Nationally it is estimated that workers are not paid at least $19 billion every year in overtime[14] and that in the US $40 billion to $60 billion in total are lost annually due to all forms of wage theft.[15] This compares to national annual losses of $340 million due to robbery, $4.1 billion due to burglary, $5.3 billion due to larceny, and $3.8 billion due to auto theft in 2012.[5]
In short: wage theft is many multiples of all other types of theft combined.
Obvious solution is obvious: Eat the corporate overlords.
Monday, December 31, 2018
Sunday, December 30, 2018
HopePunk spaceship future-singularity RPG!
HopePunk spaceship future-singularity RPG!
https://festive.ninja/return-to-the-stars-science-fiction-roleplaying-game/
I skimmed this. Has anyone else followed it? Anybody know the author?
https://festive.ninja/return-to-the-stars-science-fiction-roleplaying-game/
https://festive.ninja/return-to-the-stars-science-fiction-roleplaying-game/
I skimmed this. Has anyone else followed it? Anybody know the author?
https://festive.ninja/return-to-the-stars-science-fiction-roleplaying-game/
My G+ escape pod: Goodreads.
My G+ escape pod: Goodreads.
That should let me combine my favorite lonely fun with everyone else.
It does help that I just bought a fancy new kindle.
Let's find each other there. My gmail is CallMeWilliam
That should let me combine my favorite lonely fun with everyone else.
It does help that I just bought a fancy new kindle.
Let's find each other there. My gmail is CallMeWilliam
Sunday, December 23, 2018
Today in Japan, we're celebrating the emperor's birthday.
Originally shared by Olivia Hill
Today in Japan, we're celebrating the emperor's birthday. Every bank and public office is closed. Meanwhile, millennials like me, we've got to hustle.
#iHunt The #TRPG, releasing 2019. 15/??
ok. ok. ok.
ok. ok. ok.
I am going to try to combine my love of G+ and my love of reading through the newly purchased eReader, which has Goodreads builtin.
I'm going to send invitational things to people on my gmail there.
Are YOU there?
I am going to try to combine my love of G+ and my love of reading through the newly purchased eReader, which has Goodreads builtin.
I'm going to send invitational things to people on my gmail there.
Are YOU there?
Saturday, December 22, 2018
Rewatched 9-5.
Rewatched 9-5.
The boss isn't just a bouchie fuck. He's a class traitor, such that everything that occurs to him in the narrative is acceptable.
Don't be a class traitor. Help me if I am one.
The boss isn't just a bouchie fuck. He's a class traitor, such that everything that occurs to him in the narrative is acceptable.
Don't be a class traitor. Help me if I am one.
We're trying to figure out effective tax rates on cars in arlington county.
We're trying to figure out effective tax rates on cars in arlington county.
Pulling from two websites, it is:
5% of the value over 20,000 plus 28% of 5% of the value between 3,000 and 20,000 plus 0% of the value under 3,000.
I can't find a calculator for it. The county doesn't seem to provide one.
Being me, I can figure that out. I can build a spreadsheet.
A $20,000 car an effective rate ~3%; a $10,000 car ~2.5%, and a $5,000 car right around 1.44%.
The average car-owner should not need to do this math.
I've aid it before: The average citizen should not need a spreadsheet to figure out there taxes.
Business, millionaires, etc? Sure. But not, like, 90% of us.
Pulling from two websites, it is:
5% of the value over 20,000 plus 28% of 5% of the value between 3,000 and 20,000 plus 0% of the value under 3,000.
I can't find a calculator for it. The county doesn't seem to provide one.
Being me, I can figure that out. I can build a spreadsheet.
A $20,000 car an effective rate ~3%; a $10,000 car ~2.5%, and a $5,000 car right around 1.44%.
The average car-owner should not need to do this math.
I've aid it before: The average citizen should not need a spreadsheet to figure out there taxes.
Business, millionaires, etc? Sure. But not, like, 90% of us.
Need to escape the doldrums of the 9-5?
Originally shared by Olivia Hill
Need to escape the doldrums of the 9-5? Tired of being the competent person in the room, held down from success by hierarchy and policy? Consider a career in freelance monster hunting.
#iHunt The #TRPG, releasing 2019. 14/??
Friday, December 21, 2018
The Mattis resignation letter throws serious shade.
The Mattis resignation letter throws serious shade.
It might as well be:
I’m in the cabinet. I am complicit in
Watching him grabbin’ at power and kiss it
If Washington isn’t gon’ listen
To disciplined dissidents, this is the difference:
This kid is out!
