Alpha Centauri 2

Community => Recreation Commons => Topic started by: Rusty Edge on July 22, 2015, 01:09:55 AM

Title: Things that make you scratch your head.
Post by: Rusty Edge on July 22, 2015, 01:09:55 AM

There are lots of things I don't understand, like dark matter and energy ( as examples) .
They probably exist, because smart people with science reasons say so. Some times I'm more open minded. Sometimes I'm more skeptical.

Have you run across something that may or may not be true? Something that makes no sense? Something with a weird explanation?

Title: Re: Things that make you scratch your head.
Post by: Elok on July 22, 2015, 01:19:07 AM

On our way south from MD, the wife and I ran into a gas station quick-mart named "The Hobo's Pantry."  Visions of dead pigeons and roadkill strung up from the ceiling danced through our heads.

WHY WOULD YOU PICK THAT NAME?!

Title: Re: Things that make you scratch your head.
Post by: Rusty Edge on July 22, 2015, 01:42:27 AM

Today I was telling my wife about a guy I once met about 15 years ago.
He claimed his house was haunted, so did his live-in girlfriend. Usually it was the sounds of footsteps on the stairs, although a women did appear to him, standing over him as he lay on the coach once or twice. The footsteps occurred again just after he told me about it, but I couldn't perceive a damn thing, only the residents could. They seemed sincere, maybe it was my undiagnosed damaged hearing masking something. I've heard houses settle, and contract in the cold, but this was warm and I heard nothing, and I was listening intently.

Maybe it's too much Scooby Do, but I don't believe in ghosts. Then again, I don't really want to.  I knew somebody who did, but it turned out that they were psychotic.

Anyway, this guy said it wasn't his only experience with a mysterious woman in white. Once he was in an accident with a truck in an intersection, he was knocked unconscious. Two guys  couldn't pull him form the wreck because they couldn't force the door open. A mysterious woman in white appeared , opened the door, pulled him out and vanished, just as suddenly, saving his life from a fire.  That's what the bystanders told him. He knows he didn't save himself.

That doesn't make any sense, obviously.

Some people would call it a ghost.

Or a guardian angel.

Or maybe it was a meddlesome time traveler.

Or a knot in the string theory.

I don't really know. I was just pondering how a person's world view affects their attempts to rationalize the unexplained.

Now if I were to read a fictitious book about it, I'd want it to be about a meddlesome time-traveler. That's me.

Title: Re: Things that make you scratch your head.
Post by: Rusty Edge on July 22, 2015, 01:45:44 AM

Quote from: Elok on July 22, 2015, 01:19:07 AM

On our way south from MD, the wife and I ran into a gas station quick-mart named "The Hobo's Pantry."  Visions of dead pigeons and roadkill strung up from the ceiling danced through our heads.

WHY WOULD YOU PICK THAT NAME?!

No! That is unfathomable.

Title: Re: Things that make you scratch your head.
Post by: Unorthodox on July 22, 2015, 02:30:16 PM

Uno's haunted building story.

Decrepit old buildings have been a norm for my line of work for 20 years. 

My time at Boeing featured 7 years in (from the outside, I think it was part of the security system to look like a dump) a very old decrepit building.  I was told it was haunted, and I'd be spending most my time in there ALONE. 

I'm more of a practical guy.  I DO happen to believe in ghosts, but I also believe 99% of what people claim is their imagination running away with them. 

Visitors KNEW the place was haunted.  I had more than a small part to play in that, however, and had a few things rigged to spook people.  (whaaaaat?  It's what I do.)  Flipping lights and moving papers while "no one is there" is a simple matter. 

During my time, however I had several spooky instances I eventually explained:

Footsteps.  Tracked it down to a leaky cooler.  Odd acustics of the place would echo so it sounded like it was coming from different places, or even following you.  Creepy effect. 

VOICES!  A person of less constitution would have fled.  One day, voices started talking in the place.  I'm alone.  It's stormy.  Not NORMAL voices, deep, garbled, incomprehensible.  Again, acustics of the place known to me now, the fact they sounded like they were following me didn't drive me off.  Inside a box way back in a corner buried under a ton of sports equipment was a megaphone that had somehow been turned on and the trigger pulled, and it was talking from thin air. 

I started walking around the building with it, and finally figured out it was picking up radio stations whenever it was close to a power conduit.  If I put it up ON the conduit you could make out the talk radio, further away it was garbled nonsense.  Go figure. 

Teh ghost spirit!!!

One end of the building was a secured area.  Heat/motion detectors were installed and would only trip if something with human body temp and size was moving in the facility.  (no mice, etc)  It started going off one stormy day.  Go check.  Nothin.  4 times it goes off, so I lock myself in and wait....

