[Scourge of Ages]

Last night, my computer would simply NOT stay off. I'd shut down, get in bed, and about 30 seconds later it would boot itself on again. Happened about 3 times before I just flicked the power strip off.
I'm now doing a comprehensive virus/malware/spyware scan/exorcism on it. It's been far too long since the last one.

[Mongoose]

It really makes me sad that kickass standalone sound cards built around music/home theater aren't really a thing anymore.  Onboard sound may be better now that it was before, but it's still a damn far cry away from my getting close to decade old XtremeMusic.  Every time I've looked recently all I see is ones boasting about how good they are for headphones, and most don't even have the standard three-prong 5.1 PC speaker connections despite claiming 7.1 support.  I've yet to figure out how they do that with a single output jack.

I can't speak for any others, but my new ASUS Z97 mobo has four audio output jacks for full 7.1 support.  I'm only working with a 15-year-old 2.1 set of speakers here, but at least to my untrained ear it sounds crisper than my ancient dedicated Soundblaster did.

[Klaustrophobia]

My XtremeMusic beats my onboard, circa 2012 with the 7.1 and even the fiber optic output.  When the drivers don't explode of course.  That's the latest onboard I've tested it against.

[NGTM-1R]

A rather deep observation that's kind of related to several recent discussions, from a friend of mine.

Pushing the limit of what you can do is natural human behavior. Walk to the edge of a building, and it's there, always. The urge to jump. You can grab something. You can reach the next one. People skydive. They wirewalk. They go whitewater rafting. They pit their reflexes and skills against each other in numerous ways. Find your limits, surpass them. It's a fundamental biological drive.

Sexuality occupies a weird space in our lives viewed in this way. Your limits, as you perceive them, are for most people far short of any kind of real physical danger to you. It's very close to the only physical activity this is true of. You're far more likely to get killed hiking or bluewater kayaking than you are doing anything sexual. The limits on sexual activities most people have are almost purely mental, and usually imposed socially. From a physical standpoint, leaving aside possible social consequences and logistical difficulties and trust issues, it is easier than almost any other activity for you to find your limit and transcend. This is especially true for women.

Yet despite (or even because) the resulting issues being all in our heads it's by far the most intimidating, and the push-the-limits activity most likely to cause you serious consequences if others know you've pursued it. Again, especially true for women.

It's a stupid world we live in. Of course, if it wasn't stupid then we'd have no activity where you could feel like you're pushing to the breaking point and yet really be nowhere near it.

[Sololop]

Tried my hand at a panorama. I go for walks when I need to think, and felt like sharing the view I get sometimes. Not the best quality but with practice I think I can get better photos.

[StarSlayer]

So it's raining out, a large front happens to be rolling up the east coast, and myself and two coworkers were walking over to Stop and Shop to pick up some stuff for lunch.  Right as we are approaching the door this Subaru hatchback backs up and over the curb under the awning practically blocking the entrance.  As this is occurring my first assumption is that this poor woman is automotively challenged and failing miserably at making a three point turn.  But once she has her vehicle snuggled up to the door she turns off the car and gets out.  Since myself and my compatriots had various expressions of WTF!? she states "It's okay I'm just getting my groceries."


... god I love entitlement.

[z64555]

So it's raining out, a large front happens to be rolling up the east coast, and myself and two coworkers were walking over to Stop and Shop to pick up some stuff for lunch.  Right as we are approaching the door this Subaru hatchback backs up and over the curb under the awning practically blocking the entrance.  As this is occurring my first assumption is that this poor woman is automotively challenged and failing miserably at making a three point turn.  But once she has her vehicle snuggled up to the door she turns off the car and gets out.  Since myself and my compatriots had various expressions of WTF!? she states "It's okay I'm just getting my groceries."


... god I love entitlement.

Plot twist: she's really stealing from the store, blocking the entrance prevents more bystanders from getting in or out. 

