OT. Store Closings...

On 12/27/2021 10:42 PM, jlarkin@highlandsniptechnology.com wrote:
On Mon, 27 Dec 2021 22:26:45 -0500, bitrex <user@example.net> wrote:

On 12/27/2021 10:19 PM, jlarkin@highlandsniptechnology.com wrote:
On Mon, 27 Dec 2021 21:24:08 -0500, bitrex <user@example.net> wrote:

On 12/27/2021 7:35 PM, John Larkin wrote:
On Mon, 27 Dec 2021 19:30:09 -0500, bitrex <user@example.net> wrote:

On 12/27/2021 5:49 PM, Lasse Langwadt Christensen wrote:
mandag den 27. december 2021 kl. 23.38.06 UTC+1 skrev bitrex:
On 12/27/2021 5:16 PM, Spehro Pefhany wrote:
On Mon, 27 Dec 2021 14:15:06 -0700, Don Y
blocked...@foo.invalid> wrote:

On 12/27/2021 12:51 PM, bitrex wrote:
Capture/conviction rates for bank robberies are high -- yet
folks still try to rob banks! Clearly, \"the word\" hasn\'t
gotten out sufficiently to deter them...

They think banks still keep large amounts of cash sitting around all the time
like Bonnie & Clyde days, when many bank branches in 2021 probably don\'t have
that much more readily-accessible currency on hand at any particular time than
the average large convenience store; the Brinks truck does a couple runs a day
to my local branch and I figure that is mostly pulling cash out, not many go to
a branch bank to do large cash withdrawals, anymore.

I imagine not many go to make large cash *deposits*, either!

When I use cash as a form of payment (esp for big ticket items)
it\'s almost as if they are afraid to handle it.

I\'ve tended to assume much of the jewelry you see in display cases in jewelry
stores in relatively insecure locations like shopping malls are \"display
models\" but I\'ve never bought high-end jewelry from a place like that, and it\'s
not information I suppose any particular store gives out to random people.

There are increasingly more common thefts of \"other stuff\". Cigarettes
being one \"high value, low mass\" item (a friend said a carton of smokes is
close to $90? That sounds high... why not just snort coke? :-/ )

You can get a feel for what stores consider as high theft (value) items
by seeing what they keep locked up. E.g., Ace tends to keep it\'s small
hand tools in a locked display case -- no doubt they would grow legs,
otherwise.

OTOH, I noticed Home Despot had gensets in a locked case. Do folks often
slip one under their shirt and waltz out of the store??!

There are videos of guys sticking big Dewalt table saws and such like
into carts and just walking/running out the door.

If the workers are told not to intervene then locking them up is one
way to reduce losses. They\'re also working on being able to remotely
brick them.

However, when you go into a store and all the wrenches and such like
are in locked cabinets it makes you want to not return to that
particular store.
Nah they only people the big-box retail stores tends to really want the
book thrown at if they\'re caught stealing is their own employees.
Management is unlikely to give an employee even a 1% cash reward if they
prevent $5000 worth of stuff from being stolen but God help that
employee if they steal $50.

they don\'t want to get stuck with the bill for an employee getting hurt
trying to stop a thief


They also have to consider that if there weren\'t an official policy that
every time store employees just let a shoplifter walk out (as would be
the inclination of many at $12 an hour to do) many conservatives in the
local area would write them a letter on their typewriter like:

\"Dear Management. I was dismayed to see how lazy your employees were
with respect to apprehending shoplifters.

If I were an employee at that establishment I would pull out my Glock
and my AR and put 800 rounds into that shoplifter! I would then build a
nuclear bomb and go to the nearest low-income housing project and blow
it up with a nuclear bomb. I refuse to shop at your chain anymore until
you equip all employees with nuclear bombs to prevent merchandise
shrinkage.\"

so they just say \"it\'s a liability issue\" and those guys understand

Why do you keep inventing people who don\'t exist, complete with
imaginary quotes, so that you can mock them?

That\'s a really weird compulsion.


They do exist! I guess you don\'t have Facebook, though.

So that is an actual quote, about Glocks and nuclear bombs?


No it is obviously a hyperbolic statement intended for comedic effect;

Some people think sneering contempt is funny. It\'s not.

Do not worry. I would gladly make fun of an inter-sectional feminist who
felt the same way about it. But I\'ve never known one who was of that
opinion.
 
On Tuesday, December 28, 2021 at 2:42:36 PM UTC+11, jla...@highlandsniptechnology.com wrote:
On Mon, 27 Dec 2021 22:26:45 -0500, bitrex <us...@example.net> wrote:
On 12/27/2021 10:19 PM, jla...@highlandsniptechnology.com wrote:
On Mon, 27 Dec 2021 21:24:08 -0500, bitrex <us...@example.net> wrote:
On 12/27/2021 7:35 PM, John Larkin wrote:
On Mon, 27 Dec 2021 19:30:09 -0500, bitrex <us...@example.net> wrote:
On 12/27/2021 5:49 PM, Lasse Langwadt Christensen wrote:
mandag den 27. december 2021 kl. 23.38.06 UTC+1 skrev bitrex:
On 12/27/2021 5:16 PM, Spehro Pefhany wrote:
On Mon, 27 Dec 2021 14:15:06 -0700, Don Y <blocked...@foo.invalid> wrote:
On 12/27/2021 12:51 PM, bitrex wrote:

<snip>

\"Dear Management. I was dismayed to see how lazy your employees were
with respect to apprehending shoplifters.