There was a massive spider web up by the heaters, when they kicked on it heated the web and moved it. 


I tell these to show I'm not easily taken in by stories.  Then there is the time I can't explain:

The Picture. 

We (had a partner at this point) found a slew of pictures in a back closet that had been inexplicably walled up, and I just had to open and see what was in there.  Mostly former officers and stuff, but there was some nice scenic pics.  Considering our office was 70's wood paneling and orange floors, a couple nice pics sounded good. 

Picture of a mountain, we come back the next day and found it on the ground.  I checked the hook, and rehung it, teasing my coworker she didn't know how to hang pics.  This sat directly between us on the wall. 

We were both working, and heard a big BANG! 

The picture lay in the middle of the room, 4 feet from the wall, face down on the floor.  Hook still in the wall, something would have had to pick it up off the hook and somehow get it to the middle of the room. 

I wanted to set up a camera, but my co-worker insisted we just take it back to the closet and leave it alone.  Still baffles me, that one. 

Title: Re: Things that make you scratch your head.
Post by: Unorthodox on July 22, 2015, 02:36:32 PM

Quote from: Elok on July 22, 2015, 01:19:07 AM

On our way south from MD, the wife and I ran into a gas station quick-mart named "The Hobo's Pantry."  Visions of dead pigeons and roadkill strung up from the ceiling danced through our heads.

WHY WOULD YOU PICK THAT NAME?!

There are those that romanticize the Hobo life.  Moreso in days past.  Where Hobos were actually seen as a life choice of living free without the worries of home and family, rather than one who was down on his luck and an outcast. 

Red Skelton had a show on back in the 50's and 60s, and would often feature his Hobo Clown character, even. 

In that context, it actually makes sense. 

Title: Re: Things that make you scratch your head.
Post by: Buster's Uncle on July 22, 2015, 02:47:22 PM

 ;notes; I'm a maaan of means by no means/ King of the road! ;notes;

Title: Re: Things that make you scratch your head.
Post by: Rusty Edge on July 22, 2015, 07:08:09 PM

Thanks Uno!

Yes, I'm sure many a lesser man would have fled from the disembodied voices in a known haunted building.

And more would have fled from a megaphone in a box that spoke by itself. You deserve a salute for remaining rational enough to solve the mystery.


The falling picture mystery. I've heard of that in haunted places before, sometimes it's a crucifix.  In a "haunted" context, it's a scary thing! Invisible physical forces. Determined ones. It makes the hair stand up from your skin.

Now I could easily suspect that in an old house, with a nail in a lath and plaster wall, that under the weight of the wall hanging, the lath could twist, the nail could tilt, and the object would slowly slide off. Loose drywall could flex, too.

But not with an actual hook!!!

That's inexplicable, and a welcome addition to this thread.  Thanks, Uno, you always have some great stories!

I will always cherish "How Uno became an Urban Legend" .

Title: Re: Things that make you scratch your head.
Post by: Buster's Uncle on July 22, 2015, 07:31:15 PM

I wonder if, in an old gerry-rigged engineering facility, it couldn't have been another interaction with power lines in the wall causing a magnetic effect?

Title: Re: Things that make you scratch your head.
Post by: Rusty Edge on July 22, 2015, 07:38:52 PM

Magnetic repulsion? I have no idea.

But it sounds like a way to make spooky special effects!

Title: Re: Things that make you scratch your head.
Post by: Buster's Uncle on July 22, 2015, 07:51:26 PM

...Perhaps Uno can tell us whether repulsion is possible w/ incidental electromagnetic induction, even if there was a metal hook-mount in the back of the frame.  Maybe because the nail tip was an inch or two closer to the hypothetic line?  Different metal of different conductivity w/ static electricity also a possible factor?  I can't wrap my head around whether a galvanic effect could do it, though I suspect that would only cause corrosion...

Title: Re: Things that make you scratch your head.
Post by: Unorthodox on July 22, 2015, 08:45:23 PM

I don't have a good answer for what would make it fall off the hook.  It was a wire on one of the traditional picture hook/nail combo.  I can't think of anything that would have made the wire come up and out the hook as it was.  Presumably TWICE.  Once during the night, once while we were there.  The second time I KNOW I got it IN the actual groove/hook (the first time my coworker did it and I can't say)  There are a couple working theories, but none of them are especially convincing, still years pondering this has produced possibilities I would have liked to have tested. 

I can explain the middle of the floor, though I prefer to have people muddle over that.  I had that part worked out before they closed the place down...though the answer there makes the hook part more troublesome. 

