Breaking Baaa (January 2025 scapegoat blame thread)
8We’re kicking off a new year, and I’m sure everyone hopes just to let 2024 go. That means you’ll need to let @kittykat9180 go as well. Job done and on to the next one. I’ll do the honors now since no one bleat me to it…
With strong votes and high hopes for starting the new year off just right, @PhysAssist will be standing by to catch all the blame you have to give.
Happy New Year, and sorry for the late start. I blame @PhysAssist, as should you. Go!
- 29 comments, 109 replies
- Comment
I agree, I blame him the 1st 3day of the year being W T F!
@mycya4me technically most work weeks end in WTF
@pakopako but how many years begins with WTF
, What was the result!
@mycya4me @pakopako
about one in seven
Now I know who is to blame for that light bulb burning out.
@yakkoTDI
Actually, this is one case I know who is actually to blame:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoebus_cartel
See also:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centennial_Light
@yakkoTDI Damn. So do I. Last night the LED bulb in my home office went out. I blame @PhysAssist, of course, but at the same time I admire him for having the power to burn out an LED bulb.
@PhysAssist In video format.
In previous years I’d be all in, but sadly this last has left my surviving dog too depressed to squonk.
@brainmist
So sorry to hear that, may the new year be better for you both.
PA
To quote the words I learned to say reflexively very early in the 1960’s- “It wasn’t me… I didn’t do it…”
@PhysAssist Nobody saw me, the sheep are lying!
@werehatrack
Hehehe- what sheep?
I don’t even know any…
@PhysAssist Complainant’s sheep, who are clearly lying about the whole matter.
@PhysAssist @werehatrack it don’t matter if you don’t see the Sheep, it’s Your fault!
@mycya4me @werehatrack
Mea culpa, mea culpa mea maxima culpa…
Although, if there are no sheep, how can their complaint be my fault?
Also, are these purported ruminant ungulates Meh members, because as far as I can tell, I’m only subject to blame by Mehtizens.
@physassist how could you allow me to wake up with a terrible cold today. Scratchy throat, cough, aches, and I am so darn sleepy.
@tinamarie1974 Feel better soon! I hope it isn’t the flu or covid.
@Kidsandliz I tested negative for covid on the at home test today. If I feel bad tomorrow Ill do a tele-doctor visit.
Thanks
@tinamarie1974
Sounds to me like fair payback for nominating an innocent Mehtizen to be the January 2025 goat.
That said, at least it doesn’t sound like you’ve contracted the other viral nastiness that is reportedly going around nationally [norovirus]- else you’d already have been vomiting at one end and running at the other.
Finally, the rule with viral infections is if you treat it, it’ll only last 2 weeks, and if you don’t, it could take up to 14 days.
To be honest though, the best approach is to treat your symptoms in ways that reduce your risk of getting secondary bacterial infections- i.e., rest, plenty of fluids, anti-inflammatories, decongestants and/or nasal saline to keep mucus from getting stuck, and cough suppressants to keep from irritating airways.
@tinamarie1974
Oh, and I do hope that you feel better soon!
@tinamarie1974
@PhysAssist @tinamarie1974
WOW, I’m impressed, we’ve got a smart goat this month!
Feel better Tina Marie!
/giphy feel better!
@tinamarie1974 Warm Kitty, Soft Kitty, little ball of fur, purr, purr, purr. Hope you feel better Soon!
@Lynnerizer
Why thank you kindly for the compliment!
Also, I love that giphy- and chicken soup, AKA Jewish penicillin, is another really good treatment recommendation:
Immunomodulatory effects of chicken soups prepared with the native cage-free chickens and the commercial caged broilers
Source: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9411684/pdf/main.pdf
TLDR summary: Regardless of the providence of the individual chickens [i.e., free range vs cage raised], chicken soup was proven to be a potent immunologic agent to promote healthy recovery from viral respiratory infections.
Chicken soup inhibits neutrophil chemotaxis in vitro
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11035691/
TLDR Summary: The present study suggests that chicken soup may contain a number of substances with beneficial medicinal activity effective in mitigating inflammation, which could likely account for its attested benefits.
Effects of drinking hot water, cold water, and chicken soup on nasal mucus velocity and nasal airflow resistance
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/359266/
TLDR Summary: While drinking any hot fluid temporarily increases nasal mucus clearance, hot chicken soup appears to possess a significantly effective additional substance for increasing nasal mucus clearance.
