Normal Goings-on

[Vyn]

Everyone thought there would not be a single post today.

APRIL FOOLS, SUCKERS HAHAHAHA!

[Zzzptm]

I was all stuffy-headed yesterday, glad I only got the one April Fool prank and that it was a very kind one.

[Charger]

Finally on the home stretch in building my 8 picture LP frame. Been a long project and things haven't gone quite the way I've wanted....it's far from perfect but I think it'll do the job...if not then I'll just scrap it and think of something else.

[Vyn]

It'll be grand - looking forward to some pictures!

[Vyn]

Hoping that Z wasn't impacted by the storms that hit Houston, Texas  - not sure exactly whereabouts he is domiciled, but the damage sounds extensive.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/houston-area-grapples-with-heat-power-cuts-after-major-storms/ar-BB1mCTPu?ocid=BingNewsSerp

[Zzzptm]

Dallas, Texas here. No flooding in my area, but I have a cousin in Houston whose power is going to be out for days and whose fence got destroyed by falling trees.

The power will be out because the high voltage line pylons were bent over by the wind. This is not a "we need to put in a new transformer to restore service" situation. It's "we need some new infrastructure to restore service" situation.



Temps there will be over 90F soon and the humidity will place weather conditions into health- and life-threatening categories.

https://www.npr.org/2024/05/18/1252303537/power-outages-from-deadly-houston-storm-raise-new-risk-hot-weather

[Vyn]

Gah, THAT is some wind damage!

"Think we blew a fuse?"

"Nah, I think the Earth's crust was ripped from its mantle and jettisoned into outer space, along with our electricity."

Hope those that can are able to get something in place for those who can't handle that high temp.

[Charger]

Wow. That's a proper storm! I don't think there's ever been such damage to a main high voltage line around here. Not that I remember anyways.

[Zzzptm]

Meanwhile, I saw the neurologist today for my checkup and he had a suggestion for using alpha lipoic acid supplements for myelin regeneration. I'm upbeat about the possibilities of improved nerve health, should it happen.

[Vyn]

I don't know what any of that is, but "improved nerve health" always sounds like a good thing!

[Charger]

Well I might have messed up my Achilles tendon last night...started hurting like crazy just out of the blue...I thought it might get better today but no...still hurts.

Got a doctor's appointment for Friday to see what's up... Luckily I only have 4 days of work and then two weeks off...well lucky for the employer anyways as I don't need any sick days!

[Zzzptm]

We had a small power outage last night, only lasted an hour or so.

[Vyn]

Z with the silent m will appreciate this:

We had an executive from a very small company in Ecuador stop by work today. She was invited as part of a "knowledge exchange" program run by an org my company belongs to, wherein people from smaller companies can spend a day or two learning about how a bigger company does things.

She displayed a command of English that was almost fluent - so when it came my turn to show her around it went well, until I introduced her to our infosec folks. After the standard introductions were made, I asked what they happened to be engaged in at the moment. One guy stated they had just finished testing a set of BOFs they had been working on, and they were a success. Then another guy follows up with, in a very-well executed Southern drawl, "we ain't just obfuscatin', we be obfufunin'". His play on words was pronounced, "ob-few-funin'".

OMG. There were a few chuckles, our guest had the expression of someone who had no idea what was going on but felt compelled to act like they did, and I deftly got her and I out of there.

She asked what an "ob-few-whatever" was. I explained that they had tried - poorly - to make a joke. She nodded and indicated that she has never been able to understand "dork humor". Which elicited a genuine laugh from me.

I eventually handed her off to the HR folks, and spent the rest of the day referring to those guys in infosec as the dork squad. Sitting here recounting the tale, it may just be a permanent label
 

[Zzzptm]

lol dork squad

Meanwhile, we drove today to St. Louis and we will see the friggin' arch tomorrow am. Other destinations include National Transport Museum, City Museum, and Cahokia Mounds before we head back to Dallas by way of Little Rock.

[Vyn]

If it's still running and you have time, ride the egg-car up to the top of the arch. Awesome views from way up there! I call it the egg-car because it's an ovoid-shaped elevator that is built inside of one leg of the arch.