My work for the semester ended last week, and I’m waiting on any potential summer assignments, so it’s a bit of waiting game.
So yeah, it’s a little bit more boredom than usual this week. Senorita Weaselo and I are going to Boston next weekend, so I should probably pull the trigger on those Fenway tickets Sunday sooner rather than later, but I’ll take another look and see which direction the market’s trending. How dare the Tigers be semi-decent this year! I will not be wearing Yankees gear to Fenway, but I will be wearing a New York team’s gear. (Thanks again to Bots FC when they made their kits available, even though that is obviously not currently the case.)
In other news, I went to my old high school for career day, so that was fun, trying to talk about a career in the arts that wasn’t me yelling “DON’T DO IT! WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS TO YOURSELF?” Saw some old teachers, saw one of my friends who now teaches science, and saw the orchestra teacher and asked if we’re ever doing an alumni orchestra—maybe for his retirement in a few years.
Okay, enough about me, news.
Football Unchained: The preseason will have optical tracking for the preseason, potentially to use it moving forward.
2026 Draft will be in Pittsburgh.
Cool, not a ton of news. What’s on?
The good ol’ hockey game
Eastern Conference Finals, Game 1: Goalie Cops vs. Kreider’s Meat Market (FLA vs. NYR, 8:00, ESPN)
Win it for Sam, boys. ’94 shouldn’t last him the rest of his lifetime.
Roundball Rock’s Return?
Weastern Conference Finals, Game 1: “Up in the club like Dirk Nowitski” vs. Pro Wolven Sort (DAL vs. MIN, 8:30, TNT)
Non-playoff events:
Baseball (national games, obviously check local listings)
Walkers vs. Fighters (TEX vs. PHI, in progress, MLBN)
Old Rivals vs. Nouveau Riche Rivals (BOS vs. TB, just started, MLBN)
Should Sell the Team vs. Fallout: No Vegas? (COL vs. OAK, 9:40, MLBN)
Snakes Alive vs. Vichy Brooklyn (AZ vs. LAD, 10:00, MLBN)
Lesser Foouty Canadian Championship!
Former IMPACT vs. Forged in Hurricanes (CF Montréal vs. Forge FC Hamilton, 1-1 agg., 7:30, FS2)
In other news, Paul Lukas of Uni Watch is leaving the site after 25 years (and being the founder). As someone who has complained about uniforms (especially the Jets’) on this very site I have to tip my hat to him in commemoration, though purple is not intrisically a bad color to the point of having a yearly “Purp Walk.” See: the Colorado Rockies, though maybe their straight purples aren’t amazing. But I also think they should bring back the vests, so what do I know?
Now, someone yell at me to finish transcriptions and engraving so I can watch hockey guilt-free!
Found a funny:
When the sommelier hands you the cork to (smell? lick? still not sure) you pretend it’s a cigar and tell them, “It’s a fine vintage, see.” You know the voice. A fun little bit from me to you.
I think you’re supposed to bite it in half, spit a chunk at him/her, and say “What the fuck is this cat piss? ” Then they know you are a serious oonephile indeed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjFPxrDWpUM
So, Sharky, I didn’t mention anything of it but I thought about it when I commented on the sub where it said he was resting but unable to travel.
What if, and I’m just positing this, so knock on wood and Heaven forbid, what if “This one will last a lifetime” was accidentally a curse by Sam?
I try to not think about that phrase as it becomes more relevant year after year
No, as in his lifetime.
Also yes.
Progress, they did score a goal at one point. But clearly too many intra-squad games.
Here’s Tom bringing briskets into the kitchen at American Legion Post #85 in Arlington VA, in preparation for the Memorial Day cookout on Sunday May 26, the day before Memorial Day.
Each brisket weighs about 14 lbs. Tom makes his own dry rubs, chili sauces, and custom salts. It is Wednesday and he’s prepping the briskets for Sunday. This ain’t no hamburger/hot dog cookout.
If you’re in Arlington on Sunday drop by Post #85 at noon. It’s a fun place.
https://ibb.co/N23h2yB
One of these days I’ll get down there
WPIOOTBGW!
