How (and why) to Ramble on your goat sideways
You're crazy. We've embraced technology in my house. Everyone got an iPad for their 1st birthday (although they didn't use it until like 1.5-2). My soon to be 3 year old is he most vocal, blabbermouth toddler of any friends we have. He puts on his favorite music using Alexa, and they all sing and dance to it. He knows almost all the words to "I wanna rock" by Twisted Sister. Sit that kid down in front of Youtube kids, put on Blippi or Ryan's Toys Review, and you'll be amazed at how much information they learn. You'll be mid blown once you get that kid out of the crawl space and into the world.
I was more wondering if I was crazy for just dumping all this equipment. 5 years ago, this stuff was really important to me -- we watched a lot of TV and movies, and I really enjoyed having a nice TV, some big speakers and a high quality sub, etc. Now I just don't see the value in spending my time and money on that stuff. I'd rather not have our living spaces filled up with all of it.
[It's not like I'm eschewing technology...I work in IT and we have plenty of electronics around the house. Just not seeing the role of a big, complicated A/V system in my life anymore.]
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Eh, wasn't really intending to start a discussion on parenting philosophies. Not particularly interested in telling other folks how to raise their kids. We have our opinions about the role of technology in early childhood and that's that.
I was more wondering if I was crazy for just dumping all this equipment. 5 years ago, this stuff was really important to me -- we watched a lot of TV and movies, and I really enjoyed having a nice TV, some big speakers and a high quality sub, etc. Now I just don't see the value in spending my time and money on that stuff. I'd rather not have our living spaces filled up with all of it.
[It's not like I'm eschewing technology...I work in IT and we have plenty of electronics around the house. Just not seeing the role of a big, complicated A/V system in my life anymore.]
I was more wondering if I was crazy for just dumping all this equipment. 5 years ago, this stuff was really important to me -- we watched a lot of TV and movies, and I really enjoyed having a nice TV, some big speakers and a high quality sub, etc. Now I just don't see the value in spending my time and money on that stuff. I'd rather not have our living spaces filled up with all of it.
[It's not like I'm eschewing technology...I work in IT and we have plenty of electronics around the house. Just not seeing the role of a big, complicated A/V system in my life anymore.]
I would unplug plug if I was single again with no family. I like the outdoors and doing nonelectronic things. However, over the years, I've gradually gotten more plugged in and love being able to do things like stream from phone to pc to car to outdoor speakers, open and close my garage from anywhere, spy on my house while I'm away, entertain for holidays etc. I completely changed my mentality on it over the years, but my god my life was so stress free when I didn't feel obligated to stay connected and upgraded to the next big electronic.
...and I like to tell other parents how to parent just to watch them squirm.
Last edited by Enginerd; Nov 7, 2017 at 02:24 PM.
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 34,402
Total Cats: 7,523
From: Chicago. (The less-murder part.)
Every night before going to bed, he would brush his teeth and make a preemptive attempt to void his bladder. He then walked into his closet, got on his knees in front of the shoe rack, and prayed to a god whose unlikely existence he likened to an ongoing quantum event.
In his mind, the act of kneeling mattered not at all to this supposed god. He could just as well pray standing naked on his head with his *** serving as a fleshy vase for a bouquet of flowers. The penitential pose was only useful as a demonstration of his humility in the face of the infinite (although when things were going his way, it was more of a feigned humility.)
The prayers themselves mostly consisted of thanking his sub-atomic almighty verb for assembling an infrastructure that allowed for life to exist. This included, in no particular order, the various laws of physics, gravity, organic chemistry and thermodynamics. And, since it was his belief that sentient life was created by an insentient universe in order for the insentient universe to be admired, he made an effort in his prayers to tell the insentience “nice work” or “way to go.”
Finally, he would close with a plea for this nameless everything to look after the less fortunate. “Please god, despite the clear evidence that it's not in your nature to care, bring love and happiness to all the souls who suffer.”
Then, his heart filled with grace, he would climb into bed and sleep peacefully until he dreamed he was standing in his closet and peeing on his shoes – god's clever way of telling him that he had to wake up and go to the bathroom.
