[Market Research] Show (or Tell) the Weirdest Thing Within Arm’s Reach Right Now

@Kyeh i can smell this

@Kyeh So - probably past its best “use by” date?

@jouest I thought it would be really rancid, but it’s just faintly stale and coconutty.

@rockblossom It’s so old it doesn’t even have a “best by” date! But I was shocked to remember that we once used to think SPF4 was adequate and I used to try to tan my legs (always got too bored though.)
Also our local Kmart closed over 20 years ago.

@Kyeh @rockblossom who was it that did the expired sunscreen bead test here??

@jouest @Kyeh @rockblossom That would be
@werehatrack’s thread from last month:
https://meh.com/forum/topics/about-sunscreen-expiration-dates

@Kyeh @narfcake @rockblossom @werehatrack yeessssss

@ItalianScallion I like when people geek out and don’t care who gets it

@ItalianScallion I know all these words, but not together

@rockblossom

nose. mittens.

@rockblossom
That reminds me to check on my order of balaclavas from SideDeal.

@jouest The pig nose works for me, but the cat nose keeps slipping off my nose. YMMV

@jouest @rockblossom So, like a clown nose, except functional instead of just decorative.

I’m trying to decide if I think it’s a brilliant idea or just weird…
(My experience with cold weather says that by the time it’s cold enough my nose needs special protection, my whole face wants that protection as well. But I might just be thinking that because I didn’t know there was any other option. And/or it could be better for particular amounts of wind and humidity.)

Now I want to see a nose mitten in the style of those obviously-fake plastic-glasses-and-moustache toys.

@narfcake but what are you thermal pasting??

@jouest Nothing recently. Previously, it was some LGA2011 CPUs on a retired workstation. The quad-core that was in it was worth less than that thermal paste.

Mind you, this is some really cheap thermal paste, both in properties and price. They were $2.49 for 6.

@Cerridwyn WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU PRESS IT

@jouest Probably you blow up and not @Cerridwyn as Cerridwyn is supposed to be the survivor. I would imagine though bringing a peace offering of a decent irk would cause you to survive too.

@jouest @Kidsandliz

Grin

It plays the title line from

@Cerridwyn @Kidsandliz ooh this is superior to my old Easy Button

@jouest @Kidsandliz from about the same time and from the same store. They had a bunch of gimmicks that were buttons and actually mugs with little buttons on the bottom that played a few different Tunes I don’t know what the rest of them were and that area manager where I worked at the time them for everybody in her offices and that was mine. I’ve had it I guess since the late 1990s. Had an easy button around the same time it died quickly

@Cerridwyn @jouest @Kidsandliz Did the “Easy” button die quickly because you used it so much?

@jouest @Kidsandliz @xobzoo it wasn’t really that quick maybe 10 years but it died and the other one is still there

@heartny explain

@heartny so many more questions than answers…

@jouest It’s a balloon dog handbag charm from Five Below

@heartny That one’s really pretty. I’ve been meaning to send you this - do you have a Michael’s nearby?

@Kyeh I was looking at this online but it’s not available at any stores in my area. Might be online only. I did however get the green Halloween balloon dog sold in the store.

@heartny OH! Cool, I haven’t seen that!

@Kyeh

@heartny Haha - Frankenstein’s balloon dog!

@pakopako I think the acrylic spinner must have come from the unemployed philosophers guild, since it exemplifies the Trolley Problem quite well … with a bus :

Argh, it gets my goat I can’t remember the artist that sold this, but a reverse image search gets the manufacturer.

https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Custom-Cute-Spinning-Acrylic-Standee-Anime_1600987258035.html

@pakopako wait. is that a…kids getting hit by a bus fidget spinner?

@yakkoTDI

1. Skeletor is making a comeback – https://foreternia.com/2025/07/masters-of-the-universe-crossovers-with-transformers-into-two-figure-creations-available-to-order-now

2. Nokia always had … creative ideas on human interactions.
   
   

@pakopako @yakkoTDI these are amazing. it’s like misguided, confused AI, but…real. great piece of history.

@chienfou Wonderful. Cindy gets the award for the smallest handwriting.

@chienfou love this!!!

@Star2236 Ummm… have you seen my trashcans?

@Star2236 you are browsing the forum from among your trashcans?

@jouest @Star2236 I think the photo was within arm’s reach…

@werehatrack
Why would @Star2236 have a picture of their trash cans within arms reach?

