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Whatever the flavor is that pleases people about shellfish tastes like rotting sea water to me.

I can (barely) tolerate lobster, crab, and scallops, though I find them rather uninteresting. Once you get to clams, mussels, or crawfish, the flavor is overwhelming. Kind of like licking the bottom of a dumpster.

So yeah, my taste buds say, "No."


It was a buffet - no need for you to get shellfish!

There's also more terrestrial food options - as much as you want! XD


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Tacticslion wrote:

It was a buffet - no need for you to get shellfish!

There's also more terrestrial food options - as much as you want! XD

There aren't many things I miss about living in Florida, but, with the exception of $19 off-season FL resident day-passes at Disney parks, all of them are food-related.

Red conch chowder being at the top of the list.


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All-you-can-eat cold garlic peel-and-eat shrimp.

That's the second one.

And the pineapple dessert outside the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse is the third.

Oh, and real Cuban sandwiches.

And my grandparents favorite pancake house in Dunedin.


So, NH: how bad totally awesome and wise is it, if I just leave my computer on, like, all the time...

Occasionally, I may, if I'm generous, allow my enslaved device hard working machine to take breaks, usually for ~8 hours, before turning it back on.


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Tacticslion wrote:

So, NH: how bad totally awesome and wise is it, if I just leave my computer on, like, all the time...

Occasionally, I may, if I'm generous, allow my enslaved device hard working machine to take breaks, usually for ~8 hours, before turning it back on.

Honestly, it's the power cycles that are the hardest on a computer. Leaving it on forever is better for it than power cycling it.

You just have to live with your electric bill and the guilt of global warming.

But for example, I set up a Linux file server for my department back in 2005. We never cycle the power, it never sleeps, and 12 years later it's still our most-reliable system.


Huzzah!

So... does it going to sleep/waking up mean bad things for it, or is it fine/better to not sleep?

(We avoid the rapid on/off thing as much as possible.)


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Tacticslion wrote:

Huzzah!

So... does it going to sleep/waking up mean bad things for it, or is it fine/better to not sleep?

(We avoid the rapid on/off thing as much as possible.)

It's better not to sleep. At that point, the only thing you have to monitor is the fans. Make sure they don't get clogged up with flamingo feathers, gators, or Mickey Mouse, and you should be fine for years to come.


Huzzah! Thanks! :D


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Tac, cycling the power on electronic devices can introduce power spikes, which, if left unfiltered, can damage electronic components. The Oxide layer on a typical CMOS transistor is only a few atoms thick. An instantaneous voltage spike of about 2,000 Volts can blast holes in the Oxide Layer, rendering the transistor useless.


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And another IT Pro confirming what they said. Turn it on and leave it on as much as possible.

Rebooting occasionally is necessary, but that doesn't actually cut the power like a shutdown will.

Edit: typo


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True. Rebooting simply jumps to the Warm Boot address in the Bios. The computer never actually loses power.


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Since there are a surprising number of you who care about and are concerned with such things (and a deep and heartfelt "Thank you!" for that), here's the latest, "Life Improvement Update":

  • Today is day 150 of my sobriety. I have to admit, it's much harder than the previous two times. They aren't kidding when they say, "You gotta stop, and you gotta stop forever."
    No alcohol for me, thanks!
  • A few weeks ago I reinstated my strict diet plan. This morning I weighed in at 189.8 for the first time in at least a year. It felt good.
  • As I get older I find that it's not so much that exercise is harder per se, it's just that you lose your muscle tone and flexibility much faster, and gain it back much more slowly. So you have to be far more adamant about getting in your exercise routines every... single... day. It's very much like One Punch Man says: "If you want to be a great hero, you must run 3 miles a day. Every day! Do 100 push-ups! Do 100 sit-ups! Do 100 squats! No matter how to feel, or how tired you are, do this every day and you will be a hero!"
    Meant to be a joke, but only too true for the post-50 crowd...

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    Thank you for the update! You are in our prayers! YOU CAN DO IT!


    Also, if you could be any PrC that has an archetype...

    This is a joke. This is not a question to be answered.


    Also, also, (seriously this time): praying for you to recover quickly. I know how sick makes things suck and makes everything more irritating.