If I were an employee at that establishment I would pull out my Glock
and my AR and put 800 rounds into that shoplifter! I would then build a
nuclear bomb and go to the nearest low-income housing project and blow
it up with a nuclear bomb. I refuse to shop at your chain anymore until
you equip all employees with nuclear bombs to prevent merchandise
shrinkage.\"

so they just say \"it\'s a liability issue\" and those guys understand

Why do you keep inventing people who don\'t exist, complete with
imaginary quotes, so that you can mock them?

That\'s a really weird compulsion.


They do exist! I guess you don\'t have Facebook, though.

So that is an actual quote, about Glocks and nuclear bombs?


No it is obviously a hyperbolic statement intended for comedic effect;

Satire is intended to be comical - it takes some of the sting from the observations.

> Some people think sneering contempt is funny. It\'s not.

John Larkin confuses satire with \"sneering contempt\". It\'s mere exaggeration.

John Larkin\'s vigorous defense of the kind of people he identifies with is beyond satire. It does display a lamentable lack of insight. but one doesn\'t sneer at congenital defects. That would be ill-mannered.

--
Bill Sloman, Sydney
 
On 12/27/2021 8:37 PM, bitrex wrote:
On 12/27/2021 10:14 PM, Don Y wrote:
On 12/27/2021 7:42 PM, bitrex wrote:
On 12/27/2021 8:42 PM, Don Y wrote:

Some items are made difficult to remove from their displays -- but, that
wouldn\'t deter a motivated thief. I htink the goal is to make any attempts
to remove them from those displays \"noticeable\" and hope that floor walkers
will stumble upon that attempt before it bears fruit.

The last time I went to buy spray paint from Wal Mart (where they keep it
locked up like that also) the employee just unlocked the cabinet for me and
said \"Help self\" and went back around the corner to do some other task, I
guess I don\'t look too much like a thief /shrug

Here, spray paint is locked up to deter tagging. So, his assessment of you
had nothing to do with how likely you\'d be to *steal* the paint but, rather,
whether the local ordinances allow spray paint to be sold to younguns/shady
characters.

Looks like it\'s illegal to sell spray paint to anyone under the age of 18 in my
state, I didn\'t know that but it\'s been a while since I was 18, the law is from
2006.

You can\'t recycle copper, here, without presenting an ID (I don\'t know
if your identity is ever *recorded* but the intent is to discourage
folks who vandalize buildings to recover IN USE copper -- pipe, etc.).

A friend\'s rooftop HVAC (commercial) was vandalized in this way.

Refusing to open the cabinet to someone who was old enough but looked \"shady\"
sounds like a lawsuit to me.

You can always refuse to serve someone. Having a defensible position is
the issue (as well as avoiding a reputation for being \"difficult to
do business with\")

If you can make the item of interest impossible to access (or verify
its presence), then the other party can only *guess* that you are
refusing to serve.

Similarly, sudafed is \"behind the counter\" to ensure folks don\'t come in
and buy 100 boxes (clearly not \"for personal consumption\")

I wonder if they lock up the bowling shoe spray
 
On 12/28/2021 12:05 AM, Don Y wrote:

Looks like it\'s illegal to sell spray paint to anyone under the age of
18 in my state, I didn\'t know that but it\'s been a while since I was
18, the law is from 2006.

You can\'t recycle copper, here, without presenting an ID (I don\'t know
if your identity is ever *recorded* but the intent is to discourage
folks who vandalize buildings to recover IN USE copper -- pipe, etc.).

A friend\'s rooftop HVAC (commercial) was vandalized in this way.

Refusing to open the cabinet to someone who was old enough but looked
\"shady\" sounds like a lawsuit to me.

You can always refuse to serve someone.
In the way any customer could always just decide to take a dump in the
checkout aisle, I guess. That\'s probably grounds to refuse further service

Having a defensible position is
the issue (as well as avoiding a reputation for being \"difficult to
do business with\")

There are reasons you\'re not supposed to refuse service to someone, and
the courts tend to see it as the actual reason was one of the reasons
you\'re not supposed to, as a default position if the business can\'t come
up with a more relevant reason than \"they looked shady\" if and when
they\'re asked about what the reason was.

It doesn\'t mean they win a case by any means, but it does tend to mean
they may have one, and it probably won\'t immediately get dismissed for
being frivolous.

It\'s of course okay to have dress codes and refuse service to people who
aren\'t wearing tuxedos and evening gowns, if you like.

If you can make the item of interest impossible to access (or verify
its presence), then the other party can only *guess* that you are
refusing to serve.

The first rule of spray paint club is, we do not talk about spray paint
club.

