What made me happy today?

[Amontillado]

"Paladin, Palidin, where do you roam?
Paladin, Paladin, far, far from home . . . "

A knight without armor in a savage land - nice reference!

My new Mac Mini arrived. As expected, it compared to my old systems like F1 racers to Model T's. Same mission, different level of performance.

And yet the new Mini migrated files and apps from my arthritic iMac without issue, without apparent judgement of the superannuated hardware it's evolving from. What happened next was a scene out of Brickdust Row.

The migration left the new Mini quiet, without even a hint of fan noise. It was as if after all the fanfare of unboxing, after all the stellar performance antics, it regarded the old iMac and my equally ancient Macbook and realized it "no longer saw a rabble, but his brothers seeking the ideal."

I turn 70 in a few months. Like Brickdust Row's Blinker I could turn my back on promises of salvation with scorn and a curse that it's too late.

But there's a word processor in that new Mini. Where lies the means to write lie paths to redemption. I must explore while the stars in the sky still wheel above. I'm not special. It's what we all must do.

My new Mac Mini has been henceforth known as O.Henry.

 

[Set2Stun]

We've been out of water for almost a week. Today the borehole company came and drilled down to 80m. We were worried for a while, since they drilled quite deep and just found rock and dust, but when the water started spraying it was smiles all around.

While they were still busy I asked the foreman if they had a geological survey map of some kind to help in finding the water, since I expected some scientific comfort in this expensive endeavour. You know, something talking about layers or strata or some such. Something convincing with numbers and lines and... topography. He put out his cigarette, smiled, and produced a chicken egg from his pocket.

"It stands up in your palm if you walk over water," he said confidently in a heavy Afrikaans accent, strutting and demonstrating the method.

Sometimes the world still works on magic just fine, if you let it. Or maybe it was science, somehow? These days I'm just along for the ride, and I'm smiling again for a change.

This reminds me of back in the day when I lived in the country. You'd hear from time to time that a family you knew was getting a new well dug, and more often than one might think, they'd get a "witcher" to find the proper spot to dig (volunteer for prestige, or for hire). Some would hold a stick and say that it's bending down when they're over water, and others might hold a piece of metal on a string, and when the metal started spinning in a circle, that meant there's water down below.

I later learned in high school physics class that none of this is based in reality; there's no such physical connection between groundwater and a stick, or ring on a string, or an egg. I reckon most of the volunteers really believed they had some kind of mystical gift, and that most that charged for it knew they were scamming people. Simple fact is, if you drill down deep enough in most places, you're very likely to reach the water table.

 

[Naomasa298]

This reminds me of back in the day when I lived in the country. You'd hear from time to time that a family you knew was getting a new well dug, and more often than one might think, they'd get a "witcher" to find the proper spot to dig (volunteer for prestige, or for hire). Some would hold a stick and say that it's bending down when they're over water, and others might hold a piece of metal on a string, and when the metal started spinning in a circle, that meant there's water down below.

I later learned in high school physics class that none of this is based in reality; there's no such physical connection between groundwater and a stick, or ring on a string, or an egg. I reckon most of the volunteers really believed they had some kind of mystical gift, and that most that charged for it knew they were scamming people. Simple fact is, if you drill down deep enough in most places, you're very likely to reach the water table.

They're quite good for detecting the gullible.

 

[Amontillado]

They're quite good for detecting the gullible.

Once upon a time, I ran an online newspaper. I had some news experience and I was able to hire an honest-to-goodness degreed journalist away from the Waco Tribune. It was a serious operation with standards.

One day a city crew had to dig in the street in front of our offices. Everyone was standing around, backhoes at the ready, while one guy walked around with a pair of bent coathangers, witching for the water main.

The city manager was a good friend. I'll never forget the look on his face when I showed him photos.

There was nothing newsworthy. If I had run a feature story I would have been obligated to skewer long held beliefs. The city quietly squashed water witching on paid city time.

There was also a case when the local sheriff's department spent a few thousand on something called a Quadro Tracker, equally as fake as water witching. A ranking deputy tested it on me after I loaded him up with comments about how I shouldn't let him test me for unlawful handgun possession. Sure enough, he bit, he saw a strong hit good enough for an arrest, and then I explained how my guns were locked away from my kids. I hadn't touched one for a year or two.

I didn't have my newspaper then, but I was still going to engage false pretenses. But the FBI beat me to it, shutting down the Quadro Tracker operation.

It's easy to say there's one born every minute. On the other hand, lots of folks who believe in folk hoodoo are just honoring how they were raised. They should still freed from dogma, but gently.

 

[Set2Stun]

What an incredible story, lol !
Thanks for sharing. You must have plenty of wacky anecdotes from covering local news.

