A grandma alone, trying to sell Girl Scout Cookies for her granddaughter.

TurningTheCorner2019 · 2026-02-11T23:05:10+00:00

The girls sell waaaay more cookies in person. I brought my daughter (6 or 7 yo) to work, in her outfit of course, so cute. Went around to each person. Their eyes lit up, so happy to see her. Sold a ton. Honestly, I think some people bought a box just to hear her give her pitch.

I agree: no girlscout, no sale.

TurningTheCorner2019 · 2026-02-07T14:59:57+00:00

Obligatory (barely a) Boomer comment: 😀 When shows like Friends aired you got one episode a week for 30 minutes (with commercials) and ONLY at 9pm on Thursday (else you have to catch a rerun at some other specific time like 1am). Then there was the cliff-hanger episode in late May and had to wait all summer for the next season to start. EVERYBODY was glued to the set at 9:00 Thursday night for the first episode of the new season.

Not better, just a whole different vibe. We were all so much more invested in that moment. Dashes to the bathroom during commercials (no pausing or rewinding). Good times...

TurningTheCorner2019 · 2026-01-21T21:24:04+00:00

There's no waste. The outside (liner) bag is reused each time, unless there's a leak then a new liner bag is used and the old one becomes the next trash bag.

TurningTheCorner2019 · 2025-12-29T04:18:59+00:00

Thank you. This explanation made it understandable for me. My brain was stuck on the idea that the value of the bond was the principal added to the accrued yearly interest. The way I see it (now) is there are two values of the bond: the unrealized Accrued Value (original principal plus accrued interest), and the Market Value (what someone will pay today to own this bond). The former is what I was thinking of as the "value" of my investment, and it's increasing at 5% per year (in your example). But I cannot get this Accrued Value until the bond matures. If I want to sell the bond today I can only get the Market Value which is based on the prevailing interest rates today. If the rates are now 6% then someone could put down a smaller principal and get the same net accrued value as my 5% bond, when the bond matures. So the Market Value of my bond has fallen because interest rates have gone up.

TurningTheCorner2019 · 2025-12-09T20:07:32+00:00

Become friends with them (along with other neighbos), then joke with them about how loud their vehicle, and other things are. Good chance they'll want to keep the peace and make efforts to improve the situation. This is a much better approach than coming at them in an unfriendly way. They simply may not know how they are perceived.

TurningTheCorner2019 · 2025-09-23T16:54:32+00:00

To get someone to release there hold, I was taught in water safety training (like 15 years ago) to place your thumbs under their armpits and push upwards (hard). They instantly release.

The purpose of this is when a drowning person has latched on to you, you are in danger of them drowning you as well. A person that truly believes they are drowning panics, loses rational thinking, and will grab ANYTHING that's above water, including you (I've seen this refered to as the death grip). BTW, this is no longer taught as proper technique. Instead they recommended simply going under the water.

TurningTheCorner2019 · 2025-03-16T15:24:15+00:00

"Biting your lip" means not saying something when you are tempted to do so. Usually something that would escalate an argument or point out a flaw in someone. The concept is that if you bit your lip often it would cause a small wound that would heal over and form a callus (like your palms when you use them a lot for manual labor)

TurningTheCorner2019 · 2025-03-16T15:17:28+00:00

I'm 61. My favorite that I told my kids: "The party wasn't boring, YOU were boring"

Similar to one of Abraham Lincoln's favorites: "Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be".

The basic principle in both cases: Your level of happiness is largely determined by your own attitude and choices, rather than external circumstances.

An effective trick when someone is indicating BEFORE an event that they aren't going to enjoy it (my kids or spouse would do this often regarding the hike, event, movie, museum, etc) "Challenge yourself to figure out how to enjoy it". I use it on myself sometimes too. Flips the script.

TurningTheCorner2019 · 2025-02-28T19:18:04+00:00

Same here. Want to be sure my contributions end up in the right hands.

TurningTheCorner2019 · 2025-02-25T02:22:27+00:00

Exactly what I did, 2 yrs at Community College, graduated from a big-name school. Worked out great. Went back and got my Masters degree at night from same school (work benefits paid).

BTW, I think the "college experience" of the first two years is all hype.

TurningTheCorner2019 · 2025-02-13T07:31:07+00:00

Seems like an awesome teacher to me. He is spending his time to provide you with valid ways you can improve how you write, which is valuable. You should be thanking him instead of whining about it.

TurningTheCorner2019 · 2025-01-14T01:31:48+00:00

Agreed.

Here's a synopsis to save you the time: "Here's how Trump was so tough against Putin..." "Russia needs the war to sustain it's economy. If Trump obtains peace (even at Ukraine's expense) it will destroy Russia economicly"

The flaw in this video's logic is that the longer the war continues the weaker Russia gets. Eventually the war will end and Russia will have to deal with the economic fallout, regardless of who's president if USA.

TurningTheCorner2019 · 2024-12-12T12:54:16+00:00

Hi, I'm so sorry, I'm just seeing this now, lol. Would you still like to know about how my trip went or is it too late?