Similarly, sudafed is \"behind the counter\" to ensure folks don\'t come in
and buy 100 boxes (clearly not \"for personal consumption\")

I wonder if they lock up the bowling shoe spray
 
On 12/28/2021 1:21 AM, bitrex wrote:
On 12/28/2021 12:05 AM, Don Y wrote:

Looks like it\'s illegal to sell spray paint to anyone under the age
of 18 in my state, I didn\'t know that but it\'s been a while since I
was 18, the law is from 2006.

You can\'t recycle copper, here, without presenting an ID (I don\'t know
if your identity is ever *recorded* but the intent is to discourage
folks who vandalize buildings to recover IN USE copper -- pipe, etc.).

A friend\'s rooftop HVAC (commercial) was vandalized in this way.

Refusing to open the cabinet to someone who was old enough but looked
\"shady\" sounds like a lawsuit to me.

You can always refuse to serve someone.
In the way any customer could always just decide to take a dump in the
checkout aisle, I guess. That\'s probably grounds to refuse further service

Having a defensible position is
the issue (as well as avoiding a reputation for being \"difficult to
do business with\")

There are reasons you\'re not supposed to refuse service to someone, and
the courts tend to see it as the actual reason was one of the reasons
you\'re not supposed to, as a default position if the business can\'t come
up with a more relevant reason than \"they looked shady\" if and when
they\'re asked about what the reason was.

It doesn\'t mean they win a case by any means, but it does tend to mean
they may have one, and it probably won\'t immediately get dismissed for
being frivolous.

It\'s of course okay to have dress codes and refuse service to people who
aren\'t wearing tuxedos and evening gowns, if you like.

Just to be clear we\'re talking about businesses open to the public
considered \"public accommodations\", not like your private contracting
business or something.
 
On 12/27/2021 11:21 PM, bitrex wrote:
On 12/28/2021 12:05 AM, Don Y wrote:

Looks like it\'s illegal to sell spray paint to anyone under the age of 18 in
my state, I didn\'t know that but it\'s been a while since I was 18, the law
is from 2006.

You can\'t recycle copper, here, without presenting an ID (I don\'t know
if your identity is ever *recorded* but the intent is to discourage
folks who vandalize buildings to recover IN USE copper -- pipe, etc.).

A friend\'s rooftop HVAC (commercial) was vandalized in this way.

Refusing to open the cabinet to someone who was old enough but looked
\"shady\" sounds like a lawsuit to me.

You can always refuse to serve someone.
In the way any customer could always just decide to take a dump in the checkout
aisle, I guess. That\'s probably grounds to refuse further service

Having a defensible position is
the issue (as well as avoiding a reputation for being \"difficult to
do business with\")

There are reasons you\'re not supposed to refuse service to someone, and the
courts tend to see it as the actual reason was one of the reasons you\'re not
supposed to, as a default position if the business can\'t come up with a more
relevant reason than \"they looked shady\" if and when they\'re asked about what
the reason was.

You can\'t appear to be discriminating. You can (and must!) refuse to serve
alcohol to someone who is intoxicated -- even if in your own home! You can
refuse to serve someone who is beligerent or abusive to staff. You can refuse
to serve patrons carrying firearms. Or, failing to wear shoes/shirt. Or,
folks who have \"past (bad) histories\" with your organization (e.g., bounced
checks, stolen merchandise, harassment, etc.)

You can\'t refuse to serve someone for arbitrary reasons esp if they seem
to be consistent with discriminatory practices (esp if the other party
can find folks to attest to similarly having been refused service and,
thus, demonstrate a systematic policy). You can refuse to serve someone if
there is a reasonable expectation that they are undertaking that activity
in order to engage in an illegal activity. (e.g., try buying 20 pounds of
salt peter)

The seller can also disclose your activities to law enforcement if they
believe there may be grounds for further investigation.

[Some *individuals* purchased a small, hand-operated tablet press.
Do you think they were engaged in a research project and needed to make
effervescent tablets to determine their dissolution times? Or, do you
think they were making illegal drugs??]

You *can\'t* refuse to serve sex offenders (!). Or, ex-cons, etc. Or,
homosexuals, trans, queer, etc. parties. You don\'t have to invite them
into your *home* but if you are a business, society grants you the privilege
of operating your business under certain conditions.

[You can, of course, create a \"private club\" and limit membership]

It doesn\'t mean they win a case by any means, but it does tend to mean they may
have one, and it probably won\'t immediately get dismissed for being frivolous.

It\'s of course okay to have dress codes and refuse service to people who aren\'t
wearing tuxedos and evening gowns, if you like.

If you can make the item of interest impossible to access (or verify
its presence), then the other party can only *guess* that you are
refusing to serve.

The first rule of spray paint club is, we do not talk about spray paint club.

Similarly, sudafed is \"behind the counter\" to ensure folks don\'t come in
and buy 100 boxes (clearly not \"for personal consumption\")

I wonder if they lock up the bowling shoe spray
 
On 12/28/2021 1:49 PM, bitrex wrote:
On 12/28/2021 2:54 AM, Don Y wrote:

You *can\'t* refuse to serve sex offenders (!).  Or, ex-cons, etc.  Or,
homosexuals, trans, queer, etc. parties.  You don\'t have to invite them
into your *home* but if you are a business, society grants you the
privilege
of operating your business under certain conditions.