And a bonus own goal!
Is that acronym to do with rubbing my balls in the chicken al pastor? I don’t have balls, so can I rub my tits in the chicken al pastor? Seems like that would be ok
When Putting It On Our Tits But Goes Wrong
No, no, it’s a soccer thing. When Playing It Out Of The Back Goes Wrong.
Hippo doesn’t call me Bastard Man for nothing
Look if it’s against the rules the rub my balls in the chicken al pastor at Chipotle they should clearly post it at the entrance
Our “no rubbing your balls in the chicken al pastor” sign is provoking a lot of questions that are already answered by the sign.
I was just using my “Double Protein” award
Ciao Tutti
What is goalie interference?
Love the NHL picking up the NFL’s terrible trends years later.
Bigger news, the Rangers actually won a challenge.
Now if they could use this momentum swing to do anything.
I may be going out on a limb here, but they should change to a strategy where they score at least one goal.
Mosquito? Libido? IT RHYMES! FUCK YES IT’S THE 90S!
The thing I hate about today’s opioid addicts? Pretty sure they haven’t made any music, much less created a whole new genre. Every other opioid epidemic there’s an amazing band, at the minimum, usually multiple bands at the vanguard of a musical movement. Also authors and movies! Trainspotting is like 3 categories.
It’s the difference between natural opioids and this newfangled chemical opioids. Like AI weed. It would be shit. No creativity.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxygdAPJqDw
You haven’t heard “My Semi-Fentanyl’d Kind of Life”?
Does anyone know about stereos?
If I run my turntable to a cassette stereo (just line out and in) and then run that to a pre-amp and then to an amp and then to the speakers will that work?
I think I might not be searching right but I can’t get a straight answer. If that doesn’t work I’m lining up an AM/FM receiver as a back up. Then I could listen to CBC radio on Saturdays too.
What exactly are you trying to do? If just listening to things, cut out the cassette. The only reason to have that is if you’re trying to tape stuff old-style. Go minimal for linkages, add stuff if you need to
No I just want my turntable to work. My ancient receiver died. I liked the look of this Technics M14 cassette stereo and I don’t think so I made a deal to buy it. Now I’m at home thinking I did it wrong.
But I bought this pre-amp and I have this nice Mitsubishi amp so I wanted to use them.
But just a regular receiver with built-in amp would be better, yeah?
So first thing. Turntable is old enough that it doesn’t have an amp built in? If it’s as modern as the 90s it might have amplification built in. Sounds like you know it needs amplification and an old-style phono in, but also sounds like you have the equipment to just link that stuff up. If you have an old turntable and you have something with a legit phono in, hook those up, if it sounds like shit, we’ll have to adjust
Hm, I’m drunk, but this mostly makes sense. It would be way easier if I just hooked your stuff up in person. Basically, how old is your turntable? Do you need an older amp that has an appropriate input for it, or is it more modern and can go anywhere?
It’s like 50 years old. I think if I just keep buying things for $40 from estate sales I will eventually have all I need. But I’m very cheap and lazy.
Don’t do that, you will have 5 miles of crap
Yes that tracks. This is my dirty dusty turntable and the bottle of wine that Litre called me a peasant for not knowing the bathroom the grapes were crushed in.
He got it wrong too. He thought it was France. But it’s a red.
Yeah it’s ancient. I got most of it while working at a goodwill store when I was a teenager and we’d put stuff aside to buy for ourselves.
Thank you, I’m absolutely terrible at doing these things sober so I’m always getting the wrong stuff. Apparently the pre amp should have volume control. I’m going to get the cassette thing and try to make it work and I’ll also buy the receiver.
Shit, I should sent you my AU-717
70s solid state all in one receiver with a legit phono in that you could use and can crank it up to 11, although I’ve never let it go above 6.
I’ve been stuck with modern turntables and the phono in is totally wasted. I will legit trade you shipping +$50
It’s clean arena sound
That’s dandy. I am into that. I’m sure shipping can’t be too bad. How do we do this? I can send you an email but not put it on the internet?
Either DM or we can do it through Litre.
