Vagueness and the Aftermath - A sporadic diary

[Ginger]

Just in case anyone has missed it and wants to see the picture thread, it certainly is worth taking a look...

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/34/other-other-topics/pictures-say-1000-words-some-pretty-disturbing-599916/

Some disturbing images, but also many that leave you lost for words.

[KarmaDope]

That thread is in my top 3 threads ever from that site.

Disturbing or not, everybody should set aside some time to look at the pictures.

[RED-DOG]

Thanks Jane.

I looked everywhere for the bloody thing, and as soon as I asked for help I found it myself.

[Ironside]

that picture just goes to prove my point of not messing around with telescopes unless you know what your doing otherwise you might prove that we are not alone and we dont want that just yet when we cant live amongst ourselves in peace

[RED-DOG]

The Great Dongle Debacle. (Short version)


I have a Vodafone usb dongle. It costs me £15pm for 3gb worth of data download.

It is on an 18 month contract.

I only actually use about 50mb (1/20th of a gb) per month.

Last year, Vodafone introduced a pay as you go dongle. 1gb of data for £15.

1gb would last me almost 6 months, so the pay as you go option would mean a saving of around £150pa. The only problem was, I was tied to a contract.

So, I waited for my contract to expire, and then I went to the Vodafone shop to purchase a pay as you go dongle.

Problem. At exactly the same time as my contract expired, they changed the rules for pay as you go dongles.

Now, if you don’t use your 1gb of data within one month, it expires anyway!!!! WTF?

“Why” I asked.

“Because people were only topping up every few months,” They said.

“Who” I asked, will pay £15pm for 1gb on pay as you go, when they can have 3gb on contract for the same price?”

“Probably no one” They said. “That’s the idea”.

To say I was miffed would be an understatement. I’d waited patiently for my contract to expire, and now the thing that I wanted was no longer available.

I could have bought it last week, but not this week.

Bugger.

Then, serendipity came to the rescue. My brother Tracy is one of the cleverest people I know, but he is only semi literate, and a complete technophobe. He rang me today.

“I’ve bought one of those pay as you go dongles and I can’t set it up, will you have a look at it for me?”

I had a look, and as I read the blurb I realise that it was on the old, non-expiring price plan that I wanted. It turned out that Argos still have one or two left, and they are still on the old plan because they haven’t managed to change the listing in the catalogue yet.

I managed to get me one of the very last ones in captivity from their Foss Park outlet.

Yeeehaaaa!!!

[bolt pp]

On Tony's diary, Cos posted a link to a picture thread on 2+2. It was called "A picture is worth a thousand words" or something. Anyway...

There was this one image, or, more precisely, series of images, that shows how we, (By "We" I mean our solar system) compares to the rest of the known universe. (BTW the known universe just got a hell of a lot bigger thanks to the Hubble space telescope)

First of all, we see the Earth, which is tiny compared to some of the other planets like Saturn or Jupiter, which in turn, are also tiny when compared to the Sun. But...

Our Sun is like a pea next to a beachball when it's compared to some of the other stars in our galaxy, and out galaxy is just one of millions, each containing trillions stars.

I can't get my head around it, but I can't stop thinking about it. What does it all mean?

I know there's no answer to that, but still I wonder.

What I'm working up to is this. I should have saved the images when I had the chance, but I didn't, and now I can't find them again.

Is anyone familiar with the images I'm talking about?. They look like one picture divided up into thumbnails, and when you click on them they open into individual pics.

If you are, please post a link, I'd love another look.

Is it better than facebook?

[RED-DOG]

I looked out the window of Chez Rouge this morning, and it was strange to find the snow completely gone. It seems to have been here forever.

Everything looks a bit scruffy now. It's as if winter has thrown off her shroud to reveal her soiled undergarments.

[RED-DOG]

We're going to Barnsley to see my mam today. She's been a bit poorly of late.

The problem is, when we visit, she insists on fussing around, cooking and stuff.

[sovietsong]

We're going to Barnsley to see my mam today. She's been a bit poorly of late.