    2 people marked this as a favorite.
    NobodysHome wrote:

    Since there are a surprising number of you who care about and are concerned with such things (and a deep and heartfelt "Thank you!" for that), here's the latest, "Life Improvement Update":

  • Today is day 150 of my sobriety. I have to admit, it's much harder than the previous two times. They aren't kidding when they say, "You gotta stop, and you gotta stop forever."
    No alcohol for me, thanks!
  • A few weeks ago I reinstated my strict diet plan. This morning I weighed in at 189.8 for the first time in at least a year. It felt good.
  • As I get older I find that it's not so much that exercise is harder per se, it's just that you lose your muscle tone and flexibility much faster, and gain it back much more slowly. So you have to be far more adamant about getting in your exercise routines every... single... day. It's very much like One Punch Man says: "If you want to be a great hero, you must run 3 miles a day. Every day! Do 100 push-ups! Do 100 sit-ups! Do 100 squats! No matter how to feel, or how tired you are, do this every day and you will be a hero!"
    Meant to be a joke, but only too true for the post-50 crowd...

  • 100 push-ups? I'd probably broke my nose around fiftieth...

    The Exchange

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    How do you know if you're having an issue with alcoholism?

    I drink at weddings and occasionally buy a bottle for myself.

    Most days I don't have any urges to drink.


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    Just a Mort wrote:

    How do you know if you're having an issue with alcoholism?

    I drink at weddings and occasionally buy a bottle for myself.

    Most days I don't have any urges to drink.

    They have the uber-stupid quiz that pretty much translates to, "If you drink alcohol at all you're an alcoholic."

    I think a better description is, "If you feel the need to get at least a slight buzz every single day, then you're an alcoholic.

    At my best, I averaged about 3.5 drinks a day. At my worst, 5.5. But it was that every single day, day in and day out, I had to have a drink and drink enough that I actually felt it.

    So a drink or two with dinner every night? Nah. Heck, the French drink a bottle of wine a day. But it's spread out over a good 10 hours and a couple of meals.

    I had to drink enough that I knew that I wasn't sober, then I was content.

    I think that's a solid definition right there.

    The Exchange

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    Yeah so probably not.

    I am curious on where my actual limits are in the name of scientific curiosity but it will probably be an experiment I conduct at home.

    Are there any calculators for this sort of thing?


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    Just a Mort wrote:

    Yeah so probably not.

    I am curious on where my actual limits are in the name of scientific curiosity but it will probably be an experiment I conduct at home.

    Are there any calculators for this sort of thing?

    I have no idea. Being OC, I just meticulously measured things. I needed 3 ounces of 92-proof rum to get a buzz. That's 3 x 0.46 = 1.38 ounces of pure alcohol.

    I typically went through between 2.0 and 3.0 ounces a day, with one set of drinks in the morning, and a second in the afternoon.


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    In Wisconsin if you can function every day you're not an alcoholic.

    It's a pretty low bar.

    Because I only drink a few times a year (ironically not at weddings) I'm considered a non drinker.


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    Quantity and frequency can vary widely from person to person.
    My rubric is:
    If you feel you need to hide or conceal it, it's a problem.
    If you feel you need to defend or excuse it, it's a problem.
    If you skip doing things with your family so you can be alone and do it, or if you skip work so you can stay home and do it, it's a problem.
    If it affects your relationship with people who love and trust you, it's a problem.
    Whether it's alcohol or drugs or binge-eating or gambling or shopping or playing video games, the same rules apply.

    Except reading books.
    You can break any of these rules where binge-reading good books is concerned.

    The Exchange

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    I think if I use your measure, Lisamarlene, my addiction is more like paizo PBP gaming.

    I have urges to check paizo boards all the time to see if any of my games moved.

    I need to make a conscious effort not to constantly check paizo boards for game activity.

    I suppose it makes me a very responsive GM.

    The last binge read I had was Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix. I didn't get anywhere for 4 hours, rooted to the nearest library so I could finish the book.


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    Good books are like vintage wines, just bottomless. Good thing I prefer books, though -- I just finished re-(rerererererererere^n)reading about 60% of Karen Traviss' Revelation today. Been digging up all relevant Mandalorian lore I can, what with my SWEU homebrew PbP still in the works. Ah, game development -- another of my vices. So many to choose from! So little time.

    NH, I am *stoked* that your sobriety continues so well! Grats, chief! And I hope that sickness you've been wrestling ends quickly. :)


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    lisamarlene wrote:

    Quantity and frequency can vary widely from person to person.

    My rubric is:
    If you feel you need to hide or conceal it, it's a problem.
    If you feel you need to defend or excuse it, it's a problem.
    If you skip doing things with your family so you can be alone and do it, or if you skip work so you can stay home and do it, it's a problem.
    If it affects your relationship with people who love and trust you, it's a problem.
    Whether it's alcohol or drugs or binge-eating or gambling or shopping or playing video games, the same rules apply.

    Except reading books.
    You can break any of these rules where binge-reading good books is concerned.

    So, I guess I'm okay, then. Good to know.


