Random Thought of the Day

I like to back into our driveway or any parking space that I can, if I can't pull through and drive out.

I rarely spend any time looking for a parking space and just park farther out as often as possible.

I know some people need to park close, but it drives me batty to be a passenger and keep driving up and down lanes looking for a spot close to where we are going.

Quote: Fleastiff

Not as much as a fender bender.

What I don't like is the Walmarters who led their kids wander behind vehicles that are backing up. Or if I'm getting out of a parking space a vehicle that stops for me and whether they want the space or not leaves me a grand total of two inches in which to maneuver.

yeah, gotta hate that

Quote: petroglyph

I like to back into our driveway or any parking space that I can, if I can't pull through and drive out.

Absolutely! When spaces are double-rowed, I'll pull forward to the other side when I can too, even if that side points me the wrong way on a one-way - I'd rather deal with getting an awkward turn made.

Quote: rxwine

I rarely spend any time looking for a parking space and just park farther out as often as possible.

I know some people need to park close, but it drives me batty to be a passenger and keep driving up and down lanes looking for a spot close to where we are going.

ditto

Have you ever edited a Wikipedia page to reflect your side of an argument and then directed the person you are arguing with to the site as proof?

Guilty.

Quote: DRich

Have you ever edited a Wikipedia page to reflect your side of an argument and then directed the person you are arguing with to the site as proof?

Guilty.

That could be pretty funny.

Yes, I was the first person to walk up Mt Everest backwards. See...

When I lived in Vegas, I had a friend who had a run-in with a reality "star". I won't mention the name, but I decided to take a shot at him by altering his Wikipedia page. I don't even remember what I changed, but someone had fixed it within a half hour. So, if you add something obviously bogus, it may or may not last very long.

Quote: rxwine

When I lived in Vegas, I had a friend who had a run-in with a reality "star". I won't mention the name, but I decided to take a shot at him by altering his Wikipedia page. I don't even remember what I changed, but someone had fixed it within a half hour. So, if you add something obviously bogus, it may or may not last very long.

I will say that I put the Wikipedia page back to the way it was immediately after I made my point. It was only "my definition" for about 10 minutes,

Far worse things happen with the Internet.
I know one very violent rapist who added his name to one of his victim's page as Director of Social Introductions.

I know one man who was preying on a psychologically vulnerable young woman and making her sign sex slave contracts.

Reddit had a horde of commenters who would down vote anything that was Anti Israel.

Try changing the Boer War to The Anglo Boer war or the War of Zionist Aggression and see how long those historically correct changes last.

Try changing the Sepoy Mutiny to the First War of Indian Independence and find out how long that lasts.

And I'm sure you all have heard of Creator Gate on PLOSONE wherein two uses of the word Creator got an article revoked from publication.

What a weird thing, the brain...

So I have a light out. I live in a ranch which, for those unfamiliar, is sort of like a trailer. It's one floor, long, and it's sort of split down the middle by a load bearing wall. One half is dominated by the kitchen, the other half is bedrooms, bathroom, etc.

Over the years I have come to basically use just two lights in the house. I use the kitchen light, which I suppose is the #1 light because I use it the most, and the hallway light is for all the rest. I can't even remember the last time I flicked a room switch, as the hallway light (light #2) is sufficient to light up any room in that half of the house. Hell, most of the time even the kitchen light is enough, hence it being #1.

Well, it went out. Near as I can figure, it went out around 2/18. And then, things got weird.

I noticed it as soon as it was out obviously, what with being light #1. I flick it and nothing happens. At that moment I of course immediately flicked it down and then back up, because I am human and humans are stupid things. Still, the light didn't work. First thing to pop in my head was the other switch. If one of the two switches rest on a "half flick", neither switch will work. So next time I go for a smoke, I hit that other switch. Nothing. And then of course another double flick because I'm still human and still an idiot. Still nothing. Right there I know the bulb is out. Again, this is mid-February.

Well, I didn't want to change it. Dunno why or what was going on at the time, but I didn't feel like faffing with the glass dome of the ceiling fan and left it. An hour later it's time to smoke again, and FLICK! You idiot, the light's out. Go smoke in the dark, mindless human. Another hour, another smoke, FLICK! Go for my chocolate milk, FLICK! Another smoke, FLICK!

OK, OK,... I've been in this house for 30 years. I'm not gonna break a 30 year habit in an hour. But as the days go by, I just keep flicking. It hasn't dawned on me yet, it hasn't become an issue yet. I just get up, flick, and say to myself "Oh, right." No big deal.

Like, two whole weeks pass, and I'm still flicking that goddamn switch. Now it's bothering me. And I know the bulb is a simple thing; I could've swapped it in the time it took me to write my intro. But now I notice this weird habit, and now I WILL NOT change it. I WILL NOT, because I keep flicking this damn switch and it's bothering me that I keep doing it.

For awhile, maybe even a long while, it was out of consciousness. Not until I flicked it would I be all "ye stupid dolt". But after maybe 3-4 weeks, I felt it sink in. I know it's out. I'm looking right at it right now. The damnable thing is OUT. It's SHUT. It is BROKEN.

I can't stop flicking this f#$%ing switch. This week has been the worst so far. I will head for the switch. The switch will enter my consciousness. I will recognize, sort of faintly in the background of my mind, an acknowledgement of the switch that is unlike any of the other systems we take for granted and never think about. It's almost like a quiet voice saying "switch. don't." I can feel a part of my brain pull away and acknowledge the thought. And then I flick that f#$%ing switch. One time I swear I gave just the slightest of pauses... and then I flicked the SOB anyways.

2 months this has been going on. TWO MONTHS. Now that we're on DST, I (would) use that light maybe 2-3 times a night. And I still flick that GD switch 2-3 times a day. It's to the point I'm thinking about it on my route, on my commute, hell, we're 5 hours from darkness and I'm thinking about it now.

Isn't it weird? I've certainly experienced similar before. How many times have you picked up an empty can during the big game, forgetting that you've drained it and haven't yet gotten a refill? But even in that distracted state, you remember after the 2nd or 3rd empty grab. Why in all of the hells can't I break this habit of flicking this switch? Why can't I just remember it's out and leave it go?

It's driving me completely batty. I've everything I need to stop, yet just cannot stop.

So starts month #3. Perhaps writing about it will send the idea home and make it stick. I ain't changing that bastard until I've got it.

Quote: Face

What a weird thing, the brain...

So next time I go for a smoke, I hit that other switch. Nothing. And then of course another double flick because I'm still human and still an idiot. Still nothing. Right there I know the bulb is out. Again, this is mid-February.

Well, I didn't want to change it. Dunno why or what was going on at the time, but I didn't feel like faffing with the glass dome of the ceiling fan and left it. An hour later it's time to smoke again, and FLICK! You idiot, the light's out. Go smoke in the dark, mindless human. Another hour, another smoke, FLICK! Go for my chocolate milk, FLICK! Another smoke, FLICK!

A couple observations if I might? This is proof, "that our possessions own us". The light switch is the master and you are the slave. The light switch has made you it's bitch. As have the cigarettes. I can hear them talking when you are asleep, you know what they are saying? Where's the bi***! One says to the other, just wait she'll be along shortly, toggle me, and puff on you. Ain't life grand? The light switch doesn't care whether or not the light comes on, it only cares that you give it attention. It probably only wants to be acknowledged? Next time you flick it, admit who is the boss, and maybe it will leave you alone? Denial won't work, it will only prolong the agony. The switch demands your surrender. All hail the switch.

#2, Obviously it is your brain, begging you to quit smoking. : )