It might as well be:
I’m in the cabinet. I am complicit in
Watching him grabbin’ at power and kiss it
If Washington isn’t gon’ listen
To disciplined dissidents, this is the difference:
This kid is out!
That's a lot per vampire!
That's a lot per vampire!
Originally shared by Olivia Hill
People told me to make a game about the things I deal with. So I made a game about how expensive it is to be a millennial, how health care is broken. Also, about monsters.
#iHunt The #TRPG, releasing 2019. 13/??
Thursday, December 20, 2018
I am crazy.
I am crazy.
There are 15 Tech Levels. TL 10 is "standard". Everything above gives a large number of points, with decreasing points under.
Minimum crew and additional points are given by tonnage:
100t: 1 crew / 1 point
200t: 2 crew / 2 point
400t: 4 crew / 4 point
... etc up to 50,000t, which is 500 crew and points.
This is ten categories of ship size, if my math is right.
You get points for a spaceshp equal to TL ^ 2 - 100 + points from tonnage.
Spaceships have the following stats:
Tracks, including Hull, Heat, Data
Violence, including Guns, Electronic, and Marines
Movement, including Thrust, Jump, and Delta V
Money, including Cargo, Pax, and Data
Staying in the black requires a resistance roll against Money with a difficulty of your ship size. Or something. Working on that, but point is you stay in the black by having a bunch of ways to make money and a bigger ship is harder to keep in the black.
The point value of a stat (like Hull) is it's level squared. Negative values are the negative value squared.
So:
TL 10 Free Trader. 200t, minimum 2 crew. Points: 2
Hull - 1, Heat 0, Data - 1
Guns 0, EW 0, Marines 0
Thrust + 1, Jump + 1, Delta V 0
Cargo + 1, Pax + 1., Data 0
TL 11 Free Trader, 200t, minimum 2 crew. Points: 23
Hull 0, Heat 0, Data - 1
Guns 0, EW 0, Marines 0
Thrust + 2, Jump + 2, Delta V +2
Cargo +2, Pax + 2., Data +2
TL 9 Free Trader, 400t, minimum 4 crew. Points: -15
Hull -2, Heat -2, Data -3
Guns 0, EW 0, Marines 0
Thrust +0, Jump +0, Delta V +0
Cargo +1, Pax + 1., Data +0
Questions: Is this too much of a change per TL? Is ship size a fun stat?
Am I simply crazy?
There are 15 Tech Levels. TL 10 is "standard". Everything above gives a large number of points, with decreasing points under.
Minimum crew and additional points are given by tonnage:
100t: 1 crew / 1 point
200t: 2 crew / 2 point
400t: 4 crew / 4 point
... etc up to 50,000t, which is 500 crew and points.
This is ten categories of ship size, if my math is right.
You get points for a spaceshp equal to TL ^ 2 - 100 + points from tonnage.
Spaceships have the following stats:
Tracks, including Hull, Heat, Data
Violence, including Guns, Electronic, and Marines
Movement, including Thrust, Jump, and Delta V
Money, including Cargo, Pax, and Data
Staying in the black requires a resistance roll against Money with a difficulty of your ship size. Or something. Working on that, but point is you stay in the black by having a bunch of ways to make money and a bigger ship is harder to keep in the black.
The point value of a stat (like Hull) is it's level squared. Negative values are the negative value squared.
So:
TL 10 Free Trader. 200t, minimum 2 crew. Points: 2
Hull - 1, Heat 0, Data - 1
Guns 0, EW 0, Marines 0
Thrust + 1, Jump + 1, Delta V 0
Cargo + 1, Pax + 1., Data 0
TL 11 Free Trader, 200t, minimum 2 crew. Points: 23
Hull 0, Heat 0, Data - 1
Guns 0, EW 0, Marines 0
Thrust + 2, Jump + 2, Delta V +2
Cargo +2, Pax + 2., Data +2
TL 9 Free Trader, 400t, minimum 4 crew. Points: -15
Hull -2, Heat -2, Data -3
Guns 0, EW 0, Marines 0
Thrust +0, Jump +0, Delta V +0
Cargo +1, Pax + 1., Data +0
Questions: Is this too much of a change per TL? Is ship size a fun stat?
Am I simply crazy?
Brad Murray recently published an article from the ancient internet era regarding the job of the imperium in...
Brad Murray recently published an article from the ancient internet era regarding the job of the imperium in Traveller.
Essentially: to get planets up to TL10, so they can actively participate in interstellar trade.
