What made you smile today? Round 2!
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- Bellhead
- Templar Inner Circle
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- Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 11:17 pm
- Location: New England, US
- Fav. Twokinds Character: Keith and Natani
Re: What made you smile today? Round 2!
I SAW THE OSCAR-MEYER WEINER MOBILE!
It stopped across the highway from us, so I didn't get a good look, BUT I SAW IT!
AND IT WAS AWESOME!
It stopped across the highway from us, so I didn't get a good look, BUT I SAW IT!
AND IT WAS AWESOME!
Gearhead mechanic in the digital era, who will probably grow up is in the process of growing up to be a very grumpy old man.
- TheFrozenSlime
- Templar
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- Location: In front of my computer/ nose in a book
Re: What made you smile today? Round 2!
Since my last post, I've actually been rereading the comic (mainly just in the last week, but whatever). I first started reading the comic back around when page 826 released. Regularly followed the comic for about a year and a half after that until time between pages grew longer than my attention span. I found while rereading that I remembered less than I thought, which is nice for a reread, but next to nothing post-page 830. I've just finished Chapter 18, and I'm fairly certain that everything from here on out will be completely new to me.
I'm not sure how to feel.
This will be the first time I've had a significant number of new pages to read since I first found the comic. I feel excited, but I just don't find myself as invested as I was back then. It makes complete sense - I've gotten older and seem to have lost what remains of my childhood imagination; an inevitability, I suppose. Forum's also a lot more dead than it was back then. Only about 230 pages until I'm caught up again, so probably within the week. Then I'll be right back where I was and probably moving on to something else. I don't know. I'm just ranting at this point, but I felt like I should make a post. Kind of a milestone for me. Don't think this gets any attention, nor does it deserve any, but maybe one of the old guard gets a kick out of this.
This probably belongs more in the Rant thread, so more to the thread topic... Work's been going great. Glad I made the choice to work where I do, despite the long commute. Things are finally starting to look up for my Rangers, and we get a Battle for Texas in the Overwatch League Winner's Finals, with a trip to the Grand Finals on the line.
I'm not sure how to feel.
This will be the first time I've had a significant number of new pages to read since I first found the comic. I feel excited, but I just don't find myself as invested as I was back then. It makes complete sense - I've gotten older and seem to have lost what remains of my childhood imagination; an inevitability, I suppose. Forum's also a lot more dead than it was back then. Only about 230 pages until I'm caught up again, so probably within the week. Then I'll be right back where I was and probably moving on to something else. I don't know. I'm just ranting at this point, but I felt like I should make a post. Kind of a milestone for me. Don't think this gets any attention, nor does it deserve any, but maybe one of the old guard gets a kick out of this.
This probably belongs more in the Rant thread, so more to the thread topic... Work's been going great. Glad I made the choice to work where I do, despite the long commute. Things are finally starting to look up for my Rangers, and we get a Battle for Texas in the Overwatch League Winner's Finals, with a trip to the Grand Finals on the line.
- Kellard
- Templar Master
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Re: What made you smile today? Round 2!
I feel that. Things have changed. The forum is much more inactive, I no longer have the same kind of interest I felt back then, I'm older, I'm busier... And guess it's just not as novel to me as it once was? It was the first webcomic I ever read and my introduction to furries.
At this point there's likely a lot of things I've forgotten about the comic (plus several things changed because Tom retconned them), but I don't think I'm up for another read.
- Bellhead
- Templar Inner Circle
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- Fav. Twokinds Character: Keith and Natani
Re: What made you smile today? Round 2!
Reading these makes me remember my most recent reread. Started from page 1, took me a couple days... But it reminded me of why I fell in love with Twokinds. True, the later chapters have been releasing rather slowly, two a month if we're lucky, but I still really adore the pacing and character growth between Kieth and Natani. Even just remembering is enough to put a smile on my face...
But more on topic, I finally bought tires for the quad. It lives at work now, since it's the resident car pusher/puller, and the resident miniature plow, but up until this past spring, it had the original balloon swamper tires from 1988, and they were almost bald. For the last several months, we had traded bald swampers for bald road tires on custom-cut rims, but that won't do for the winter snow. So, $379 later, I finally have some chonky snow tires on their way.
