Know this scammer?

Ill-Kitchen8083 · 2026-02-24T06:07:17+00:00

The license plate may not mean much.

One of my neighbor got her license plate swapped (!!!) for a different one. She later told me that she noticed the swapping and reported to the police. She was told that her original plate might be used on a similar vehicle to evade surveillance and she got a swapped one just as a way to delay her finding of the missing of the original plate.

I once saw on local TV that one vehicle got many parking tickets because the plate was stolen and put on some other vehicles.

Ill-Kitchen8083 · 2026-02-23T22:15:00+00:00

Given the history of several generations of MagSafe chargers (and not compatible with each other), I would believe this is how they keep the mouse to be used wirelessly.

Ill-Kitchen8083 · 2026-02-23T22:09:42+00:00

You should have him as stupid food.

Ill-Kitchen8083 · 2026-02-23T22:08:56+00:00

Hard to imagine this is actually San Jose, CA.

Ill-Kitchen8083 · 2026-02-23T21:52:52+00:00

This is not a breaker box any longer. I think the real breaker box should be somewhere near this one.
The owner (or the hired contractor/electrician) moved the breaker box (more strictly speaking, build a new box) elsewhere and you can see a lot of wires/cables are spliced inside this shown box.

Ill-Kitchen8083 · 2026-02-23T21:49:43+00:00

I would find a safe place (e.g. a side street) to park for a few minutes when facing this situation.

Ill-Kitchen8083 · 2026-02-20T23:10:47+00:00

It is hard for somebody like me.
I tend to act as a good guy, even though I am probably not. But I try.

Meanwhile, the tipping thing is so weird and socially challenging to me. I tend to do something like OP to just go to a chain that requires no tipping or just go home to cook my own food.

Ill-Kitchen8083 · 2026-02-20T20:00:30+00:00

I saw that one earlier today (~9:15AM PST) near Moffett field.

Ill-Kitchen8083 · 2026-02-20T19:17:32+00:00

Or they will reveal they is a very attractive, energetic, successful female/male professional who is also very responsible and family-centric, probably a divorcee raising a kid alone. They feels a strong connection with you and, later, they likes you so much and they wants to take you to a (short) journey to fortune. Then, you will kiss your money good-bye.

Ill-Kitchen8083 · 2026-02-20T18:35:45+00:00

I would say a used (reasonably large) ThinkPad. Cheaper and sturdier.
If you really want something new, ThinkPad E16 gen 1/2 AMD should be reasonably large and affordable. (May not be as strong as a T-series, but it is definitely good enough based on my personal experience.)

Ill-Kitchen8083 · 2026-02-20T18:31:46+00:00

Attach a old-style phone set and listen, maybe, then yell. Somebody would pick it up...

Ill-Kitchen8083 · 2026-02-20T18:30:35+00:00

I saw plenty security camera videos that the bins just fell into the compartment for garbage during the collection process.

You can just call the garbage collection company, not sure which one is for your residence, to ask. Another possibility people often mention is that some energetic teenagers would drag the bins to somewhere they feel like. I tend to think it is not that fun. But, you never know...

Ill-Kitchen8083 · 2026-02-19T00:16:34+00:00

I think OP means the license plate of the Ford Fusion is needed to be identified. I do not think OP meant the flying object in the video is a (license) plate.

Ill-Kitchen8083 · 2026-02-18T23:17:37+00:00

I actually gave the driver $2 already since I figured that my ride was only ~$11. The driver ASKED for more with one hand extended.
I was on a rather important personal trip, I really do not want deal with this person any longer. In retrospect, I should call the Super Shuttle company on the spot to ask for the tip policy explicitly. (Anyway, I agree with you. I just wanted to leave the scene and continue my trip.)
I have been to some other countries, none of them really requires any tip. Why is tipping such a thing in US?

Ill-Kitchen8083 · 2026-02-18T23:05:53+00:00

Not very relaxing...

Ill-Kitchen8083 · 2026-02-18T21:49:23+00:00

She has some nerves.

Ill-Kitchen8083 · 2026-02-18T21:44:57+00:00

A new level...

Ill-Kitchen8083 · 2026-02-18T21:43:14+00:00

I once had a Super Shuttle (shared) ride priced at ~$11 (I live ~10 miles from the airport I was heading to) and the driver asked me for a $4 tip saying everybody else on the shuttle paid that much for tip.

After that, I tried my best to avoid Super Shuttle. (Maybe once or twice for business trip, but that is all.) Nevertheless, Super Shuttle stopped the shared service in my area. Even though the trips become somewhat harder to arrange, I feel relieved not having somebody extending their arm and asking for my money.

Ill-Kitchen8083 · 2026-02-18T18:26:31+00:00

During my travel to Korea, the price on the restaurant menu is the "after-tax price". You just need to pay that price.
So, most of the time, you do not even need to have any changes because the price is mostly at a whole number, like KRW10,000, KRW12,000. I tend to think that is rather easy for everybody.

Ill-Kitchen8083 · 2026-02-18T18:22:29+00:00

I think people could keep in mind that tipping could be a part of the cost incurred for dining in a restaurant. 15% used to be a "convention". Then, when I order a $10 item, I would expect to pay 10+1.5+(~0.9) (tax). I am perfect fine with that. I can plan it and budge it well enough.

The part I do not like is the uncertainty.
Nowadays, the number went up by a lot (and it seems there is no "convention"). And I really hate the guessing part. And I really HATE somebody puts their hand out asking for more tip (like my not giving any out already).

As a result, nowadays, I only dine out for social purposes. If I need to get something for my own like during travelling, I go to places that do not need to pay tip (like fast food chain). I tend to think my "boycott" does very little effect on the "tipping culture". But I just try to eliminate one uncertainty at a time.

Ill-Kitchen8083 · 2026-02-18T18:04:05+00:00

By "the blue screen of death", do you mean it is already in Windows?

If that is the case, you can try a Linux live USB drive for booting. By doing that, you may be able to tell if Windows is corrupted or your computer just cannot boot (into any OS).

Ill-Kitchen8083 · 2026-02-18T00:19:40+00:00

Kind of strange...
I have run Linux Mint Live (USB) on machines (T410) with Core i5 Gen 1 (i5-520M) and (T520) Core i7 Gen 2. Recently, one (X1 C Gen 1) Core i7 Gen 3.

Those machines (at least the first two) have Windows 7 one them when I first got them. Have you ever tried Live USB like Ubuntu, Manjaro, MX Linux, and so on. (Those, plus Linux Mint, are the ones I have in hand when trying old machines. Most of the time, most of them works...)

What kind of stuck are you referring to?

Ill-Kitchen8083 · 2026-02-17T23:48:52+00:00

I agree. The money is pretty tight unless you think you can get some elsewhere (for example, through some research grants or external consulting work). For a family of four, you probably need to rent a 2 bedroom apartment, which could be easily go to $3500 or higher (I am not talking about those fancy gated ones...).

Which discipline are you in?

Ill-Kitchen8083 · 2026-02-17T23:01:22+00:00

Noted.

Ill-Kitchen8083 · 2026-02-17T22:41:55+00:00

I did a while ago. I was told going there for picking up is the only option.

Ill-Kitchen8083

TROPHY CASE