Random Thoughts Thread

[cp-the-nerd]

Thanks for the suggestion, I'll PM him if he doesn't see it.

[Drew Dowdell]

So I've done directed audio meditation for years to help deal with the stress and anxiety I get at work.   Today I stumbled on something called ASMR on youtube.  It is basically people whispering a simulated conversation to you and making various very soft sounds like scratching or tapping on either side of a stereo microphone.  It seems really really strange at first... but then I feel like "hey! this might actually be working!" 

 

The kicker:  I found it while looking for a video of a carnival band organ.... something exactly the opposite in volume as this ASMR stuff.

[cp-the-nerd]

So I've done directed audio meditation for years to help deal with the stress and anxiety I get at work.   Today I stumbled on something called ASMR on youtube.  It is basically people whispering a simulated conversation to you and making various very soft sounds like scratching or tapping on either side of a stereo microphone.  It seems really really strange at first... but then I feel like "hey! this might actually be working!" 

 

The kicker:  I found it while looking for a video of a carnival band organ.... something exactly the opposite in volume as this ASMR stuff.

 

I can return the favor from earlier, my girlfriend does ASMR all the time to wind down before bed. My favorite vids are by a person named "Heather Feather." She has some odd roll playing that I'm not into, but she also has several guided meditations and one called an "aural message" that will relax you from head to toe, it's crazy! Gotta use headphones though to get the best effect.

[Drew Dowdell]

 

So I've done directed audio meditation for years to help deal with the stress and anxiety I get at work.   Today I stumbled on something called ASMR on youtube.  It is basically people whispering a simulated conversation to you and making various very soft sounds like scratching or tapping on either side of a stereo microphone.  It seems really really strange at first... but then I feel like "hey! this might actually be working!" 

 

The kicker:  I found it while looking for a video of a carnival band organ.... something exactly the opposite in volume as this ASMR stuff.

 

I can return the favor from earlier, my girlfriend does ASMR all the time to wind down before bed. My favorite vids are by a person named "Heather Feather." She has some odd roll playing that I'm not into, but she also has several guided meditations and one called an "aural message" that will relax you from head to toe, it's crazy! Gotta use headphones though to get the best effect.

 

 

I've used a series called The Meditation Podcast for years to help me sleep. They use something called binaural beats, but it's nothing like this ASMR stuff.  The two series I found online also have a bit of odd roleplay scenarios, but at least last night, I found them far more effective than what I was using previously. 

[ocnblu]

OMG this crap is fantastic.  ASMR ROOLS!

[Suaviloquent]

Yes, political dynasties have become the modern euphemism for medieval dictatorships. It's no question that like in the past, change in leadership comes at the expense of the losing party's credibility.  Whether if it was beheadings in the not too distant  past in terms of the age of human civilization to the death of one's political career due to the embarrassment of the discovery of sheer incompetence; they are essentially the same means to an end.

[El Kabong]

Alberta voted in the NDP. I keep looking out the window for locust plagues.

[balthazar]

Yes, political dynasties have become the modern euphemism for medieval dictatorships. It's no question that like in the past, change in leadership comes at the expense of the losing party's credibility.  Whether if it was beheadings in the not too distant  past in terms of the age of human civilization to the death of one's political career due to the embarrassment of the discovery of sheer incompetence; they are essentially the same means to an end.

But a 'skilled', entrenched politician can too easily spin away sheer incompetence, whereas a beheading (today) would be harder to argue, caught on a dozen cell phone cameras.

 

- - - - -

Blog… or book??

Edited June 8, 2015 by balthazar

[Robert Hall]

 

Yes, political dynasties have become the modern euphemism for medieval dictatorships. It's no question that like in the past, change in leadership comes at the expense of the losing party's credibility.  Whether if it was beheadings in the not too distant  past in terms of the age of human civilization to the death of one's political career due to the embarrassment of the discovery of sheer incompetence; they are essentially the same means to an end.

