Off Topic!, For all our "general" off topic tendencies Options

[naydi]

.....
It's sad to see them grow old. In the last four months they have been making a positive move towards assisted living, which is probably for the best. The place that they have chosen has accepted them. Now to down size! But, mom is working on it.
.

Try not to feel too discouraged by their impending move. Being in an assisted living facility, there's more of a goal that the resident will remain independent, they just need a little help with the bigger things. Assisted living is designed to be just that: Living!! As Seraph and her group are putting into practice, the longer someone can stay involved in the performance of their own ADLs (activities of daily living), the longer they psychologically, and, thereby, physically, will be able to do so.

Use it or lose it is one of the truest idioms ever spoken! Unfortunately, most elderly end up being pushed toward early institutionalized "helplessness" and resulting disease by the thinking that, at a certain point, somebody should start doing everything for them - whether they're still capable or not. One broken hip doesn't mean that grandma should never, ever walk again. It's great to read that you're focused on their being as independent as possible!

[naydi]

FLASH!!! Important medical news for all peep lovers.

Introduction: One of the great mysteries of the Peep species is that these creatures are always born as conjoined quintuplets. Some scientists have theorized that this arrangement, much like pack behavior in other species, serves as a natural protection against predators. As evidence, note that Peeps are most often consumed by predators only after they have been separated from their siblings. Conversely, Peeps which remain attached to their siblings are rarely preyed upon.

For the rest of this groundbreaking, and peep breaking, article, please visit this link.

Warning: NOT for the Peep Squeamish! Karo is spilled!!

All I can say is, once the bottom of the aparatus was pulled aside and proper technique was used, that was mighty fine stapling, son...



hmmmmm....vanilla-flavored Fun Dip sticks....

That was the only part of the whole thing that I ever liked; the colored sugar I could do without...



(if i could Photoshop i'd be an even sadder geek, but the Homer pic would make a h'll of a lot more sense)

[peachybc]

Librarian, in case Delsign is occupied elsewhere, here is a link to ASL for Jewish Festivals. From what I could find, there is a Quicktime video for signing Passover, which seems to be the same as "cracker". I'm not sure if I've understood the author correctly there, but have a wander around.

I did a similar snoop-around for Easter ASL instructions. Mostly I found out how to sign 'chocolate', 'bunny', and 'egg hunt' . Ah yes.. Gimme that ole time religion

LOL B!

I found this for you Librarian... a video showing the sign for Passover.

Sign for Passover

[naydi]

Librarian, in case Delsign is occupied elsewhere, here is a link to ASL for Jewish Festivals. From what I could find, there is a Quicktime video for signing Passover, which seems to be the same as "cracker". I'm not sure if I've understood the author correctly there, but have a wander around.

I did a similar snoop-around for Easter ASL instructions. Mostly I found out how to sign 'chocolate', 'bunny', and 'egg hunt' . Ah yes.. Gimme that ole time religion

I managed to miss that the first time... !!!!

[stefanl]

I managed to miss that the first time... !!!!

I know this is way Off Topic but the religious chocolate affiliation...

[EYEballer]

I know this is way Off Topic but the religious chocolate affiliation...

[naydi]

I know this is way Off Topic but the religious chocolate affiliation...

This is exactly what made the vote against including artist illustrations in the Old Testament carry over; despite Jebediah's commendable campaign to the contrary. Finding an original tapestry of the above rolled up carelessly among Rabbi Zippy's copy of the scrolls just made the whole idea feel too risky...

[bwalter]

This is exactly what made the vote against including artist illustrations in the Old Testament carry over; despite Jebediah's commendable campaign to the contrary. Finding an original tapestry of the above rolled up carelessly among Rabbi Zippy's copy of the scrolls just made the whole idea feel too risky...

Absolutely cackling crazy-like here. There is a Far Side cartoon in this....

[VivaSicilia!]

Librarian, in case Delsign is occupied elsewhere, here is a link to ASL for Jewish Festivals. From what I could find, there is a Quicktime video for signing Passover, which seems to be the same as "cracker". I'm not sure if I've understood the author correctly there, but have a wander around.