Title: Re: Things that make you scratch your head.
Post by: Unorthodox on July 22, 2015, 08:49:27 PM

Quote from: BUncle on July 22, 2015, 07:51:26 PM

...Perhaps Uno can tell us whether repulsion is possible w/ incidental electromagnetic induction, even if there was a metal hook-mount in the back of the frame.  Maybe because the nail tip was an inch or two closer to the hypothetic line?  Different metal of different conductivity w/ static electricity also a possible factor?  I can't wrap my head around whether a galvanic effect could do it, though I suspect that would only cause corrosion...

There was no power behind the wall in question.  It was at one point a garage door that had been framed in to make the office wall. 

Title: Re: Things that make you scratch your head.
Post by: Buster's Uncle on July 22, 2015, 08:54:29 PM

Doesn't eliminate a static electricity effect, though - and a garage door could serve as a huge antenna, so maybe radio wave-induced vibration you didn't hear w/o a sound-producing membrane shook it off; that's pretty plausible, I think.

Title: Re: Things that make you scratch your head.
Post by: Unorthodox on July 22, 2015, 09:05:41 PM

Vibration was one of the things I wanted to test, yes. 

Title: Re: Things that make you scratch your head.
Post by: Buster's Uncle on July 22, 2015, 09:09:50 PM

How many square feet of interlocking aluminum segments inches away from the nail would we be talking about, he asked hypothetically.  It's a wonder, if radio induction was happening, that it didn't manage to vibrate the glass and make sound.

Title: Re: Things that make you scratch your head.
Post by: Unorthodox on July 22, 2015, 09:15:31 PM

Wood door. 

Our Windows were deceptively secure.  They wouldn't vibrate. 

Title: Re: Things that make you scratch your head.
Post by: Buster's Uncle on July 22, 2015, 09:19:31 PM

Vibration in the picture glass if it was glass - the wire might shake it enough.  But not likely w/o enough metal nearby to antenna and focus the radio waves.  I had thought a metal garage door covered within, instead of replaced with, wall might really be the smoking gun...

Title: Re: Things that make you scratch your head.
Post by: Rusty Edge on July 22, 2015, 09:59:52 PM

I have no rational explanation as to how or why a wire can release from a hook on it's own...
Straighten or pull out a hook if it's too heavy, yes. But not come off.

As for the four feet from the wall part- Seems pretty unlikely.

Usually pictures drop and flop when they fall. They could tumble sometimes and have a forward roll factor. Sometimes thin rectangular objects like  roof slates and plywood can flutter, or even have a sort of hang glide effect, rather than drop straight down. That kind of thing happens mostly outdoors with air currents.

Of course, big buildings can have air currents of their own. I've seen updrafts in barns overcome gravity. Things like loose hay and bedding flying over my head when it was pushed down a hole in the floor.

I'm sure you thought of those possibilities, like a change in air pressure with the opening or closing of a door.

Would have been cool if you had filmed and experimented.

Title: Re: Things that make you scratch your head.
Post by: Unorthodox on July 22, 2015, 10:29:37 PM

Quote from: BUncle on July 22, 2015, 09:19:31 PM

Vibration in the picture glass if it was glass - the wire might shake it enough.  But not likely w/o enough metal nearby to antenna and focus the radio waves.  I had thought a metal garage door covered within, instead of replaced with, wall might really be the smoking gun...

OLD (1930s) wooden garage door covered within.  I theorize it was the 4ft thick concrete slab of a floor that was causing the vibration.  Industrial complex had enough sources that had potential to cause vibration including trains, trucks, and heavy machinery in the cabinet factory across the parking lot.  However, it was a flimsy loose wire, not a taught one, so vibrating it up and out of the hook is still a stretch.  And a similar picture on the same wall 2 ft to it's side never had trouble, nor did my bug collection hanging on the same wall. 

Pretty sure it was these picture frames, but they had 2 of the little circle hanger deals shown in these pics on the sides, and a crappy wire (like someone had stripped an old aluminum electrical wire) between them:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/235931659/set-of-3-vintage-picture-frames-by?ref=unav_listing-same (https://www.etsy.com/listing/235931659/set-of-3-vintage-picture-frames-by?ref=unav_listing-same)

Quote from: Rusty Edge on July 22, 2015, 09:59:52 PM

As for the four feet from the wall part- Seems pretty unlikely.

Usually pictures drop and flop when they fall.

I was able to pretty closely model this by having the picture slide down, flat against the wall.  There was a small rubber raceway for our com cables at the base of the wall that would give it a bit of a bounce out.  I was able to get 3ft on occasion, but it had to tip JUST right to make a bit of an air cushion to slide, and never quite got far enough, it was close enough for me to call it. 

