Vaping on the Front or back Porch

[nadalama]

Yep, looks to be the LCD it probably is that.

If that Smart TV is a Roku (six) branded one, you'll want to be sure to get Pluto TV & Freevee on your Roku. There's so much "free" content available just with those you may not want any "premium" services. Even Amazon's Fire stuff has Pluto TV & Freevee. FilmRise is another decent "free" content choice.

Freevee used to be IMdb Tv, which is, of course, Amazon. Pluto is a "free" front for Viacom / CBS / Paramount. Think their goal is to keep it as a "test bed" to help draw in Paramount+ subscribers. Usually stuff from Paramount+ shows up 6 months later on Pluto.

Saying "free" in the case of these services though does imply advert support. The adverts though are less than you see on standard cable/dish television. In Pluto's case, they usually run about four adverts for Pluto channels and two actual adverts.

I would suggest Tubi Tiv yet got mixed views on it. Tubi is run by Fox. They do adverts as well, kind of "free" Netflix. The adverts on Tubi were supposedly only to be 5 minutes per hour of content. Well, ... of course, that didn't last. 'Sides, Pluto gets more content being run by Viacom/Paramount.

Speaking of Paramount, they got a nice $5/month tier that gets access to all content with minimal adverts. Peacock does the same with a $5 tier. I and wife don't mind paying a bit for these. Peacock includes USA, SyFi, WWE, NBC networks as well as some others. It's run by Universal who at times works hand in glove with Disney, yet is not Disney.

Watch out on Netflix anymore. They're running all this "woke" stuff. They're beheld to investors, not customers. Too much "programming" on televised media is thinly veiled politics, persuasion, propaganda, disinformation. It's one thing to use media with narrative to teach or convey something moral, ethical, and do so in a manner you still enjoy the content. It's another to use the content as a cudgel.

Examples of those doing it correctly? Ursula K. Le Guin & Terry Pratchett instantly come to mind, guess Douglas Adams counts as well, Victor Hugo.

We seem to have lost all the good storytellers and replaced them with "writers". Yes, there's a huge chasm of difference betwixt the two. Aesop was a storyteller who reared many a child from his bound slavery. Ask a writer to do that, now. Go on, I double dog dare you.

No great fantasy authors out there now? Obv you haven't run across Charlie Holmberg. Try "Spellbreaker" first. Awesome.

I'm 31 books into R. L. King's Alastair Stone Chronicles, which aren't in Holmberg territory, but good stories, nevertheless.

A. C. Cobble's Benjamin Ashwood series is definitely worth at least a glance.

I went something like 25 years and didn't read any fantasy at all. I'm still not obsessed with the genre, but have found a few authors that are terrific (imo). Holmberg is shocking, she's so talented.

LeGuin will never have an equal, I guess. But then, she was of a different time. Almost like Tolkein and Agatha Christie, they were otherworldly, for their time. There are others, I just can't remember anything much these days. Stephen Donaldson comes to mind, and Terry Brooks.

If you like fantasy, you'd get your money's worth out of Kindle Unlimited. I think it's about $12 a month or something like that. I have kept myself in books every day for the past three or four years with KU.

 

[Jimi]

Good Sunday afternoon Porch goers

 

[MyMagicMist]

No great fantasy authors out there now? Obv you haven't run across Charlie Holmberg. Try "Spellbreaker" first. Awesome.

Not been keeping up much on books in general. Find myself thinking of Ronald Tobias' Twenty Master Plots, and how to build them. After reading through that book, it is difficult to "cut off" an inner conversation you find yourself in with an author/writer.

You'll hear a "voice under", "In the next two pages I'll reveal a tick for this character. I'll do it by placing them in a different scene from last chapter." Then, you read the actual two pages and see how the "trick": was done.<Engage Flaming> You start realizing often a movie what takes two hours to slug through can often be told in a thirty-second "slug line".

Books are the same for me. And then I'm tired a lot, when, I sit to read after a few minutes of consuming text I pass out. The last I read was the series of books involving Bloodwork by Michael Connelly. Had to keep pushing myself to read that. He writes stories. Bad ones. And seeing him do stuff like I did in orange there, really bothered me.