7 drunk college girls walk into a club on \"gay night\" and are like \"Eeey
what\'s upppp you homos we\'re here to party, WOOOOO!\"

They get even more drunk, jumping up on the bar shouting \"Oh yaaas
girl!\" repeatedly. One girl finds a gay male couple trying to ignore
them and she\'s like \"OOhhhhh youtth guyths are sooo cute
togetherr...lemme gett a piece of that. I\'m gonnathh grab your dick.
Waaanna touch you...\"

\"Madam, that\'s sexual assault.\"

\"WTF! You futhking faggots! Fucccck you!\"

(I\'ve worked in a nightclub before long time ago)

Incidentally the trouble with a job like that is if you stay in it too
long you learn to dislike lots of types of people (particularly after
they\'ve added booze & maybe drugs to the equation.) Not a person in
isolation who tends to be fine, but people. I\'m glad the choice wasn\'t
up to me as to whom to admit as after a while I probably wouldn\'t have
admitted anyone, lol.

Can\'t say I\'ve ever met a hardware-design client I ever really disliked,
so far. Even the \"difficult\" ones only tend to try your patience, not
your overall faith in humanity.
 
On 12/28/2021 11:23 AM, bitrex wrote:

You *can\'t* refuse to serve sex offenders (!). Or, ex-cons, etc. Or,
homosexuals, trans, queer, etc. parties. You don\'t have to invite them
into your *home* but if you are a business, society grants you the privilege
of operating your business under certain conditions.

Yes, the societal problem with refusing service to former convicts or criminals
is that if everyone refuses service to those types then you\'ve created a
permanent underclass of criminals.

To some, that is a desired goal. Of course, white collar criminals
are a different issue!

It\'s already very difficult for registered sex-offenders to get many jobs or
find housing. Whether this tends to create a permanent underclass of
sex-offenders more likely to re-offend I suppose someone has done studies on.

Dunno. I can\'t say that I know any -- though I can tell you where
every one of them resides in the city (there are public databases
dedicated to that -- with strict rules on how the data can be
used)

The way the US tends to view the criminal justice system is as a form of
punishment and deterrence rather than as a method of rehabilitation (despite I
believe the evidence showing it\'s not particularly good at deterrence.) But no
doubt to most people a \"rehabilitated\" sex offender is just a sex offender.

Dunno. What *creates* the offender? How can that factor be expunged?

What \"creates\" religious nutcases? Or, science deniers? Or, animal abusers?
Or narcissists? Or...

Why are some people prone to become substance abusers while others are
seemingly immune? What\'s the appeal of gambling -- in light of the obvious
\"losing proposition\" involved?

I think we are a long way from understanding the causes of these behaviors,
let alone coming up with a remedy!

[You can, of course, create a \"private club\" and limit membership]

Some Americans are surprised to learn the Civil Rights act doesn\'t apply to
private clubs, you can run a whites-only private golf club in 2021 it\'s not
illegal AFAIK. only bad publicity.

As well as placing a cap on the number (and type!) of potential members!
 
On 12/28/2021 12:14 PM, bitrex wrote:
(I\'ve worked in a nightclub before long time ago)

Incidentally the trouble with a job like that is if you stay in it too long you
learn to dislike lots of types of people (particularly after they\'ve added
booze & maybe drugs to the equation.) Not a person in isolation who tends to be
fine, but people. I\'m glad the choice wasn\'t up to me as to whom to admit as
after a while I probably wouldn\'t have admitted anyone, lol.

I think that is a problem that law enforcement officers tend to face.
They deal with dubious people so often that they tend to prejudge
based on that past experience.

We had a couple of uniformed officers at our door one evening a few years back.
They were responding to a 911 call. \"*We* didn\'t call you!\"

[Apparently, a wet PSTN line can dialpulse a pattern that triggers 911? At
least, that\'s the excuse THEY gave us... I find it hard to believe but
they claim it happens \"often enough\" to give credence to my denial of
placing the call]

One of the officers had his hand on his weapon the entire time. Do you
see a weapon in my hand? Do I look distraught? Covered in blood?
Hear screams/moans coming from inside?

Can\'t say I\'ve ever met a hardware-design client I ever really disliked, so
far. Even the \"difficult\" ones only tend to try your patience, not your overall
faith in humanity.

I think a lot of people are afraid of folks that aren\'t \"like them\".
I assume this a consequence of some insecurity on their part.

Instead, I try to imagine *how* a person could be \"that way\"... what in
their upbringing/past may have led to that behavior/outlook.

The neighbor behind me keeps a loaded Glock on his kitchen counter at
all times. Really? When was the last time you heard of a violent
crime in this neighborhood? Like *never*???!

Another neighbor drives out of town to shop at a WalMart (! not exactly
upscale!) in a \"lily white\" town miles from here -- instead of the WalMart
just a few miles from here. Just to ensure he doesn\'t bump into any
\"blacks\" (shudder!) while shopping. I can only imagine what goes through
his mind when he sees me chatting with a mixed couple that I often
encounter on my evening constitutional!

