left eye. I had a sudden loss of visual acuity in it last October, and in the intervening time I've been going through a large quantity of tests to rule out all sorts of possible causes. Is it a brain aneurysm? (There's a history there, so fair enough.) Brain tumor? Ocular tumor? Retinal disorder? All kinds of stuff. I've had MRIs, retinal scans with contrast, all sorts of exams. Everything came back negative, but nobody could explain my vision loss. Finally yesterday I went to see a plain old optometrist, but an old-school optometrist who was recommended by my GP. I told him everything that had gone on, he looked me over, took some scans of his own. When he was all done, he says, "In all of the tests and exams you've had, has anyone mentioned anything at all about cataracts?" I said, "Aside from the retinal specialist telling me I didn't have cataracts? No." He just bowed his head a little and sighed.

So, yeah, I have a posterior subcapsular cataract in my left eye. He said they're relatively uncommon in people my age, so I probably have a genetic predisposition aggravated by environmental factors. He said the two most common environmental factors are chronic use of steroids and exposure to ionizing radiation. Since I don't look like Arnold Schwarzenegger, I'm going to blame the Navy. The eye surgeon's office is going to call and schedule a consult in the next week or so. Yaaa!!! More surgery!!!

When I watched the original Pet Sematary in the theatre way back when, during the scene that flashed back to the sister with the twisted spine, some clown in the audience wolf-whistled and cracked up the house. 

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Now wait, what a coincidence. I was diagnosed a few weeks ago with the same cataract in my right eye, but it only covers/affects the left side of the  vision in that eye. Blurry in normal light, hazy in bright light. Hazy halo if I look at a light. It’s always been my weaker eye so I didn’t notice it until I closed my good eye on a bright day, which shocked the heck out of me. I went to an optometrist ASAP and he diagnosed it. I see an ophthalmologist on Monday. And the usual causes don’t apply to me, so it must be genetic. Both my parents had cataract surgery in their early 70’s

Maybe too much time outdoors without sunglasses, or wearing cheap, non-UV blocking ones. Those only became standard when I was older. I still wonder about that when I buy cheap sunglasses; if they really do block UV like they claim to. 

Edited May 8, 2019 by StrandedonEarth

[TheSaint]

2 minutes ago, StrandedonEarth said:

When I watched the original Pet Sematary in the theatre way back when, during the scene that flashed back to the sister with the twisted spine, some clown in the audience wolf-whistled and cracked up the house. 

————————————————-

Now wait, what a coincidence. I was diagnosed a few weeks ago with the same cataract in my right eye, but it only covers/affects the left side of the  vision in that eye. Blurry in normal light, hazy in bright light. Hazy halo if I look at a light. It’s always been my weaker eye so I didn’t notice it until I closed my good eye on a bright day, which shocked the heck out of me. I went to an optometrist ASAP and he diagnosed it. I see an ophthalmologist on Monday. And the usual causes don’t apply to me, so it must be genetic. Both my parents had cataract surgery in their early 70’s

Maybe too much time outdoors without sunglasses, or wearing cheap, non-UV blocking ones. Those only became standard when I was older. I still wonder about that when I buy cheap sunglasses; if they really do block UV

I've worn either UV-blocking contacts or prescription glasses with UV coatings on them for almost my entire adult life. So, we pretty much ruled out excess UV exposure for me. But apparently exposure to gamma and X-ray radiation is a strong risk factor for it as well, just not as common. So between my dose in the Navy, and the abnormal amount of medical imaging I went through when I had my valve replacement back in 2014, he was all, "Yeah, that'll do it."

I was just puzzled because it came on so suddenly, over the course of a week or two. I had always understood that cataracts were something that built up gradually over years. But apparently this particular type onset very quickly.

[CatastrophicFailure]

4 hours ago, Geonovast said:

I just found out that my credit card's car rental insurance expressly states that it WILL NOT cover any DeLoreans that I rent.

 

Is... is there somewhere where you can do that?