? Enuff said?
/giphy chicken soup
@PhysAssist Yes, I knew that about chicken soup! Pretty amazing stuff!
@Lynnerizer @PhysAssist @kyeh thank you so much for the well wishes. I did a tele health visit today and got some meds. Lets hope they work.
@mycya4me thanks for the song!!! I was watching THAT episode of BBT last night and while Penny was singing to Sheldon, I thought well isnt he lucky. Little did I know I had the same song waiting for me!!!
@tinamarie1974
Unblame - Yay me for losing 30lbs in 2 months while on Ozempic for my type 2 diabetes.
Waiting to see if my A1C dropped, it’s still to soon for blood work, but I haven’t had to take my fast acting insulin in weeks so I’m hopeful.
Blame - for making me sicker than sick with nausea from said Ozempic even though I stopped taking it more than 3 weeks ago because of the severe nausea!
Edited for more blame -
Yes, shopping for a new machine over a $1.00 part and a bent door! 
My washing machine’s locking mechanism isn’t working and I don’t have my dad around anymore (he died 2 years ago) to fix my appliances. He owed a TV and appliance business and he was the one who serviced the stuff. He’d done it my entire life so now it’s up to us to troubleshoot and try to figure it out. Right now I’ve got a broken lock clip stuck in the locking mechanism. We’re getting the super glue and I’ll be shopping for a new machine this weekend.
@Lynnerizer sorry to hear about you Dad, I know what is like, since mine went home back in May 2016!
Have you tried to “google” it for a fix?
@mycya4me Thanks, it has been sad missing my dad. We were really close and I honestly feel there was nothing left unsaid. Times like this just feel like a punch in the gut and I’m humbled to be reminded how good I always had it.
What can I say, my dad/parents raised us to be self sufficient and do anything a guy can do. Given we’ve got the physical strength of course. He was raised by a male chauvinist. 
Lol 
Yes, I googled the issue and it’s pretty common with these front loaders. Being the set, both washer and dryer, were bought in 2007 the dryer will probably die the week after I either fix the washer or replace it. They came with the purchase of the condo. Not really sure it’s worth paying for a service call. I ordered the clip to try to repair the lock and now I know why they come in packs of at least 2-4. The first one broke off inside the lock. I’m not able to squat with a fused hip and my guy can’t see very well so he’s been having a tough time with it. Apparently I emasculated him when I suggested that I call my sister to give us a hand. Whoops… 🫣
My dad would be rolling over in his grave had he not been cremated to know I didn’t even try fixing it. The door hinge has been bent since I moved in which is probably the why this happened in the first place. My guy does our laundry these days and I’ve been hearing him slam the door for a while now and it’s apparent from the marks on the broken clip. It will be nice to have a new washer and dryer anyway. I’ve been looking at the 2 in 1 units. I’m usually not a fan of those kind of things but it’s worth looking into. So far I have heard problems with them not drying the clothes completely and with more research I found it could be as simple as not inserting the drain hose in to far because it gives it a siphon effect. I’ll see what the dealer says…
My goodness, aren’t you glad you asked me a simple question, have you googled it? IDK WHY I can’t just simply answer a question and move on!
Sometimes I HATE my overthinking, OCD brain!
@Lynnerizer
God bless, and mea culpa.
Sorry about your dad- 2 years is a pittance compared with the amount of time he was a constant in your life [like gravity and the sun rising each AM], so missing him will be a long-term thing- albeit hopefully less and less painfully as time passes.
Also sorry about the nausea, happy for you with the other effects.
Maybe a lower or less frequent dosage could mitigate that side-effect.
A friend is waiting for approval for Zepbound, a related drug, which is expected to have similar effects with perhaps less likelihood of side-effects. [Also because it’s less well-advertised, it may be more accessible/available.]
Sorry too about the washer.
Be patient with HeWhoMustBeHumored, not all of us older gen men were raised to be comfortable with powerful/capable females.
Despite your comments about the washer/dryer co-deceasing each other, our top-loading washer has out-survived 3 dryers in the [OMG] 33 years since we received it as a wedding present, with only minor fixes needed.
That said, dryers have less moving parts, [and hopefully water exposure] so they could be possibly able to be longer lasting [than ours for whatever reason], at least I hope so in your current situation.