Assuming that for a moment. You are a native of a barbarous (maybe TL7) system. Call it Krill. Your world uses solar energy and fuel cell. Your local system is ripe for exploitation. Your spaceships go from planet to planet.
You are an out of work former military person. Maybe army, Marines, space navy, scouts, or even merchant. Everything you've known has regarded the Krill system. The scouts investigate Krill, the navy governs the local system.
Someone had shown up, proclaiming himself the Earl of Krill. He has a spaceship with technological supremacy, a small contingent of Marines, and had proclaimed the goal of uplifting your world from barbarism to the technology of the Empire. He has proclaimed that all Krill is under his protection.
What do you do?
Essentially: to get planets up to TL10, so they can actively participate in interstellar trade.
Assuming that for a moment. You are a native of a barbarous (maybe TL7) system. Call it Krill. Your world uses solar energy and fuel cell. Your local system is ripe for exploitation. Your spaceships go from planet to planet.
You are an out of work former military person. Maybe army, Marines, space navy, scouts, or even merchant. Everything you've known has regarded the Krill system. The scouts investigate Krill, the navy governs the local system.
Someone had shown up, proclaiming himself the Earl of Krill. He has a spaceship with technological supremacy, a small contingent of Marines, and had proclaimed the goal of uplifting your world from barbarism to the technology of the Empire. He has proclaimed that all Krill is under his protection.
What do you do?
This article is wrong in a variety of ways.
This article is wrong in a variety of ways.
https://www.tor.com/2018/12/18/how-to-make-beer-with-only-what-you-can-grow-on-a-generation-ship/
I've thought about generation ships a bit. I've got spreadsheets. They aren't necessarily good spreadsheets, but I absolutely have them.
I've also made beer. Homebrewing, and in more fancy establishments. I've been to breweries older than the US.
And, well, here's the net: People will make beer. They'll find a way.
This'll happen for a bunch of reasons:
1. It is a fantastic means of preserving calories.
2. It is a fantastic means of cleaning water.
3. It'll get ya drunk.
4. It tastes good.
This article starts by saying to use Brewer's Yeast. There are a variety of yeasts used to make beer, chosen for taste, expected ABV, durability, and a bunch of other reasons. For example, champagne yeast is good to use if your wort has stalled.
The article then claims the production of starches is problematic, and that you'd only use excess to make beer. Reason (1) and (2) are the biggest ones for why humanity has needed beer over the centuries.
Hops and barley are not the only way to get flavor. Having some is a very good idea, but these are not necessary.
Sure, the Bavarian Purity laws call for only four ingredients. Which is really limiting the beers that can be made and called beer in Bavaria. It's really kind of a problem; the US has a lot of cool microbreweries that use ingredients other than those four, and we're making some of the best new beers.
Anyway. I might be the right person to argue with positions like this. I'm not sure.
https://www.tor.com/2018/12/18/how-to-make-beer-with-only-what-you-can-grow-on-a-generation-ship/
I've thought about generation ships a bit. I've got spreadsheets. They aren't necessarily good spreadsheets, but I absolutely have them.
I've also made beer. Homebrewing, and in more fancy establishments. I've been to breweries older than the US.
And, well, here's the net: People will make beer. They'll find a way.
This'll happen for a bunch of reasons:
1. It is a fantastic means of preserving calories.
2. It is a fantastic means of cleaning water.
3. It'll get ya drunk.
4. It tastes good.
This article starts by saying to use Brewer's Yeast. There are a variety of yeasts used to make beer, chosen for taste, expected ABV, durability, and a bunch of other reasons. For example, champagne yeast is good to use if your wort has stalled.
The article then claims the production of starches is problematic, and that you'd only use excess to make beer. Reason (1) and (2) are the biggest ones for why humanity has needed beer over the centuries.
Hops and barley are not the only way to get flavor. Having some is a very good idea, but these are not necessary.
Sure, the Bavarian Purity laws call for only four ingredients. Which is really limiting the beers that can be made and called beer in Bavaria. It's really kind of a problem; the US has a lot of cool microbreweries that use ingredients other than those four, and we're making some of the best new beers.
Anyway. I might be the right person to argue with positions like this. I'm not sure.
I love these so much.
I love these so much.