Problem of keeping the pic against the wall after getting off the hook notwithstanding. 

Title: Re: Things that make you scratch your head.
Post by: Dio on July 23, 2015, 01:59:06 AM

Quote from: Rusty Edge on July 22, 2015, 07:08:09 PM

And more would have fled from a megaphone in a box that spoke by itself. You deserve a salute for remaining rational enough to solve the mystery.

A :salute: smiley.

Title: Re: Things that make you scratch your head.
Post by: Valka on July 27, 2015, 12:06:05 PM

Quote from: Unorthodox

Red Skelton had a show on back in the 50's and 60s, and would often feature his Hobo Clown character, even.

Freddie the Freeloader.

I used to watch that show when I was a kid. It's not the sort of thing that would appeal now.

Title: Re: Things that make you scratch your head.
Post by: Rusty Edge on September 11, 2016, 02:54:06 AM

My MiL, who is in assisted living due to mixed dementia comes over to visit a few times/week. Usually after doctor's or hair appointments.

She often brings her laptop and mouse, and asks for help getting into her e-mail. Sometimes I can help. Sometimes I'm totally lost. She gets screens I've never seen before all of the time. Like when the cat massages it's feet on the keyboard with wacky results that may require a system restore to undo. We have a term for that- "Pusskeyfooting" It has something to do with the global catspiracy.

Sometimes it's merely that the zoom is maxed or minimized to the extreme, and I can't recognize what I'm looking at.  Other times it's code or something equally confusing. Sometimes I give up and say I have no idea how change these settings, or what the computer is attempting. The real trouble is that when I do manage to fix it, it happens again immediately after I give it back to her. "Where'd my e-mail go?!! "

WEIRD!

I finally figured it out! She has made an innovative discovery. The keyboard/keypad/palm rests of her laptop actually double as a makeshift  mousepad! Moving the mouse about the surface replicates pusskeyfooting. So every time she selects a new e-mail to read, amazing things happen on her computer.

What do you think of that, E_T ?

Title: Re: Things that make you scratch your head.
Post by: E_T on September 11, 2016, 02:02:14 PM

My ex and I used to have one cat that would lie down on the keyboard and we would find that he has somehow brought up the internet and was surfing...  (we would joke about him looking for kitty porn... ), we implemented a simple 3 keystroke password for the screensaver (kat, as cat keys were fairly close and his most immense tonnage could very possibly lie on the right combo)... he was now required to have human supervision while web surfing...

Title: Re: Things that make you scratch your head.
Post by: Rusty Edge on September 12, 2016, 02:24:28 AM

The Mrs. says to tell you about her shopping cat, Cheyenne. She ounce  found a neon Christmas tree on the internet to replace the one that broke. She managed to open a window, which was set to Google as home page, and I think she typed "nion" and hit enter on the prompt... I think. Anyway, when my wife saw it she said "Good job Cheyenne!" and purchased.

Title: Re: Things that make you scratch your head.
Post by: E_T on September 12, 2016, 04:53:07 AM

Aas for the laptop, has it ever been repaired or dropped??  Sounds like there is a short or something that is caused by pressure in that area. Maybe fluid spilled on it? That or an open that is intermittent and causing the system to think that it is getting different key stroke inputs.

Might even be a dead bug...  seriously, the term "bug" when relating to computer programs (and computers in general) was originated with the old Univac machines.  Bugs, particularly roaches, would be drawn to the warmth from the old vacuum tubes and then get fried on the power circuits and then short out to the signal circuits and cause all kinds of havok...  A bug check required crawling around in them and cleaning them out...

But something is causing the system to think that it is getting inputs, extremely rapidly due to the way things are happening, it seems, but it thinks that they are legitimate keystrokes/mouse clicks.  Might even be something like a bad ground and thus getting static effects...

Could be a lot of things.  First need to duplicate with several methods to best pin down exactly what is happening and where. press down in various places.  Where is the device when it happens, what flexure is the case going through?

All things to do to help isolate the exact nature of what happens.

Title: Re: Things that make you scratch your head.
Post by: Rusty Edge on September 12, 2016, 07:15:04 AM

No. She literally slides the mouse across they keyboard instead of on a lap desk or table the way she used to do. Rapid random keystrokes and mouseclicks simultaneously.

PRESTO! The pusskeyfooting effect.

I thought it might give you insight into some of your clients with Alzheimer's /vascular dementia.

Well, a couple months ago the issues were caused by her squeezing the mouse keys to grip it as she moved it.