[Klaustrophobia]

Went and shot quite a few different handguns today.  Several 9mm and a couple .45s.  Found out that despite its fairly iconic status, the M9 Beretta (or whatever it's called in the civilian world) isn't terribly great.  I shot substantially worse with it than any of the other 9mms.  Really the only thing it outshot was a questionably maintained 1911.  Apparently I did quite well overall.  The range officer was very impressed when I told him this was the third time I'd been to a range, the last time being about 6 months ago.

Will probably return tomorrow.  Or maybe to a different range.  Hopefully I'll have something picked out by the time I have to return to work.

[NGTM-1R]

Yesterday (now), the USN bids farewell to FFG-56, USS Simpson, the only warship in USN history to have engaged in a proper missile duel, and the only remaining USN warship besides USS Constitution to have sunk an enemy ship in combat with its own weapons.

[niffiwan]

Well crap - that led me to this

(also, USS Simpson (FFG-56))

[z64555]

Went and shot quite a few different handguns today.  Several 9mm and a couple .45s.  Found out that despite it's fairly iconic status, the M9 Beretta (or whatever it's called in the civilian world) isn't terribly great.  I shot substantially worse with it than any of the other 9mms.  Really the only thing it outshot was a questionably maintained 1911.  Apparently I did quite well overall.  The range officer was very impressed when I told him this was the third time I'd been to a range, the last time being about 6 months ago.

Will probably return tomorrow.  Or maybe to a different range.  Hopefully I'll have something picked out by the time I have to return to work.

Hm, I think the M9 has a smaller grip than the M1911A1, so that may be the reason you shot a bit worse with it. Were you shooting single handed or double handed?

[Klaustrophobia]

Two handed.  (I'm assuming single/two handed here means literally one or two hands on the gun/supporting the gun hand and not some other shooting-specific definition I'm unaware of.) 

Shot again today, closing in on a selection.  I'm liking the H&K VP9.  I also really liked and did quite well with the S&W M&P (there are a lot of &s in firearms) and.... Springfield? MX-D.  I rotated through so many it's hard to keep them all straight.  The range guy wanted to get me shooting a Sig 226, but it was in BAD need of a new spring.  The slide didn't fully return forward on release, and after the first shot it just stayed open like it was empty (but not locked).  So I didn't put any more through that one. :/  I did shoot a 9mm Desert Eagle, which I didn't know was a thing.  Kinda fun, but wouldn't want to buy one.  Pretty much had the same experience with it as with the Beretta.

[AtomicClucker]

Pulled photos off phone, will start to post some awesome stuff from Rock Canyon tomorrow. I'm still surprised to say that while I treat my home state like dirt and call it a hell hole, nature is still pretty neat here.

[Scotty]

The Martian is a good movie.

[AtomicClucker]

Current Crisis?

Where oh where did ma laptop go!?

Where did it go?!

Between hiking photos and client work... NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

[watsisname]

The Martian is a good movie.

Word.

[AtomicClucker]

So funny turn on the laptop, friend accidentally shipped it to Colorado after I helped him to move - it got stuck in a box with the rest of his computer gear.

Hopefully my clients will be patient, had a few things from that stupid thing to complete a job.

It'll be back shortly as he needs to return to get more stuff.

[Klaustrophobia]

Good god Shinedown's new album is awful.  The lead single Cut the Cord was promising, but completely out of place on an otherwise Imagine Dragons sounding pop album.  And another of my favorite bands bites the dust....

[Scotty]

It's not like their new album not being something you like means that the rest of their music is somehow gone or bad.  I've heard Linkin Park fans decrying the death of Linkin Park for nigh on a decade now, but they still play their old stuff at shows and on the road.  Whether I really like the new stuff or not (I usually do), they're expanding their show repertoire, not abandoning everything that came before.

[Mongoose]

And as much as I like guitar chugga-chugga myself, just because something is somewhat lighter fare doesn't automatically mean that it's bad.  I haven't really heard any new Shinedown stuff outside of the singles that our local rock station plays, but I've generally enjoyed them over time.