Originally shared by Olivia Hill
I wrote a little blog post about this advertisement strategy where our ads are meant to be worldbuilding and new art, in addition to just ads. This includes a dump of the first five iHunt ads, and the video ad.
http://machineage.tokyo/2018/12/20/worldbuilding-with-ads/
http://machineage.tokyo/2018/12/20/worldbuilding-with-ads/
Originally shared by Olivia Hill
I wrote a little blog post about this advertisement strategy where our ads are meant to be worldbuilding and new art, in addition to just ads. This includes a dump of the first five iHunt ads, and the video ad.
http://machineage.tokyo/2018/12/20/worldbuilding-with-ads/
http://machineage.tokyo/2018/12/20/worldbuilding-with-ads/
Sunday, December 16, 2018
Book recommendations, please!
Book recommendations, please!
Some recent anchors to help:
The Fifth Season: This is fantastic, and heavier than what I want right now.
A Closed And Common Orbit: This entire series is what I'm looking for. It shnes with values, and the universe is ultimately moral. Though, it could stand a bit more to justify the finances. Preferably in space.
So.
I guess I'm looking for low-conflict, high-character pieces taking place in a universe that challenges our protagonist(s), who ultimately work to make a better galaxy.
Preferably in space.
Some recent anchors to help:
The Fifth Season: This is fantastic, and heavier than what I want right now.
A Closed And Common Orbit: This entire series is what I'm looking for. It shnes with values, and the universe is ultimately moral. Though, it could stand a bit more to justify the finances. Preferably in space.
So.
I guess I'm looking for low-conflict, high-character pieces taking place in a universe that challenges our protagonist(s), who ultimately work to make a better galaxy.
Preferably in space.
Saturday, December 15, 2018
So.
So.
So. So. So.
We've got like 4 Sprint teams, with different scrum masters. All on the same pretty big project.
We're moving some testers around, for reasons that mostly make sense. I've alerted everyone that, ya know, switching around team members destroys the team's ability to function. That for the next couple of sprints, not to expect much. That I've got to do a bunch of work to keep the positive, safe enviroment that I'd created these past few months.
But, the key thing is: the tester who I have supported and help grow is moving. In her place, I'm getting a tester who has had ... challenges. This includes making some elementary mistakes that are seriously problematic.
I am hopeful that, in the next couple of sprints, I can make her realize I'm here to help, and that she really can bring questions when she's not sure what to do. That this is tremendously better than making mistakes that fuckup other people's work, and that I will move goddamn mountains to find the answers and help.
Here's hoping. Fucking management.
So. So. So.
We've got like 4 Sprint teams, with different scrum masters. All on the same pretty big project.
We're moving some testers around, for reasons that mostly make sense. I've alerted everyone that, ya know, switching around team members destroys the team's ability to function. That for the next couple of sprints, not to expect much. That I've got to do a bunch of work to keep the positive, safe enviroment that I'd created these past few months.
But, the key thing is: the tester who I have supported and help grow is moving. In her place, I'm getting a tester who has had ... challenges. This includes making some elementary mistakes that are seriously problematic.
I am hopeful that, in the next couple of sprints, I can make her realize I'm here to help, and that she really can bring questions when she's not sure what to do. That this is tremendously better than making mistakes that fuckup other people's work, and that I will move goddamn mountains to find the answers and help.
Here's hoping. Fucking management.
Them: All scrum teams should continue to use the 7 subtasks for each user story.
Them: All scrum teams should continue to use the 7 subtasks for each user story.
Me: .... Why?
Them: So we see that each part gets done.
Me: ... How about if I write the user stories on post it notes, put them on the wall, and ask people everyday what they are doing?
Them: Will that work?
Me: I have no idea. Let's find out!
------------
Me: Well, that's working! Can we get rid of the subtasks?
Them: All scrum teams should continue to use the 7 subtasks for each task.
Me: .... Why?
Them: So we have individual accountability.
Me: ... How about if folks put a sticker onto there tasks towards the beginning of the sprint, so we know what folks have committed to?
Them: Will that work?
Me: I have no idea. Let's find out!
-----------
Me: .... Why?
Them: So we see that each part gets done.
Me: ... How about if I write the user stories on post it notes, put them on the wall, and ask people everyday what they are doing?
Them: Will that work?
Me: I have no idea. Let's find out!
------------
Me: Well, that's working! Can we get rid of the subtasks?
Them: All scrum teams should continue to use the 7 subtasks for each task.
Me: .... Why?
Them: So we have individual accountability.
Me: ... How about if folks put a sticker onto there tasks towards the beginning of the sprint, so we know what folks have committed to?
Them: Will that work?
Me: I have no idea. Let's find out!
-----------
Friday, December 14, 2018
Where's the fucking sun?
Where's the fucking sun?