It’s heavy as fuck though, so don’t discount shipping.
Yeah it’s worth the shipping. Why cheap
Out, it’s not like I ever change things
I don’t know how to DM. I asked litre. But if you know to DM I will send you the costs plus shipping
Should be we’ll figure it
Fantastic. I appreciate it.
Is that the Sansui? If so, that goes for anywhere from $500 to $1000 on eBay.
Turntable to preamp to amp to speakers.
Preamp should have more than one input, so you can run the cassette to the preamp separately.
For more reading, Copilot has this to say:
Stereos: A Guide for Beginners
Learn about the basic components, types, and features of stereos
What is a stereo?
A stereo is a system of audio equipment that reproduces sound from various sources, such as radio, CD, vinyl, or streaming services. A stereo typically consists of two or more speakers, an amplifier, and a source device. The term stereo comes from stereophonic, which means sound that is reproduced through two or more channels.
What are the components of a stereo?
A stereo system can be divided into three main components: speakers, amplifier, and source. Each component has a different function and role in the sound quality and performance of the stereo.
· Speakers: Speakers are the devices that convert electrical signals into sound waves. Speakers come in different shapes, sizes, and designs, depending on the frequency range and output power they can handle. Speakers can be classified into two main types: passive and active. Passive speakers require an external amplifier to power them, while active speakers have a built-in amplifier. Speakers can also be arranged in different configurations, such as stereo, surround, or multi-room.
· Amplifier: An amplifier is the device that boosts the electrical signals from the source and sends them to the speakers. An amplifier can affect the volume, tone, and clarity of the sound. Amplifiers can be integrated or separate. An integrated amplifier combines the functions of a preamplifier and a power amplifier in one unit, while a separate amplifier has two or more units that perform different tasks. A preamplifier controls the input selection, volume, and tone, while a power amplifier delivers the power to the speakers.
· Source: A source is the device that provides the audio content to the stereo system. A source can be analog or digital, depending on the format of the audio signal. Analog sources include vinyl records, cassette tapes, and radio, while digital sources include CDs, DVDs, MP3 players, and streaming services. A source can also be wireless or wired, depending on the connection method. Wireless sources use Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or AirPlay to transmit the audio signal, while wired sources use cables, such as RCA, optical, or HDMI.
What are the features of a stereo?
A stereo system can have various features that enhance the sound quality, functionality, and convenience of the system. Some of the common features are:
· Equalizer: An equalizer is a feature that allows the user to adjust the frequency response of the sound. An equalizer can have preset or custom modes, such as bass, treble, rock, jazz, or flat. An equalizer can help the user to tailor the sound to their preference and to the acoustics of the room.
· Remote control: A remote control is a feature that allows the user to operate the stereo system from a distance. A remote control can have buttons or touch screen, and can control functions such as volume, input, track, play, pause, and mute.
· Display: A display is a feature that shows the information and status of the stereo system. A display can be LED, LCD, or OLED, and can show information such as volume level, input source, track name, time, and battery.
· Bluetooth: Bluetooth is a feature that enables the stereo system to connect wirelessly to other devices, such as smartphones, tablets, or laptops. Bluetooth can allow the user to stream audio content from their devices to the stereo system, or to use the stereo system as a speakerphone.
But there’s no damn volume control. Where’s the control, I ask? That’s what I was thinking the receiver would do
The preamp has volume control. A receiver is just a preamp and amp combined into one.
Ok that might be my issue. I bought a cheap little pre-amp from Amazon with no controls. It’s probably just a spy cam
Weird, that would defeat the purpose of being a preamp.
Anyway, you can also look at an integrated amp, which combines the preamp and amplifier functions but doesn’t include the video portion that a receiver includes.
Yeah that’s what I think I have to do. The preamp was a cheap buy made in China. I should have just gone with the built in amp receiver. Thanks, this will help me greatly
Groovy, man.
I tell the “Tom Jones Syndrome” joke every night since I heard it.
Get it together Ice Giants. This is not the crushing I wanted
12 SOG through 2 is less than ideal.
All those South Florida kids dreaming of being the next Gordie Howe, tough to compete with that kind of history and passion.