In his mind, the act of kneeling mattered not at all to this supposed god. He could just as well pray standing naked on his head with his *** serving as a fleshy vase for a bouquet of flowers. The penitential pose was only useful as a demonstration of his humility in the face of the infinite (although when things were going his way, it was more of a feigned humility.)
The prayers themselves mostly consisted of thanking his sub-atomic almighty verb for assembling an infrastructure that allowed for life to exist. This included, in no particular order, the various laws of physics, gravity, organic chemistry and thermodynamics. And, since it was his belief that sentient life was created by an insentient universe in order for the insentient universe to be admired, he made an effort in his prayers to tell the insentience “nice work” or “way to go.”
Finally, he would close with a plea for this nameless everything to look after the less fortunate. “Please god, despite the clear evidence that it's not in your nature to care, bring love and happiness to all the souls who suffer.”
Then, his heart filled with grace, he would climb into bed and sleep peacefully until he dreamed he was standing in his closet and peeing on his shoes – god's clever way of telling him that he had to wake up and go to the bathroom.
Last edited by olderguy; Nov 8, 2017 at 08:10 AM. Reason: being-bring
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Every night before going to bed, he would brush his teeth and make a preemptive attempt to void his bladder. He then walked into his closet, got on his knees in front of the shoe rack, and prayed to a god whose unlikely existence he likened to an ongoing quantum event.
In his mind, the act of kneeling mattered not at all to this supposed god. He could just as well pray standing naked on his head with his *** serving as a fleshy vase for a bouquet of flowers. The penitential pose was only useful as a demonstration of his humility in the face of the infinite (although when things were going his way, it was more of a feigned humility.)
The prayers themselves mostly consisted of thanking his sub-atomic almighty verb for assembling an infrastructure that allowed for life to exist. This included, in no particular order, the various laws of physics, gravity, organic chemistry and thermodynamics. And, since it was his belief that sentient life was created by an insentient universe in order for the insentient universe to be admired, he made an effort in his prayers to tell the insentience “nice work” or “way to go.”
Finally, he would close with a plea for this nameless everything to look after the less fortunate. “Please god, despite the clear evidence that it's not in your nature to care, bring love and happiness to all the souls who suffer.”
Then, his heart filled with grace, he would climb into bed and sleep peacefully until he dreamed he was standing in his closet and peeing on his shoes – god's clever way of telling him that he had to wake up and go to the bathroom.
In his mind, the act of kneeling mattered not at all to this supposed god. He could just as well pray standing naked on his head with his *** serving as a fleshy vase for a bouquet of flowers. The penitential pose was only useful as a demonstration of his humility in the face of the infinite (although when things were going his way, it was more of a feigned humility.)
The prayers themselves mostly consisted of thanking his sub-atomic almighty verb for assembling an infrastructure that allowed for life to exist. This included, in no particular order, the various laws of physics, gravity, organic chemistry and thermodynamics. And, since it was his belief that sentient life was created by an insentient universe in order for the insentient universe to be admired, he made an effort in his prayers to tell the insentience “nice work” or “way to go.”
Finally, he would close with a plea for this nameless everything to look after the less fortunate. “Please god, despite the clear evidence that it's not in your nature to care, bring love and happiness to all the souls who suffer.”
Then, his heart filled with grace, he would climb into bed and sleep peacefully until he dreamed he was standing in his closet and peeing on his shoes – god's clever way of telling him that he had to wake up and go to the bathroom.
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I have signed up to participate in an FDA sponsored clinical trial. The official name is: Complex Aortic Aneurysm Repair Using Physician Modified Endografts and Custom Made Devices (CARPE-CMD) Otherwise known as "seize the aneurysm". First stage operation is December 12. Second stage depends on when my customized stent is available.
The drive up to Massachusetts is a solid 5.5 hours. I've decided I really don't like driving that much anymore.
Edit: my new cardiologist is really cute. The highly qualified nurses (both ACNP) are not too hard on the eyes, either. I suppose this places me firmly in the "dirty old man" category.
The drive up to Massachusetts is a solid 5.5 hours. I've decided I really don't like driving that much anymore.
Edit: my new cardiologist is really cute. The highly qualified nurses (both ACNP) are not too hard on the eyes, either. I suppose this places me firmly in the "dirty old man" category.
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Good times, I miss it much. 36°20'37.07"N 121°48'19.72"W if you are interested.