A neighbor has left his home unoccupied for ~30 years -- save for a short
period when a grandkid stayed there while attending local university.
<shrug> Seems silly to pay taxes on an idle property, but...

Another friend I encounter on my walks will drop tens of thousands of dollars
into restoring an old vehicle -- yet will shop the dollar store to save a
few pennies on sandwich bags!

[Old people are weird! Decades of dysfunction manifesting in one final
splurge before they kick the proverbial bucket.]
 
On 12/28/2021 5:42 PM, Don Y wrote:
On 12/28/2021 12:14 PM, bitrex wrote:
(I\'ve worked in a nightclub before long time ago)

Incidentally the trouble with a job like that is if you stay in it too
long you learn to dislike lots of types of people (particularly after
they\'ve added booze & maybe drugs to the equation.) Not a person in
isolation who tends to be fine, but people. I\'m glad the choice wasn\'t
up to me as to whom to admit as after a while I probably wouldn\'t have
admitted anyone, lol.

I think that is a problem that law enforcement officers tend to face.
They deal with dubious people so often that they tend to prejudge
based on that past experience.

We had a couple of uniformed officers at our door one evening a few
years back.
They were responding to a 911 call.  \"*We* didn\'t call you!\"

[Apparently, a wet PSTN line can dialpulse a pattern that triggers 911?  At
least, that\'s the excuse THEY gave us...  I find it hard to believe but
they claim it happens \"often enough\" to give credence to my denial of
placing the call]

One of the officers had his hand on his weapon the entire time.  Do you
see a weapon in my hand?  Do I look distraught?  Covered in blood?
Hear screams/moans coming from inside?

Can\'t say I\'ve ever met a hardware-design client I ever really
disliked, so far. Even the \"difficult\" ones only tend to try your
patience, not your overall faith in humanity.

I think a lot of people are afraid of folks that aren\'t \"like them\".
I assume this a consequence of some insecurity on their part.

Instead, I try to imagine *how* a person could be \"that way\"... what in
their upbringing/past may have led to that behavior/outlook.

The neighbor behind me keeps a loaded Glock on his kitchen counter at
all times.  Really?  When was the last time you heard of a violent
crime in this neighborhood?  Like *never*???!

I go to the West End in Providence to get ice cream in the summer, the
owners mostly seem glad a white person showed up to buy their product.
Oh my God, the violent inner city:

<https://www.yelp.ca/biz/dairy-king-providence>

Hail to the King. Best sundaes in town.

Another neighbor drives out of town to shop at a WalMart (! not exactly
upscale!) in a \"lily white\" town miles from here -- instead of the WalMart
just a few miles from here.  Just to ensure he doesn\'t bump into any
\"blacks\" (shudder!) while shopping.  I can only imagine what goes through
his mind when he sees me chatting with a mixed couple that I often
encounter on my evening constitutional!

I don\'t go to that area unarmed. I don\'t carry a gun, though. It\'s not
the suburbs but so far over many summers nothing of great interest has
ever happened to me while I was there; don\'t walk around looking like a
tourist flashing your wealth, mind your business and nobody\'s interested
in you. There\'s crime there for sure but random white guy who minds his
business is rarely the target. Common sense...


A neighbor has left his home unoccupied for ~30 years -- save for a short
period when a grandkid stayed there while attending local university.
shrug>  Seems silly to pay taxes on an idle property, but...

Another friend I encounter on my walks will drop tens of thousands of
dollars
into restoring an old vehicle -- yet will shop the dollar store to save a
few pennies on sandwich bags!

[Old people are weird!  Decades of dysfunction manifesting in one final
splurge before they kick the proverbial bucket.]
 
On 12/29/2021 12:34 PM, bitrex wrote:
On 12/28/2021 5:42 PM, Don Y wrote:
On 12/28/2021 12:14 PM, bitrex wrote:
(I\'ve worked in a nightclub before long time ago)

Incidentally the trouble with a job like that is if you stay in it too long
you learn to dislike lots of types of people (particularly after they\'ve
added booze & maybe drugs to the equation.) Not a person in isolation who
tends to be fine, but people. I\'m glad the choice wasn\'t up to me as to whom
to admit as after a while I probably wouldn\'t have admitted anyone, lol.

I think that is a problem that law enforcement officers tend to face.
They deal with dubious people so often that they tend to prejudge
based on that past experience.

We had a couple of uniformed officers at our door one evening a few years back.
They were responding to a 911 call. \"*We* didn\'t call you!\"

[Apparently, a wet PSTN line can dialpulse a pattern that triggers 911? At
least, that\'s the excuse THEY gave us... I find it hard to believe but
they claim it happens \"often enough\" to give credence to my denial of
placing the call]

One of the officers had his hand on his weapon the entire time. Do you
see a weapon in my hand? Do I look distraught? Covered in blood?
Hear screams/moans coming from inside?

Can\'t say I\'ve ever met a hardware-design client I ever really disliked, so
far. Even the \"difficult\" ones only tend to try your patience, not your
overall faith in humanity.