Would ordering a new set of door hinges be a possible way to fix both problems? [once you get the hook out of the latch?]
Sorry so long…
@PhysAssist Thank you for all your good thoughts and comments! I must say your dryer has not only outlived 3 of your washers but also many of my friends! That’s a long life for any dryer!
I have thought about getting the door hinges. I’ll have to decide after I talk to the appliance store I’m going to be dealing with. We’re giving our business to a local family company, similar to our business.
I just saw Zepbound advertised on TV the other day and I was planning on asking my GP when I see her next week. Before I saw the Zepbound I had planned on starting the Ozempic at the lower starting dose after I had 3 consecutive days of no side effects/nausea. We’ll see what happens but I’m hopeful about the new Zepbound.
BTW… No need to apologize for lengthy texts. I’ve been a chatterbox from the get go!
@Lynnerizer
I’m sorry, but just a small correction- weirdly, it is our washer that has ‘out-lived’ 3 dryers despite 33 years of moderate to hard use. I wish I could remember that make of it, but I’m at work, so it’s not accessible.
My fault entirely!
@Lynnerizer @PhysAssist Hmm… my Kenmore washer and dryer are from 1983. Each has been fixed exactly once. Of course I haven’t been where I can use them since 2015 or so but I am reluctant to sell them in case… you know…I get lucky in the next move and have washer and dryer hookups.
@PhysAssist That’s still a great run for an appliance that’s been used regularly. You definitely got your money’s worth!
@Kidsandliz @Lynnerizer @PhysAssist In 1985 I bought a Whirlpool refrigerator for my newly-built house. When I moved in 1991, I kept the previous house as a rental, including the refrigerator. The 80’s frig is still working fine, going on 40 years.
Meanwhile, we bought new appliances when we moved into our current house in 1998 and are on our third refrigerator. They just don’t make them like they used to…
@Kidsandliz @macromeh @PhysAssist
Isn’t that the truth! I’m an antique lover right down to the 69 Camaro I drove daily for 20 plus years! If it wasn’t for my injuries from a terrible auto accident (not in any of my 69 Camaros, I’ve had 4 but not at the same time) I’d STILL be driving it today!
@Lynnerizer Yes I agree you got a LOT of use out if it. It is time to send it to the Graveyard. Being that I am Computer Mechanic. (I do Corp Break/ Fix- It’s Broke I Fix) Yes I do it on the side. Some time I tell friends it is Time to Shoot it! & get a New one. so I use that with All hardware. I am also a Huge believer in Getting stuff “Open Box” Refreb & sometimes just plain used! Those Outlet center are also Awesome. I sad that the Sears one closed.
When I went to get a new dryer, $100’s off, they told me for an extra $60 they would deliver & take the old one off my hands, I did do a service call, the Dryer tech try 3 different things, then determined it is was master control board. Not worth fixing it!
But the sad thing is my Mom had Dementia, I was her Caregiver. She just past this July. So this Holiday season was really hard.
WORKER BEES! HERCULES! TURKEY GREASE! AWESOME!
@Kidsandliz @Lynnerizer @PhysAssist I bought a ventless washer/dryer combo. Heat pump technology so it’s very efficient and you need only the normal washer hookups (120V and water/drain), no gas/big plug or dryer vent required. Takes a long time to wash and dry, often 3-4 hours or more, but you just start it and take out dry clothes when it’s finished. If it would fold them and put them back in the drawers it would be perfect.
@ergomeh @Kidsandliz @Lynnerizer
Sounds good, even w/o the folding option. What brand is yours?
@ergomeh @Kidsandliz @PhysAssist
I agree with PhysAssist on both points! I’d be happy without the folding option, and I’m interested to know what brand you have. I was looking at Bespoke at first but I think the GE might be better.
@Kidsandliz @Lynnerizer @PhysAssist I got an LG. It’s fine although occasionally it continues drying after I would consider the clothes dry. GE was the other major option when I bought this (a year or so ago). There may be others now. I resisted using a dryer for many years, mostly because traditional dryers waste so much energy. It was convenient to replace a washer with the combo in the same spot with no additional hookups required.
@mycya4me
So sorry about your mom. I can imagine how hard the holidays were for you. Again, I’m so sorry.