(In case you need it explained, I'll do so. The text in orange is not two sentences at all. At best, you may have combined them into one sentence. Nope, not him. His editors let him get by with a sentence and an, um, phrase? His name "sold" it anyway to tunes of millions.)

As someone trying to start into writing as a career of storytelling, I'd not be allowed the luxury of that kind of slop. Why does he get it? Simply put, his name. That means he could write drivel for three novels, no one would care, he's big shot writer Joe Blow (everybody loves Joe Blow, he sells books).

The market & industry is so skewed it's not funny. There's no real originality, never has been or will be. The only thing original is a voice from a teller, and even then that can be taught, copied, formed into. </Disengage Flaming>

That aside, yes, I will look into some of your suggestions. I'm into all genres, really, except blatant pornography type of stuff. I'll read erotica sure, but porn, no. Fantasy has recently been ringing my bells, though. Amazon finally got Wheel of Time going and didn't make it into crap. That's by someone who wrote Conan. You really don't get much "high fantasy" like that anymore, least not that I've seen. So it'll be good to check your suggestions out.

 

[SteveS45]

 

[SteveS45]

Yep, looks to be the LCD it probably is that.

I don't thnk it is the LCD because this TV makes a Sound when it starts and I got it to start one time doing a Restet.

If that Smart TV is a Roku (six) branded one, you'll want to be sure to get Pluto TV & Freevee on your Roku. There's so much "free" content available just with those you may not want any "premium" services. Even Amazon's Fire stuff has Pluto TV & Freevee. FilmRise is another decent "free" content choice.

Because I have 2 Smart TV's and Amazon Prime I already have streaming Services I don't use.

 

[SteveS45]

I have a Cold or maybe its Flu? Had one bad night with fever but feeling better today. Worst part is the damn runny nose~! My GF is telling me to Test myself for Covid but this is just a Cold I know the Flu can test Positive as CV-19.


I got sick working on my vehicle the other day in the cold. Not smart to lay on cold cement and work.

 

[2WhiteWolves]

! WAKE UP ! from the MEDIA SPELL !

 

[MyMagicMist]

I don't thnk it is the LCD because this TV makes a Sound when it starts and I got it to start one time doing a Restet.

Hm, may not be then. What little I glossed over LCD spoke about the liquid crystals (LCD) being used for light, rather than the cathode ray tube (CRT). If it's making sound though, you betcha, you got light too.

*Sidesteps the big X on the floor*

What do I know? I know that I love my wife, critter kids & they love me. Yep, that's about it, and I'm content in that.

Henry Ford only had a third grade education, it's said. He also had a box on his desk with buttons to summon experts, professionals to explain stuff to him. He created cars & trucks that keep going to this day. We got computers in our homes connected to the Inter-Webs. We, too, can summon knowledge by depressing buttons. Can you not feel the potential?

No one knows you're an eel online.

 

[SteveS45]

If it's making sound though, you betcha, you got light too.

No it makes a Sound when the TV starts which I got it to do one time while resetting. I heard the sound and saw the Display. I think it is the T-Con Board. But if I could find a Definite Code Explanation I would do it.

 

[MyMagicMist]

Last night was interesting.

Clocked in at 3 pm. Had been told "two weeks at 3-11:30 for 'training'". Got directed to start going in at 4 pm, I was "good to go". The other argument presented was that I didn't need to upset my rhythm by coming in too early.

The director told me he would have a worksheet, schedule, for me at 4. 4 came and went, neither of those came along. Sat for nearly two and a half hours. Finally went to the office to ask if I had the day off.

Wound up helping run trash. I was supposed to have run the floor scrubber, that didn't pan out. It was a user and technical glitch. Silly me hit the big red button on the unit. Well, ... that did a full stop. "Safety kill switch," I got told. Did not see how to unlock it.

Do know how to use a floor scrubber, in general principle. The ones they have got different control set-ups, though. May take a bit to adjust. Also learned there is a darker back end to the Stepford happy joy veneer. The guy I was helping is a team leader. HR told him he would get a raise, and it would be automatic. Our director said that wasn't how it worked.

Anyway, will be what will be. Will keep going, the best able & make the best able of it. Run 'er slow.