Title: Re: Things that make you scratch your head.
Post by: E_T on September 12, 2016, 03:22:44 PM

get a wireless trackball mouse (I use almost the same but wired) and see how she does with it.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/logitech-m570-wireless-trackball-mouse-gray-blue/1260761.p?id=1218243758233&skuId=1260761 (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/logitech-m570-wireless-trackball-mouse-gray-blue/1260761.p?id=1218243758233&skuId=1260761)

I used to take mine with me when I was on bus and had my laptop, could put anywhere and not have to worry about moving the damn thing (i can not stand a regular mouse and not too thrilled with touch pads when needing to copy/paste).  You can also place it on surfaces that you could not even think about using a std mouse on, like next to you in the bed, under the covers, on an armrest or even on part of the surface of laptop, where you don't have any keys...

As matter of fact, I am currently in my bed, with pillows, etc set to provide a fair sitting backrest and side arm lean while typing one handed w/std keyboard and the mouse next to it (flatscreen monitor on nightstand, as well as the tower and router and still have room for cups and things... ).  If the AC is blowing too cold, I can get under the blanket and pull the mouse under with me, just poking my arm out to type something or to put the keyboard where I can type much faster, the right way...

thing is, I love it and find it to be superior to the standard mouse by far and am stymied as to why hosp and other places that now have computers in rooms for documenting things by the staff, still have those tiny mouse pads and the standard mouse when even the simpler wired thumb track ball is not that much more, requires only a simple mount point and is just about as cheap (esp in bulk) as the std ones...  :boogle: 0_o

Title: Re: Things that make you scratch your head.
Post by: Rusty Edge on September 12, 2016, 10:51:23 PM

Worth a try!
I have always been a track ball guy. If she can't adapt to it, I can always use a spare.

Title: Re: Things that make you scratch your head.
Post by: Unorthodox on March 19, 2019, 11:38:53 AM

Couldn't find the religiousity thread, and this was back 10 pages, that was enough searching.  BU can splicey dicey or leave this bump. 

Easter question to Catholic informed people.

So, Kyle is in a music in religion course at the university and has to attend a few religious events of various denominations.  He chose Easter Mass as his Christian event.  To make it easier on him I've volunteered to tag along. 

At present, my only dress shirt is black.  Considering it was bought for my grandma's funeral, that's not a surprise. 

Would this be offensive to wear?  My last Catholic experience was in a heavily hispanic community during Christmas Eve 10+ years ago, and it wouldn't have drawn a second glance, but I get the feeling that Easter morning might be a little more formal and the place he chose...won't be doing services in spanish.  I generally try to respect any religion who's event I attend. 

Title: Re: Things that make you scratch your head.
Post by: Mart on March 19, 2019, 12:03:00 PM

Quote from: Unorthodox on March 19, 2019, 11:38:53 AM

...Easter question to Catholic informed people. ...

Tough question, but in my experience, it varies widely. Each world region has its own "subculture" of Catholic culture. E.g. Philippines are so much different than anywhere in Europe. I noticed US Catholic church is different and more closer to Protestant than in Europe.
I have seen people attending Catholic services in Salt Lake City dressed very casually, but also there are those who attend Sunday Mass in a suit every week. That was already like 10+ years ago, but I have an idea. I know, there are on youtube recordings from Catholic Masses, also Easter ones, I believe. Let me search for these.

Title: Re: Things that make you scratch your head.
Post by: Mart on March 19, 2019, 12:07:11 PM

This one has not many people present, but I think dress code is from casual to suit.


Error 404 (Not Found)!!1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiuHTipH_BI#)


this one has more people in suits, but also this is "traditional" mass (Trident Mass, I think), where priest is on the same side of altar as people.
Maybe other videos would show more.


Error 404 (Not Found)!!1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hax0ZpicTMg#)

Title: Re: Things that make you scratch your head.
Post by: Geo on March 19, 2019, 12:59:56 PM

Wearing black would be okay in my part of the Catholic woods, whatever the religious occasion (Roman Catholic that is).

You could always ask the question on someone from the church Kyle wish to attend? Or let Kyle himself bring up the issue?

Title: Re: Things that make you scratch your head.
Post by: Unorthodox on March 19, 2019, 06:25:44 PM

Oh yes the subculture.  I’ve been to st joes in ogden and its very laid back.  I’m just not to sure about this one.  It’s the first catholic chapel I’ve seen that keeps their doors locked outside specific hours.  Used to walking in to such places to look at the altars and usually get approached by someone that will answer questions. 

We don’t know anyone there really, it’s just close and convenient for Kyles schedule. 

Title: Re: Things that make you scratch your head.
Post by: Geo on March 19, 2019, 07:39:24 PM

Its still several weeks before Easter.
How about observing what people wear going to mass one of the next Sundays?