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    Syrus Terrigan wrote:

    Good books are like vintage wines, just bottomless. Good thing I prefer books, though -- I just finished re-(rerererererererere^n)reading about 60% of Karen Traviss' Revelation today. Been digging up all relevant Mandalorian lore I can, what with my SWEU homebrew PbP still in the works. Ah, game development -- another of my vices. So many to choose from! So little time.

    NH, I am *stoked* that your sobriety continues so well! Grats, chief! And I hope that sickness you've been wrestling ends quickly. :)

    Ner vod!

    Please let me know when the SW game gets going.


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    Tion'gar juri beskad?


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    Syrus Terrigan wrote:
    Tion'gar juri beskad?

    Sorry, Syrus. That link is broken. I've been redirected too many times.


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    Osik!

    Hang on a sec . . . .

    EDIT: Shabla phone won't copy everything I tell it to. Should be good now.


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    No. Maybe it's my browser. Using Opera. It's your thread, right? Why don't I just go to your page and go on that thread from there?


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    Reckon.

    Stupid phone.

    Though it *does* bring up a hare-brained question I kicked around yesterday, NH -- in your collection of excess electronics, do you have a laptop you no longer need?? lol


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    Syrus Terrigan wrote:

    Reckon.

    Stupid phone.

    Though it *does* bring up a hare-brained question I kicked around yesterday, NH -- in your collection of excess electronics, do you have a laptop you no longer need?? lol

    Sure do! But this one's a 2001 Dell. I'd recommend a Linux kernel since it's so ancient.

    But it's a workhorse, and would be just fine for word processing and web browsing.

    Games and "modern" programs? Not so much...


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    How much ya want for it?

    And wutdafyook is a Linux kernel? 'Cuz ah ain't ne'er heerd o' no . . . Linucks corn.


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    Syrus Terrigan wrote:

    How much ya want for it?

    And wutdafyook is a Linux kernel? 'Cuz ah ain't ne'er heerd o' no . . . Linucks corn.

    Let me find it and dig it out over Thanksgiving break and I'll PM you.

    I think it counts as e-waste at this point. Unless shipping is inordinately expensive, it's yours for taking it off my hands.

    Assuming I can find it, of course...

    The Exchange

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    2001? Really? It's 2017 guys...

    And people give me weird looks for hanging around to an 8 year old laptop...

    Would there be any browser compatibility issues since the latest browsers probably would not work on windows whatever the heck it is?

    NH - are there compatibility issues between latest browsers and the Linux OS?

    I know Linux is...more of a programmers kind of thing and not so user friendly for non geeks to use.

    I know geeks though. That's why I know some things here and there about Linux.


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    If you can get Linux to run on it, then any browser that works in Linux should be fine. Not fast. But should work.

    And NH - high five. Keep that number going.

    "Every day that I wake up I break my own personal record for the number of consecutive days I've stayed alive." - George Carlin


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    LOL. What a wonderfully polite way of saying, "Hey, doofus! You promised Syrus you'd find him your old laptop over Thanksgiving! What gives?
    So, various updates:

  • I checked my repository and didn't find it, which is... really odd, considering I'm usually pretty good about putting my stuff in a single location.
  • I did get a recommended Linux kernel that's the "most Windows-like", and should still run on a 2001 laptop.
  • So in terms of the laptop, I'm afraid that it's at the point of, "Whenever I run across it while managing the 3 metric tons of crap I'm sorting." Could be a couple of weeks, could be a couple of years. I wouldn't hold your breath, Syrus. Sorry!
  • I'm up to Day 164, and thankfully the cravings are finally gone. And it was a recent thing: Up to day 150 or so I was frustrated that I was still craving alcohol.
  • NobodysWife is now all-in with me. At Thanksgiving her mother took her aside (they didn't know I could hear them) and asked, "I know NobodysHome said he wasn't drinking, but I have to give him something! What will he drink?"
    NobodysWife was polite, but firm: "No, mom. He's never going to drink again. He'll be fine with water. Don't worry about it."
    So she's got my back, even with people who think you can't exist without drinking alcohol.

  • Anyway, walk time for me!

    And I'd say, "I'll find that laptop soon enough, Syrus!", but I now, quite literally, don't even know which building it's in, much less which room, much less which pile-o-crap. I'll keep my eyes out for it...


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    Ha...I hadn't even noticed that it was last talked about a week before Thanksgiving. I just realized I hadn't looked at this thread in a while, and immediately felt somewhat bad about that.

    I've been dealing with my Global MediumCorp problems for the last few weeks and haven't been as present. Even then, it's not like I post a lot.


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    Vanykrye wrote:

    Ha...I hadn't even noticed that it was last talked about a week before Thanksgiving. I just realized I hadn't looked at this thread in a while, and immediately felt somewhat bad about that.