After more thought I pretty much decided to go ahead and buy the new laundry machine, now it’s just choosing what to get. Joy joy…
@Lynnerizer Thank You. Mom & I got really close over that last few years as I was her caregiver! We also got to do several local (100-150miles) trips some were to places my parents took the family when were Kids! The Look in her Eyes when she realized where I had brought her! OMG it was Priceless!
But sadly the better part is that I did not have any contact with my Sister or her family. They have been like the North end of a Mule walking South. Been that way for several years.It is better that way.
But I did get invited to 3 different Friends, family gathering, One on Christmas Eve, two Christmas Day. One at Lunch & the other for Dinner!
Yes MEH is part of my Extended Family as is my SciFi friends. some I have known for over 30 years.
@Lynnerizer I have been on Ozempic for the last 2 years have had diarrhea off and on during that period but use imodium about once a week to control it. Also on medformin and insulin (when my pancreas finally bit the big one). A1C went down from around 9 to in the 7s when I started taking insulin around 7 with Ozempic and I lost 20 pounds.
Last A1C test (get it tested ever 3 months) was 6.7 so except for the cost couldn’t be happier.
@Felton10 is therw a ozempic saving card? Monjauro has one and max montly cost is $25
@tinamarie1974 you have to be on commercial insurance to get that can’t be on medicare which I am. Was costing me over $ 700 for a three months supply in the donut hole and now with that gone cost me.
$ 140 for three months supply. Thanks for thinking of me.
@Felton10 oh, sorry my friend. Did you contact insurance to see if you could get an exception? My dad has a bunch of different eye drops he takes and several are $$$$ most of the time they approve the exception and the price drops anywhere from zero to a few follars.
@tinamarie1974 I appreciate your continued recommendations but the rules are entirely different if you are on Medicare, whether you have Part D or not, how much it costs you and whether the drug in question is in your “formulary”-bet you never heard that word before.
If one thinks they know everything about insurance-wait till you get on medicare-you know nothing.
@Felton10 @tinamarie1974 I don’t know the rules of that particular card, but you can choose to use goodrx, single care, etc INSTEAD of your medicare. Then if you turn in what you spent on the med to your medicare D insurance (or the D part of an advantage plan) what you paid can count against your deductible.
I want to blame the Goat for allowing me to get a Stye on my right Eye. I had them as a little one in grade school. So this is the 1st in decades!
But causes them to form?
@mycya4me
Mea culpa…
Stye or Hordeolum:
A hordeolum is usually caused by a bacterial staph infection and results in pain, swelling, and redness. A hordeolum looks like a pus-filled lump or pimple at the edge of the eyelid. Treatment includes warm compresses and antibiotic eye drops or ointments. Hordeola can be prevented by keeping the eyelids clean, removing makeup at bedtime, replacing eye makeup every three months, and hand washing before touching the area around the eyes. Do not attempt to squeeze or drain the stye yourself. Contact your eye doctor immediately if the redness and swelling extend beyond your eyelid to your cheek or other parts of your face.
Source: https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/eye-and-vision-conditions/hordeolum?sso=y
@PhysAssist since I don’t wear makeup, but have a very spoiled cat. One that Loves to rubbed/ scratched all over, including belly rubs. He is a inside cat!
@mycya4me
#1 cause: idiopathic- which means it just happened without a directly attributable cause.
No further thought required.
Dunno if this is an Unblame yet, but I’m closer to A Certain Desired Personal Goal than I’ve managed to get previously, and nobody has yet called or messaged me to say that some critical detail has been fumbled or some crucial prerequisite has been called into question.
As far as I am concerned, this merely means that they’re saving it to deliver at the most infuriating moment possible. But I will utterly disappoint them if that’s the case, because I’m expecting it, and I will absolutely not even get ruffled. I’ll just switch to Plan B and tell the current “providers” to piss off.
It is now 11AM on Monday, January 6th. In one hour, I begin the prep for the surgery. So far, everything is giving the absolutely brilliant impression of running smoothly. Ergo, I continue to expect disaster at any moment. After multiple fumbles by others previously, it’s not paranoia, it’s experience.
A bit over eight hours away from check-in, and the gut is very unhappy about the lower GI flush that is the biggest part of the prep. If you’ve had a colonoscopy, you know what I’m talking about.
@werehatrack One hour to check-in. Something should go wrong any time now.
@werehatrack
Good luck! 
Looks like it’s FINALLY going to happen! Prayers for everyone involved, (Drs and nursing crew) and for a speedy recovery without too much discomfort for you!