Sucks to be kids. I have music on 2 different sorts of physical media (LP and CD, all my tapes are long gone but that’s okay because that’s less durable anyway, tapes stretch and get mangled in car tape players) and backed up in multiple places in mp3 format. Thinking I should maintain a single laptop with all my media files and a copy of VLC player from 2010 or so. Then I get all the movies I ripped too. No updates.
If I pay for your shit (or if I downloaded it pre-2005) I own it and will consume it at my own pleasure.
If buying isn’t ownership then piracy isn’t theft.
Damn right
It’s not theft anyway since you aren’t depriving anyone of use, but gonna take my early millennial, CRM removing ass to the corner where hopefully no one will notice me giving compensation to artists in proportion to how I value their work and trying to eliminate middlemen
Streaming is kind of funny because it’s basically radio that you pay to listen to.
And there are still ads!
Yeah, I got rid of my cassettes, so there’s kind of an 80’s gap between my albums and cds. I have Sirius in the car, and it’s usually on the new wave channel, so I get my Fixx.
I’m growing my hair back out, but I can only aspire to have black hair like ravens crawled all over my shoulders
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Wt53rfogAg
Aspirational
Brick Meathook has many flaws, but he has a great head of hair.
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.
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.
.
/note: brick has no flaws he only said that to be nice
There is the issue of your taste in comics. But I’ll let it slide as a personality quirk.
I’ll try to post more Garfield and Ziggy comics for you.
I love you Brick, and by I, I mean the universal I which is all the love in the universe in a way that still thinks most people on the internet are total dicks
The “royal we“?
oh, been meaning to mention (with Spam in the clubhouse) – I had this really oddly-specific dream the other night, where Rachel Brosnahan was hosting Jeopardy! and Spam and I were the two “contender” contestants. I did really well in the first half of the game, but then Spam raged back in Double Jeopardy.
And the dreamy Ms. Brosnahan could NOT stop flirting with Spam. Twirling her hair, talking about how clever and funny he was, etc.
I never, EVAR remember dream details. Maybe for like 2-3 minutes, maximum.
Tom Brady was the returning champ i bet
Or is that a Moynahan? Only Moynahan I recognize is Pippin.
Lucky! I haven’t had a single dream with her there.
He is very funny FWIW
In your literal dreams, you still can’t get laid.
oh yeah, Dreem Time Hippo is 0.000% better than actual Hippo (as Other Hippo loves to point out)
“2-3 minutes maximum” also describes how long I would last with Ms. Brosnahan.
her shoulders really are divine. Truly divine.
Was I naked or just pantsless?
Also, damn, Hippo Dream Me is SO MUCH BETTER AT STUFF than real life me.
Full on Pooh and we love you for it
Apparently, so does The Marvelous Mrs Maisel
She is marvelous
I don’t understand the “I had to restrain myself from telling people, ‘DON’T DO THIS'” thing.
Wouldn’t that be the right thing to do? I mean, people will do what they want, but the point of career days should be for people to go into a field with eyes wide open as to the potential pitfalls.
Then again, I’m the anti-WCS and I’d be the WORST 911/suicide prevention hotline operator.
YUP, “Better Off Ted” shows exactly how well 99% of us with engineering degrees handle other humanoids’ feelings
My impression is that “career days” for students are just fuzzy feel good shit that gets teachers out of doing work for the day, rather than being actual good advice.
You can’t make those decisions for others. You can warn of pitfalls yes, but when you say something like “don’t do this” you’re saying that other people would have similar experiences and react in similar ways. And it’s also not probably honest, because the people saying that, would they really retract their entire experience if they could? Maybe sometimes, but most of the time what they’re really saying is “this was a lot harder than I thought it would be, and I may have evaluated things differently if I had been able to predict the future”
So yeah, they’re really restraining themselves from being discouraging when they know that these kids are probably getting a lot of that already, and while they don’t want to give a Pollyannaish picture of what it’s like, and they want to give an accurate picture of the difficulties, but they don’t actually want no one to do creative things in the future
I would say, “don’t do it unless you’re willing to put up with…” and then list of all the pitfalls and downsides of that choice. I think that’s fair.