 

[Amontillado]

Those were wonderful days. And some gritty ones, too.

The Internet provider side of the house once took a computer in for repair laden with very unlawful images, including the Windows desktop image. We had a policy of not searching or snooping, but if we were confronted with something illegal we reported it to authorities. That only happened this one time.

The trafficker in question was well regarded in the community and the only reporting we did was after other media picked up the story. We didn't report any details not in public view.

When the story broke on TV, our phones lit up with people shocked that we would attack a pillar of the community. That lasted about a half day. When details came out - from other media, we were very sparse in what we published - the calls swung the other way. We got a lot of apologies that weren't really necessary. Before he dropped his computer off for repair, I would have bet my last dollar the guy was a saint and committed to child well-being.

The last I heard, a prosecutor visited the fellow in prison who asked him to tell me he was grateful my company stopped him. He knew what he was doing was wrong, but I think he was unsure how much control he had.

I hope he was one of the few that beat the recidivism odds.

 

[Homer Potvin]

This reminds me of back in the day when I lived in the country. You'd hear from time to time that a family you knew was getting a new well dug, and more often than one might think, they'd get a "witcher" to find the proper spot to dig (volunteer for prestige, or for hire). Some would hold a stick and say that it's bending down when they're over water, and others might hold a piece of metal on a string, and when the metal started spinning in a circle, that meant there's water down below.

I later learned in high school physics class that none of this is based in reality; there's no such physical connection between groundwater and a stick, or ring on a string, or an egg. I reckon most of the volunteers really believed they had some kind of mystical gift, and that most that charged for it knew they were scamming people. Simple fact is, if you drill down deep enough in most places, you're very likely to reach the

Also known as a "dowser." Great word.

 

[X Equestris]

Today, I got some positive resolution for the dental drama I mentioned a little bit ago in the “What made me unhappy today?” thread. The appointment with my oral surgeon is set and we’ll be doing a panoramic X-ray beforehand, so the surgeon will be able to take out both wisdom teeth if the right one has dropped as well. No prior authorizations necessary and only a very modest copay.

We’re still about a month out from the operation, but that’s a huge weight off my shoulders

 

[Rath Darkblade]

Good luck, X Equestris! Sounds like a good resolution to your dilemma. Hopefully there are no complications.

 

[Dogberry's Watch]

Currently on my way back home from the Sleep Token concert I went to with some of my favorite people, and it was one of the best experiences of my whole life. I'm gonna be exhausted for a while but this was so worth whatever aches I go through. Absolutely adored the whole thing. I caught so much confetti that fell from the ceiling and I got to hear two of my very favorite songs. A friend of mine got video of me losing my mind when my very favorite favorite started and I legit don't think I've ever considered myself more beautiful.

 

[Also]

There was also a case when the local sheriff's department spent a few thousand on something called a Quadro Tracker, equally as fake as water witching.

I just had to go look up this thing on Wikipedia.

...found that the Quadro Tracker contained no electronics whatsoever. It was merely an empty plastic box in which the only metal parts were a couple of wires and the antenna, which were not connected to each other. The antenna was merely a transistor radio aerial. Attorneys for Quadro Corp. later contended that

"...the inductors and oscillators supposed to be inside the device aren't the type usually thought of by electronics experts".​

The "locator chip" was shown to be equally fake; one example put on display by the FBI contained

...dead ants that had been frozen and stuck onto paper with epoxy glue.​

 

[DBwrites]

I'm happy that we're launching a new forum. I'm starting a few of these general threads so that theres a familiar feel. What made you happy today ?

Working on my debut novel, I'm over 2/3rds of the way finished and should be on the last part by the end of the weekend!

 

[Rath Darkblade]

I just had to go look up this thing on Wikipedia.

...found that the Quadro Tracker contained no electronics whatsoever. It was merely an empty plastic box in which the only metal parts were a couple of wires and the antenna, which were not connected to each other. The antenna was merely a transistor radio aerial. Attorneys for Quadro Corp. later contended that

"...the inductors and oscillators supposed to be inside the device aren't the type usually thought of by electronics experts".​

The "locator chip" was shown to be equally fake; one example put on display by the FBI contained

...dead ants that had been frozen and stuck onto paper with epoxy glue.​

Sigh. Why does this remind me of this story from 2011? (Link: Yahoo article)

The same article also appears on NBC and other places. Basically, a 22-year-old woman on her way to get some food at McDonald's met with two very generous-hearted young men who offered to sell her an iPad for $279. (The fashionable accessory at the time retailed for $579 at least).