The problem is, when we visit, she insists on fussing around, cooking and stuff.

could you take her out or is she too unwell.  my mother is the same, it was her birthday last week and we went round for a meal last night as we couldnt get into the restaurant she likes.  she pretty much didnt sit down all night and wouldnt have it any other way!  sigh...

[RED-DOG]

We're going to Barnsley to see my mam today. She's been a bit poorly of late.

The problem is, when we visit, she insists on fussing around, cooking and stuff.

couldnt you take her out or is she too unwell.  my mother is the same, it was her birthday last week and we went round for a meal last night as we couldnt get into the resturant she likes.  she pretty much didnt sit down all night and wouldnt have it any other way!  sigh...

She's too ill to take out at the moment Sov, but I've told her that we will eat out before we arrive so there's no need to cook.

[tikay]

Facebook.

I don't want it, peeps say I should have it.

They've told me the pros, what are the cons?

DON'T DO IT!

I can't imagine anything less suitable for you Tom. You'd hate it. I'd rather you killed the Moles.*

* Terms & Conditions apply.

Yes yes, I'm sure you're right, but give me reasons. I need the ammunition.

Are you being nagged by SWMBO to join Facebook?

It's a time-sponge Tom, a means of killing time. Why would you want to do that?

And for a man - one of an increasingly rare breed - who actually knows what a real friend is, you'll be horrified at the Facebook definition of "friend", which devalues completely the word. Scores - hundreds - of fellow Facebook sheep willl "suggest" that you be their friends. Hell, they will even suggest who else you should be friends with! Did you ever hear anything quite so ridiculous?

And it's a vehicle for spam, & puerile "campaigns". Every cardroom in the UK will send you messages - "don't forget tonight's £50 Freezeout".

I was asked by SP to set up a FB account for commercial schmoozing reasons. What a pain it's been. I have - at a guess - four or five hundred "friends", & another 150 awaiting "approval". ("Friends" need to be "approved", which says it all.....). And they send PM's - there were 201 on mine last time I looked. All wanting & expecting an answer......and if you don't reply to these "Friends" they get arsey with you.

And then there's the aggro when a Member gets banned on blonde. They have a little "Ex-Blonde Moaning Minnies" page, where all the Banned blondes exchange messages of solidarity, & explain what tossers the Mods are, & how they don't give a shit about being Banned. While simultaneously writing to blonde & begging for reinstatement.You'll be bombarded with shite messages & hate mail from these mini-minded cretins.

And other people can set up Accounts about you! There is a "Tony Kendall Appreciatian Society", & a "Vote for tikay as Sports Personality of the Year" Facebook Group. You really want to be part of that nonsense?

Now you've got me all wound up, instead of my usual pleasingly relaxed Sunday morning demeanour.

AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

I'm tilted now.

[RED-DOG]

Are you being nagged by SWMBO to join Facebook?


No, not SWMBO, it's someone who I talk to regularly. (That didn't come out right)

Anyway. The person in question reads this diary, so these replies are just what I need.

Excellent.

I was never really considering signing up, but I felt obliged to explain why.

[tikay]

Just in, via e-Mail, more Facebok splurge.

"...XXXX invited you to join the Facebook group "REGENCY 'POKER CLUB'".

Matt says, "New Management and owners, Luxurious cardroom, lively games, and tournaments in North London's most Historic Cardroom!

Please join and let me know what you think.

Thanks".

Multiply that one by 10 per day.

[tikay]

Are you being nagged by SWMBO to join Facebook?


No, not SWMBO, it's someone who I talk to regularly. (That didn't come out right)

Anyway. The person in question reads this diary, so these replies are just what I need.

Excellent.

I was never really considering signing up, but I felt obliged to explain why.

Such a shame. You could have asked to be my friend, or vice-versa.

[RED-DOG]

Are you being nagged by SWMBO to join Facebook?


No, not SWMBO, it's someone who I talk to regularly. (That didn't come out right)

Anyway. The person in question reads this diary, so these replies are just what I need.

Excellent.

I was never really considering signing up, but I felt obliged to explain why.

Such a shame. You could have asked to be my friend, or vice-versa.

You've almost set me off on a "Devaluation of concepts" rant.

I've been simmering it for a while now, but today is not the day to take the lid off.