But more on topic, I finally bought tires for the quad. It lives at work now, since it's the resident car pusher/puller, and the resident miniature plow, but up until this past spring, it had the original balloon swamper tires from 1988, and they were almost bald. For the last several months, we had traded bald swampers for bald road tires on custom-cut rims, but that won't do for the winter snow. So, $379 later, I finally have some chonky snow tires on their way.
Gearhead mechanic in the digital era, who will probably grow up is in the process of growing up to be a very grumpy old man.
- TheFrozenSlime
- Templar
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- Joined: Thu Jan 01, 2015 5:37 am
- Location: In front of my computer/ nose in a book
Re: What made you smile today? Round 2!
That's a good point that I missed - novelty having worn off. Even having forgot many things, it still doesn't have the novelty of the first read. It was my first webcomic too, and while I wouldn't call it my first introduction to furries, it was my ...formal? introduction. I actually remember more than I thought; I haven't read any more than I did yesterday, but I realize I do remember the characters of secretary Rose and Clovis. I know nothing about the retcons, so I guess those came later.Kellard wrote: ↑Thu Nov 03, 2022 5:17 pmI feel that. Things have changed. The forum is much more inactive, I no longer have the same kind of interest I felt back then, I'm older, I'm busier... And guess it's just not as novel to me as it once was? It was the first webcomic I ever read and my introduction to furries.
At this point there's likely a lot of things I've forgotten about the comic (plus several things changed because Tom retconned them), but I don't think I'm up for another read.
Re: What made you smile today? Round 2!
Yeah, the forums aren't the go-to for a lot of folks, which is a kind of sadness personally since this was one of the first communities that I genuinely put effort into being a regular part of. But that being said, the community itself is honestly still alive and well, if not better than ever. Now it just mostly exists on Picarto when Tom is streaming, and on various Discord servers, (that admittedly I am not a regular part of and can't really speak with authority on).Kellard wrote: ↑Thu Nov 03, 2022 5:17 pmI feel that. Things have changed. The forum is much more inactive, I no longer have the same kind of interest I felt back then, I'm older, I'm busier... And guess it's just not as novel to me as it once was? It was the first webcomic I ever read and my introduction to furries.
At this point there's likely a lot of things I've forgotten about the comic (plus several things changed because Tom retconned them), but I don't think I'm up for another read.
Now instead of spending hours theory-crafting on forum posts and discussing developments one post at a time, for me and many others, it happens live while watching every stroke unfold. Moreover, we even get some behind the scenes snippets on future developments in the comic and his various side projects! Maybe there's something to be said about losing the careful consideration of that goes into crafting a wall of text for the forums for the rapid fire quipping of a stream chat. But there's also a fair bit gained in the ability to regularly just chat with Tom directly. Something that only ever happened a few dozen times in all the history of the forums.
The one thing that is truly lost for me in the forums decline, is the lack of fan art and literature. This used to be the one stop shop and veritable Mecca for fan contributions where everything was easily discovered and found again with artists' dedicated threads. Now it's all just bundled together under "fan art" tabs across the Discords where they're immediately missed and effectively lost amongst every other bit of chat that buries it...
- Neutral Smith
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Re: What made you smile today? Round 2!
Being too busy for the forums can be a good sign.
This is the first week I leave after 6:00am and/or be home before 5:00pm since the start of September. It either has been earlier, or waking up in a hotel.
(normal working hours are starting at 7:30am and be done at 4:00pm, 40 hour work week)
But don't worry, next week it's going to be hotel from Sunday-Friday, after that Monday-Wednesday hotel, 'normal' week, week off, Monday-Friday hotel for 2 weeks, week off (+ Christmas) and again Tuesday-Friday hotel
This is the first week I leave after 6:00am and/or be home before 5:00pm since the start of September. It either has been earlier, or waking up in a hotel.
(normal working hours are starting at 7:30am and be done at 4:00pm, 40 hour work week)
But don't worry, next week it's going to be hotel from Sunday-Friday, after that Monday-Wednesday hotel, 'normal' week, week off, Monday-Friday hotel for 2 weeks, week off (+ Christmas) and again Tuesday-Friday hotel
If it moves but shouldn't: Duct tape. If it doesn't move but should: WD-40. With a hammer everything fits, and if it still doesn't fit: bigger hammer. If it can't be fixed with a hammer it's an electrical problem.