@chienfou @werehatrack
I was outside smoking

@capnjb
Yours are way cooler than mine

@Star2236

I was outside smoking

THAT makes so much more sense!

@Star2236 Ship them to me and I’ll paint them for free!

@mossygreen
I’m more interested in the tequila box. Was it empty? How was the tequila?

@capnjb Egg-salad! I am impressed you still have your boom box. Mine el-crappo Goldstar is long gone.
And I see you have your trusty La Crosse(?) weather station in the background. I may have the egg-zact same one from the thrift shop. Good job!

@cfg83 Heh… yeah, I’m old now, so having a good weather station lets me grump about the temperature both inside and outside! Hah!

@capnjb @cfg83
Yep , weather awareness gets more important as you get older. For instance, I noticed at 3:00 a.m. today that the temperature outside was 75… with 98% humidity! (Our display is in the master bedroom)

@cfg83 @chienfou I hear you. And, yes, I know the clock is off.

@capnjb
Yeah, I’ve had moisture on the outside of my double pane windows every day when I get up for the last week.
Oh… and mine is from accu-rite.

@chienfou Yeah, we’re living in a state of condensation here in Maryland. It’s been gross for a while. But did have a cool thunderstorm roll through all night.

@capnjb
I recently flipped my pool overflow schedule to run at night instead of during the day. Trying to blow off heat with the overflow waterfall rather than pick it up running it during the day. I’ve managed to drop the temp in the pool a couple of degrees over a few days this way. 93° pool temp was almost too warm to be in.

@capnjb @chienfou My weather station says 5:58 PDT when it’s actually 6:55 PDT, but I don’t care because Honey Badger told me that DST sucks.

/showme Honey Badger fights Daily Savings Time

@capnjb @chienfou

/showme soggy gremlin in Maryland

@mediocrebot
/showme Honey Badger DESTROYS Daylight Savings Time

@capnjb marriage is about compromise. you could outfit the hatchet with a scope and tactical grip.

/showme a hatchet with a scope and tactical grip.

@mediocrebot nailed it.

@jouest @mediocrebot For what it’s worth, this was the intent. Wife and daughter are at Michael’s so I get to enjoy it for a few minutes

And now I just realized the mount actually properly locks the rifle in place. And the magazine release is on the other side and almost right against the wall. But the tomahawk is back now

@werehatrack Brah… we gotta talk about that monitor.

@capnjb I like standard aspect ratio. I have half a dozen used but serviceable spares in the closet because nobody sells them retail anymore.

@werehatrack Fair point. You do you

@werehatrack Hey, is that a (17 year old) Ron Paul campaign sign?

@macromeh Yes. I collect political spam after the elections to help clear the sites, and I use the coroplast sheets for lots of things. I used a pair of 4’x8’ ones to patch the hole in my roof after Hurricane Ike, and the presence of political spam as home repair got my house on TV in Dallas when a news helicopter spotted it.

That Ron Paul sign is positioned to keep cats from sleeping on top of the printer.

@macromeh @werehatrack a guy in my town has bumper stickers from every losing presidential candidate since the 70s. I will mourn the day that old Kia finally dies.

@jouest @macromeh @werehatrack I think we need to see a picture of that car!

@Kyeh @macromeh @werehatrack it’s funny that I’ve never thought to photograph it. will have to keep an eye out. I enjoy both him and the smoke belching Buick with the “I HATE THE ENVIRONMENT” sticker.

@capnjb Was that Darth Vader on a glass cup collectible from Burger King (for Empire Strikes Back?!?!)? It looks sooooooooooooo familiar.

@capnjb what can I say, we have a soft spot for the wars in the stars!

@cfg83 I’m not sure. My daughter gave it to me for Christmas. It’s on a metal plate that actually connects to the wall with magnets I’m working on a Vader build right now. It would be great if I could grow another 4-5" in the next few months

@capnjb @cfg83

In fact our youngest and her bestie are currently having saber battles. Now outside.

@cfg83 @sillyheathen Heck yeah!

@capnjb @cfg83 @sillyheathen she looks like she could cut him down at any moment and she knows it.

@capnjb @jouest @sillyheathen In agreement, we are. Trained by Master Yoda, me thinks.

@capnjb @cfg83 @jouest @sillyheathen But if she cut him down would he become more powerful than she could possibly imagine?

@capnjb @cfg83 @sillyheathen @yakkoTDI sometimes being lightsabered in half is just being lightsabered in half.

