Random Comments/Stream of Consciousness Thread

[Ari_Racing]

Don't know where to really put this, but there's this new AI tool that lets anyone create an avatar (a basic portrait) with simply just text. There are some funny examples on the site and it's free to use, but it takes quite a long time to generate: http://artflow.ai/

Of course, I had to try and I entered the description as "The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed." And this is what the AI generated:

Love it!

[Randall Flagg]

I tried one. Now waiting 750 minutes for it to generate...

[Randall Flagg]

I rarely wear underwear. but when I do, it's something cool.

[Merlin1958]

I rarely wear underwear. but when I do, it's something cool.

[Scoogs]

Has anyone picked up one of these The Shining movie bookends?
They're all over Amazon a variety of prices.

https://www.amazon.com/BNKK-Nicholso...1242135&sr=8-6

[herbertwest]

They were all over social media over the summer

[amd013]

Well more then 13 months after my Father passed, we finally have my parents united in a mausoleum. I signed a NDA not to discuss why we had our parents disinterred and re-interred at a new cemetery. At any rate took a long time to get the paperwork correct for the county to allow us to disinter. (we had to get letters from the department of health from the counties my parents each passed in to get permission). It was a long and frustrating process, but they are finally together for the first time since my mother passed in 2007.

On a lighter side, I kept thinking (as I watched the ceremony on Facetime), I have seen couples renew their wedding vows before, but this is the first time I have seen them renew their funerals.

[George at C-Springs]

Well more then 13 months after my Father passed, we finally have my parents united in a mausoleum. I signed a NDA not to discuss why we had our parents disinterred and re-interred at a new cemetery. At any rate took a long time to get the paperwork correct for the county to allow us to disinter. (we had to get letters from the department of health from the counties my parents each passed in to get permission). It was a long and frustrating process, but they are finally together for the first time since my mother passed in 2007.

Amazing the bureaucracy needed for such a simple thing. I think you could have hired out a few folks from here, we could have got it done for you in a single night, no questions asked.

[Br!an]

Launch window opens tonight at 8:02 p.m. ET.

[George at C-Springs]

It was a great launch, pretty much flawless from what I could tell; they even nailed the booster landing on the barge. I'm actually friends with Sian Proctor, have known her for a couple of years through some space & science groups that I work with. We were all rooting for her to get chosen for the mission, and couldn't have been happier when she did; she's absolutely the nicest person you want to meet, smart as hell too.

This is her on the right this afternoon.

[Br!an]

It's pretty amazing watching the booster come back down with controlled burns.

[ur2ndbiggestfan]

Just watched the ISS come up over the SW horizon and float overhead until it disappeared on the other side.
That's the first time I ever saw it!
Like, you know, awesome!

[Iwritecode]

Just watched the ISS come up over the SW horizon and float overhead until it disappeared on the other side.
That's the first time I ever saw it!
Like, you know, awesome!

I happened to see it flying overhead one time about 5 years ago while out camping. My FIL looked up and said "what's that?" I had to look it up and see what it was

Then just last night I found that the two really bright stars next to the moon were Jupiter and Saturn.

[Hunchback Jack]

That’s really neat. I’ve only seen the ISS fly over maybe twice?

Fun fact about the ISS: it travels at about 5 miles per second. If you stood on the goal line of a football field and fired a rifle, the ISS would cross the entire field before the bullet travelled 10 yards. And it weighs 450 tons.

HBJ

[ur2ndbiggestfan]

I bought 2 Rolling Stones CDs from Amazon.
Both came with cracked jewel cases, one very bad, one minor with 1 crack.
I sent them both back.
One replacement came a few days ago (the bad one), in a very flimsy envelope, but it was fine.
The other (1 crack) came today, in a very flimsy envelope, this time with 4 bad cracks in it.
I talked to a rep, asked if I sent it back would the next one have 16 cracks in it.
He said all will be well, just send it back.
We will see.

[Iwritecode]

I honestly don't remember the last time I paid for any physical form of music.

[Br!an]

CDs are a special issue/order now.

[ur2ndbiggestfan]

I'm old fashioned, I like the CDs and LPs and stuff like that.
Although they do take up room.

EDIT - Yes, Walmart and Meijer no longer carry CDs, and Best Buy doesn't either, I don't think, although my Best Bay is now gone with the wind. Target still has some, though.

[Br!an]

I honestly don't remember the last time I paid for any physical form of music.

I don't buy single CDs anymore. I do buy LPs occasionally. I also buy some box sets. Not as many as I used to.

[amd013]

I got a call from an area code that matches my location (but not my cell phone number), I decided to answer it against my better judgement. It was a computer voice that just said:

"Hello this is Marissa"

Then after a few seconds of silence I asked "Marissa who", but realized the call had already ended.

So what the heck is the purpose of these calls? Is it so I will google the message and go to a specific webpage? Is it an enticement to have me call back the number?

[Iwritecode]

I got a call from an area code that matches my location (but not my cell phone number), I decided to answer it against my better judgement. It was a computer voice that just said:

"Hello this is Marissa"

Then after a few seconds of silence I asked "Marissa who", but realized the call had already ended.

So what the heck is the purpose of these calls? Is it so I will google the message and go to a specific webpage? Is it an enticement to have me call back the number?

They are testing to see if the number is connected to a real person and if they'll answer or not.

[herbertwest]

More likely bot calls in order for you to call back and get charged high fees for the numbers
This kind of scam have been significantly increased this past year or so, here in France

Nowadays I just ignore calls from unknown numbers. If you don't leave me a voicemail, it's not important.

[Ari_Racing]

David King, Stephen's brother passed away last June:

https://www.edgerlyfh.com/obituary/david-king

[webstar1000]

David King, Stephen's brother passed away last June:

https://www.edgerlyfh.com/obituary/david-king

I met him at Kings house in Bangor a few years back. He was super kind to us fans…. RIP

[Lurker]

So, one still sitting around in the Charnel Warehouse...

"The Regulators, Stephen King as Richard Bachman (Designed by Charnel House, Published by Dutton) —Letter B—$10,000.00 SOLD"