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Been awhile, but today I learned that a random computer virus is what caused the electrical grid in the northeastern parts of the US to shut down back in 2003. Hopefully, it's not connected to the Internet since then.

Scientific American

The virus or the electrical grid?

Soontir C'boath wrote: ↑2021-07-10 02:59pm Been awhile, but today I learned that a random computer virus is what caused the electrical grid in the northeastern parts of the US to shut down back in 2003. Hopefully, it's not connected to the Internet since then.

Scientific American

NOPE.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northeast ... ut_of_2003

The blackout's proximate cause was a software bug in the alarm system at the control room of FirstEnergy, an Akron, Ohio–based company, which rendered operators unaware of the need to redistribute load after overloaded transmission lines drooped into foliage. What should have been a manageable local blackout cascaded into the collapse of much of the Northeast regional electricity distribution system.

It's a bit more complicated by that, but the investigation did not show any sign of malicious software. It was a case of old infrastructure not being able to handle power demands, causing what should have been a local issue to become a cascading failure.

The article you quoted can be summarized as a guy with his own software company using fear mongering to pitch his products and services, including hints the Microsoft Windows needs to be replaced as a operating system.

I got a good one, today re-watching the end of Deep Space Nine I learned that Kai Winn Adami was played by Louise Fletcher, the actress who played Nurse Ratched in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. It's the kind of movie you only want to see in its entirety once!

Today I learned that if I don't touch the calls on the Answering Machine at work -- NO ONE ELSE WILL EITHER.

I'm getting sick of being the only one on afternoon shift who'll do CallBacks. I'm also getting fuckin' tired of a co-worker shutting down at 15 til 9 and not even closing her windowblinds before she sashays her drama-queen ass out the door.

Today I learned about the Finnish breakfast...

muse wrote: ↑2021-07-23 09:40pm Today I learned about the Finnish breakfast...

Today I learned I'm Finnish. Who knew?

I just got randomly aware of something wrong with this picture on the main site:
https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/The_Armorer

The "hammer" is very obviously a kitchen sink faucet.

Today I learned that it’s pretty windy when you jump out of an aircraft.

I would be interested in hearing the rest of that story....

Broomstick wrote: ↑2021-08-03 06:14pm I would be interested in hearing the rest of that story....

Did a tandem jump near Niagara Falls, which was awesome. 35 min climb (got to see a great view of the falls on the way up), a minute of free fall then about 5-6 minutes of gliding via parachute. I happened to fall through a cloud right before the chute was pulled which was neat

Planning on jumping in each province at least once!

Oh, and I learned that small aircraft (I was riding a Cessna) seem to be a bit more bouncy than their jumbo jet counterparts.

Oh, yes - the smaller the aircraft the more it bounces. After flying micro/ultraights I now know how a sock in a dryer feels.

Today I learned when I receive a refund for an item that is due to be paid in the next statement, it still counts as payment for the current statement.

I returned items from the previous statement that helped bring down statement balance which is expected, but then this return pushed it over by $8. Seems like a really neat trick to avoid paying off the credit card for the current due date. Just buy something that matches the balance due. Return it and the credit card will think you paid off the bill! Of course, the kicker is now you gotta worry about next month's bill, but at least it's next month!

Today I learned how well I can lie with a smile in my voice.

Today I learned that next time I have a kitchen rebuilt, screw being considerate to the neighbors, I'm getting a skip for the waste rather than dumping it in my garden and then ferrying it out to a hired van.

Today I learned the door did NOT hit Drama-Queen co-worker on her way out.

Stupid whiny bitch left 10min before closing, and on her way out DID NOT CLOSE THE EMPLOYEE DOOR. Another employee came 5min later to check and see if we were ok because the door was half-open. When she found out that Stupid-Bitch-Drama-Queen had been the last to leave, helped me close the office and said she'd have a word with our Manager in the morning.

I know they won't fire her with only 6weeks left in the Season, but I really *REALLY* hope they don't call her back next Spring. She's more fuckin' trouble than she's worth.
And I feel very sorry for those getting mail at the Post Office she's now working part-time at.

Today I learned that I should probably start eating edibles.

Cannabinoids Block Cellular Entry of SARS-CoV-2 and the Emerging Variants

On the other hand, the munchies are real and I don't want to get fat since that's a covid co-morbidity.

Today I learned that Swedish Meatballs were actually brought back from Ottoman territory in the 1700s.

Today (really yesterday) I learned that Joseph Mengele, the evilest Nazi of them all, evaded capture and lived free as a bird until 1979.

Today I learned that it is in fact possible for Regional IT to fuck up and send you the wrong printer toner five times in a row. I mean, I suspected but now I know.

Someone's getting fired over this I hope. Oh, wait, they're none-front-line civil servants, it'll get brushed off as an "administrative error" handled by "internal disciplinary measures" and nothing further will ever be said. And tomorrow no doubt I'll have the wrong toner again.

Today I learned what really happens when people go ice fishing

Eternal_Freedom wrote: ↑2022-02-14 12:39pm Today I learned that it is in fact possible for Regional IT to fuck up and send you the wrong printer toner five times in a row. I mean, I suspected but now I know.

Someone's getting fired over this I hope. Oh, wait, they're none-front-line civil servants, it'll get brushed off as an "administrative error" handled by "internal disciplinary measures" and nothing further will ever be said. And tomorrow no doubt I'll have the wrong toner again.

More then likely, there is something in the system that is recording the wrong type of toner for you (i.e wrong number in the inventory tracking system), and it's being automatically populated into the orders and sent. You'll have to investigate how to get that fixed.

Solauren wrote: ↑2022-02-15 08:45am

Eternal_Freedom wrote: ↑2022-02-14 12:39pm Today I learned that it is in fact possible for Regional IT to fuck up and send you the wrong printer toner five times in a row. I mean, I suspected but now I know.

Someone's getting fired over this I hope. Oh, wait, they're none-front-line civil servants, it'll get brushed off as an "administrative error" handled by "internal disciplinary measures" and nothing further will ever be said. And tomorrow no doubt I'll have the wrong toner again.

More then likely, there is something in the system that is recording the wrong type of toner for you (i.e wrong number in the inventory tracking system), and it's being automatically populated into the orders and sent. You'll have to investigate how to get that fixed.

I finally did get it fixed, by going over their heads and getting their ops manager involved. And yeah, it was some dumb fuck who had put the original order in while somehow amending the file for that printer to the wrong model. Exactly as predicted though, this "will be dealt with under internal procedures." Grrrr.

muse wrote: ↑2022-02-14 05:55pm Today I learned what really happens when people go ice fishing

That man has clearly never been ice fishing; nobody can fuck when they're that drunk.

Raw Shark wrote: ↑2022-02-15 12:51pm

muse wrote: ↑2022-02-14 05:55pm Today I learned what really happens when people go ice fishing

That man has clearly never been ice fishing; nobody can fuck when they're that drunk.

I mean .... what else is there to do while fishing? My experience is that fishing pretty damn boring so gotta find something else to pass the time... it's just that I don't have much interest in fucking most of those I've been fishing with.


TIL that kids really like making badges, the kind about 50mm / 2" across with a pin on the back. Probably should have stocked up on more supplies beforehand.