Skip to content

Off Key - General Discussion

A place to talk about whatever you want

2.6k Topics 18.6k Posts
  • Learned some stuff

    32
    32 Posts
    523 Views
    ShiroKuroS
    @Steve-Miller said in Learned some stuff: On a cosmic level this is a problem and costs us all. Here in the heartland, however, it’s not my problem. I evaluate the price against the local price and make my decision based on that. Bezos seems to be doing OK so I’m not too worried about it. Indeed! Re who pays, I’m sure you’re right, we are all paying, we just don’t see it. It’s like shoplifting, the costs are there and probably baked into the ultimate prices. It would be interesting to see a breakdown of all the different costs that compares the total cost (including costs to the environment) of a consumer buying in-store versus an online ship-to-home purchase. It would have to include the difference in warehouse costs vs store overhead, the trucking/distribution and shipping/delivery costs vs the consumer driving to the local store, all of that. I’m sure someone has done that kind of thing. Oh and then a comparison of incident purchase, IOW the idea that when you shop in-store, you buy things you didn’t intend to, versus the idea that online shopping and next-day or same-day delivery spurs more purchases. Oh and then the comparison would need to factor in the likelihood of returning something purchased in-store versus online< and include the environment costs of returns as well. Even with all that, I suspect that the current model of online shopping results in far more purchases and profits than in-person shopping. (Although the environmental costs are likely higher) Anyway it’s sort of thread drift, but my point is, the cost of porch pirates is eaten in there somewhere, but Amazon is still making bank. So far the resolution is to let them bill the closed account and when the payment is declined they can decide what to do. And then there’s this, which is just so stupid.
  • What are the chances?

    4
    4 Posts
    78 Views
    B
    @wtg said in What are the chances?: Vinyl is making a comeback I just got a new record in the mail yesterday. Got it off eBay: "Christmas at Liberaces". I wanted it primarily because he recites Twas The Night Before Christmas on it. Side 1, Track 2.
  • Customizing your user profile and settings

    3
    3 Posts
    72 Views
    wtgW
    If you are using features on Nodebb that you find really useful, please feel free to start additional threads and add a link to Tips and Tricks! I plan to do some other threads on How to Post (full screen vs Quick reply) and Skins, if no one else does them first. Also, if you have questions about how to do anything, please start a thread with those, and we can pool our collective knowledge, and add that information to Tips and Tricks, too.
  • Narrowing down.

    16
    16 Posts
    309 Views
    wtgW
    Food deserts and the Robinson-Patman Act. https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/the-mystery-of-food-deserts/ar-AA1v4dJA
  • For Pique

    7
    7 Posts
    176 Views
    wtgW
    @pique said in For Pique: If they don't want to do something, they just lie down and refuse to move. Game over. Newfoundlands make dandy doorstops, too. [image: DSCN0147.jpg]
  • They Can See Your Photos

    5
    5 Posts
    108 Views
    P
    Anything you type into a computer or other device, if that device is connected to the internet, it is not private. This has always been true. And you can't erase it, either. Just be circumspect in your communications you wish to keep private. Use the phone (land line?) or write a letter. Or meet in person.
  • The brain microbiome

    2
    2 Posts
    51 Views
    ShiroKuroS
    So should I get a shot of yogurt in my brain then? J/k... Maybe I'll read the article before I make any other stupid jokes.
  • Music, memory, and emotions

    2
    2 Posts
    44 Views
    ShiroKuroS
    Cool, thanks for posting this link!
  • $700/month housing in San Francisco

    2
    2 Posts
    51 Views
    wtgW
    A version of capsule hotels in Japan, except people live in the sleeping pod arrangement all the time. I couldn't do it.
  • Today's Sermon: A Lesson in Letting Go

    16
    16 Posts
    345 Views
    D
    Just puttin' it out there - I am NOT the ChatGPT Sermonator. Mine are better - and shorter.
  • Those who must not be named

    2
    2 Posts
    45 Views
    ShiroKuroS
    Interesting. Those names don't "break" CoPilot though. I was curious, so I checked. (For those not familiar, CoPilot is MS's chat bot/gen AI)
  • Forum Appearance Change - what and why it happened?

    9
    9 Posts
    167 Views
    wtgW
    I just went through a bunch of Skins and really like the way things show up when I use Quartz. It's not just the colors, but the actual data that is displayed. I was using another Skin and it wasn't displaying the "teaser" that shows part of the most recent post in the thread when you're looking at the entire list of threads via Recent. Quartz does.
  • Whatcha doin' for Turkey Day?

    33
    33 Posts
    622 Views
    wtgW
    We had a wonderful visit with our friend who came in from out of town. She arrived late Thursday and left just a little while ago. Our Thanksgiving dinner was on Friday, and we did a multi-day turkey extravaganza, though we went for carryout from our favorite Chinese restaurant yesterday. She brought a killer Washington State wine. Abeja Beekeeper's, the red blend. [image: b29cf890-d9f4-4f40-9b0c-0a036305c052.jpg] She brought the 2016. She also brought these chocolates. Really, really wonderful. https://www.burdickchocolate.com/4-chocolate-turkeys
  • Grand Obsession

    57
    57 Posts
    2k Views
    J
    @Mary-Anna said in Grand Obsession: I believe the video of Muffin and me was made at Plays88Keys' piano party. Jon was there and he's in the video. Do you recall, Jon? She had a Steinway at the time, so you're probably right that it was a New York Steinway. I think that was Plays and Improv’s house in Richmond. You, me, Bernard, and PD were all there. And some local friends of theirs. I remember seeing Piano Son and Muffin interacting as awkward teens. What a great memory.
  • My spouse would do this

    2
    2 Posts
    56 Views
    ShiroKuroS
  • Zipf’s Law

    2
    2 Posts
    47 Views
    MikM
    We’re the same basic species. It doesn’t surprise me to learn that languages construct in similar ways. We’re describing the same world. It would be interesting to to see if birdsong follows some version of Zipf’s Law.
  • unread color change?

    8
    8 Posts
    141 Views
    wtgW
    @Axtremus explains what happened: https://wtf.coffee-room.com/topic/926/forum-appearance-change-what-and-why-it-happened
  • Is there a good vacuum cleaner that doesn’t cost $800??

    32
    32 Posts
    665 Views
    ShiroKuroS
    Thanks @Lisa I’ll take a look! And thank you to everyone who’s commented so far! We’re going to pick one today I think. (I can make up my d*amn mind
  • Reducing polarization in Congress

    4
    4 Posts
    154 Views
    D
    The system has glitched on a on a periodic basis but a tacitly partisan approach to changing it is DOA.
  • Welcome, Marchant!

    15
    15 Posts
    326 Views
    M
    @AndyD Thanks @RealPlayer Hi @Steve-Miller, I remember you too. Things are OK thanks. I didn't comment in your thread about Rory but I found it very interesting. I hope he can overcome his challenges and make the most of his talents.