I noticed over the last few days I've been humming Better Son / Daughter by Rilo Kiley. It's one of these fighting depression songs.
And, to be clear: I'm not depressed. Not, like, DEPRESSED. I just get sad when there's no sun. And I know it'll pass.
I'm not sleeping super great. My job involves a whole lot of high-touch happiness, and that's especially draining this time of year. Remember: professional MC, more or less.
So, I'm now playing depression fighting songs while I work from home.
Got any suggestions?
I noticed over the last few days I've been humming Better Son / Daughter by Rilo Kiley. It's one of these fighting depression songs.
And, to be clear: I'm not depressed. Not, like, DEPRESSED. I just get sad when there's no sun. And I know it'll pass.
I'm not sleeping super great. My job involves a whole lot of high-touch happiness, and that's especially draining this time of year. Remember: professional MC, more or less.
So, I'm now playing depression fighting songs while I work from home.
Got any suggestions?
Thursday, December 13, 2018
Wednesday, December 12, 2018
This conversation absolutely reminds me of customer support calls
This conversation absolutely reminds me of customer support calls
User: My iPhone tells my granddaughter that I'm a nazi.
Google customer support: We do not make the iPhone.
Nazi: It might have been an Android.
Support Supervisor: What application was operating?
Nazi fuck: One of those kids games!
Google CEO: We need to know the application and phone before we can investigate what happened.
Technophobic Nazi: My GRANDDAUGHTER saw on her PHONE that I'm a NAZI
Google: Have you considered not being a Nazi?
https://thehill.com/policy/technology/420838-google-ceo-responds-to-steve-king-concerns-about-granddaughters-iphone
https://thehill.com/policy/technology/420838-google-ceo-responds-to-steve-king-concerns-about-granddaughters-iphone
User: My iPhone tells my granddaughter that I'm a nazi.
Google customer support: We do not make the iPhone.
Nazi: It might have been an Android.
Support Supervisor: What application was operating?
Nazi fuck: One of those kids games!
Google CEO: We need to know the application and phone before we can investigate what happened.
Technophobic Nazi: My GRANDDAUGHTER saw on her PHONE that I'm a NAZI
Google: Have you considered not being a Nazi?
https://thehill.com/policy/technology/420838-google-ceo-responds-to-steve-king-concerns-about-granddaughters-iphone
https://thehill.com/policy/technology/420838-google-ceo-responds-to-steve-king-concerns-about-granddaughters-iphone
Tuesday, December 11, 2018
Which spaceship do you take within your own borders, to esocrt someone to a specialized medical facility?
Which spaceship do you take within your own borders, to esocrt someone to a specialized medical facility?
a. A quick, small ship with space for a half dozen people.
b. a fast warship with a crew of 50 and no medical facilities
You tell me.
a. A quick, small ship with space for a half dozen people.
b. a fast warship with a crew of 50 and no medical facilities
You tell me.
Intentionally put into my argumentative collection.
Intentionally put into my argumentative collection.
Position, which I will defend: Nancy is going to annihilate that asshole.
Note: This is mildly disingenuous. I want folks to agree with me, but if you think I am mistaken, do tell me! I will explain why I disagree with your assessment.
No Devil's advocacy, bad faith, or ad hominem attacks against people who are not fucking nazi's. You can say bad thing about That Asshole all you want.
Originally shared by Curt Thompson
Holy crap.
Well, Nancy Pelosi needed to shore up her cred as a leader, I guess. But man, she must have seen something that lead her to believe that there is no hope of ever working constructively with Trump on anything. Because his ego will demand nothing less than total war with her, now.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/pelosi-questions-trumps-manhood-after-confrontational-white-house-meeting/2018/12/11/2b2111be-fd79-11e8-862a-b6a6f3ce8199_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.25fd80ae5355
Position, which I will defend: Nancy is going to annihilate that asshole.
Note: This is mildly disingenuous. I want folks to agree with me, but if you think I am mistaken, do tell me! I will explain why I disagree with your assessment.
No Devil's advocacy, bad faith, or ad hominem attacks against people who are not fucking nazi's. You can say bad thing about That Asshole all you want.
Originally shared by Curt Thompson
Holy crap.
Well, Nancy Pelosi needed to shore up her cred as a leader, I guess. But man, she must have seen something that lead her to believe that there is no hope of ever working constructively with Trump on anything. Because his ego will demand nothing less than total war with her, now.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/pelosi-questions-trumps-manhood-after-confrontational-white-house-meeting/2018/12/11/2b2111be-fd79-11e8-862a-b6a6f3ce8199_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.25fd80ae5355
Things I've said in the office:
Things I've said in the office:
- Capital is dead labor, which, vampire-like, lives only by sucking living labor, and lives the more, the more labor it sucks.