I think a lot of people are afraid of folks that aren\'t \"like them\".
I assume this a consequence of some insecurity on their part.

Instead, I try to imagine *how* a person could be \"that way\"... what in
their upbringing/past may have led to that behavior/outlook.

The neighbor behind me keeps a loaded Glock on his kitchen counter at
all times. Really? When was the last time you heard of a violent
crime in this neighborhood? Like *never*???!

I go to the West End in Providence to get ice cream in the summer, the owners
mostly seem glad a white person showed up to buy their product. Oh my God, the
violent inner city:

Hmm. I haven\'t been to Ptown -- or anywhere on the Cape -- since the early
70\'s. I guess places change.

https://www.yelp.ca/biz/dairy-king-providence

Hail to the King. Best sundaes in town.

For frozen confections, I much prefer home-made ice cream.

Or, \"lemon ice\" (which, apparently, requires a mechanical
means of keeping the ice fine enough that it has the texture
of ice cream -- not a /granita/, etc.)

Growing *excellent* (sweet!) lemons seems ideal for this
sort of use. But, I\'ve not researched how to make it
without special kit.

If I ever get back east, I have several important
\"research\" stops planned (esp for /biscotti al latte/)

Another neighbor drives out of town to shop at a WalMart (! not exactly
upscale!) in a \"lily white\" town miles from here -- instead of the WalMart
just a few miles from here. Just to ensure he doesn\'t bump into any
\"blacks\" (shudder!) while shopping. I can only imagine what goes through
his mind when he sees me chatting with a mixed couple that I often
encounter on my evening constitutional!

I don\'t go to that area unarmed. I don\'t carry a gun, though. It\'s not the
suburbs but so far over many summers nothing of great interest has ever
happened to me while I was there; don\'t walk around looking like a tourist
flashing your wealth, mind your business and nobody\'s interested in you.
There\'s crime there for sure but random white guy who minds his business is
rarely the target. Common sense...

A lot is how you portray yourself to those (strangers) around you.
If you look like sheeple, you\'re likely to be victimized.

I worked at an arcade in the \'zone back in college. I\'d get
off work around midnight and have to walk the unlit streets
back to Park Street Station. Tall buildings, narrow streets,
folks sleeping in doorways. Never had a problem.

[Guy was stabbed, out front, one night. Interesting experience!]

And, the \"patrons\" could easily recognize me and, if pissed at
me (cuz I wasn\'t duped into reimbursing them when they claimed
\"that machine ate my quarter\") could easily have caught me, alone,
outside, on that trek.
 
On 12/29/2021 7:33 PM, Don Y wrote:
On 12/29/2021 12:34 PM, bitrex wrote:
On 12/28/2021 5:42 PM, Don Y wrote:
On 12/28/2021 12:14 PM, bitrex wrote:
(I\'ve worked in a nightclub before long time ago)

Incidentally the trouble with a job like that is if you stay in it
too long you learn to dislike lots of types of people (particularly
after they\'ve added booze & maybe drugs to the equation.) Not a
person in isolation who tends to be fine, but people. I\'m glad the
choice wasn\'t up to me as to whom to admit as after a while I
probably wouldn\'t have admitted anyone, lol.

I think that is a problem that law enforcement officers tend to face.
They deal with dubious people so often that they tend to prejudge
based on that past experience.

We had a couple of uniformed officers at our door one evening a few
years back.
They were responding to a 911 call.  \"*We* didn\'t call you!\"

[Apparently, a wet PSTN line can dialpulse a pattern that triggers
911?  At
least, that\'s the excuse THEY gave us...  I find it hard to believe but
they claim it happens \"often enough\" to give credence to my denial of
placing the call]

One of the officers had his hand on his weapon the entire time.  Do you
see a weapon in my hand?  Do I look distraught?  Covered in blood?
Hear screams/moans coming from inside?

Can\'t say I\'ve ever met a hardware-design client I ever really
disliked, so far. Even the \"difficult\" ones only tend to try your
patience, not your overall faith in humanity.

I think a lot of people are afraid of folks that aren\'t \"like them\".
I assume this a consequence of some insecurity on their part.

Instead, I try to imagine *how* a person could be \"that way\"... what in
their upbringing/past may have led to that behavior/outlook.

The neighbor behind me keeps a loaded Glock on his kitchen counter at
all times.  Really?  When was the last time you heard of a violent
crime in this neighborhood?  Like *never*???!

I go to the West End in Providence to get ice cream in the summer, the
owners mostly seem glad a white person showed up to buy their product.
Oh my God, the violent inner city:

Hmm.  I haven\'t been to Ptown -- or anywhere on the Cape -- since the early
70\'s.  I guess places change.

Naw not Provincetown, ProviDENCE! The capitol of the US state of Rhode
Island, lol. Proviencetown is about a hundred miles from the nearest
\"inner city.\" You know what summer rentals on the Cape cost these days?
Yikes, I make it down there for a few days a year, maybe. Can\'t afford a
weekly trip...

https://www.yelp.ca/biz/dairy-king-providence

Hail to the King. Best sundaes in town.

For frozen confections, I much prefer home-made ice cream.

