Random Thoughts

[Flint1979]

I never realized that when you are in Downtown Detroit you are 610 miles due west of Downtown Boston.

[SkyPesos]

Why do so many metro areas have a city named "Lebanon" in an edge of their metro area? So far, I can think of Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Nashville and St Louis, and there's most likely even more.

[snowc]

Why does tripadvisor make me ?!

[renegade]

- Am I the only one who believes emojis are contributing to the dumbing-down of America? 

[Scott5114]

- Am I the only one who believes emojis are contributing to the dumbing-down of America? 

Only as much as hieroglyphs contributed to the dumbing-down of Egypt. Or as much as any other Unicode code block does (I've got my eyes on you, "Spacing Modifier Letters"). I think it's really dumb when consumer items are festooned with them in the attempt to make them seem "cool"–"You know what kids like? Texting! If we put emoji on it, they'll buy it"–so if anything, emoji are contributing to the dumbing-down of corporate nitwits.

Emoji aren't even American–they were invented by Japanese phone makers (which makes sense, as entering Japanese text on a phone has always been cumbersome, so they were searching for shortcuts to make it quicker to communicate ideas).

[formulanone]

- Am I the only one who believes emojis are contributing to the dumbing-down of America? 

Only as much as hieroglyphs contributed to the dumbing-down of Egypt. Or as much as any other Unicode code block does (I've got my eyes on you, "Spacing Modifier Letters"). I think it's really dumb when consumer items are festooned with them in the attempt to make them seem "cool"–"You know what kids like? Texting! If we put emoji on it, they'll buy it"–so if anything, emoji are contributing to the dumbing-down of corporate nitwits.

Emoji aren't even American–they were invented by Japanese phone makers (which makes sense, as entering Japanese text on a phone has always been cumbersome, so they were searching for shortcuts to make it quicker to communicate ideas).

On one hand, emoji makes it easier to communicate those feelings; on the flip side, it also can also trivialize them.

Are you crying uncontrollably due to the inexorable chasm of existence and being, did they discontinue your favorite limited-edition soft drink, or did you just see a cute puppy?

It's a push.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

- Am I the only one who believes emojis are contributing to the dumbing-down of America? 

No, but the obsession with "mic drops" and other "owned" moments over actual conversation and debate is, even if those things can be enjoyable on the rare occasions they're actually done right.

[renegade]

- Am I the only one who believes emojis are contributing to the dumbing-down of America? 

No, but the obsession with "mic drops" and other "owned" moments over actual conversation and debate is, even if those things can be enjoyable on the rare occasions they're actually done right.

There's a fine line between "actually done right" and "over-use."

[kurumi]

A good pizza is defined by what you don't put on it.

The idea that a "combo" pizza is ideal, because it has something for everyone, is flawed -- otherwise pizza places would sell only combos, basking in pure efficiency while the happiness of all pizza eaters is automatically maximized.

The Andreotti-Frankel theorem puts the ideal number of toppings on a pizza rounds as 3, because you can't meaningfully have 2.71828182845 toppings, even though would be the true maximum. Fractal toppings has seen some research but not yet meaningful results.

For the same reason that an orchestra doesn't have everyone soloing at once, you need negative spaces, structure, a narrative. Only then does the idea pizza emerge.

[Scott5114]

Only then does the idea pizza emerge.

Hello, Pizza Hut? Can I get a large pan pizza, half relativity, half Overton window? Thanks.

[Dirt Roads]

A good pizza is defined by what you don't put on it.

The idea that a "combo" pizza is ideal, because it has something for everyone, is flawed -- otherwise pizza places would sell only combos, basking in pure efficiency while the happiness of all pizza eaters is automatically maximized.

The Andreotti-Frankel theorem puts the ideal number of toppings on a pizza rounds as 3, because you can't meaningfully have 2.71828182845 toppings, even though would be the true maximum. Fractal toppings has seen some research but not yet meaningful results.

For the same reason that an orchestra doesn't have everyone soloing at once, you need negative spaces, structure, a narrative. Only then does the idea pizza emerge.

I do agree, but I did find several exceptions:  Vincent's Pizza Park in the Pittsburgh area does a great job with an everything pizza on a large pie, particularly if you let them put everything on it.  Also, once upon a time there was a pizza joint in downtown Herndon, Virginia that was almost as good (but they are gone now).  At one time they offered to ship a "fresh-made pizza" anywhere in the world.  Our company president at that time was originally from Pittsburgh and almost agreed to let me order one shipped to an overseas project.  No big deal, since he would always try to schedule a trip to Vincent's whenever we both happened to be in The 'Burgh at the same time.

[kurumi]

Only then does the idea pizza emerge.

Hello, Pizza Hut? Can I get a large pan pizza, half relativity, half Overton window? Thanks.

Each time I order an Overton, the toppings are even further to the █████ side :-)

[kkt]

Only then does the idea pizza emerge.

Hello, Pizza Hut? Can I get a large pan pizza, half relativity, half Overton window? Thanks.

[zachary_amaryllis]

A good pizza is defined by what you don't put on it.