- Management's primary duty is to pay as little as possible for labor. HR's primary job is to keep the company from getting sued. Labor's job is to extract as much from Capital as possible, while providing as little productivity as possible to Management.
- "Bougie" is taken from Bourgeoisie, most noteably used by Marks as oppressors of the proletariat.
- Yes, it is ethical and legal and permissible for you to discuss pay with other employees without management present, and this is a legally protected action.
In other news: Guess whose impressed his bosses sufficiently to be promised a promotion after we negotiate the new contract?
- Capital is dead labor, which, vampire-like, lives only by sucking living labor, and lives the more, the more labor it sucks.
- Management's primary duty is to pay as little as possible for labor. HR's primary job is to keep the company from getting sued. Labor's job is to extract as much from Capital as possible, while providing as little productivity as possible to Management.
- "Bougie" is taken from Bourgeoisie, most noteably used by Marks as oppressors of the proletariat.
- Yes, it is ethical and legal and permissible for you to discuss pay with other employees without management present, and this is a legally protected action.
In other news: Guess whose impressed his bosses sufficiently to be promised a promotion after we negotiate the new contract?
Monday, December 10, 2018
pretty sure i had a stealth migraine today.
pretty sure i had a stealth migraine today. All of a sudden, I couldn't process text on a screen. So I went home and read a paper book for a while.
It helped. I think sleeping will also help.
It helped. I think sleeping will also help.
Sunday, December 9, 2018
There's a DS9 episode "House of Quark", where Quark becomes head of a klingon house.
There's a DS9 episode "House of Quark", where Quark becomes head of a klingon house.
This shows a strategy the Ferengi should really do more of: Buying in to the finances and plots of other Empires.
Imagine:
- Ferengi building of stembolts for the Federation
- Ferengi joining the Cardassian central command
What else?
This shows a strategy the Ferengi should really do more of: Buying in to the finances and plots of other Empires.
Imagine:
- Ferengi building of stembolts for the Federation
- Ferengi joining the Cardassian central command
What else?
There's this notion that folks my age "should" have a whole bunch of cables in a box somewhere.
There's this notion that folks my age "should" have a whole bunch of cables in a box somewhere. Old RCA cables, maybe some USB or ancient iphone cables. I'd expect IDE cables, power cables, frayed cords, etc.
You don't have to. You can have none of that. It's completely OK. It's also completely OK too have that junk, but as that is generally believed, this post is about not owning such junk.
We get rid of wires with force.
Around about once a year, and certainly each time we move, we go through the wires. Plus, if we see a wire we don't recognize then we decide what to do with it. Either at our planning sessions, or just when we're cleaning.
We'e got one 3.5mm headphone jack left, and that's for the nearly decade old NPR-branded radio. It plugs into a dongle, so we can use it as a speaker system for phones. Eventually, I want to replace that but I like that radio and we don't use it this way very often. It's very low on the list of priorities, is what I'm saying.
We're slowly getting rid of miniUSB wires, as both our phones now have USBC or whatever it's called. Point being, the phones can't plug into that. And they can't plug into a 3.5 mm headphone jack without a dongle. We keep a spare pare of old unpowered headphones with a dongle, but we both have new ones that natively talk to the phones.
The only plugs that go into the chromebooks are for power. We cast from the chromebooks to the TV using a chromecast. I intentionally keep a spare one of those, as we've given them away if folks think they are magic. The spare is visually hidden behind a picture.
Also: Chromecasts are magic. Three things plug into our TV: power, chromecast, digital antenna. We use the antenna to watch Jeopardy! We've tried using it to watch The Good Place, but the commercials really reduce the fun. The chromecast is used for essentially everything else.
Anyway; you don't need to have a whole bunch of wires. You do not have to horde them. It's ok to get rid of them. It's completely OK to say "I don't know what this goes to", and then toss the thing.
You don't have to. You can have none of that. It's completely OK. It's also completely OK too have that junk, but as that is generally believed, this post is about not owning such junk.
We get rid of wires with force.
Around about once a year, and certainly each time we move, we go through the wires. Plus, if we see a wire we don't recognize then we decide what to do with it. Either at our planning sessions, or just when we're cleaning.