Or, \"lemon ice\" (which, apparently, requires a mechanical
means of keeping the ice fine enough that it has the texture
of ice cream -- not a /granita/, etc.)

Del\'s frozen lemonade is the RI state drink, you can find the carts on
most street corners in Providence the summer

Growing *excellent* (sweet!) lemons seems ideal for this
sort of use.  But, I\'ve not researched how to make it
without special kit.

If I ever get back east, I have several important
\"research\" stops planned (esp for /biscotti al latte/)

A lot is how you portray yourself to those (strangers) around you.
If you look like sheeple, you\'re likely to be victimized.

Mostly if you look like you\'re oblivious and also look like you got some
cash. Particularly if you\'re wearing the cash on your wrist or around
your neck, or are texting on one of Apple\'s finest.

I worked at an arcade in the \'zone back in college.  I\'d get
off work around midnight and have to walk the unlit streets
back to Park Street Station.  Tall buildings, narrow streets,
folks sleeping in doorways.  Never had a problem.

[Guy was stabbed, out front, one night.  Interesting experience!]

And, the \"patrons\" could easily recognize me and, if pissed at
me (cuz I wasn\'t duped into reimbursing them when they claimed
\"that machine ate my quarter\") could easily have caught me, alone,
outside, on that trek.

Only a few arcades left these days! Some of them are also bars, now...
 
On 12/29/2021 9:59 PM, bitrex wrote:
On 12/29/2021 7:33 PM, Don Y wrote:
On 12/29/2021 12:34 PM, bitrex wrote:
On 12/28/2021 5:42 PM, Don Y wrote:
On 12/28/2021 12:14 PM, bitrex wrote:
(I\'ve worked in a nightclub before long time ago)

Incidentally the trouble with a job like that is if you stay in it
too long you learn to dislike lots of types of people (particularly
after they\'ve added booze & maybe drugs to the equation.) Not a
person in isolation who tends to be fine, but people. I\'m glad the
choice wasn\'t up to me as to whom to admit as after a while I
probably wouldn\'t have admitted anyone, lol.

I think that is a problem that law enforcement officers tend to face.
They deal with dubious people so often that they tend to prejudge
based on that past experience.

We had a couple of uniformed officers at our door one evening a few
years back.
They were responding to a 911 call.  \"*We* didn\'t call you!\"

[Apparently, a wet PSTN line can dialpulse a pattern that triggers
911?  At
least, that\'s the excuse THEY gave us...  I find it hard to believe but
they claim it happens \"often enough\" to give credence to my denial of
placing the call]

One of the officers had his hand on his weapon the entire time.  Do you
see a weapon in my hand?  Do I look distraught?  Covered in blood?
Hear screams/moans coming from inside?

Can\'t say I\'ve ever met a hardware-design client I ever really
disliked, so far. Even the \"difficult\" ones only tend to try your
patience, not your overall faith in humanity.

I think a lot of people are afraid of folks that aren\'t \"like them\".
I assume this a consequence of some insecurity on their part.

Instead, I try to imagine *how* a person could be \"that way\"... what in
their upbringing/past may have led to that behavior/outlook.

The neighbor behind me keeps a loaded Glock on his kitchen counter at
all times.  Really?  When was the last time you heard of a violent
crime in this neighborhood?  Like *never*???!

I go to the West End in Providence to get ice cream in the summer,
the owners mostly seem glad a white person showed up to buy their
product. Oh my God, the violent inner city:

Hmm.  I haven\'t been to Ptown -- or anywhere on the Cape -- since the
early
70\'s.  I guess places change.

Naw not Provincetown, ProviDENCE! The capitol of the US state of Rhode
Island, lol. Proviencetown is about a hundred miles from the nearest
\"inner city.\" You know what summer rentals on the Cape cost these days?
Yikes, I make it down there for a few days a year, maybe. Can\'t afford a
weekly trip...

https://www.yelp.ca/biz/dairy-king-providence

Hail to the King. Best sundaes in town.

For frozen confections, I much prefer home-made ice cream.

Or, \"lemon ice\" (which, apparently, requires a mechanical
means of keeping the ice fine enough that it has the texture
of ice cream -- not a /granita/, etc.)

Del\'s frozen lemonade is the RI state drink, you can find the carts on
most street corners in Providence the summer

Or I should say the unofficial-unofficial state drink, next to \"coffee
milk\" which seems to be the official-unofficial state drink. Basically
milk with chocolate syrup but instead of chocolate syrup they use
coffee-flavored syrup. yech.
 
On 12/29/2021 7:59 PM, bitrex wrote:
On 12/29/2021 7:33 PM, Don Y wrote:
On 12/29/2021 12:34 PM, bitrex wrote:
On 12/28/2021 5:42 PM, Don Y wrote:
On 12/28/2021 12:14 PM, bitrex wrote:
(I\'ve worked in a nightclub before long time ago)

Incidentally the trouble with a job like that is if you stay in it too
long you learn to dislike lots of types of people (particularly after
they\'ve added booze & maybe drugs to the equation.) Not a person in
isolation who tends to be fine, but people. I\'m glad the choice wasn\'t up
to me as to whom to admit as after a while I probably wouldn\'t have
admitted anyone, lol.