@capnjb @cfg83 @jouest @yakkoTDI you’re all correct. She could cut him down with ease if she elected to. Thankfully she has been well trained in such matters. It is quite funny to watch them together. They’re thick as thieves and they both get cross with those that insinuate that they’re a couple.

@capnjb @cfg83 @sillyheathen @yakkoTDI I hung out with a girl like that growing up. I was also deeply offended by the implication. came back from college to discover she was an absolute smoke show. live and learn…

TIL “smoke show”

@xobzoo Same

/showme a smoke show @xobzoo @kyeh

@pakopako see…it’s a thing!

@jouest @pakopako Best I’d have achieved would have been “smog show”.

@mediocrebot thank you

@sillyheathen The Star Wars Monopoly didn’t go unnoticed

@capnjb @sillyheathen
I thought exactly the same thing!

@chienfou @sillyheathen If you’re a coffee drinker and would like to join the secret-not-so-secret coffee club, send me a whisper and I’ll get you on the list I roast way more than I drink these days And also, nurses are my favorite people on this planet And you don’t have to paint me a picture

@capnjb @sillyheathen
Thanks!

@sillyheathen I see you, modern version of Fireball Island that is very cool but doesn’t quite capture the magic of the original because they weren’t willing to put it in a box so big it didn’t fit in a standard sedan…

@jouest it’s so much fun. We still pull it out for family game night.

@Turken
Is it supposed to look like a stack of plastic cups?

@zhicks1987 find the actual erected structure (and the adjacent building with it’s more femenine contours) on google maps satellite, and it becomes abundantly clear what the architect had in mind/hand.

google hint - it’s the new “biggest in all of Africa”

@Turken @zhicks1987 That’s the HQ of Solo Cups International. The picture doesn’t make sense because you can’t see the Sparkletts HQ next door.

@Turken @zhicks1987 What do I win?

https://www.google.com/maps/place/The+Iconic+Tower/@30.0120733,31.6961842,1865m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m6!3m5!1s0x1457f53d333e6c3f:0xe8fe37262be8a373!8m2!3d30.0130334!4d31.6938394!16s%2Fg%2F11h880g37q?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDcyNy4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

never mind there is likely still food in their bowl like every morning

@Kidsandliz
/image cat logic food

@narfcake That’s about right although this morning their bowl was empty (about half the time it is and the other half of the time a tiny amount is left).

@Kidsandliz @narfcake I’ve posted a similar picture before, but it cracks me up that he leaves one single bit i the bowl.

@Kidsandliz @Kyeh @narfcake Your kitty is kind to ants.

/showme Ant eating cat food

@cfg83 @Kyeh @narfcake in my apartment that would be being kind to German coach roaches. With the American ones they play with them. They have all learned that eating them is not a good choice as they puke them up. All it seems to take is one experience with that and then they play with them until they die unless they run to where the cats can’t get them. I had rid my apartment of roaches but they are back again. Sigh.

@Kidsandliz @Kyeh @narfcake does he always leave one bit in the bowl??

@jouest @Kidsandliz @narfcake No. But usually a few, like he’s afraid to leave it completely empty.

@jouest @Kidsandliz @Kyeh @narfcake You have to leave a few in the bowl to tell the new ones where to come. It’s like goose decoys in a field…

@jouest @Kidsandliz @Kyeh @narfcake We have a brother-sister pair of cats. Molly always leaves a few kibbles behind; McGee is happy to snarf them up when he finishes his own bowl.

@narfcake explain!

@jouest
https://www.amazon.com/Cat-Fidget-Toy-Keychain-Rechargeable/dp/B0F3J7SMFN

@jouest @narfcake As a pocket or purse keychain item, that is Made Of Fail. As a desk fidget item, it needs to be very slightly louder and should cycle through a number of different samples. But as it is, it’s not worth $14 to me.

@jouest @narfcake @werehatrack
Contact C S for a return?

@narfcake

@kittykat9180 Those seem like something Meh should sell! I’d try them.

@Kyeh maybe meh is reading this.
I bought them last year to include in my Halloween treat bags that make for the kids.

@kittykat9180 Cool idea!

@kittykat9180 @Kyeh

@kittykat9180 @Kyeh reminds me of these Asian jelly candies that were individually wrapped in a plastic twist… the jellies themselves then had a layer of rice “plastic” around them that was edible (in hot temperatures, the rice would melt and stick). Boy was that confusing at first to eat (do I peel the 2nd layer… It’s not peeling… Is the outer layer edible … No it is not)

@Kyeh @pakopako I’ve not seen those.