Well, if you can do without Mr. Fusion and the Flux Capacitor, Turo.com has one in the LA area for $550/day. Might be others elsewhere.

https://turo.com/rentals/cars/ca/redondo-beach/delorean-dmc-12/304939?searchId=RptF683-

 

But really, who'd want to rent a DeLorean when you can rent an actual car from the future? 

 

 

[Geonovast]

1 minute ago, CatastrophicFailure said:

But really, who'd want to rent a DeLorean when you can rent an actual car from the future? 

Well, not me since my card won't cover it!

[qzgy]

I just finished taking two ap tests back to back (literature and French). 

Disgusting, never want to do that again. 8 am to 430 pm straight testing (did get a lunch break so it's not inhumane.... But still. Ew) 

Also weirdly, got a random ringing in one ear like Saturday. Not gone away, but it is diminishing and I'm not sure if that's a bad thing or not... 

[cubinator]

5 minutes ago, qzgy said:

I just finished taking two ap tests back to back (literature and French). 

Disgusting, never want to do that again. 8 am to 430 pm straight testing (did get a lunch break so it's not inhumane.... But still. Ew) 

I'm glad I never have to take any AP tests again.

Unfortunately I now have to take real college tests.

[razark]

6 minutes ago, cubinator said:

Unfortunately I now have to take real college tests.

I'll take a college test (or two) over having to fill out annual evaluation forms.

[TheSaint]

42 minutes ago, razark said:

I'll take a college test (or two) over having to fill out annual evaluation forms.

Ugh. "It's that time of year again guys!" My boss says that every single year.

What I find hilarious is that he asks for a list of projects we've completed over the last year to include in the evaluations. But projects completed in May or June don't count. Because the evals are due when the fiscal year begins July 1st. But he always asks for the list of projects at the beginning of May, so he can take two months to write up the evals. But if you submit a project on the list from last May or June, he says, "Well, that was last year, I can't really put that on the eval for this year." It's the project Dead Zone.

[CatastrophicFailure]

19 hours ago, cubinator said:

I'm glad I never have to take any AP tests again.

Unfortunately I now have to take real college tests.

I'm glad I never have to take any tests again. Ever. 

This has been status quo for 20-odd years now and it continues to bring a smile to my face. I still wake from nightmares where it's finals day and I never went to a single class. *shudders*

21 hours ago, TheSaint said:

So between my dose in the Navy, and the abnormal amount of medical imaging I went through when I had my valve replacement back in 2014, he was all, "Yeah, that'll do it."

Well, look on the bright side... you no longer need a nightlight on account of glowing in the dark and all...

 

Me? I got results back from one of those genetic ancestry tests (and knowing nothing about my ancestry, as I was adopted), and much to no one's surprise found out I'm 60% British/Irish. Was kinda hoping to be a Viking, but only 6% Scandinavian.  A smattering of other European in there, and a tiny amount of Ashkenazim Jewish, which I know absolutely nothing about, but apparently it's my oldest lineage, going back to the 16th century according to the info.

Also, the data confirms it now, I cannot sing. 

Edited May 9, 2019 by Vanamonde

[razark]

18 hours ago, TheSaint said:

...he asks for a list of projects we've completed over the last year...

"You're my boss.  Shouldn't you know what I've been doing for the last year?"

18 hours ago, TheSaint said:

...he can take two months to write up the evals.

We do self-evals.  Write it up, copy goals from last year's (if there was a last year), fill it all out, send it to the boss, who makes up new goals and signs off on it.  Additionally, there's various bits of "does his job", "knows his job", "shows up on time", etc. that he fills in.  I've seen my boss maybe twice this year.  He's not really involved in the day-to-day business of what we do, and the work has changed in the decade since he was in the same office.

Or, that's how it was last year.  It changes every time.

[snip]

Edited May 9, 2019 by Vanamonde

[TheSaint]

3 minutes ago, razark said:

"You're my boss.  Shouldn't you know what I've been doing for the last year?"