The idea that a "combo" pizza is ideal, because it has something for everyone, is flawed -- otherwise pizza places would sell only combos, basking in pure efficiency while the happiness of all pizza eaters is automatically maximized.

The Andreotti-Frankel theorem puts the ideal number of toppings on a pizza rounds as 3, because you can't meaningfully have 2.71828182845 toppings, even though would be the true maximum. Fractal toppings has seen some research but not yet meaningful results.

For the same reason that an orchestra doesn't have everyone soloing at once, you need negative spaces, structure, a narrative. Only then does the idea pizza emerge.

that is the most beautiful description of what i deliver around town all night.

[Mr_Northside]

I do agree, but I did find several exceptions:  Vincent's Pizza Park in the Pittsburgh area does a great job with an everything pizza on a large pie, particularly if you let them put everything on it.  Also, once upon a time there was a pizza joint in downtown Herndon, Virginia that was almost as good (but they are gone now).  At one time they offered to ship a "fresh-made pizza" anywhere in the world.  Our company president at that time was originally from Pittsburgh and almost agreed to let me order one shipped to an overseas project.  No big deal, since he would always try to schedule a trip to Vincent's whenever we both happened to be in The 'Burgh at the same time.

Man.... you can feel the arteries clogging when you're eating a Vinnie pie.

[zachary_amaryllis]

apparently my check engine light was telling me something real.

turned out i had bad motor mounts.

it was telling me literally, check that the engine is still in the car.

could you see it? 'hello, i've just experienced a very sudden loss of power, and something came flying out of the hood..'

[snowc]

I do agree, but I did find several exceptions:  Vincent's Pizza Park in the Pittsburgh area does a great job with an everything pizza on a large pie, particularly if you let them put everything on it.  Also, once upon a time there was a pizza joint in downtown Herndon, Virginia that was almost as good (but they are gone now).  At one time they offered to ship a "fresh-made pizza" anywhere in the world.  Our company president at that time was originally from Pittsburgh and almost agreed to let me order one shipped to an overseas project.  No big deal, since he would always try to schedule a trip to Vincent's whenever we both happened to be in The 'Burgh at the same time.

Man.... you can feel the arteries clogging when you're eating a Vinnie pie.

I used to hate pizza having sauce. Now I dont! 

[hotdogPi]

Silver quarters: for when you want to give a tip to a server directly but that location pools tips

(no, I haven't actually done this)

[TheHighwayMan3561]

Silver quarters: for when you want to give a tip to a server directly but that location pools tips

(no, I haven't actually done this)

I don't think you should do this. The tip pooling thing is often an employer requirement and the server can get in deep trouble or ultimately be fired for not putting their tips in the pool, and if other employees start suspecting someone is withholding their tips it can lead to a messy situation.

[Scott5114]

Also you would be surprised how many people don't know how to tell what a quarter is made of, or how many even check.

We pooled our tips at the casino, but if someone left a tip of something interesting like a silver quarter or red seal bill we could swap that out with one from our drawer, then swap it again later with one from our wallet. That way the 25¢ still ended up in the tip pool, and the silver quarter ended up going to whoever wanted it. Win-win, considering that if the silver quarter went in the tip pool it'd just be deposited.

[snowc]

Oh deer.
The whole North Pole is trying to reel from another car crash! 
Gotta go to Tarheel Collison tomorrow to get a quote for it.  :ded:Poor car. 

[renegade]

Oh deer.
The whole North Pole is trying to reel from another car crash! 
Gotta go to Tarheel Collison tomorrow to get a quote for it.  :ded:Poor car. 

Wish I knew what any of that means.

[Max Rockatansky]

Oh deer.
The whole North Pole is trying to reel from another car crash! 
Gotta go to Tarheel Collison tomorrow to get a quote for it.  :ded:Poor car. 

Wish I knew what any of that means.

My take:

-  The poster got excited about seeing a deer somewhere.
-  The entirety of the North Pole and Santa's Workshop is suffering from a general malaise in life.  Hence the struggle to find any joy in a car crash.
-  Somehow this involves the futile attempts of a body shop in North Carolina to save Christmas. 

[snowc]

Oh deer.
The whole North Pole is trying to reel from another car crash! 
Gotta go to Tarheel Collison tomorrow to get a quote for it.  :ded:Poor car. 

Wish I knew what any of that means.

My father got into a SERIOUS car crash. It caused a total loss and needs to be repaired. 

[snowc]

Oh deer.
The whole North Pole is trying to reel from another car crash! 
Gotta go to Tarheel Collison tomorrow to get a quote for it.  :ded:Poor car. 

Wish I knew what any of that means.

My take:

-  The poster got excited about seeing a deer somewhere.
-  The entirety of the North Pole and Santa's Workshop is suffering from a general malaise in life.  Hence the struggle to find any joy in a car crash.
-  Somehow this involves the futile attempts of a body shop in North Carolina to save Christmas.

See above post for explanation. Pictures available upon request.
Whole front fender is damaged. The tire is off and the mirror is NOT working.