Pfft. You’re just still bitter about the time in college when they announced career day and you thought they said “rear day”.
/so wifey had an adventure yesterday evening
She went out looking to cut some wild rhubarb. After finishing the task she put the knife into the plastic bag with the rhubarb and went on her way. This is a kitchen knife that I had specially made two months ago. Believe it or not, the knife blade went thru the bag and cut her calf open to the tune of four sub-dermal(?) stitches and six surface stitches. She didn’t call me until she was at the hospital and said everything was fine, she’s getting patched up. (she’s the least dramatic person I know)
Her: [gets home, tells me everything that happened in detail]
Me: “I have to ask one thing…”
Her: “I know, I know, that was so stupid of me.”
Me: “Is…is the knife okay?”
NOT.
[Mrs.Scotchnaut sticks knife in Scotchy’s gut] ” Yes, the knife is fine!”
“Oh the irony!”
– United Hobos of Northern Ontario Local 325
That’s awesome
Stabbing herself with your favorite knife? Who does she think she is, a hobo?
Outsourcing!
Well now you have plausible deniability for DNA on the blade.
What kind of horrible husband are you that you didn’t get a custom sheath when getting the knife specially made?! She is a saint that she’s not blaming you for your obvious shortcomings in the sheath department, and you’re probably still going to get a delicious pie you don’t deserve. DO BETTER
Seems like Mrs. Scotchnaut remembers the first rule of Fight Club.
Wash the knife with bleach NOW so it can’t be use as evidence against you of future murders LATER.
I put this in the back channels but I will go further on my post in Balls’ AFL Beat. I spoke about the Winnipeg handshake.
Winnipeg Handshake
Smashing a beer bottle on the ground and jabbing it toward someone with a hand shaking motion.
I lipped this guy off so he jumped out of the back of his car and greeted me with a Winnipeg Handshake.
I was at Torque Brewery, across from my hotel. Bar maid, maybe 25, told me that on Thursday a dude came in with a knife, and demanded the till. She said no, he came behind the bar and when he wasn’t paying attention she punched him 4 times. he was out, then the cops came. She said she is in cop school and you should never do that, instinct took over.
In no way would I figure this lassie would bein cop school, and she did say everyone hates cops but here we are.
Did she get in trouble at all with the cops?
Self defense
Scariest chick I ever saw was a tiny Hispanic lass at Renzo’s in Silver Spring, MD. I’m nawt entirely sure what the provocation was, but she went down or was knocked over and in process of that she broke off the bottom of her beer bottle on the table edge and came up lightning quick ready to CUT. Her friends were right there and grabbed her before damage was done, but damn.
Latina? Yeah, that checks out. She probably learned that from her uncles when she was in elementary school.
I’m not convinced she was old enough to drink and she maybe weighed 90 lbs but I would nawt fuck with her
In Winnipeg.
that’s exactly the kind of brave badass we want as police!
/almost all police brutality and other abuse boils down to cowardice (in my pill-addled opinion)
You may be pill-addled and a communist pansexual, but you’re correct.
She said cops get a bad rap because of 15 % of them. She wants to be the good ones, like the guys that picked buddy up, carted him away no issue, and didn’t charge her.
I told my daughters during the 2019-20 protests to just imagine how awful all this would make a good cop feel, and how we need the good cops not to give up (and leave us with nothing but bullies).
/which is NOT to say people shouldn’t protest, just to keep that in mind if/when you decide how to do so
I mean, 15% is quite a lot. But kudos to her for incrementing it down
Late to the party. The problem is that the ‘good’ 85% doesn’t do anything about the 15% that are out there doing ACAB stuff.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiFdhy6Mf4c&pp=ygUNSG9tZSBydW4gbnV0cw%3D%3D
Hans Moleman presents “Man Getting Hit By Baseball”
He will not be able to “Raise It” for a bit after that one.
Fan did that on purpose.
