Random Thoughts - Part Deux [NO POLITICS]

[spike021]

Originally Posted by NoHaveMSG

Took the car out on a joyride to do some data logging. On a back road came across a dump truck that hit a kid on a bike. Must have happened about 5 minutes before. Kid must have been about 13-14, he was pretty messed up but I think he will make it. He kept trying to move so his neighbor, who saw it happen, and I kept talking to him and trying to keep him still till EMT's arrived. The driver of the dump truck was on the phone with 911 the whole time. Another guy in a truck behind the dump truck saw it happen and was pretty distraught over the whole ordeal. He couldn't bring himself to get within sight of the kid and just stayed back and helped wave cars around. Not a fun evening.

Stuff like that is the worst, I've seen a few incidents as well. I hope that kid makes it and also hopefully the dump truck driver doesn't feel too messed up about it.

[Ultramaroon]

Parents' worst nightmare. Awful.

[NoHaveMSG]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

Oh, crap. Life flight? I hope he makes it. So sorry.

Yeah, me too.

[spcmafia]

Originally Posted by humfrz

I'm glad they finally let you out -

It felt like that.

Can't tell you how many family events, concerts, vacations, I missed because of it.

[spcmafia]

On my way to my best friend's dad's service, I felt the car very, VERY sluggish. I don't know if it was the heat and humidity 98F plus maybe 60% humidity, maybe the tires got heated and got sticky. I honestly have no idea. I couldn't really develop speed on 6th gear. I usually cruise on 6th between 65 to 80 mph depending on traffic, and the car can go from 65 and higher on 6th with zero issues. But yesterday, I had to go to 5th constantly, and maybe 4th at times. Felt fine today, even gave it the beans on my way to work. Kind of weird. But then again, it could've been all in my mind because I was running on 3 hours of sleep.

[Sapphireho]

Originally Posted by spike021

Why are math professors always so strange?

My dad was a math professor for 38 years at De Anza college. When I started working, several times I had people come up to me and ask if I was related to Professor Ho, and I would say, "yes, that is my father.". They would always say he was one of the best teachers they ever had.

I thought he was pretty normal.

[Dadhawk]

Just got back from a long weekend with the Granddaughter and her parents in Orlando. Animal Kingdom and SeaWorld.

Animal Kingdom is the most un-Disney of the Disney parks. Will not go again (this is my second time there). Basically, full price for 3 OK rides, and a drive through safari where you see a couple of dozen animals (OK 47 unique animals to be exact, as I counted, even though there are over 2,000, they tend to hide in the heat). There were times when in the queues the "back lot" maintenance area was clearly visible or you were queued through part of it. There was almost no real attempt at maintaining the "illusion".

Pandora looks about as much like the movie "Avatar" as my backyard does. It was almost like they weren't trying at AK. I hear the 4D Imax ride is decent, but we didn't partake due to time restrictions.

Also, even with the reservation system in place restricting number of persons in the park, it was clear they were at well more than 60% capacity but had a large portion of the food and other services offline, likely due to staffing issues.

SeaWorld was better, actually much better, and cleaner believe it or not. They also at least acted like they cared about the animals there, although PETA would likely argue otherwise.

So, Animal Kingdom no, SeaWorld sure.

[Capt Spaulding]

Originally Posted by NoHaveMSG

Took the car out on a joyride to do some data logging. On a back road came across a dump truck that hit a kid on a bike. Must have happened about 5 minutes before. Kid must have been about 13-14, he was pretty messed up but I think he will make it. He kept trying to move so his neighbor, who saw it happen, and I kept talking to him and trying to keep him still till EMT's arrived. The driver of the dump truck was on the phone with 911 the whole time. Another guy in a truck behind the dump truck saw it happen and was pretty distraught over the whole ordeal. He couldn't bring himself to get within sight of the kid and just stayed back and helped wave cars around. Not a fun evening.

Been there. It is really heart breaking. Probably 50 years ago I was taking a friend home from playing tennis and in the rear view saw a pickup come out of a side street at high speed, clip a curb and roll. The passenger was ejected. I drove back dropped off my buddy and went to find a phone. When I got back we figured out the guy got rolled by the truck. He was breathing when the medics loaded him into the ambulance, but I saw in the next morning's paper he was DOA at the hospital.

I can still picture is as if it were yesterday. That sort of thing never lets go of you. I still remember his name. N----- S----------- Damn.

[spike021]

Originally Posted by Capt Spaulding

Been there. It is really heart breaking. Probably 50 years ago I was taking a friend home from playing tennis and in the rear view saw a pickup come out of a side street at high speed, clip a curb and roll. The passenger was ejected. I drove back dropped off my buddy and went to find a phone. When I got back we figured out the guy got rolled by the truck. He was breathing when the medics loaded him into the ambulance, but I saw in the next morning's paper he was DOA at the hospital.

I can still picture is as if it were yesterday. That sort of thing never lets go of you. I still remember his name. N----- S----------- Damn.

Similar situation with me.

Not only that but because I witnessed the incident and called it in to CHP, they got me involved with the legal process. So for the last year I've been on and off repeatedly subpoenaed to give my witness testimony. Of course covid keeps delaying that and I'm sure one of the legal parties is trying to stretch it out long enough that witnesses forget the details..

It's been just over three years now and they've subpoenaed me again and hopefully this is for the last time. I'm supposed to give my deposition over zoom at the end of the month.

[Capt Spaulding]

@spike021 Sorry to hear that. Hope you can escape soon.

[soundman98]

Originally Posted by NoHaveMSG

Took the car out on a joyride to do some data logging. On a back road came across a dump truck that hit a kid on a bike. Must have happened about 5 minutes before. Kid must have been about 13-14, he was pretty messed up but I think he will make it. He kept trying to move so his neighbor, who saw it happen, and I kept talking to him and trying to keep him still till EMT's arrived. The driver of the dump truck was on the phone with 911 the whole time. Another guy in a truck behind the dump truck saw it happen and was pretty distraught over the whole ordeal. He couldn't bring himself to get within sight of the kid and just stayed back and helped wave cars around. Not a fun evening.

Had something not as bad a few summers ago.. turned a corner, and 2houses from that corner I see they're having a party. Cars lined up nose to tail both sides of the street, barely enough space for one vehicle to pass through, and really young kids playing basketball in the driveway. It played out like one of those terrible drivers-ed movies. I crept between the cars, and 3' away from a gap between cars, just barely over the hood of the truck, I see the basketball bounce out into the street and the head of a 5-8 year old in a full run chase after it. I swear he clipped his arm on the grille, but he was too scared to admit to it... I can't say if he survived the beating he got from his momma later, but he at least made it back to the party unscathed.

[NoHaveMSG]

At least I can laugh at this customer today(with my phone on mute). He had a limit switch issue so he tried reprogramming the system for some reason and eff'd them all up. Now walking him through defaulting everything over what was originally just a NO 5vdc switch that is bad.

[echo419]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

Parents' worst nightmare. Awful.

My worst nightmare is becoming a parent. Legit. I'm not kidding. I would be incredibly depressed for the rest of my life.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by echo419

My worst nightmare is becoming a parent. Legit. I'm not kidding. I would be incredibly depressed for the rest of my life.

That's too bad, because it is one of the biggest joys in my life, only exceeded by being a Grandparent.