Title: Re: Things that make you scratch your head.
Post by: Unorthodox on April 25, 2019, 11:32:07 PM

So, I pretty much went in my work clothes (business casual), and was not under-dressed.  We went to Vigil instead of Easter morning as well, cause I didn't want to spend hours of Sunday in a church followed by going to see my family. 

My black shirt would have definitely been out of place and potentially offensive to some. 

2 real take-aways for me. 

1:  MAN do Catholics know how to build for acoustics.  I mean, I've heard good bands in a Baptist church, good choirs at various denominations, and good single acts at a Mormon service, but the Catholics sure take the cake with designing for sound. 

2:  My last service was 20 years ago.  And in Latin.  It loses something in translation, IMO.  I was a little surprised to see most of the music was written in 2010.  I'm sure they gain accessibility to the masses,  but you lose some of the mystical qualities.   


Building didn't burn down, and the holy water didn't even singe a bit.  Either it wasn't blessed right or I got work to do...

Title: Re: Things that make you scratch your head.
Post by: Geo on April 26, 2019, 08:28:22 AM

Quote from: Unorthodox on April 25, 2019, 11:32:07 PM

Building didn't burn down, and the holy water didn't even singe a bit.  Either it wasn't blessed right or I got work to do...

Now, please don't think blasphemy revolves solely around you. :stop:

Title: Re: Things that make you scratch your head.
Post by: Rusty Edge on May 12, 2019, 07:27:51 PM

I saw something about this on a paranormal TV program ( my wife likes to watch ghost stuff ). I don't normally compute with sound, so I don't know what they are saying, but this is the footage I was looking for.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIssHYxD0as (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIssHYxD0as#)

Title: Re: Things that make you scratch your head.
Post by: Rusty Edge on May 18, 2019, 04:09:33 AM

HEY WAIT!
It finally dawned upon me that if drones can be used to deliver packages, drones can be inconspicuous porch pirates just as easily.

Title: Re: Things that make you scratch your head.
Post by: Unorthodox on May 18, 2019, 10:19:29 AM

While quick release mechanisms are easy to operate at distance, I don't think quick grab mechanisms are so easy. 

Title: Re: Things that make you scratch your head.
Post by: Geo on May 18, 2019, 03:10:44 PM

Quote from: Rusty Edge on May 18, 2019, 04:09:33 AM

HEY WAIT!
It finally dawned upon me that if drones can be used to deliver packages, drones can be inconspicuous porch pirates just as easily.

There's no requirement to sign off for deliveries? Because I can't see how drone deliveries would handle that.

Title: Re: Things that make you scratch your head.
Post by: Rusty Edge on May 18, 2019, 05:44:28 PM

There's a lot of deliveries and delivery services these days. Most of them don't require signatures.  A lot of family members send their stuff to our house, because we're usually home during the day.

Title: Re: Things that make you scratch your head.
Post by: Rusty Edge on May 18, 2019, 05:48:00 PM

Quote from: Geo on May 18, 2019, 03:10:44 PM

Quote from: Rusty Edge on May 18, 2019, 04:09:33 AM

HEY WAIT!
It finally dawned upon me that if drones can be used to deliver packages, drones can be inconspicuous porch pirates just as easily.

There's no requirement to sign off for deliveries? Because I can't see how drone deliveries would handle that.

Upon further reflection, I suppose they could develop an ap for that.

Title: Re: Things that make you scratch your head.
Post by: Rusty Edge on June 03, 2019, 06:00:46 AM

I wonder if a Tesla tower could be used as a drone defense...

Title: Re: Things that make you scratch your head.
Post by: Unorthodox on June 04, 2019, 01:44:58 AM

If the drone wasn’t shielded, the em field would fry the circuits.  (Learned the hard way with a camera)

Title: Re: Things that make you scratch your head.
Post by: Geo on June 04, 2019, 07:29:15 AM

Quote from: Rusty Edge on May 18, 2019, 05:44:28 PM

There's a lot of deliveries and delivery services these days. Most of them don't require signatures.  A lot of family members send their stuff to our house, because we're usually home during the day.

Did you ever receive a package by drone?
Over here, afaik, law doesn't permit it.

Title: Re: Things that make you scratch your head.
Post by: E_T on June 04, 2019, 01:55:43 PM

I would imagine that any Police Drones would be stock shielded (if not, would be soon after someone knocks a bunch out of the sky).

Title: Re: Things that make you scratch your head.
Post by: Rusty Edge on June 04, 2019, 06:19:46 PM

Quote from: E_T on June 04, 2019, 01:55:43 PM

I would imagine that any Police Drones would be stock shielded (if not, would be soon after someone knocks a bunch out of the sky).