But a 'skilled', entrenched politician can too easily spin away sheer incompetence, whereas a beheading (today) would be harder to argue, caught on a dozen cell phone cameras.

 

Yeah, and too old fashioned.  Predator drones work better today..

[Suaviloquent]

Alberta voted in the NDP. I keep looking out the window for locust plagues. 

Even with the drop off in oil, didn't the conservative party run a deficit even during the boom times? In terms of the Canadian political landscape, I trust Harper, only because we know what we're getting.

[El Kabong]

Alberta voted in the NDP. I keep looking out the window for locust plagues.

Even with the drop off in oil, didn't the conservative party run a deficit even during the boom times? In terms of the Canadian political landscape, I trust Harper, only because we know what we're getting.

Prime Minister Steve has made great political mileage from being a mixture of the most desirable of Canadian traits: competent, bland, and (outwardly) boring. I suspect the real Stephen Harper, while not as gonzo as Mackenzie King turned out to be, is probably more along the lines of the guy we occasionally see who sings Beatles songs on the piano and gets all giddy about his hockey sweater collection.

[knightfan26917]

Came to a decision NOT to sell off my first car ever (which I obviously still have). 

For one thing, it's worth about double the number I tossed out to the young guy who has called me 3 times in a week about it. Hmmmm...

 

Awesome ... glad you decided to keep it!!!!  Wish I had that option for my 2 Caprice Classics.

 

 

Cort www.oldcarsstronghearts.com

1979 & 1989 Caprice Classics | pigValve, paceMaker, cowValve

"I walk for miles along the highway" __ Patsy Cline __ 'Walking After Midnight'

[David]

Need advice cleaning a dry cone intake filter. It's an Amsoil nanofiber and their website has very little by way of cleaning interval or method.

 

They just say to clean with a vacuum (!?) from the dirty side but not how often, and suggest replacing the filter entirely after 4 years. Other dry filters as well as oiled filters suggest soaking with soapy water and rinsing from the inside until the water comes out clear. Is this bad for nanofiber?

 

It's been a year and ~10,000 miles as of now and I took it out to examine it and vacuum clean it, but that doesn't seem adequate. The filter is still in good condition, so this isn't an urgent situation.

I have had those and I always use water from the inside of the filter to push the dirt back out the incoming side. I first vacumed it and then hosed it out. After a good run and what looks like clean water, I then let it dry in the sun and put it back on. Mine have worked really well for me so far.

[David]

Wonder when Canada, US and Mexico will become the United North American Union. Just one big happy family of workers.

[El Kabong]

Sorry man-ten provinces and three territories are enough.

[cp-the-nerd]

 

Need advice cleaning a dry cone intake filter. It's an Amsoil nanofiber and their website has very little by way of cleaning interval or method.

 

They just say to clean with a vacuum (!?) from the dirty side but not how often, and suggest replacing the filter entirely after 4 years. Other dry filters as well as oiled filters suggest soaking with soapy water and rinsing from the inside until the water comes out clear. Is this bad for nanofiber?

 

It's been a year and ~10,000 miles as of now and I took it out to examine it and vacuum clean it, but that doesn't seem adequate. The filter is still in good condition, so this isn't an urgent situation.

I have had those and I always use water from the inside of the filter to push the dirt back out the incoming side. I first vacumed it and then hosed it out. After a good run and what looks like clean water, I then let it dry in the sun and put it back on. Mine have worked really well for me so far.

 

 

Thanks for the response! No soap?

 

Any idea as to why they don't suggest a more thorough cleaning method, or are they just trying to get you to buy a replacement every few years?

[Frisky Dingo]

Ever since I bought this 4Runner, I'm having difficulty in refraining from bombarding every backroad, mudhole, and incline I can find. It's kind of a problem....