 

[gopher_byrd]

 

[SteveS45]

 

[SteveS45]

 

[MyMagicMist]

No worksheet, schedule, for me at 4 last night. Wife said to ask again tonight. From what I gather, tonight is supposed to be our Christmas party night. Which means it's likely very little to nothing gets done.

Thinking it's probably better, I show up, get a little free food, wander off and sit. Not wanting to go rocking boats. Last night, found out I'm supposed to be a cart sitter for another person. That's to say, I watch their cart of supplies whilst they go do work.

The hospital is deadly afraid of lawsuits over someone ingesting cleaning chemicals off a cart. I asked the fellow, if everyone is so afraid of everything, why does anyone bother? His brilliant response was, "well, you just got to stay clean." He meant that you had to work according to the "book".

Which if I read the "book" correctly, out of fear you just stand watching your cart and don't do anything of the actual work. Have to love fear, oh boy, oh boy, you sure do. This is a second job where I've been hired to work, where it seems no one wants you to work. *smh* What the actual fuck?

And yes, I comprehend not wanting a lawsuit. I do. What I don't understand is society seeming paralyzed by fear to the extent a janitor/custodian/housekeeper cannot work. Seems a crock of festering dung to me.

 

[SteveS45]

The hospital is deadly afraid of lawsuits over someone ingesting cleaning chemicals off a cart. I asked the fellow, if everyone is so afraid of everything, why does anyone bother?

Simple solution is a locked cart so you can work and keep things safe. I have a Laptop cable lock I used to use when I was working on site and had to leave it hooked up but go to another end of a room, hallway or building. Laptops have a tendency to grow legs.

 

[MyMagicMist]

Simple solution is a locked cart so you can work and keep things safe. I have a Laptop cable lock I used to use when I was working on site and had to leave it hooked up but go to another end of a room, hallway or building. Laptops have a tendency to grow legs.

Agreed, and I think the newer carts have a capacity to be locked up. The older ones do not. It was not my cart last night, but someone else's. He left me to dust mop an area and then, mop the edges close to the walls.

(No worksheet, schedule, or cart either for me, even. Ha!)

He was, then, going to bring in the floor scrubber to catch the middle portion, away from the edges. I went ahead and used the scrubber while he was on lunch break.

Took the initiative and helped my team stay ahead of the work. Yes, his cart was out of my view briefly. I had watched the "traffic" in that area, though. It did not appear to be too many folk going through. Figured I could do the work without much need to fear someone grabbing up chemicals.

No one did by the by. Yet I got all kinds of flack from him. My wife asked, "why didn't he take his cart and stow it in a custodial closet if he was going to lunch?" Told her, FIIK, aside from his cart having a mop bucket on it. There was another mop and bucket he had brought down I could have used. He had me put it up.

I have to fight a deep urge to blurt out, "you hired me to do work, want me to do work or not?"

Topping it off? I had joked we kept Jackson County Schools cleaner than area hospitals. Well, ... um, erm, ... it's no joke. The one I'm at is filthy, dust everywhere. Surprised no lawsuit has come of that yet.

 

[gopher_byrd]

 

[2WhiteWolves]

! WAKE UP ! from the MEDIA SPELL !

 

[SteveS45]

 

[MarkS]

Good morning!

 

[gopher_byrd]

 

[SteveS45]

 

[SteveS45]

I slept until 9AM this morning?? So I missed recycling~! Not too cold here this morning 48°F and Breezy. Was so windy last night things got blow around like plastic chairs and the empty garbage cans~!

 

[2WhiteWolves]

! WAKE UP ! from the MEDIA SPELL !

 

[2WhiteWolves]

I slept until 9AM this morning?? So I missed recycling~! Not too cold here this morning 48°F and Breezy. Was so windy last night things got blow around like plastic chairs and the empty garbage cans~!

This was yesterday...it stayed at the temp all day and at night it went up to a balmy -5

But, today is warming up

Though, it's nice and toasty in here...73° with the fire going in the wood stove.



! WAKE UP ! from the MEDIA SPELL !

 

[2WhiteWolves]

Good morning!

There you are.... Good to see you !

! WAKE UP ! from the MEDIA SPELL !