True. I wasn't thinking about police drones, more about stock ones, and ways that evolving technology affects society and the law. Well, there's always SKYNET. I don't see that as a cyborg takeover so much as a fascist tool. I suppose AC2 has a leader for that.

Title: Re: Things that make you scratch your head.
Post by: Rusty Edge on June 04, 2019, 06:21:31 PM

Quote from: Geo on June 04, 2019, 07:29:15 AM

Quote from: Rusty Edge on May 18, 2019, 05:44:28 PM

There's a lot of deliveries and delivery services these days. Most of them don't require signatures.  A lot of family members send their stuff to our house, because we're usually home during the day.

Did you ever receive a package by drone?
Over here, afaik, law doesn't permit it.

There were publicized testes in certain cities, but I don't know if it ever went beyond that.

Title: Re: Things that make you scratch your head.
Post by: Unorthodox on June 05, 2019, 02:20:23 AM

Quote from: E_T on June 04, 2019, 01:55:43 PM

I would imagine that any Police Drones would be stock shielded (if not, would be soon after someone knocks a bunch out of the sky).

Apparently there is an aftermarket opportunity to provide the shielding.

https://xgrtec.com/f/emi-shielding-for-drones

However, I'd be willing to bet you could still really fubar the reception/controls with a good Tesla coil. 

Title: Re: Things that make you scratch your head.
Post by: E_T on June 05, 2019, 04:12:05 AM

You would likely have to get it into the GHz Range.  Although, a Tesla coil is essentially a huge transformer.  What Hz ranges do they normally operate?

I remember, when I was at UCF and used to hang out at the Ham Shack, the Operators would have me listen to what they called "The Russian Woodpecker".  It was believed to be a Soviet attempt to muck up the lower SW Bands.  It would travel up and down the band, sounding like a woodpecker pecking on a tree.  It would slowly travel though the band.  Could have been other things like atmospherics, but it was just too regular for that.

But with Modern day Frequency Hopping, Multi-Spectrum, Encrypted burst transmission equipment, your gear would have to be fairly complex to really hurt it.  Although, You might be able to sort of scorch it, but that would require a lot of watts, too...

Title: Re: Things that make you scratch your head.
Post by: Rusty Edge on August 09, 2019, 05:15:02 AM

Democrats swear that the Russians interfered in the last presidential election, as confirmed by the Muller Report.
Why would they rather take their chances in the next election to remove [Sleezebag] vs. do something now with the power they hold in The House when they haven't been able to strengthen the integrity of the electoral process and they lost the last time?

It's like that definition of insanity - doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.

Title: Re: Things that make you scratch your head.
Post by: Unorthodox on August 09, 2019, 01:41:52 PM

What do you suggest they do? 

LITERALLY the first thing they did after midterms was pass HR:1, a bill to prevent foreign interference and provide campaign finance reform.  It's one of the many (nearing 600 bills if not moreby now) sitting in the senate graveyard.  McConnell is literally not letting these bills come to a vote.  Over 400 of the bills even have Republican co-sponsors and support, but McConnell is blocking, and you'd need Senate Republicans to help to remove him.   

Title: Re: Things that make you scratch your head.
Post by: Rusty Edge on August 09, 2019, 06:38:49 PM

Quote from: Unorthodox on August 09, 2019, 01:41:52 PM

What do you suggest they do? 

LITERALLY the first thing they did after midterms was pass HR:1, a bill to prevent foreign interference and provide campaign finance reform.  It's one of the many (nearing 600 bills if not moreby now) sitting in the senate graveyard.  McConnell is literally not letting these bills come to a vote.  Over 400 of the bills even have Republican co-sponsors and support, but McConnell is blocking, and you'd need Senate Republicans to help to remove him.   

Well, it seems they have finally started formal impeachment hearings according to chairman Nadler yesterday, so I guess they are doing something, and my post is obsolete. If it comes to impeachment, McConnel won't be able to sit on it.
Personally, I would welcome hearings on NRA laundering Russian money for political campaigns. A censure vote or impeachment proceeding against Nunes or Barr for obstruction of justice would be something they could do with their control of the House that McConnel couldn't block.

Title: Re: Things that make you scratch your head.
Post by: Buster's Uncle on August 09, 2019, 06:49:21 PM

...I have trouble believing the Democratic leadership has been forced into doing anything aggressive and sensible...

Title: Re: Things that make you scratch your head.
Post by: Unorthodox on August 28, 2019, 03:42:43 PM

So...the last two days, the moon has appeared as a double crescent in the sky. 