[El Kabong]

Alright, I just discovered the reputation meter in here... Thanks for all the upvotes, whoever upvoted me. As for the downvotes... well, they're nearly all in one thread so I understand why they're there

[David]

 

 

Need advice cleaning a dry cone intake filter. It's an Amsoil nanofiber and their website has very little by way of cleaning interval or method.

 

They just say to clean with a vacuum (!?) from the dirty side but not how often, and suggest replacing the filter entirely after 4 years. Other dry filters as well as oiled filters suggest soaking with soapy water and rinsing from the inside until the water comes out clear. Is this bad for nanofiber?

 

It's been a year and ~10,000 miles as of now and I took it out to examine it and vacuum clean it, but that doesn't seem adequate. The filter is still in good condition, so this isn't an urgent situation.

I have had those and I always use water from the inside of the filter to push the dirt back out the incoming side. I first vacumed it and then hosed it out. After a good run and what looks like clean water, I then let it dry in the sun and put it back on. Mine have worked really well for me so far.

 

 

Thanks for the response! No soap?

 

Any idea as to why they don't suggest a more thorough cleaning method, or are they just trying to get you to buy a replacement every few years?

 

I be honest that mine has almost 100K miles on it and I suspect they do not want a better cleaning as they want you to continue to buy them every so many years. Thinking about it I did use spray n wash 1 time on it and another time I used Downy as they both removed the dirt / grease that had gotten on it and after drying it was good as new.

 

Thanks for bringing this up as I have not checked mine in a while. Will do it tonight.

[ccap41]

Peanut butter JELLLEY!!! Ccap what's up my homie brodie yodie lokie?

Hahaha hey man!

 

I really need to invest in a new laptop. mine actually just $h! the bed about a year ago and I haven't had one sense. I have access to computers at home when I need them but it still isn't the same as having my own. That's one reason I'm never on these forums over the weekends, mobile versions suck to me and not-mobile sites suck from phones. It's just a lose-lose.

 

Heck, at this point.. I don't even know what route I would take with a new computer. The 'new' Microsoft tablet/computers are a pretty whoopass design and my dad has one(I think his is an HP..or a Samsung..) and the idea of a full keyboard and then the monitor detaches as a tablet is just awesome to me. But For what I would want (which I know I wouldn't be using it to its full potential) would be more than I'd want to spend..because I wouldn't be using it to its full potential.

[SalesmanSean]

I really wish I was sitting at home playing more Marvel Heroes and watching Cowboy Bebop instead of at work today.  I was not ready yet for a new week to start.

[balthazar]

Two products that actually have 'good' assembly instructions: Anderson doors and Weber grilles. 

[SalesmanSean]

Two products that actually have 'good' assembly instructions: Anderson doors and Weber grilles. 

Wait, things come with instructions?  I thought all those pages were just a short multilingual story making fun of the consumer for buying the product and having to put it together.

Edited June 8, 2015 by SalesmanSean

[William Maley]

Two products that actually have 'good' assembly instructions: Anderson doors and Weber grilles.

 

Define 'good'. They actually use words?

 

 

I really wish I was sitting at home playing more Marvel Heroes and watching Cowboy Bebop instead of at work today.  I was not ready yet for a new week to start.

 

Someone turned on to the Cowboy Bebop soundtrack this past week. Been listening and quite enjoying it. Might actually get me to watch the show finally.

 

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No iTunes, the audiobook I'm ripping is not classified as 'easy listening'.

[SalesmanSean]

I really wish I was sitting at home playing more Marvel Heroes and watching Cowboy Bebop instead of at work today.  I was not ready yet for a new week to start.

 

Someone turned on to the Cowboy Bebop soundtrack this past week. Been listening and quite enjoying it. Might actually get me to watch the show finally.

 

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No iTunes, the audiobook I'm ripping is not classified as 'easy listening'.

 

I love the opening theme.  I generally am not a big jazz fan, it often tends to be too free-form and chaotic, but that opener is just pure fun to listen to.