I did a similar snoop-around for Easter ASL instructions. Mostly I found out how to sign 'chocolate', 'bunny', and 'egg hunt' . Ah yes.. Gimme that ole time religion

Probably from Matzah, which is (just in case) the unleavened "bread of affliction our Forefathers ate, because as they fled, in such haste, from Egypt, the dough they baked into bread had not the time to rise." It's the only part of the Seder

(means "Order" in Hebrew -- It's a traditional Passover meal, eaten in a certain order, sixteen steps in all, for which there is, of course, a menmonic poem/song.
-->(The nice thing about Hebrew rhyme

----->(just thinking about the thread I'm in now -- I've been installing
----->a "what might a
----->Deaf person experience right now?" "room" in my head....)

-->is that it shows up visually, because the vowels are "extra" marks,
-->put above, below,
-->and inside of, the consonants that form the actual, 22-letter,
-->alphabet)

and the Passover diet (eaten all week), escept for the Passover offering of a lamb, specifically the shank (which is, at this point in history, only a symbol on the educational display-plate that has been employed since at least the early Middle Ages)that actually shows up in the Torah.

It is the primary symbol of our being swept up in the joy of God's deliverance of our people, so much so that we forget that God was forced to kill all the Firstborn of the Egyptians, and so He reminds us that not only did others pay the ultimate price (an unfair price, if we get too haughty about our deliverance and forget that some had to die for it) for our feedom (we are all supposed to believe as though we ourselves had come out of Egypt with our ancestors, one unbroken line of masses and masses of Jews, on our way Home to Israel), but that God could take all that away from us if we forget the anything that is good for our Nation is bound to have severe consequences for another. But that He has deemed us worthy (however He has figured such things, which is as unfathomable as anything else about Him) all the same, and there is a party on, now. Just that the refreshments should be just right for the totality of the Occasion...

Anyway. Matzah is a "cracker." Yeah.

P.S.

I like that a story of Freedom for an Oppressed and Misunderstood People coincided with Passover. Also, unless I'm mistaken, neither Christians nor the Deaf have "baby-naming ceremonies," but I do know that that's the Jewish female equivalent of the male celebration, the Briss (Circumcision ceremony), the Naming Ceremony. Maybe the Jewish Child Bringing the Truth and Renewal was supposed to mirror Passover and Easter...?
Anyway, it's good to see a Liberation Story for the Deaf. Yay!

[bwalter]

Probably from Matzah, which is (just in case) the unleavened "bread of affliction our Forefathers ate, because as they fled, in such haste, from Egypt, the dough they baked into bread had not the time to rise." ....Anyway. Matzah is a "cracker." Yeah.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh, I seeeeeeeee . Of course! I fell into a cross-cultural morass there. I kept thinking in the Anglo-Oz vein, not the American one. Cracker to me suggested firecracker or nutcracker, or something that cracks things. A 'cracker" in the UK and Oz means a firecracker (as in Cracker Night), whereas crackers-as-in-Nabisco are called 'biscuits' (and cookies are called 'sweet biscuits' ). Enough of that, I'm getting a headache. Wonder how it works when an American Jew is talking to an Australian Jew????

[thelibrarian]

Actually, at several of the temples I have attended, both male and female infants are brought before the congregation and welcomed by being given their Hebrew names. Which can be fun, when baby James is named something horrific like Shlomo. You just know that is one kid who is never going to use his Hebrew name unless absolutely necessary!

Also, unless I'm mistaken, neither Christians nor the Deaf have "baby-naming ceremonies," but I do know that that's the Jewish female equivalent of the male celebration, the Briss (Circumcision ceremony), the Naming Ceremony. Maybe the Jewish Child Bringing the Truth and Renewal was supposed to mirror Passover and Easter...?
Anyway, it's good to see a Liberation Story for the Deaf. Yay!

[thelibrarian]

Well, if you aren't careful about how you bite into matzo, it sort of does explode, in little tiny pieces that go absolutely everywhere... So maybe there is some connection after all?