Now, I KNOW this is an illusion, but I'm just curious if anyone knows the cause.  I've never seen it before, and I only see a smattering of mentions online. 

Incidentally, it was visible when I pointed Clarence at it, though not enough light to get a good exposure/pic, but it was NOT visible through a phone camera.  (I think this is due to the phone camera not able to render more than a fuzzy crescent with that little light)

Title: Re: Things that make you scratch your head.
Post by: Lorizael on August 28, 2019, 04:19:54 PM

Huh. What time was it? What was the orientation and size of the second crescent?

Title: Re: Things that make you scratch your head.
Post by: Rusty Edge on August 28, 2019, 07:44:04 PM

My guess is that it is some kind of temperature inversion/mirage effect.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirage_of_astronomical_objects

Title: Re: Things that make you scratch your head.
Post by: Unorthodox on August 28, 2019, 09:03:46 PM

Quote from: Lorizael on August 28, 2019, 04:19:54 PM

Huh. What time was it? What was the orientation and size of the second crescent?

5:30 to 6 AM.  Just on the horizon prior to false dawn.  Went away as the sky brightened/moon moved away from horizon.

Smaller crescent 'inside' the normal one.  Similar to this earring, though it was a wet moon/cheshire moon.   

(http://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bb12060523958ef207db3a4/1562595050982-A97JI29L17DX6PX8BF0V/ke17ZwdGBToddI8pDm48kFQQgP34qnCpeHaeAOzTt7pZw-zPPgdn4jUwVcJE1ZvWQUxwkmyExglNqGp0IvTJZamWLI2zvYWH8K3-s_4yszcp2ryTI0HqTOaaUohrI8PICHnXC1b9smDvYLPdL-DS7U1pkhCtl83kemXd5r3C5ngKMshLAGzx4R3EDFOm1kBS/Very-unique-gold-earrings-crescent-moon-women%27s-handmade-jewelry-by-peaceful-island-com.jpg)

Title: Re: Things that make you scratch your head.
Post by: Lorizael on August 28, 2019, 09:30:50 PM

Quote from: Unorthodox on August 28, 2019, 09:03:46 PM

Went away as the sky brightened/moon moved away from horizon.

Yeah. So very probably something like what Rusty pointed to. On the horizon, so you've got more atmosphere in the way, along with air close to the surface, which can be at a different temperature than air higher up, leading to fun refraction type stuff.

Title: Re: Things that make you scratch your head.
Post by: Unorthodox on August 28, 2019, 10:27:11 PM

My 'horizon' is a lot higher than most people's 'horizon', however.  Most the time, those things are really down on the horizon, and we do get some of that to the west.  This would have been rising over the mountain here, over the ridge to the left of the street sign here at this time of year. 
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/dxQLDz23zKp11Rnw7jatL1PixwTXH3vkrtOJthZ2sAFtqG3LrBOQ5-bQHJbAWrc_hqAI-C3ytsrBxJt_8f_k18dtPtVOs32E1WILXqCcVRpNeCUooqHDdmah9QD2VVF51sf0pSKkuNiSAkxnp2YcZBVs8SusGro3Jiru8e55ZUJbrjCx2V0zDvDom6bYm-cqEHpclodsQq1gKmmTi7HjB-QaqWV_R9Ob0Y1_K4F9ZL_VVx_QHMiHL0jR877gnaTWtBLTSQTzoGQ4LUS2Ux1u-qqUd4HCyEOznTwXVqCu-nGGVHxuog8YFdQezVRg38rj4IsxaYyAy4isqY0QFkm4Izj0nRKcsNYa1v9xDJtb9yHvk2fUkKo9aRxN6Q6r0CeWKF5Bmy-mpFoH69GRfYxGzmJBbpaAImmwTKKbsHn9JJ9J-zj0vOLc5UpSuxE0vYibyTn02O5PvSEccOfKkkUAT6s4DDQnApv8jUyVBvj-DrMqSwRSOgFef-f6yiHoMLAKCkg4ksbol2t-ND6FC1Hav2Ma6HlihG3ZOxGQI82SWxCauuw2Fr17MohBZs0n8BKnHmUkjq7nDGE68TATXIs2Y7-1HN4fi-UAzHBgInywhemm3f1b7-tIA2yCvQ_KbRP4zVBanMbBnq7VAWaIJld1OiwpAa_e7xMBMsMUItoy2vFhL_tYnCUtjiA=w1239-h929-no)

Title: Re: Things that make you scratch your head.
Post by: Lorizael on August 28, 2019, 10:37:35 PM

Hmm. Yeah, that's weird.