@kittykat9180 @pakopako Yes, the rice layer is edible - it doesn’t really taste like much, but you’re supposed to eat it. We used to get those when we went to the Japanese grocery store in Denver. That was a cool place. And they used to come with actual tiny toys in the box; now they just have stickers.

@kittykat9180 @Kyeh @pakopako ooh I can taste this picture.

@OnionSoup

An Ocarina shaped like a bird… is that weird?

Depends on where the blow hole is.

@OnionSoup @yakkoTDI now that’s a comment.

@jouest @OnionSoup @yakkoTDI
I think those things are whimsical

@OnionSoup @pakopako @yakkoTDI man they’re trying to get these kids vaping young

@tinamarie1974 WHAT BOOK THOUGH

@jouest The Watchers by Koontz. @barney suggested it

@Barney @jouest @tinamarie1974 It is a pretty good book from what I remember. I read it back around the release though. Back when he was still Dean R. Koontz.

@Barney @jouest @tinamarie1974 LOVE LOVE LOVE THAT BOOK!! I think you’ll be glad that you read it…

“Home is where the weenies are”

@Barney @tinamarie1974 @yakkoTDI wait did he drop the “Dean R” like you drop the vowels in a tech startup?

@tinamarie1974 I’m honored that you remember that I suggested you read Watchers. NOW START READING IT!

@llangley

@Barney yes maam. I know once I start I wont put it down. Its just picking it up is the issue.

@tinamarie1974 To get you started, why don’t you have Charliedoggo read to you for about 20 minutes at bedtime.

@Barney @tinamarie1974 She’ll probably sleep better that way than if she reads it herself.

@Barney @Kyeh that would be lovely, but he is a bit lazy. Wont help w chores and claims he cannot read.

@Kyeh @tinamarie1974

@Barney @tinamarie1974 He’s got it good, that one!

@Kyeh I’m beginning to wonder if Charlie is not the one with a reading problem.

@Barney @Kyeh it is an attention deficit issue. Seems I get easily distracted and dont want to focus THAT long on one task.

@tinamarie1974 If you like dogs, you’ll like this book. I’ll check back with you in a couple more years.

@Barney

@Barney @tinamarie1974
So I’m guessing the boots and WW whip are in the closet (therefore out of reach) right?

@Barney @chienfou thats way on the other side of the room, in the closet. Also, WW has a lasso of truth

@Barney @tinamarie1974
Oops, My bad!

@Barney @chienfou @tinamarie1974 we might need a book club here. (there’s probably already a book club here, huh)

@Barney @chienfou @jouest @tinamarie1974 yeah there is. Or at least a thread. But what we really need is coffee Club

@jouest Right now, @mossygreen is steering the book club thread. She seems to be the one with the most energy (SHE READS HER BOOKS, @tinamarie1974), and has been doing a very good job.

@Barney @Cerridwyn @chienfou @jouest or a tea club!! Wait…

@Barney @jouest I wonder if @mossygreen gets free pizza from pizza hut???

@Barney @chienfou @jouest @tinamarie1974 why not?
i had a ‘tea’ period. I tried lots of tea and enjoyed it until I decided I preferred coffee. My daughter still drinks both, me not so much (save unsweetened iced tea at restaurants)
for whatever reason, tea affects me more than coffee. I can drink coffee and go straight to sleep. If it were tea, I’d be wired.
I read somewhere that true tea actually contains a bit of theophylline. I have long wondered if that is what affects me as opposed to the caffiene

@Barney @Cerridwyn @chienfou @jouest I personally love tea and drink it often. Hot tea is sually the herbal type and in the summer I love some good sweet tea.

I dont seem to have issues w the caffeine associated w sweet tea

@Barney @mossygreen @tinamarie1974 the most self accepting thing I do in life is decline book club invitations based on the radical honesty that, no, I will not read this book in time.

@Barney @jouest @mossygreen @tinamarie1974 I have the audible version of The Watchers, it’s read by Eduardo Ballerini. He’s one of my favorite narrators.

@sammydog01

@Barney @sammydog01

So many questions…

and thanks to Google lens I found the answer to one of them!

@Barney @sammydog01
You want I should post a poll maybe?

@Barney @chienfou

@Barney @sammydog01
A line delivered as only he could…