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This may sound stupid, but...
"Bounce" is still a thing in the US, right?
I mean, you guys don't just toss your laundry in the dryer without a piece of dryer sheet, do you?
They make and sell dryers over here but no one has ever heard of dryer sheets. I even called the manufacturer and talked to design engineers.
Nothing. All I'm getting is static.
"Bounce" is still a thing in the US, right?
I mean, you guys don't just toss your laundry in the dryer without a piece of dryer sheet, do you?
They make and sell dryers over here but no one has ever heard of dryer sheets. I even called the manufacturer and talked to design engineers.
Nothing. All I'm getting is static.
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 34,402
Total Cats: 7,523
From: Chicago. (The less-murder part.)
It is. There are several different major brands (Bounce, Snuggle, Downy, Meyers, Arm & Hammer, etc), and also "generic" private-label brands as well.
I do. And I have recently been informed that this makes me uncivilized.
I do. And I have recently been informed that this makes me uncivilized.
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It's still a thing. I have a box sitting on top of my dryer. I personally quit using it about 10 years ago but I think Ms Mobius still tosses a sheet in now and then.
At least you use dryers, unlike the Brits and the Kiwis. I swear, if it wasn't actively raining they were hanging laundry. If it was actively raining they'd hang it in the garage. The neighbors in New Zealand thought I was lazy as **** because I actually used the dryer in our house instead of hanging laundry. But was this dryer what anybody in 'Murika would call a dryer? No ... it had no vent. It had a cartridge for the removed water. After every load you had to empty the cartridge into the sink. It's like cutting a hole and adding a vent (to a house that, while it appeared modern, was completely uninsulated) was simply too much work. This thing struggled with a single set of sheets. A load of towels? Forget it, just hang them in the garage.
Now, every time I load up 3 sets of sheets in the washer, and then load those 3 sets of sheets into the dryer, with full confidence they will be as dry as the Sahara if I wish them to be when the cycle ends, I think **** yeah.
At least you use dryers, unlike the Brits and the Kiwis. I swear, if it wasn't actively raining they were hanging laundry. If it was actively raining they'd hang it in the garage. The neighbors in New Zealand thought I was lazy as **** because I actually used the dryer in our house instead of hanging laundry. But was this dryer what anybody in 'Murika would call a dryer? No ... it had no vent. It had a cartridge for the removed water. After every load you had to empty the cartridge into the sink. It's like cutting a hole and adding a vent (to a house that, while it appeared modern, was completely uninsulated) was simply too much work. This thing struggled with a single set of sheets. A load of towels? Forget it, just hang them in the garage.
Now, every time I load up 3 sets of sheets in the washer, and then load those 3 sets of sheets into the dryer, with full confidence they will be as dry as the Sahara if I wish them to be when the cycle ends, I think **** yeah.
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Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,221
Total Cats: 296
From: Round Pond, ME
I use Bounce(or similar generic sheets) in my Miata for winter storage - 1 in the glovebox, 1 in the trunk, 1 on top of the airbox and 1 on top of the windshield washer reservoir. Seems that rodents are repelled by the smell of outdoor-fresh stuff(?!). Me too I guess, since we never use it on our clothes.
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 19,338
Total Cats: 574
From: Fake Virginia
This may sound stupid, but...
"Bounce" is still a thing in the US, right?
I mean, you guys don't just toss your laundry in the dryer without a piece of dryer sheet, do you?
They make and sell dryers over here but no one has ever heard of dryer sheets. I even called the manufacturer and talked to design engineers.
Nothing. All I'm getting is static.
"Bounce" is still a thing in the US, right?
I mean, you guys don't just toss your laundry in the dryer without a piece of dryer sheet, do you?
They make and sell dryers over here but no one has ever heard of dryer sheets. I even called the manufacturer and talked to design engineers.
Nothing. All I'm getting is static.
I don't bother anymore. It makes your towels non-absorbent and leaves slimy gunk on your clothes. Plus it's just more chemicals in your life.
Better solution is to just not dry your clothes for quite so long. Leave some moisture in them to help dissipate the static charge.
I generally don't have a problem with static unless I'm washing a giant synthetic fabric blanket and even then it is a non-issue once I've folded it.
And humidify your house so it's not so dry also.
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