We'e got one 3.5mm headphone jack left, and that's for the nearly decade old NPR-branded radio. It plugs into a dongle, so we can use it as a speaker system for phones. Eventually, I want to replace that but I like that radio and we don't use it this way very often. It's very low on the list of priorities, is what I'm saying.
We're slowly getting rid of miniUSB wires, as both our phones now have USBC or whatever it's called. Point being, the phones can't plug into that. And they can't plug into a 3.5 mm headphone jack without a dongle. We keep a spare pare of old unpowered headphones with a dongle, but we both have new ones that natively talk to the phones.
The only plugs that go into the chromebooks are for power. We cast from the chromebooks to the TV using a chromecast. I intentionally keep a spare one of those, as we've given them away if folks think they are magic. The spare is visually hidden behind a picture.
Also: Chromecasts are magic. Three things plug into our TV: power, chromecast, digital antenna. We use the antenna to watch Jeopardy! We've tried using it to watch The Good Place, but the commercials really reduce the fun. The chromecast is used for essentially everything else.
Anyway; you don't need to have a whole bunch of wires. You do not have to horde them. It's ok to get rid of them. It's completely OK to say "I don't know what this goes to", and then toss the thing.
Friday, December 7, 2018
Some days, I almost feel like an important part in software development.
Some days, I almost feel like an important part in software development.
Other days, I feel like I'm a scheduler.
Then things like this happen, all over email:
Them: There's a BUG on PROD that only we have found!
Me: Yep. Software has bugs. Let's bring it into the next sprint.
Them: NO WAY. Let's push the solution now now now to prod.
Me: Um. No.If there's already a developed solution for it, then we can bring it into the Sprint, but only with a commit from the test team. If it doesn't require testing, then we can bring it into The Sprint and mark it as done. Under no circumstances are we pushing untested code to Prod.
Testing Manager: Yep. We've got the bandwidth to test it. Please pull it into the sprint, and mark it for the release that's after that.
Me: Done. We'll negotiate at standup exactly who is going to test.
----
I guess I call that one a win?
Other days, I feel like I'm a scheduler.
Then things like this happen, all over email:
Them: There's a BUG on PROD that only we have found!
Me: Yep. Software has bugs. Let's bring it into the next sprint.
Them: NO WAY. Let's push the solution now now now to prod.
Me: Um. No.If there's already a developed solution for it, then we can bring it into the Sprint, but only with a commit from the test team. If it doesn't require testing, then we can bring it into The Sprint and mark it as done. Under no circumstances are we pushing untested code to Prod.
Testing Manager: Yep. We've got the bandwidth to test it. Please pull it into the sprint, and mark it for the release that's after that.
Me: Done. We'll negotiate at standup exactly who is going to test.
----
I guess I call that one a win?
Wednesday, December 5, 2018
well, that was emotionally exhausting.
well, that was emotionally exhausting.
Tell me positives, largely regarding myself?
Tell me positives, largely regarding myself?
Tuesday, December 4, 2018
I'm reading Tale of a Spaceborn Few, the third Wayfarers book.
I'm reading Tale of a Spaceborn Few, the third Wayfarers book.
The first book is on a family merchant Firefly-esque ship, trying to make ends meet.
The second is on a station, about an AI learning to become a person.
The third? Spaceship. Giant goddamn colony spaceships.
These spaceships are built from hexes, which is cool. Each home is seven rooms that're six hexes, which is itself a hex - the center room is a living room, plus four bedrooms, a foyer, and a bathroom. Each home is part of a "hex" of six homes, with the middle being shared services like kitchens. Six of these is a neighborhood, with things like a grocery store. Six of these to a district, with such combined services as recycling and hospitals. 36 of these form a triangle giant hex, with manufacturing, big farms, and the "centre" that turns the dead into soil. Four of these decks to a segment, six segments to a homestead.
And because I'm me, I've got a spreadsheet trying to figure out how big these are, the size of the homes, etc.
By my math, roughly 186,000 familes per spaceship. Each family in a 4-bedroom home, so call it 1.5 million people per spaceship.
The homes are described as relatively large. There's other space besides homes. The total space is proportional to the size of the room - if each room is 8 ft on a side, so 166 sqft. That's a total square footage of something like 400 million square feet. Or 14 square miles, all four floors high.
The first book is on a family merchant Firefly-esque ship, trying to make ends meet.
The second is on a station, about an AI learning to become a person.
The third? Spaceship. Giant goddamn colony spaceships.