@Lynnerizer As noted below, the deed is done.
Goat blame: The Year of the Dragon is close to being over and i’ve yet to see one this year. (That wine didn’t count, imo.)
/showme a local dragon
@mediocrebot meh
@phendrick Don’t meddle in the affairs of dragons for you are crunchy, and good with ketchup!
@phendrick I dunno, 2024 just seemed to “drag on” all by itself…
@mediocrebot @phendrick Really? I thought he’s a pretty impressive looking dragon, WAY FAR away from being meh!
@mediocrebot @phendrick
Sorry!
/showme a fire breathing Dragon protecting a huge pile of gold.
@mediocrebot @phendrick Well I have to admit, when you add fire it brings it to the next level of spectacular!
BLAME: I have achieved the state of emotional burnout and exhaustion that manifests as tired-silly, aggravated by an attack of plush fuzzies. I probably need more breakfast.
@werehatrack
So sorry!
Who’s taking the blame for us not having hoverboards yet? We were supposed to get them in 2015 (along with flying Deloreans).
@ergomeh The blame is passed down from Goat to Goat in accordance with Profitcy.
@ergomeh @werehatrack actually blame is not passed, it is seated squarely where placed.
/showme goats on hoverboards
As long as the topic was raised (even in a pun), let’s assign blame for the hopelessly broken US healthcare system. Overall we spend more an get worse outcomes. Remember that “Breaking Bad” was about someone who took up drug dealing to cover his medical costs.
Unblame!
The deed is finqlly done!
@werehatrack
Congrats! and God Bless [or deity of your personal choice]!
…and “finally”- FIFY.
I am noshing the celebratory cookies I baked on Sunday night. Macadamia white chip lime. Yum. I only smuggled two of them in, but there may still be some more at the house.
BLAME-Driving across the state of Florida on Friday to begin a 7 day cruise out of Fort Lauderdale on Sat… 29 miles into the trip right after leaving Princess at pet resort, check engine light on in car goes on in car. 3 hrs later and $ 500 poorer for paying for rental car continue our trip.
@Felton10
Mea culpa…
Bon voyage though…
@Felton10 Although dealer said they were going to work on it by Tuesday after we left it there on Friday before boarding the boat for our week long cruise, they didn’t mail me until Friday (the day before we got off) to say there were diagnosing it and would let me know. Finally at the end of the day said it was a battery issued, had to replace it and would take 2 weeks if I was lucky to get a replacement.
Said WTF-2 weeks or more to get a battery for your most popular car. Finally found out it was the hybrid battery that needed to be replaced. At least Hyundai is going to pay for the car rental for the period after they diagnoses what the problem was.
UNBLAME: Finally discharged and back home. BLAME myself, the surgery requires a thrice daily 30 minute very private ritual for six months minimum.
UNBLAME: https://meh.com/forum/topics/energizer-1200w-ultimate-powersorce-pro-with-200w-solar-panel#67871c55586966a2d1c9311e
Unblame-after the fiasco of getting to the cruise port (who said getting there was half the fun was totally correct), had the best and most enjoyable cruise we ever had in our over 20+ cruising history-so much so we booked same cruise a year later with same accommodations.
Cruise was so smooth didn’t even have to put on my seasick patches. Best part was the Sanctuary dinning and club which were not crowed at all. See pics and things others posted about it on cruise critic.
https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/3032635-sun-princess-sanctuary-collection-reviews/
BLAME: The stuff outside is covered with freezy white stuff. Who ordered this?
@werehatrack It was a free gift from the gods. Count your blessings. If irk had been involved it would have been sleet and ice and so very meh with regret.
@Kidsandliz still waiting for ice from the first week of January to melt here. So much ice!!!
@werehatrack
Mea Culpa- but at least it’s not on fire!
/giphy freezy white stuff
/youtube fire and rain
BLAME: Parents never understanding me
@Wollyhop
Uh, sorry, but I think that’s their job- at least it sure did seem to be my parents modus operandi- and my contemporaries seem to have inherited the same lack of comprehension regarding their spawn.
Nonetheless, because it’s the month of my [existential] guilt:
Mea Culpa!
/youtube parents just don’t understand
Blame
Termites started crawling out this weekend when the temperature dipped below freezing and I had to turn up the heat.