She said she only had $170 on her, and they said sure. They handed over the article, securely packed in a FedEx box, and she handed over the cash. (Obvious and unnecessary warning: don't do that). ;-P

To compound her idiocy, she didn't even bother to check the article before handing over the cash. (Obvious and unnecessary warning: don't do that, either).

When she got home and opened the box, she discovered that the "iPad" was just a piece of wood painted black, with the Apple logo painted in white on the reverse and a "Best Buy" sticker stuck to it.

On the plus side, she'll never have to charge it ...

 

[Also]

a piece of wood painted black, with the Apple logo painted in white on the reverse and a "Best Buy" sticker stuck to it.

Hand-painted, yet. Ah, the 2010s. They were a time when craftsmen still took pride in their work, whatever it was.

What I want to know — the state being South Carolina and the city Spartanburg — is how long she spent trying to figure out how to turn it on.

 

[Also]

...the inductors and oscillators supposed to be inside the device aren't the type usually thought of by electronics experts.

The only touch the lawyers missed here was to put ****-style derisive quotation marks around "experts."

 

[Amontillado]

I just had to go look up this thing on Wikipedia.

...found that the Quadro Tracker contained no electronics whatsoever. It was merely an empty plastic box in which the only metal parts were a couple of wires and the antenna, which were not connected to each other. The antenna was merely a transistor radio aerial. Attorneys for Quadro Corp. later contended that

"...the inductors and oscillators supposed to be inside the device aren't the type usually thought of by electronics experts".​

The "locator chip" was shown to be equally fake; one example put on display by the FBI contained

...dead ants that had been frozen and stuck onto paper with epoxy glue.​

Yep, that's the one. The thing had a slot to insert a picture of what you were looking for. Two antennas flopped around and supposedly pointed to the missing thing or person.

One of our local deputies went to official Quadro Tracker training where they were convinced it worked. There were a number of police departments swindled, not just ours.

It was originally marketed to golfers as a novelty item for finding lost golf balls.

 

[Rath Darkblade]

Hand-painted, yet. Ah, the 2010s. They were a time when craftsmen still took pride in their work, whatever it was.

What I want to know — the state being South Carolina and the city Spartanburg — is how long she spent trying to figure out how to turn it on.

If you're silly enough make a major purchase like this at the parking lot of a local McDonald's, from someone you don't know, and not even check that it's the real deal ... I wouldn't be surprised if it was hours?

 

[ps102]

I had a great time watching some old Ghibli films.

Yesterday, I watched Kiki's Delivery service. Today, I watched Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke.

Spirited Away was easily the best one. I saw it already when I was very young, so I only remembered bits of it. I avoided re-watching it all these years because it kind of scared me back then. I know I'm not the only kid who was scared of the way Chihiro's parents turned into pigs.

But I loved it as an adult. It wasn't scary at all. More like very otherwordly and phenomenal, which is exactly what I loved so much about it. I was so mesmerized the entire time. That's what a fantasy film should feel like. I'm so incredibly happy that I decided to get over some old, nonsense fear.

Kiki's Delivery Service was amazing as well. I didn't find as much enjoyment in Princess Mononoke though. It had way too much gore.

Either way, I'm so incredibly happy that I re-discovered Spirited Away. It's now undoubtedly my favorite film of all time!

 

[Set2Stun]

I had a great time watching some old Ghibli films.

Yesterday, I watched Kiki's Delivery service. Today, I watched Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke.

Spirited Away was easily the best one. I saw it already when I was very young, so I only remembered bits of it. I avoided re-watching it all these years because it kind of scared me back then. I know I'm not the only kid who was scared of the way Chihiro's parents turned into pigs.

But I loved it as an adult. It wasn't scary at all. More like very otherwordly and phenomenal, which is exactly what I loved so much about it. I was so mesmerized the entire time. That's what a fantasy film should feel like. I'm so incredibly happy that I decided to get over some old, nonsense fear.

Kiki's Delivery Service was amazing as well. I didn't find as much enjoyment in Princess Mononoke though. It had way too much gore.

Either way, I'm so incredibly happy that I re-discovered Spirited Away. It's now undoubtedly my favorite film of all time!

Spirited Away came out when I was still working at the video store as a teenager. It's been a long time since I've seen it, so thanks for the reminder to do a rewatch. My favourite Ghibli is Mononoke. I watched that for the first time in a long time earlier this year, and it still hits me in the feels.

Somehow I have not gotten around to Kiki yet - it's been on my long list for too...long.

 

[edamame]

Jumping into say, Kiki is one of my favorite Ghibli films about adolescence/growing up. It's about independence, finding your passion/purpose, realizing that material things don't matter, and getting over setbacks. It's like comforting soup with a touch of magic, while Spirited Away and Mononoke are more hardcore adventure/fantasy.