    I've been dealing with my Global MediumCorp problems for the last few weeks and haven't been as present. Even then, it's not like I post a lot.

    Don't worry; I'm sure we'll acquire you soon enough so you can be a megacorper, too. Megacorps? Megacorpse?


    Mega corpus? Mega lich?


    2 people marked this as a favorite.

    I've previously worked at a MegaCorp. I know the feelings, or at least all the feelings the memo told me I'm allowed to have. It was a Major Insurance Company whose headquarters are in Bloomington, IL.


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    "Welcome to the MegaCorp. You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile. Unless there are Donuts in the break room." :D :D :D


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    And now I have this image of Borg drones sitting in cubicles hitting keys on their keyboards in sync with each other. :)


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    Well, it's funny. I hear nothing about horror stories from people who talk to engineers, PMs, and sales reps who work here. We're apparently a miserable, slave-driving, monolithic meat grinder that forces people to quit for their own sanity, then we re-acquire their companies and grind them up again. (I knew one guy who was in his FOURTH stint here, as he kept leaving for other companies that then got acquired.)

    Me? I will admit that I'm very, very good at what I do, and the time frames are set for people less experienced than I. But that means that if you count real, concrete work time where I'm focused on doing work stuff, I'm working maybe 28-30 hours a week, from home, for a frigging fantastic salary. Occasionally we'll get in a bind and I'll put in 50-60 to bail out the department, and management will argue that that's why I get the big bucks. But in general, I'm pretty happy with my position, even if it's not the most exciting thing in the world.

    I'm never going to change the world doing what I do. But I'm going to raise a good family, be generous in the community, and live a longer, less stressful life. That's worth a heck of a lot to me.


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    Man, I could probably go through the entire Alphabet trying to guess where you might work. But, I don't know, maybe I could just Google it.


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    Also, I'm probably underestimating by calling us a MediumCorp. Probably closer to LargeCorp if you go strictly by numbers of employees. Definitely Global, as we exist in 3 different countries, with one of them on the other side of the Pacific.


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    No worries, NH! I appreciate the kindness in the offer, and have no cause for upset. Take all the time you need; we'll burn the proverbial bridge when it heaves into view, if at all. :)


    Hey, NH, I don't know of I've ever asked you: what is your favorite video game and why?

    (Computer games are also acceptable and may be in a separate category or the same, at your option.) :D


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    Tacticslion wrote:

    Hey, NH, I don't know of I've ever asked you: what is your favorite video game and why?

    (Computer games are also acceptable and may be in a separate category or the same, at your option.) :D

    So, lots of possible answers to this, so I'll give you a few:

  • The Game that had the Most Profound Impact: Wizardry, circa 1979. I got a prerelease copy of this game, pretty much the original "dungeon crawl". I still fondly remember spending many, many nights of my childhood staying up until 2 or even 3:00 am just to complete one more level, or get my characters up one more level. Much better games came out (the original Might & Magic in 1986), but you never forget your first addiction.
  • Best Console Game: Phantasy Star on the Sega Genesis. I have no idea how many hundreds of hours NobodysWife and I spent on the couch playing this game, nor how many times we played through it. I can still hear the stupid theme music going through my head. Again, much better games came along (the Shining Force or Final Fantasy series), but Phantasy Star was my first console RPG.
  • Best Game: This is a really, really hard one between Dragon Age: Origins and Final Fantasy X. Dragon Age's relationship management was really amazing, as was the epic, gripping storyline, but the game mechanics suffered immensely from a lack of attention to detail. I played an elf mage, and easily won every fight with, "Send in the tanks, now drop an inferno on them while all the NPCs and bad guys fight in the middle of it."
    If you're going to make area effect spells that effective, you need to have friendly fire on by default. But of course, the NPCs were idiots, so if you turned on friendly fire as a mage, you'd spend eternity rezzing your NPCs because they kept running into your bursts.
    Final Fantasy gripped me, start to finish. I don't know why it impacted me so much, but oh, boy. I hadn't had a game drag me in like that since my Might & Magic days. I skipped chores, forgot to cook meals, didn't bother doing work I should have, all to play Final Fantasy X. I think in terms of deepest immersion and "Game Most Likely to Make NobodysHome Slack Off", it was Final Fantasy X.
  • Recent Games: While none of the more-recent games have nearly the impact on me, I enjoyed Rift until we learned that their upper management held their customers in such disdain that we could no longer morally nor financially support them. My current "addiction" is Final Fantasy Online, but it's really more of a hobby. I played a lot of League of Legends, but the player community is SO toxic that I almost never played competitive games, and focused on PvE, so my friends quickly grew bored, and playing a multiplayer game alone is sad.
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