- Bellhead
- Templar Inner Circle
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- Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 11:17 pm
- Location: New England, US
- Fav. Twokinds Character: Keith and Natani
Re: What made you smile today? Round 2!
Sometimes I enjoy laughing at other people's ignorance. This is one of them. For reference, a 5K (or 5000 mile service) involves an engine oil change and a tire rotation, and the Leaf is Nissan's all-electric car. No engine, no engine oil.
Tech and Newbie are standing in front of a Leaf, with hood open. Tech uses an air gun to blow leaves from the cowl area.
Me: Yes, of course. As we all know, every Leaf 5K involves using an air gun to blow away all the dried gasoline from the engine.
Tech: *Laughs*
Newbie: Wait, were does the gasoline go? *points to firewall* Here?
Me: *looks at Tech, smiles*
Tech: *Looks at me, laughs*
Me: You serious?
Newbie: Serious question. Where do you put the gas in one of these?
Me: Whoosh. *hand gesture over head*
Tech: *Laughs harder*
Newbie: What?
Me: It's a LEAF. It's an all-electric car.
Newbie: So were does the gas go?
Me: Whoosh. *walks away*
Seriously. How are you going to work in an auto shop, and NOT know these things? <Tech> got it, but it went right over <newbie>'s head. Just... Whoosh. RIGHT over.
EDIT
Just read This. An article discussing the lifetime of the Mars rover Opportunity. Almost 15 years and 28 miles, exceeding its designated lifespan by 60 fold, and traveling further than 45 times it was designed for. Now THAT, is one HELL of a machine.
As a mechanic, I see this as one single machine, with a team of people at the helm, lasting a decade and a half, traveling several dozen times further than it was made to, billions of miles from any maintenance, without help, in a harsh environment, and STILL managing to just. Keep. GOING. I mean, DAMN. That's freaking IMPRESSIVE.
Tech and Newbie are standing in front of a Leaf, with hood open. Tech uses an air gun to blow leaves from the cowl area.
Me: Yes, of course. As we all know, every Leaf 5K involves using an air gun to blow away all the dried gasoline from the engine.
Tech: *Laughs*
Newbie: Wait, were does the gasoline go? *points to firewall* Here?
Me: *looks at Tech, smiles*
Tech: *Looks at me, laughs*
Me: You serious?
Newbie: Serious question. Where do you put the gas in one of these?
Me: Whoosh. *hand gesture over head*
Tech: *Laughs harder*
Newbie: What?
Me: It's a LEAF. It's an all-electric car.
Newbie: So were does the gas go?
Me: Whoosh. *walks away*
Seriously. How are you going to work in an auto shop, and NOT know these things? <Tech> got it, but it went right over <newbie>'s head. Just... Whoosh. RIGHT over.
EDIT
Just read This. An article discussing the lifetime of the Mars rover Opportunity. Almost 15 years and 28 miles, exceeding its designated lifespan by 60 fold, and traveling further than 45 times it was designed for. Now THAT, is one HELL of a machine.
As a mechanic, I see this as one single machine, with a team of people at the helm, lasting a decade and a half, traveling several dozen times further than it was made to, billions of miles from any maintenance, without help, in a harsh environment, and STILL managing to just. Keep. GOING. I mean, DAMN. That's freaking IMPRESSIVE.
Gearhead mechanic in the digital era, who will probably grow up is in the process of growing up to be a very grumpy old man.
- Bellhead
- Templar Inner Circle
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- Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 11:17 pm
- Location: New England, US
- Fav. Twokinds Character: Keith and Natani
Re: What made you smile today? Round 2!
Today I learned that there are T9 keyboards for smartphones. My life is now that much better. I missed this...
Gearhead mechanic in the digital era, who will probably grow up is in the process of growing up to be a very grumpy old man.
Re: What made you smile today? Round 2!
I had to look up what a T9 keyboard is.