 

[SteveS45]

 

[SteveS45]

Good Evening Porch Dwellers~! We lost power here for 3 1.2 hours. Worst part was it took out the Verizon Network so I had limited Cell Service and No Internet on the Phone~! It is currently 12°F outside and I was calmly waiting for the power to come back on or right now I would be Freezing my ass off pulling out the Generator and running wires inside to the Oil Burner~! Thank Goodness we got the power back~! I couldn't even order a Pizza because I couldn't get to the Internet~!

Most probably a Tree fell or a branch broke and took out some wires.

 

[SteveS45]

Dropping by the Minute~! I might crank the Heat up just in case the power goes out again once it stops running~! Since Mom is always cold I crank it up all the time and this New thermostat I installed seems to be conserving Fuel Oil~! So easy to raise the temperature and it goes back to schedule once the house warms to what I overrode the Temperature to.

 

[gopher_byrd]

 

[SteveS45]

 

[MarkS]

Merry Christmas y'all!

 

[Jimi]

Merry Christmas Porch Goers

Puttin this here for in the morning

 

[MyMagicMist]

A bit nippy here. Dropped to wind chill at -25F Friday night. Our average velocity coming home was about 40 mph. We usually run about 70 mph on interstate. The wind kept fighting the car. Oddly enough, we got home about the same time we did, going 70 mph.

Speaking of home, me and wife are all set for a tentative move in date of 2023/01/04. We've gotten approved for a first floor apartment/flat in Parkersburg. It is no more than a ten-minute drive to her work, probably five minutes to mine. Not sure how long a bus ride will be, can take one into work and let her pick me up.

Yes, there are also taxi services. Rather, not need to rely upon paying for them to get to the apartment, though. We're going there to try saving a nest up. Still, it will be nice to "call a cab" every once in a bit, if needed.

My Christmas gifts so far were a pack of skivvies, a pack of socks. I didn't have anything else in mind to get if I was asked. I got practical gifts. Hm.

Well Merry Christmas everyone.

 

[gopher_byrd]

Congrats on getting the new apartment Mist!

 

[MyMagicMist]

Congrats on getting the new apartment Mist!

Thanks. We do not want city life, or apartment living as the end all. It can be useful in giving refuge, growing toward our goal.

"Sometimes you need to do what you don't want to get to where you want to go." -- Samuel Bailey

The wife's dad walked her down the aisle. It was her grandfather that gave her away. That is his quote above.

Recently, I figured out a lot more in life. First, I've found my "right" place to work. Second, there's a point when you need to stop fighting yourself. Third, Tom Petty says it well.

 

[gopher_byrd]

Merry Christmas to everyone on the porches!

 

[Jimi]

Merry Christmas porch goers
I found this for @SteveS45 , caught him playin Santa again

 

[SteveS45]

 

[2WhiteWolves]

Yeah, I know....it's now officially afternoon

! WAKE UP ! from the MEDIA SPELL !

 

[gopher_byrd]

 

[gopher_byrd]

Yeah, I know....it's now officially afternoon

! WAKE UP ! from the MEDIA SPELL !

Still morning here, so you're good!

 

[MarkS]

Good morning! Still hasn't got above freezing yet here since the polar vortex hit. Hopefully we will get to see above freezing temperatures today.

 

[SteveS45]

 

[gopher_byrd]

 

[2WhiteWolves]

! WAKE UP ! from the MEDIA SPELL !

 

[Jimi]

Good Mornin Porch goers

 

[SteveS45]

 

[SteveS45]

 

[MyMagicMist]

Y'all know wot?

Two days into not fighting myself, and it feels great! How I wish I had been told, taught this a lot sooner in life. It has really put everything into perspective for me. Able to now tell people, "sorry, I'm doing other stuff", or "nope, taking a breather." The world doesn't end when Atlas lets down his shoulders.

Thought I would be spending the weekend helping wife get us moved. She informed me, we can only get the key/s on the 4th or after, though. We might still do some packing up, and preparing this weekend. Usually she'll wait until last minute, and then be methodical (read extremely slow) in getting us ready, packed up.

Such methodology often causes me stress. Not sure if it will now, seem fairly used to her ways of doing. May have to read about a WV lady beating her husband to death, however. "He wouldn't quit chuckling at me."