And really, this is why I envy the people I know who actually speak Hebrew. It's like the Catholic clergy who speak Latin. Everyone switches to a language they don't speak quite fluently and they all muddle along more or less together. And somehow it really does cut down on the misunderstandings.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh, I seeeeeeeee . Of course! I fell into a cross-cultural morass there. I kept thinking in the Anglo-Oz vein, not the American one. Cracker to me suggested firecracker or nutcracker, or something that cracks things. A 'cracker" in the UK and Oz means a firecracker (as in Cracker Night), whereas crackers-as-in-Nabisco are called 'biscuits' (and cookies are called 'sweet biscuits' ). Enough of that, I'm getting a headache. Wonder how it works when an American Jew is talking to an Australian Jew????

[Not_saying]

Well, if you aren't careful about how you bite into matzo, it sort of does explode, in little tiny pieces that go absolutely everywhere... So maybe there is some connection after all?

And really, this is why I envy the people I know who actually speak Hebrew. It's like the Catholic clergy who speak Latin. Everyone switches to a language they don't speak quite fluently and they all muddle along more or less together. And somehow it really does cut down on the misunderstandings.

I loved it .

[naydi]

animal

[naydi]

the best use of music on television ever

[easterlily07]

Try not to feel too discouraged by their impending move. Being in an assisted living facility, there's more of a goal that the resident will remain independent, they just need a little help with the bigger things. Assisted living is designed to be just that: Living!! As Seraph and her group are putting into practice, the longer someone can stay involved in the performance of their own ADLs (activities of daily living), the longer they psychologically, and, thereby, physically, will be able to do so.

Use it or lose it is one of the truest idioms ever spoken! Unfortunately, most elderly end up being pushed toward early institutionalized "helplessness" and resulting disease by the thinking that, at a certain point, somebody should start doing everything for them - whether they're still capable or not. One broken hip doesn't mean that grandma should never, ever walk again. It's great to read that you're focused on their being as independent as possible!

I think we (as in 5 kids), get that from Dad. He has done so much in his life without the aid of someone leading him around. He has gone up on Lake Superior to smelt fish for a week with just his brother. Has taken the bus home from work, (it let out 2 blocks away from home, and he knew how many steps, and direction to go....somehow, I missed out on that gene! LOL). Taken my brother out driving (remember, my dad is blind, Steve was about 13 or 14 at the time...oh, Steve drove, not Dad. LOL). He and his co-workers would go to a strip club to eat lunch (Dad was upset that he still had to pay a cover charge....okay, I get my wierd and wicked sense of humor from him.)

He bought a computer in his 70's and on occassion will e-mail us (he does use the JAW Program). When Mom was in the hospital, he refused vehnemently (sp?) any help from outsiders to come in and clean, or go shopping. He is active in listening to the news, commentary (loves Rush Limbaugh, O'Riley), and will get in debates about what is going on in the world with anyone, especially if they don't share his opinion. Keeps an eye on the war, and stocks.

The times I do get upset/mad at him, are out-weighed by the number of times I admire his, and Mom's independence and to keep going. I hope I am that resilent when I reach their age!

[naydi]

orbital

[stefanl]

Let me say that I have spent easily 12 hours since Friday evening trying to resolve a problem with my desktop computer. The virus software expired and I chose to buy the disks rather than download the software from their website. It took close to two weeks to get here, all the time being warned every day that my computer is unprotected...

Two programs show up, one needs to be installed so I can return my computer to "normal" should anything happen. The other is the Internet Protection 2007 disk. I try to load the software. I'm not an idiot. I've loaded software dozens of times. You put the disk in, you click yes, next, proceed, whatever button and voila. It loads!

No dice. It gets stuck in the middle, goes no where, won't even recognize any longer that there is actually a flipping disk in the CD tray!

The Symantec website is a labyrinth of blind alleys. Good luck finding a live person who will answer an email much less get one on the telephone! H'll will be that woman's voice, every 2 minutes and 10 seconds thanking me for waiting, my call will be answered by the next available person and "remember that we now have live email chats at Symantec.com."