For years I've been using MessagEase. It's a 4*4 layout, but in alpha mode the bottom row's left 3 keys are combined into a spacebar. And the right-hand column is control functions (including backspace and enter). Each key *can* have up to 20 things it does: tap, tap-and-hold, circle clockwise or counterclockwise, swipe and swipe-and-return in 8 directions. So you never need to use a shift key - although if you're typing long numbers or all-caps, both shift modes are available.
It takes some getting used to, of course... for any not-standard-in-your-country layout, I recommend having a keyboard-switch app as well so that if you need to hand your phone to someone else, they can type on it too.
For years I've been using MessagEase. It's a 4*4 layout, but in alpha mode the bottom row's left 3 keys are combined into a spacebar. And the right-hand column is control functions (including backspace and enter). Each key *can* have up to 20 things it does: tap, tap-and-hold, circle clockwise or counterclockwise, swipe and swipe-and-return in 8 directions. So you never need to use a shift key - although if you're typing long numbers or all-caps, both shift modes are available.
It takes some getting used to, of course... for any not-standard-in-your-country layout, I recommend having a keyboard-switch app as well so that if you need to hand your phone to someone else, they can type on it too.
- Bellhead
- Templar Inner Circle
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- Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 11:17 pm
- Location: New England, US
- Fav. Twokinds Character: Keith and Natani
Re: What made you smile today? Round 2!
The thing I always remembered (and loved) about T9 was the predictive text. It was usually right, and if not, it was pretty darn close, so you could type entire sentences with only one key per letter, unlike having to hit 7 four times to get an S. I hate to admit that I'm a bit out of practice with it, but I actually like it more than the standard QWERTY keyboard my phone came with, even with the Swipe. It still has shift and punctuation and all that, but still.
And yeah. As far as.. I'll call them "compact keyboards", for sake of naming... As far as they go, to each their own. No matter what you use, somebody else will always have trouble with it. No matter how much more convenient it really is.
And yeah. As far as.. I'll call them "compact keyboards", for sake of naming... As far as they go, to each their own. No matter what you use, somebody else will always have trouble with it. No matter how much more convenient it really is.
Gearhead mechanic in the digital era, who will probably grow up is in the process of growing up to be a very grumpy old man.
Re: What made you smile today? Round 2!
Nothing makes me smile, my life is Grim dark.
- Neutral Smith
- Templar GrandMaster
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Re: What made you smile today? Round 2!
Nothing is black or white.
It could be... 69 shades of something in between.
It could be... 69 shades of something in between.
If it moves but shouldn't: Duct tape. If it doesn't move but should: WD-40. With a hammer everything fits, and if it still doesn't fit: bigger hammer. If it can't be fixed with a hammer it's an electrical problem.
Re: What made you smile today? Round 2!
I've given up all hope.Neutral Smith wrote: ↑Sun May 28, 2023 8:47 pm Nothing is black or white.
It could be... 69 shades of something in between.
- Bellhead
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Re: What made you smile today? Round 2!
So, THIS happened.
Union Pacific "Big Boy" 4014, on a cruise through Nebraska, ended up stuck behind a freight train stalled on a hill. The 80-something year old steam locomotive, at the request of Dispatch, hooked on and shoved. And it WORKED. As somebody easily entertained by large mechanical things, seeing one of those absolute UNITS being worked the hardest it's seen since my parents were born, brings me great joy.
The sound ALONE is a telltale sign of just how hard that thing was pushing. Now granted, it was retrofitted to burn oil instead of coal, but all the controls are still completely analog, so in order to have the confidence to even try something like this, let alone succeed, the crew had to be skilled and experienced with the nuances of a freight steam locomotive pushed to its load limits, and that's not something people really know anymore. So MAJOR props to that crew, and a damn fine job.
Union Pacific "Big Boy" 4014, on a cruise through Nebraska, ended up stuck behind a freight train stalled on a hill. The 80-something year old steam locomotive, at the request of Dispatch, hooked on and shoved. And it WORKED. As somebody easily entertained by large mechanical things, seeing one of those absolute UNITS being worked the hardest it's seen since my parents were born, brings me great joy.
Spoiler! Context
Gearhead mechanic in the digital era, who will probably grow up is in the process of growing up to be a very grumpy old man.