These spaceships are built from hexes, which is cool. Each home is seven rooms that're six hexes, which is itself a hex - the center room is a living room, plus four bedrooms, a foyer, and a bathroom. Each home is part of a "hex" of six homes, with the middle being shared services like kitchens. Six of these is a neighborhood, with things like a grocery store. Six of these to a district, with such combined services as recycling and hospitals. 36 of these form a triangle giant hex, with manufacturing, big farms, and the "centre" that turns the dead into soil. Four of these decks to a segment, six segments to a homestead.
And because I'm me, I've got a spreadsheet trying to figure out how big these are, the size of the homes, etc.
By my math, roughly 186,000 familes per spaceship. Each family in a 4-bedroom home, so call it 1.5 million people per spaceship.
The homes are described as relatively large. There's other space besides homes. The total space is proportional to the size of the room - if each room is 8 ft on a side, so 166 sqft. That's a total square footage of something like 400 million square feet. Or 14 square miles, all four floors high.
Monday, December 3, 2018
Our apartment seems to be ADA accessible. I figure this due to the following:
Our apartment seems to be ADA accessible. I figure this due to the following:
- There are no stairs or steps. There is a curved lip between the kitchen tile and the wood in the dining room. Easy for a chair or crutches.
- The bathroom. OMG, the bathroom. There's a shower stall, with hand grippers. It is big enough for a chair.
- The building is an elevator building, and there's no steps or stairs to get in.
And while the radio says I should thanks GHW Bush for these things, I am pretty sure there's thousands of Americans with disabilities who crawled up the steps of the capital who get most of the credit.
Remember that as GHW Bush is being sainted; he only acted after dozens of Americans crawled the steps of the capital. It had passed the Senate a year ago and was languishing in the House.
- There are no stairs or steps. There is a curved lip between the kitchen tile and the wood in the dining room. Easy for a chair or crutches.
- The bathroom. OMG, the bathroom. There's a shower stall, with hand grippers. It is big enough for a chair.
- The building is an elevator building, and there's no steps or stairs to get in.
And while the radio says I should thanks GHW Bush for these things, I am pretty sure there's thousands of Americans with disabilities who crawled up the steps of the capital who get most of the credit.
Remember that as GHW Bush is being sainted; he only acted after dozens of Americans crawled the steps of the capital. It had passed the Senate a year ago and was languishing in the House.
Sunday, December 2, 2018
You might be an anarchist if:
You might be an anarchist if:
- You don't cheat at board games
- You believe others won't cheat at board games
- You design your own gaming materials.
- You think gaming materials can and should be hacked by the table.
- You hold that social roles (GM / host / etc) should be taken on by the willing.
You might be egalitarian if:
- You think the voice of the MC is equally important as the voice of other players.
- You hold screen time should be shared roughly equally.
You might be a socialist if:
- You think everyone should have a space at the table.
- You believe we should ensure everyone can make it to game.
- You hold everyone should provide what they can to the game.
Want to add some others? Do these make sense to anyone out there?
- You don't cheat at board games
- You believe others won't cheat at board games
- You design your own gaming materials.
- You think gaming materials can and should be hacked by the table.
- You hold that social roles (GM / host / etc) should be taken on by the willing.
You might be egalitarian if:
- You think the voice of the MC is equally important as the voice of other players.
- You hold screen time should be shared roughly equally.
You might be a socialist if:
- You think everyone should have a space at the table.
- You believe we should ensure everyone can make it to game.
- You hold everyone should provide what they can to the game.
Want to add some others? Do these make sense to anyone out there?
I decided to make a casserole. Historically, I make a big deal out of these and then do it poorly.
I decided to make a casserole. Historically, I make a big deal out of these and then do it poorly.
I wound up with this. And, turns out, I've developed some important baking skills over the years. I could do this each week, I'm pretty sure.
Design parameters: vegetarian, mexican. Layers.
Basically: Layers of enchillada sauce, tortilla, enchilada sauce, veg, cheese. Repeat. On top is a whisked mixture of six eggs and milk. Bake for 375 for 50 minutes.
Rest for 15. Serve with tomatillo sauce & guac.
I can make improvements. There's different layering, but I want a different texture -- so next time, a bean, corn, and salsa layer.
All in all, a great success.
Which of you are using Blue Apron?
Which of you are using Blue Apron?
We've let ours lapse -- for years -- and want to restart for the winter. Under my name, so it's like a completely new customer.
If you are on it, let's chat so we can both get the referral bonus.
We've let ours lapse -- for years -- and want to restart for the winter. Under my name, so it's like a completely new customer.
If you are on it, let's chat so we can both get the referral bonus.
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