I think that is a problem that law enforcement officers tend to face.
They deal with dubious people so often that they tend to prejudge
based on that past experience.

We had a couple of uniformed officers at our door one evening a few years
back.
They were responding to a 911 call. \"*We* didn\'t call you!\"

[Apparently, a wet PSTN line can dialpulse a pattern that triggers 911? At
least, that\'s the excuse THEY gave us... I find it hard to believe but
they claim it happens \"often enough\" to give credence to my denial of
placing the call]

One of the officers had his hand on his weapon the entire time. Do you
see a weapon in my hand? Do I look distraught? Covered in blood?
Hear screams/moans coming from inside?

Can\'t say I\'ve ever met a hardware-design client I ever really disliked,
so far. Even the \"difficult\" ones only tend to try your patience, not your
overall faith in humanity.

I think a lot of people are afraid of folks that aren\'t \"like them\".
I assume this a consequence of some insecurity on their part.

Instead, I try to imagine *how* a person could be \"that way\"... what in
their upbringing/past may have led to that behavior/outlook.

The neighbor behind me keeps a loaded Glock on his kitchen counter at
all times. Really? When was the last time you heard of a violent
crime in this neighborhood? Like *never*???!

I go to the West End in Providence to get ice cream in the summer, the
owners mostly seem glad a white person showed up to buy their product. Oh my
God, the violent inner city:

Hmm. I haven\'t been to Ptown -- or anywhere on the Cape -- since the early
70\'s. I guess places change.

Naw not Provincetown, ProviDENCE! The capitol of the US state of Rhode Island,

Ugh! My bad. I was thinking of beantown and the imagery that came
up was a map of eastern MA. Ptown being off to the (south)east.

> lol. Proviencetown is about a hundred miles from the nearest \"inner city.\" You

Yes, hence my surprise as to your comment re: \"few whites\"...

know what summer rentals on the Cape cost these days? Yikes, I make it down
there for a few days a year, maybe. Can\'t afford a weekly trip...

We\'d rent a cottage -- usually somewhere near Dennis. Far enough \"off\"
the mainland yet not so far that we were limited in what we could go and
do. IIRC, there was an arcade there, as well -- complete with minicarts.

Amusing the stuff that sticks in your head all these years later!

https://www.yelp.ca/biz/dairy-king-providence

Hail to the King. Best sundaes in town.

For frozen confections, I much prefer home-made ice cream.

Or, \"lemon ice\" (which, apparently, requires a mechanical
means of keeping the ice fine enough that it has the texture
of ice cream -- not a /granita/, etc.)

Del\'s frozen lemonade is the RI state drink, you can find the carts on most
street corners in Providence the summer

My favorite was Vecchitto\'s. A little hole-in-the-wall that
was nly open for a portion of the year (Memorial Day to Labor Day,
IIRC). We\'d watch the boat races on the river and suck down
\"lemon\" ices. You could always find lemon on the menu but
the tastier flavors varied from day to day. So, it was a bit
of a surprise as to what you\'d find.

<https://www.yelp.com/biz/vecchittos-italian-ice-middletown>

Growing *excellent* (sweet!) lemons seems ideal for this
sort of use. But, I\'ve not researched how to make it
without special kit.

If I ever get back east, I have several important
\"research\" stops planned (esp for /biscotti al latte/)

A lot is how you portray yourself to those (strangers) around you.
If you look like sheeple, you\'re likely to be victimized.

Mostly if you look like you\'re oblivious and also look like you got some cash.
Particularly if you\'re wearing the cash on your wrist or around your neck, or
are texting on one of Apple\'s finest.

Dunno. Back then, the only conspicuous signs of wealth would
be jewelry. Never something that appealed to me, so...

I worked at an arcade in the \'zone back in college. I\'d get
off work around midnight and have to walk the unlit streets
back to Park Street Station. Tall buildings, narrow streets,
folks sleeping in doorways. Never had a problem.

[Guy was stabbed, out front, one night. Interesting experience!]

And, the \"patrons\" could easily recognize me and, if pissed at
me (cuz I wasn\'t duped into reimbursing them when they claimed
\"that machine ate my quarter\") could easily have caught me, alone,
outside, on that trek.

Only a few arcades left these days! Some of them are also bars, now...

Last arcade I can recall frequenting was Mother\'s in Mount Prospect.
A lot of new games were discretely beta tested there. It was always
interesting to watch folks playing a machine that they\'d *never*
seen before. And, tweeking gameplay based on how well (or poorly) they
played (if they play TOO poorly, they will likely avoid the game;
too well, and they will \"master\" it too early).

I learned a lot about how \"customers\" think by watching *players*,
there.

I think there is one arcade, here, near the university. The
appeal to the public, in general, isn\'t sufficient to support
one in \"mainstream\" society. And, older machines require an effort
to keep running in good order. Even the little bit of use ours see
is enough to have a repair/tuneup on my ToDo list, fairly regularly!

[OTOH, gaming consoles leave a lot to be desired in terms of the
player experience]
 

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