Random thought thread!

Eilonwy · 2011-02-08T17:48:45.000Z

The first post in the “What’s wrong with my photo?” thread should have been: “You’re in it.”

Thoro · 2011-02-08T17:53:37.000Z

VSys114:

If somebody speaks over you in normal conversation, stop talking immediately, stare at them until they stop talking, and wait exactly three seconds. They will ask you to go on.

Never happens in my case. They take it as an opportunity to go on talking about whatever they wanted to say.

VSys114 · 2011-02-08T17:55:32.000Z

That is when you sweep the leg.

Raife · 2011-02-08T18:00:54.000Z

Tell them that they have a purty mouth.

Staff_Sergeant · 2011-02-08T18:19:20.000Z

Thoro:

Never happens in my case. They take it as an opportunity to go on talking about whatever they wanted to say.

Then you have the option of doing it right back to them once they stop talking, which is less of a conversation and more just two mammals expelling auditory energy, or just walking away.

Raife · 2011-02-08T18:30:59.000Z

This Jack Daniel’s flask was made in China. WTF?

VSys114 · 2011-02-08T19:46:44.000Z

Probably full of lead too.

jason · 2011-02-09T04:03:15.000Z

VSys114:

If somebody speaks over you in normal conversation, stop talking immediately, stare at them until they stop talking, and wait exactly three seconds. They will ask you to go on.

One of my coworkers does this, and it works on everyone in the office but me. It doesn’t work on me because the only time I talk over her is when she’s 3 minutes in to a 30 second story and still 5 minutes away from the pertinent parts. There is a time for flourish and detail, and there is a time for just relating facts.

The_Bitter_Cynic · 2011-02-09T04:40:57.000Z

5am. Awake since 2am.

Can’t sleep again. It’s a chronic problem.

Gained 3 levels in some game.

Insight of my day so far: Sure is dark at 5am in February.

hong · 2011-02-09T04:44:49.000Z

SAS/IML is an interesting language. To define a subroutine, you do this:

start foo(x, y) global(a, b);
…
finish;

This defines a subroutine with 2 input arguments x and y, and 2 global input/output arguments a and b. The latter must reference actual global variables, or if not, they will be created with those names.

This means you can’t call a subroutine the way you would in any language created more recently than, oh, 1980:

run foo(bar[2], baz[5:7, 2], out1[3], out2) /* WRONG /
out1[3], out2 = run foo(bar[2], baz[5:7, 2]); / Matlab-ish – ALSO WRONG */

because a and b must refer to variables, the way you do it is

run foo(bar[2], baz[5:7, 2]);
out1[3] = a;
out2 = b;

Yes, you must have scratch variables whose only reason for existence is to talk to subroutines. It’s like a trip to the distant past of computing, when people talked using punched cards, Fortran was young, and Richard Stallman was in school.

kerzain · 2011-02-09T05:40:59.000Z

The Bitter Cynic:

5am. Awake since 2am.

Can’t sleep again. It’s a chronic problem.

Gained 3 levels in some game.

Insight of my day so far: Sure is dark at 5am in February.

What game, damnit? WHAT GAME???!??!?! FFUCKKKK

kerzain · 2011-02-09T08:53:25.000Z

Celtic Frost has created some amazing music, but when I listen to the album Into the Pandemonium I constantly have to ask myself, what the fuck is up with these vocals?

Ezdaar · 2011-02-09T08:53:43.000Z

hong:

SAS/IML is an interesting language. To define a subroutine, you do this:

start foo(x, y) global(a, b);
…
finish;

This defines a subroutine with 2 input arguments x and y, and 2 global input/output arguments a and b. The latter must reference actual global variables, or if not, they will be created with those names.

This means you can’t call a subroutine the way you would in any language created more recently than, oh, 1980:

run foo(bar[2], baz[5:7, 2], out1[3], out2) /* WRONG /
out1[3], out2 = run foo(bar[2], baz[5:7, 2]); / Matlab-ish – ALSO WRONG */

because a and b must refer to variables, the way you do it is

run foo(bar[2], baz[5:7, 2]);
out1[3] = a;
out2 = b;

Yes, you must have scratch variables whose only reason for existence is to talk to subroutines. It’s like a trip to the distant past of computing, when people talked using punched cards, Fortran was young, and Richard Stallman was in school.

More evidence that SAS needs to die a horrible fiery death.

Speak_With_Bread · 2011-02-09T09:37:16.000Z

The Bitter Cynic:

5am. Awake since 2am.

Can’t sleep again. It’s a chronic problem.

Gained 3 levels in some game.

Insight of my day so far: Sure is dark at 5am in February.

This. Except it was 8am before I finally got to sleep.

Also, dear roommate: headphones. You have them. Please use them. kthx.

BrianRubin · 2011-02-09T19:08:37.000Z

Watching some YouTube clips today makes me really temped to watch the entire West Wing all over again. I’ve only seen it all the way through once.

Thoro · 2011-02-09T19:13:24.000Z

Ezdaar:

More evidence that SAS needs to die a horrible fiery death.

Fire would just feed it.

Sarkus · 2011-02-10T00:03:08.000Z

I hate it when my digestive system goes off the rails for a few days. Sure, it’s my own fault and all for eating things I like but realize are risky, but it still sucks.

Alex_Pirani · 2011-02-10T00:46:32.000Z

I’ve gotten into the terrible habit of having a small meal before I go to bed, I’m always waking up with a stomach ache from it. Well, tonight I’ve decided it stops! And well, I can’t fall asleep.

Chris_Nahr · 2011-02-10T01:14:18.000Z

Try drinking a small beer instead of having a small meal!

AaronSofaer · 2011-02-10T10:14:54.000Z

According to the train conductor, someone got hit by an Acela train and that’s why I’m stuck here and can’t get to class.

Suicide by train: The most inconsiderate way to kill yourself.