To combat that, I’ve killed the heat, shut off the water, and… Huh. These mud castles are harder when frozen.
On the plus side, I can leave my milk on the countertop and it… Has ice crystals in it now.
@pakopako
So sorry to hear that- we just get a re-emergence of any and all the stinkbug that have hidden in the crevices [chinks is the actual operative term, but I don’t want any blame from any of Asian ethnicity for using it in this very focal sense] between our logs.
Our other plague of insects is the local carpenter bees, which although they don’t actually eat it, chew into the logs to make brood chambers in it, spawning multitudes of more of them to make swiss cheese our southern yellow pine house.
We hang bee traps around the perimeter and on days when my oldness allows me to do so, I climb
up and destroy their nests, then plug the holes with wood putty. Unfortunately, those days are getting fewer and farther between- so we’re vacillating between buying a man lift or [my preference because it can also dig and lift other things] a compact telehandler w/ man cage.
Mea Culpa, and again- sorry!
I want to Blame the Goat for my Indoor for Cat for catching fleas.
The treatment really cost a lot!
@mycya4me
You have my sympathy [and the obligatory apology!]
Mea Culpa…
@PhysAssist Where should I send the bill!
@mycya4me
No clue, I get the blame, but not the responsibility, nor the bill.
@PhysAssist AWE Shuck!
BLAME
I just received a summons for jury duty starting in March.
My last experience with jury duty was um, not pleasant…
@macromeh
Congratulations on your chance to expend your civic duty- and I’m heartily sorry for you having to do so.
Mea Culpa.
BLAME!!!
The transmission on my 15 year old minivan just blew out while I was on the highway, fortunately with an exit right there. Nasty whishing noise, RPM’s would go up and no power. Could only go about 25-35mph taking my foot off the gas each time the RPM’s would go up and whishing noise would start and power would cut out. And car rental is expensive. FUCK!!!
AND AGAIN TODAY BLAME!! I had, until it accidentally bumped it with the top of the first joint of my big toe, a bathroom scale that came from meh irk in, I think, late 2023. It shattered. Fortunately the way the glass shatters doesn’t create sharp daggers. It was even a reasonably decent scale. Based on what a transmission will cost me, no new bathroom scale for me any time soon. Sigh.
@Kidsandliz
So sorry to hear of both of these- my apologies for their mehcessity.
Any problem that interferes with your vehicular ability is just egregious at best.
While I’m happy that you didn’t suffer any serious personal injury, I’m sorry that your IRK scale has taken its final assessment of how badly the earth sucks for you.
Mea Culpa!
Blame-My opinion of Hyundai continues to go lower and lower-even lower of them than 35 years ago when I bought a 1989 Sonata in the first year it was out and it broke down driving it out of the dealer right after I bought it.
To refresh anyone’s memory, told you the check engine light came on two weeks ago just as I was about to drive over the east coast of FL for a cruise. Got me a rental car from Enterprise-a nice small Hyundai Kona Limited trim level.
Anyway they said they would to looking at it by Tuesday (left it with them the previous Friday)-well didn’t get to it until next Friday (week) later and told me it was the hybrid battery and now say it is going to take a month or more to get it from South Korea (if I am lucky) as it was on back order. WTF. At least Hyundai offered to pay for the rental after the first week which I am going to complain about.
Also having issues with the dimming feature on the Kona I’m renting so I called the Hyundai dealer to ask them how it works. They told me it either dims automatically or their is switch on the back. Shouldn’t a service advisor know how it works if I give them the year make and model on a car they sell? IDIOTS.
@Felton10
Sounds like you’re completely right- they’re idiots!
[who probably voted for one…- just saying]
Mea Culpa!
Blame; my four-year-old APC UPS started warbling while I was in the hospital. It appears that the batteries are at EOL and need to be replaced. APC designed the pack to look proprietary, but I figured out that two 12080 units and a chunk of double-stick foam would do the trick, so I have new ones on the way. In the meantime, I guess I need to do more cleanup of the old workroom to convert it to the New Workroom, because there are plans starting to develop. (I can’t wait to see how they will get trashed, it could be spectacular.)
@werehatrack
Mea Culpa, I’m sorry!
@werehatrack I am glad you are out of the Hospital! You are doing better!
Also on many cases the cost of the batteries is more than a Brand New- In the Box UPS! One that is NOT brown!
@mycya4me $170 on deep sale for a new uniit, $42 with shipping for the batteries.