He really has no clue at all what I do. He just gets projects from his boss or other people and dumps them on people in the office willy nilly. He really doesn't keep much track at all of who is doing what or what their status is. He'll come around, "So, what's the status on that project I gave you back in January?" "Well, it's backburnered. Because of the project the CIO gave me in February, the project that the CISO gave me last year that everyone suddenly decided is a hot-button issue, and the new project you gave me last week that you said was a priority." "Oh, yeah, forgot about that."

3 minutes ago, razark said:

We do self-evals.  Write it up, copy goals from last year's (if there was a last year), fill it all out, send it to the boss, who makes up new goals and signs off on it.  Additionally, there's various bits of "does his job", "knows his job", "shows up on time", etc. that he fills in.  I've seen my boss maybe twice this year.  He's not really involved in the day-to-day business of what we do, and the work has changed in the decade since he was in the same office.

Or, that's how it was last year.  It changes every time.

Yeah, I don't think that would work well around here. He usually winds up sending out a nastygram in June reminding everyone that they need to submit a list of projects completed. I can't imagine what a nightmare it would be if they had to do their own evals. The evals here are a joke anyway. Unless you commit an actual crime on campus, you're going to get a Satisfactory/Meets Requirements and you're going to get a 2% Cost of Living increase. Doesn't matter if you're a warm body in a chair or Employee of the Year. Nobody gets raises or gets promoted. If you don't like the job you're in, start looking for another job, because you ain't going anywhere here.

[razark]

17 minutes ago, TheSaint said:

Unless you commit an actual crime on campus, you're going to get a Satisfactory/Meets Requirements and you're going to get a 2% Cost of Living increase. Doesn't matter if you're a warm body in a chair or Employee of the Year. Nobody gets raises or gets promoted. If you don't like the job you're in, start looking for another job, because you ain't going anywhere here.

That sounds very familiar.  My coworker and I have pretty much said "The only way to get promoted is for someone to quit or die."

[Mad Rocket Scientist]

10 hours ago, Shpaget said:

https://www.rentthedelorean.com

Oddly specific.

[razark]

36 minutes ago, Mad Rocket Scientist said:

<snip>

So, I have a modest proposal to solving the energy crisis and overpopulation.

[CatastrophicFailure]

1 hour ago, razark said:

So, I have a modest proposal to solving the energy crisis and overpopulation.

[Vanamonde]

So guys, here's a suggestion. If you run across something that breaks forum rules, how about reporting it to the moderators and letting us deal with it instead of quoting it over and over and over again, making jokes about it, and explaining to each other what's wrong with it, forcing us to turn 1 remark into half a page of removed posts?  

[Cydonian Monk]

18 hours ago, razark said:

We do self-evals.  Write it up, copy goals from last year's (if there was a last year), fill it all out, send it to the boss, who makes up new goals and signs off on it.

I despise those things. Us senior developers (which I am even if I don't officially have that title) only have to do them once a year, but.... I'm an inherently pessimistic and yet very open person, and the fine folks in upper management that read our evals don't really like reading about how a single line mistake from code I wrote in 2008 has caused the extinction of mankind. We have three slots for project goals for our self eval, and all three of mine have been stuck in development purgatory for something like half a decade now.  

 

18 hours ago, CatastrophicFailure said:

I still wake from nightmares where it's finals day and I never went to a single class. *shudders*

Those nightmares never go away (or in my case memories, as there was a whole semester in the middle of my college career where I washed out and did exactly that). 

 

 

[Nivee~]

I AM BAACCCCKKKK!!!!

I got a stable internet connection only now. Communications and power were struck down as the winds visciously destroyed everything in its path. We are limping back to normalcy, however...

So, on the day of the cyclone, 3rd of May, it started pouring heavily. Our roof had their drainage holes blocked because of leafs, twigs and other debris blocking them. We didn't realize it, until the water started flooding the ground floor.. We realized what was happening, but we also realized that it would be impossible to remove the debris in the middle of the storm. (It was slowing down by then, but was hitting 80 kmph regularly)

Nevertheless, me and my brother wore our raincoats, helmets and we got to work, clearing the blockage, allowing the water to drain from the roof. But halfway, I got careless and a FREAKING PLASTIC CHAIR hit me in the HEAD, outta nowhere! Thank GOD for the HELMET!!!!