I think that rules/
don’t cry for me, I’m already dead
Don’t cry for me Argentina because after that I’m more like Cape Cod
DR. MRS. DEADLY, ESQ.: I just read of this really cool hack, you can use a french press as a cocktail shaker…
RIKKI-TIKKI-DEADLY: As opposed to using one of the multiple cocktail shakers that we own…?
She’s using those to make coffee
That just seems wildly unnecessary.
No, no, the cocktail is definitely necessary.
So….are you saying that any cylindrical container with a lid can be used like any other cylindrical container with a lid? WILD
Yeah, I’m not sure when everything became a “life hack.”
The other day, I used a paper towel as a napkin — LIFE HACK!
I started using actual towels to mop stuff up instead of paper towels. LIFE HACK!@
I used a juice jug as a sneaky decanter for years when I couldn’t afford one.
That was my piss jug!
way of teh road….
I was looking for a gif to post, and came across a link to a mod someone created for Civilization V where you can play Sunnyvale Trailer Park as your civ, with Ricky as your leader, the Weed Farm as a special improvement, and Piss Jug Catapults for unique units.
Unfortunately the comments suggest that it is buggy (damn bottle kids!) and doesn’t seem like anyone made one for Civ VI.
THIS ONE SNEAKY HACK WILL MAKE YOUR CHEAP WINE TASTE BETTER!!
I played ball hockey goalie outside. It’s 86 degrees. I’m exhausted. I’m begging you Ice Giants. Crush the panthers tonight please.
That means not giving up goals to less turtley Tkachuk.
(Less turtley, right?)
Fucking bread. Need to shoot there
I’d love to hear what a career day in the arts is like now that STEM is in fashion. Are these kids just like, “Why don’t you do pharmaceuticals?”
but everybody in the arts does LOTS of pharmaceuticals!
There was someone on NPR earlier today who is obviously somewhat successful (otherwise they would not be on npr) and they were talking about going to a career day and trying really hard to not say “DON’T DO THIS”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xs-UEqJ85KE
“Kid, I’ve got one word for you: Nuclear Reactors.”
Wow, so that “three winners” GAMBLOR devotee deffo cashed out at the right time, eh?
Resouce constriction means people have to be smart. The mp3 format is pretty genius, it’s lossy, but the stuff it discards is mostly stuff out of the range of human perception. Surfiet means people can be fucking stupid. Surfiet of data, compute, money, is giving us AI. Mostly data. The idea behind LLMs has existed since well before modern computers were even imagined, but it’s only in the past few years it was possible. Possible doesn’t mean great, do we really want a society where a major compnent is Reddit?
Honestly amazed no one had been bombing data centers. I personally don’t think that’s the way to fix things, but are Luddites nowadays just idiots or what?
And this isn’t even what I’m feeling crap about, lol. Fuck em all!
guh, feelings are even worse than ppl. Especially when COMBINED, like anti-peanut butter/chocolate
I just stuffed three Trader Joe’s dark chocolate peanut butter cups in my gaping maw. I’m feeling prettay good about that!
Am I correct that you’re saying AI is forcing itself to adapt to what is available as, therefore, intelligent?
I’ve wondered this very thing. If we know AI of a woman is going to be a california girl bimbo — how intelligent is it? It’s just a greatest hits album trying to put together the best combinations of output.
It’s never been ‘intelligent’ in the way we might think about things. It’s possible now because of the huge amount of data. It will tend toward whatever that data reflects but it’s not as simple as a single stereotype, it’s all stereotypes sort of randomly combined in character by character prediction, so it might predict a d leading to ‘dumb’ and then a space, and then maybe a ‘b’ for blonde or maybe something way more damaging like ‘b’ for ‘black people’ or totally bizarre like ‘o’ for ‘otter’.
It’s tokenized and it’s only predictible rules of language combined with enough data to give probability distributions that provides the output
So, Wikipedia on steroids?
No, that would be way, way, better. Wikipedia is a shining example of humanity at its best
I hate people. I’m glad no one here is people.
I’m real people real people real people real people real people {error code 2765932}
Soylent Green is tasty, though…
Imaginary people are the best!
So many imaginary hugs!
You too girlie! Hang in there, I know you’ve been going through some shit.