MORE BLAME!!! My 24" TV is going out! It turns itself off and then back on. Anyone have any clue what the issue might be? I tried the kick the tires fix (unplugged and plugged back in a min or so later) but that didn’t make a difference. It is not a smart TV. It’s an older Insignia TV.
@Kidsandliz
Sorry!
Mea Culpa!
Maybe unplug it for a bit longer- 10-20 minutes at least- that will give everything that is warm [or more than] a chance to cool off and maybe the connections to tighten up.
Also, if nothing else works, maybe give it a good smack- same principle- joggles any loose connections, and may [at least temporarily] improve their connectivity. But don’t break your hand [and maybe don’t hit the screen.]
Best of luck with this too!
@Kidsandliz could be a capacitor replacement is needed. That will take parts and precision (de-)soldering.
@PhysAssist I’ll unplug it over night.
@pakopako The catch being I’d have to do a lot of googling and buy a soldering iron and solder. I could probably figure it out… I see cheap new ones are about $70+ tax. Except, well, this transmission that is 3 months worth of income and then the rental car which will be a bit over half of the 4th month’s (got the estimates and choices this afternoon and they suck but it is still cheaper than buying a new used car). Sigh.
@Kidsandliz @pakopako
Mea Culpa
@Kidsandliz @PhysAssist The Smack is a good tried & true Computer tech trick! It works a LOT. also if you threaten it, saying you will send it to the Dump if it don’t start working correctly, It works wonders a lot of the time!
@mycya4me @PhysAssist Yes smack and unplugging and replugging can work wonders on occasion. Swear words while doing that increases the “no idea why this worked but it did” dose of the smack. So far it’s being obstinate with respect to that cure. It’s in time out right now. Fortunately it is only a 24" TV and nothing bigger fits but unfortunately that requires real money and at the moment my emergency fund now only has monopoly money in it thank you my car transmission that did not respond to a smack, swear words or threats.
@Kidsandliz @PhysAssist I have heard that Kicking the Tires sometime works! But that is only what I have heard!
I am NOT a Car Mechanic!
Only corp 2nd level Desktop/ Deskside tech & sometimes a Field Computer support tech.
One time I was at a client’s remote site. Back during the time desktops used IDE Hard drives. When they had a tiny Jumper that you could select Master, Slave or neither!
Well the client was having issues with the Drive. What ever I did would not work. So I had nothing to loose. I started playing with the IDE Jumper. For some reason it fix the issue. By the Book it should have worked! So scratching my head. I just chalked it up to Tech Magic! I must have used the correct selection of Threats & words that it got scared of me & worked.
since the Manager was not available. I spoke to the Asst. I told the FM+ Ficking Tech Magic!
What got relayed was FM= Ducking Magic. The Manager called my boss & asked why I used that term. The Boss calmed on the issue. Knew that I did not use *&#%^ such words. He Reminded me Not to such term when it was Tech Magic & you have no clue why it worked but it did, That’s all it counts!
Unblame.
It’s the last day of the goat. A new one is coming in this new lunar new year. Might as well go out with something nice.
I’m sure someone has something nice happening somewhere.
@pakopako
Why thank you kindly!
Still my fault though.
@pakopako Not since inauguration day.
@pakopako As a matter of fact I did have something nice happen during @PhysAssist’s reign as the goat. The two sessions of radiation therapy I got for my non-Hodgkins lymphoma (Stage 1, low-grade, slow-growing) appear to have been effective. The tumor is my neck started to shrink within only a couple of days and it’s still shrinking. My team at Dana Farber Cancer Institute and the Brigham Cancer Center rock! Definitive info will come after my next PET scan in three months.
And @PhysAssist, you can take the blame for such good happenings!
@ItalianScallion
I believe these types of events are marked/posted as “Un-Blames”.
But I’m very happy for you!
I’m also very happy with my teams at the University of Rochester- Wilmot Cancer Center and the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center- my variety of bone marrow/stem cell cancer is considered incurable but treatable, which we are doing [so far successfully] under their supervision.