It stunned me though, and I twisted my ankle and fell on my left arm, spraining it too. But we finished the mission.

The real horror struck after the storm. Houses were wrecked, and in some cases the doors were ripped off the hinges! Morale was at an all time low, and the law and order situation had degraded in an alarming manner, thefts and burglary being like really common . The police was stretched thin, since there were minor riots for supplies and stuff. We slept in shifts and made sure that either me or my brother kept watch.

Law and order was soon restored, and we breathed easy. Communications was down, so no chit chatting with my bf. Instead we went on 'OMIGOD-WE-ARE-ALIVE' Dates where we marveled at the immense destruction brought about by nature, and in the evening we tried to figure out the constellations in the sky. The lack of city lights helped too!

That was a learning experience, in its own way. Perhaps we should never take technology for granted and we should make sure we know essential survival skills, in case of a natural disaster..

[CatastrophicFailure]

She’s alive! 

 

1 hour ago, Nivee~ said:

But halfway, I got careless and a FREAKING PLASTIC CHAIR hit me in the HEAD, outta nowhere!

On the bright side, you are now ready for a career in professional wrestling. 

Spoiler

Glad to hear you weathered the storm ok, sounds like it was a real beast. 

[TheSaint]

7 hours ago, Nivee~ said:

I AM BAACCCCKKKK!!!!

I got a stable internet connection only now. Communications and power were struck down as the winds visciously destroyed everything in its path. We are limping back to normalcy, however...

So, on the day of the cyclone, 3rd of May, it started pouring heavily. Our roof had their drainage holes blocked because of leafs, twigs and other debris blocking them. We didn't realize it, until the water started flooding the ground floor.. We realized what was happening, but we also realized that it would be impossible to remove the debris in the middle of the storm. (It was slowing down by then, but was hitting 80 kmph regularly)

Nevertheless, me and my brother wore our raincoats, helmets and we got to work, clearing the blockage, allowing the water to drain from the roof. But halfway, I got careless and a FREAKING PLASTIC CHAIR hit me in the HEAD, outta nowhere! Thank GOD for the HELMET!!!!

It stunned me though, and I twisted my ankle and fell on my left arm, spraining it too. But we finished the mission.

The real horror struck after the storm. Houses were wrecked, and in some cases the doors were ripped off the hinges! Morale was at an all time low, and the law and order situation had degraded in an alarming manner, thefts and burglary being like really common . The police was stretched thin, since there were minor riots for supplies and stuff. We slept in shifts and made sure that either me or my brother kept watch.

Law and order was soon restored, and we breathed easy. Communications was down, so no chit chatting with my bf. Instead we went on 'OMIGOD-WE-ARE-ALIVE' Dates where we marveled at the immense destruction brought about by nature, and in the evening we tried to figure out the constellations in the sky. The lack of city lights helped too!

That was a learning experience, in its own way. Perhaps we should never take technology for granted and we should make sure we know essential survival skills, in case of a natural disaster..

Glad to hear you made it through. Good job being tough and staying focused.

[Nivee~]

12 hours ago, TheSaint said:

Glad to hear you made it through. Good job being tough and staying focused.

Thanks... But it's so difficult to watch the worst side of humanity.. shopkeepers are selling essential goods at 4-5X the maximum retail price, one of my 'friendly' neighbours is charging a ton of cash to let others use his petrol electric generator to fill up the inverter batteries. I had to use physical violence for the first time in my life yesterday when a group of guy tried to steal fruits and veggies I bought.. I could only scratch and bite and slap them, but my brother beat the mulch outta them.. he was injured too..  My brother doesn't mind his broken nose, he loves violence and conflicts. But I am always scared for him..

My Dad told us to wear rings on our fingers when we got home. Well they are glorified brass knuckles, the ones he used 25 years ago when he was a delinquent . I dunno, I don't want to hurt anyone, but my brother won't always be around to save me..

[StrandedonEarth]

When going through a dangerous area, you can hold a key ring so the keys poke out through your fingers. Extra effective if you aim for the eyes