I never shut down my computer. It's not at all necessary. The thing goes to sleep when it's not in use and I move the mouse to wake it up, check my email, print stuff when I need to. Since Friday evening I have rebooted the darned thing more times than I have probably done in the entire time I have owned the thing and it's two years old.

We had to remove and reinstall their software nine times! NINE times. And it still didn't work. I was on hold waiting for the next available person for an hour and a half on Saturday evening. When I was cut off and heard the voice telling me to hang up and try again, the dog heard some thrillingly pronounced words that would startle a navyman!

THEN I find out that they have a problem with the software they sent me and I need to download version 2007.2!!!!!!!

Long story short, the thing is still useless. Turns on just fine. Try to use anything, email, internet, Spider solitaire! ANYthing and it freezes.

They just called to find out how my computer is doing and gave me a direct line to a consultant. I've been on hold for 43 minutes.

If anyone has a suggestion for a virus protection software that is NOT made by Symantec I'm open to suggestions.

Rant over.

[peachybc]

Wow, Linda, that is depressing news. I use Norton Internet Security (Firewall and Antivirus combo) AND it needs to renewed soon. You're saying the CD's they send you aren't the most current version, plus it's got a program bug? That you have to download the entire AntiVirus program (not just update virus protection) to get a clean copy? What a pain in the BLEEP!!

Are you talking about the Norton Internet Security package or the Firewall, Antivirus programs separately? I need to reup the whole shebang, not just the Antivirus program. Although, I suppose I can just renew the Antivirus on-line, then do the package program update thingie later.

IMO Norton is the best antivirus, firewall out there. However, customer service sucks big time, as you've discovered. I can recommended two excellent antispam, anti trojan programs that I use. If you're interested shoot me a private note.

I do shut down my computer every nite. I've been told by many computer guru's that Windows needs to be refreshed and the best way to do that is to shut your computer down for a bit. I don't like the idea of the thing sucking juice (sleep mode or not) when it's not being used. So it goes nite, nite when I do.
PeachyBC

[stefanl]

Are you talking about the Norton Internet Security package or the Firewall, Antivirus programs separately? I need to reup the whole shebang, not just the Antivirus program. Although, I suppose I can just renew the Antivirus on-line, then do the package program update thingie later.

I do shut down my computer every nite. I've been told by many computer guru's that Windows needs to be refreshed and the best way to do that is to shut your computer down for a bit. I don't like the idea of the thing sucking juice (sleep mode or not) when it's not being used. So it goes nite, nite when I do.
PeachyBC

There is a system upgrade disk that came free of charge. That's the first one that got stuck. The second one was the Norton Internet Security 2007, which is the antivirus software that isn't working.

The woman who called me today to find out how thrilled I am with their new and improved facockta product gave me a direct line number so I wouldn't have to wait so long for a technician. 53 minutes later I'm speaking to some guy who is telling me that the only thing that could possibly be wrong is that I have picked up a virus. I scan my computer every flipping week. I have never had a virus on that system. We did an ActiveX scan on Friday night as part of this technical dance of death and there was nothing suspicious found in 85,000 files.

Today's guy wants me to shut down the computer. Let it wait about 10 minutes, open it in safe mode for networking and run another ActiveX scan, THEN call back and let them know what happens. I've been tethered to a telephone with this darned thing all weekend, what's another 2 hours?!

At least he said they will be able to remove the thing from the machine and give me a refund. I've got to talk to the IT guys at work tomorrow and find out what they would suggest I get instead. I'm NOT a happy customer.

Today's guy said this is only a glitch that almost never happens. I'm so not totally believing him.

As far as shutting down the computer goes... The network engineer at school says not to worry about keeping it on. The people who do vs. don't run about 50/50, but John (my engineer) says there's no surge of juice going through the machine when it gets turned on and off so don't let anyone hand you that load of manure. It's just that it takes no more or less energy to run it as to not. It's still technically on anyway even when it's off because of battery power to run essentials like the internal clock, etc. so why bother having to wait the extra minute or so for it to turn on if you don't have to.

Oofta! Turns on computer, hits F8 key repeatedly...