@ItalianScallion Well cool on the nhl that you are responding to treatment. Being indolent I presume one of the incurable ones? I hope being stage 1, and it sounds like just one node since that is all that is being radiated you are one of the lucky ones and get a cure. And get to avoid chemo. I have fnhl which is one of the incurable ones too (and had breast cancer on both sides 7 years apart, the second one earlier in the same year I was diagnosed with fnhl). And @PhysAssist I am glad you are doing well so far with your cancer too. I wish both of you well, not only dealing with the cancer but coping with how a diagnosis like that upends your life and emotions. Nothing like the emotional earthquake that comes with a cancer diagnosis, especially an incurable one.
@PhysAssist I didn’t realize you were in Rochester. I went to the U of R and played the carillon there. And was part of the group that repeatedly “decorated” the library bell tower with things like transforming the clock faces into Mickey Mouse faces, setting the tower lights to turn on and off in a pattern such that it looked like they were rotating around the tower… I hung out with engineers and we were bad, bad children. Fortunately the statute of limitations is long gone but actually we were very careful not to break or damage anything both when doing those things and when breaking into the tower. We took “alternative ways in” even though I had a key (because of playing the carillon) due to the “challenge”. Although the university cut off our ways to do that one by one, they never managed to stop us.
@PhysAssist That’s great that it’s treatable. You’re at a couple of great places too. I wish you all the best with your treatments!
@Kidsandliz Yes, it’s just one node in my neck and it’s also follicular. The tumor has already shrunk quite a bit just a few days after the radiation treatments. I don’t remember precisely what my oncologist said, but I think mine is also incurable, but quite treatable. Sounds like you’ve been through a lot and I wish you the best too. You’re right about the emotional toll: I think about my lymphoma all. the. time.
@ItalianScallion yes follicular is incurable except they can sometimes cure it, by radiation, if you have only one cluster of nodes in one place are involved. Of course it take a long time to know for sure if you are one of the few lucky ones and are cured which doesn’t help with the emotional side of a cancer diagnosis nor the incurable part (which I found qualitatively different than the emotional anguish I felt when I was diagnosed with the potentially curable ones I had first). If it comes back there are a number of treatments out there now and more and more people are living 20+ years (it was about 8 years before retuxan - of which there is now a second generation for that too - which was a game changer; rituxan is also used as a preventative maintenance treatment too with some people). Good luck to you!
@ItalianScallion
Thank you!
@Kidsandliz
Small world!
When I read your stories about this, I didn’t realize they were taking place in Rochester…
I’m actually kinda half-way between there and Buffalo- rural lake plains [as I say in the lake effect zones of both L. Erie and L. Ontario].
@PhysAssist What I loved (not) was driving home (at the time) to Cleveland at thanksgiving or christmas (well I didn’t own a car but paid to drive with someone). Typically the NY Thruway was closed due to snow but we were still on it anyway. So much fun. Not. From Buffalo to Erie was usually a big snowy mess (I lived in Erie one year as well). By the way when Ontario had their fair (so the dominion carilloneur was playing there instead of here and needed a sub) I was hired one year to play the carillon that was at the Rainbow International Bridge directly across from the Buffalo border crossing. Unfortunately they have now automated it so it can’t be played manually which is really sad.
Another thing we did one night on campus on the dorm quadrangle is build an 80’ long 2 story high snow dragon. Took all night. Took all the snow on our quadrangle and the frat quadrangle to have enough. Filling garbage bags with snow to bring back to continue the build is worse than shoveling it. In the morning it was incredibly entertaining to see the faces and hear the comments of people as they saw our dragon that had materialized overnight. People from all over campus were coming to look.
Some stupid campus administrator made the decision to have it bulldozed after a couple of days. We were not happy. It wasn’t in the way of anything and wasn’t damaging anything. It wasn’t going to fall on anything as it melted (although with as cold as it was who knows when that would have happened). It was a great use of snow and we saved them considerable snow shoveling gathering up all the snow from that part of campus. Ungrateful wretches.
@Kidsandliz @PhysAssist Wow, I wish you had pictures of that! I bet nowadays it would have been a huge hit on social media & in the news, etc.
@Kyeh @PhysAssist I know. I have always wished I had one too. Developing film was so expensive back then and I didn’t even own a camera. I think it did make the student paper and they sent it to AP news but I have no clue if anything was done with it by them or not. Probably impossible to find now even if old copies of the student paper were digitized and still around since I’d have to know the day we did that to find stuff put in, back then, likely the ERIC database. And AP news, if their files were paper, likely could bury the entire US in 10’ of paper by now. Well except it would be rotting paper since it wasn’t acid free.