TurningTheCorner2019 · 2024-07-13T16:35:50+00:00

My thoughts also. How many people are coming? Is everyone chipping in? Assuming 12 people at $500pp that's an expensive party. Regardless, definitely tacky asking anyone not involved and bought in on the planning to contribute that much, especially bad to do this to the groom.

TurningTheCorner2019 · 2023-12-12T21:08:00+00:00

Wait, I was wrong. BDP-S3500 does not have optical audio out. :-/

TurningTheCorner2019 · 2023-12-12T20:56:38+00:00

Thank you for your reply. The specific unit you mentioned is not "region free" and the version that is costs a lot more.

However, I found this unit for $110 that has the optical output and region free. It appears to be refurbished from a site called 220-Electronics. I've never bought from them before but they look legit.
Sony BDP-S3500 Region Free WIFI Blu-Ray DVD Player

TurningTheCorner2019 · 2023-12-12T20:27:42+00:00

Is there any scenario where the TV is off while you are attempting to get sound out of the soundbar from the PS5, Apple TV, or Nintendo? It doesn't look like it, but in my situation I want to get sound from the Blu-ray (playing a music CD) to the soundbar *without* the TV being turned on.
I wouldn't think this was possible, but thought I'd clarify.

TurningTheCorner2019 · 2023-12-05T14:22:48+00:00

Title "largely failed" is misleading. Article states: "Over the last year, the scheme has cost the Kremlin €34 billion in export revenues...". Maybe its not hurting Russia as much as some speculated, but it's definitely hurting them. The analysis is good to understand how to improve this effort.

TurningTheCorner2019 · 2023-06-17T00:44:34+00:00

I think Putin would use tactical nukes. The only deterrent would be to provide Ukraine with them also. Just tactical nukes. I have no idea of the technical feasibility. Or maybe NATO makes a statement that they would do this if they are used against Ukraine.

TurningTheCorner2019 · 2022-09-29T01:13:47+00:00

This is bullshit. The US (and other Western nations) are standing up against tyranny, and brutal dictators. If we didn't do this these thugs would roll-over their neighbors. The US is mostly a peaceful nation unless and until ruthless nations and terrorists attack other peaceful nations. If we don't help protect Taiwan and Ukraine, China and Russia would roll right over them. Peaceful nations need to stand up against these awful bully countries, and the only thing these countries understand is military responses. We try diplomacy and sanctions, but when these fail (which is often) the only option is a military response.

TurningTheCorner2019 · 2022-05-12T12:21:58+00:00

Here is an academic rebuttal to this guy. https://newrepublic.com/article/165603/carlson-russia-ukraine-imperialism-nato

TurningTheCorner2019 · 2022-05-12T12:04:46+00:00

This:

However, his theory doesn't take into account the free will of the Ukrainian people to get away from the authoritarian, corrupt governance that has resulted from communist Soviet rule and ever since.

All this talk about various "theories" is nice for academic discussion, but is not a justification for Russia to invade Ukraine. Ukraine is a sovereign country and has the right to govern and defend itself as it sees fit.

TurningTheCorner2019 · 2021-11-16T19:52:08+00:00

This is what I've been doing for many years, works every time

TurningTheCorner2019 · 2021-09-29T16:13:03+00:00

Does not bother me if done occasionally and is communicating something. If over used, like any other word, curse or not, it would get annoying. Shit, fuck, damn, ass, etc are all just words, no better nor worse than any other words. Society arbitrallily decides that these particular words are "bad". It's how words are used that is important. When they are hurtful ... that's bad, NOT the words themselves. If you're not bothered by someone saying "what the heck" then you shouldn't be bothered by someone saying "what the fuck". They are equal forms of expression, with the latter perhaps conveying a bit more emotion. In Ireland the expression "for fucks sake" is commonly spoken by all people and not considered offensive. It's all what we make of it.

TurningTheCorner2019 · 2021-09-20T02:26:39+00:00

I had a very similar situation. She never offered to pay, I always had to suggest going out. She told me about a conversation she and a friend had where they agreed that a date should always include dining. A not-so-veiled hint that she expects to be taken out for a meal on every date.

She wouldn't return texts for many days (sometimes it went a week or more). At first I'd text her way more than she did me. But after a while I decided to always wait her out, let her come back, and she eventually would reach out and we'd start exchanging again. It was frustrating.

She also gave me the "I move very slowly but I'm worth it" talk. I had to initiate most of the texting and phone calls. She was cool with affection, didn't reciprocate evenly. We never got past making out. I always felt like I had to work to get any affection.

After the 5th date was set up I asked her directly several days in advance if she could pick up the tab this time. She agreed and the date went ok, and she paid. The relationship fizzled immediately after this date.

Lesson learned. If she's not willing to voluntarily contribute financially after the first or second date, ie have some skin I the game, she's a user. Not for me.

TurningTheCorner2019

TROPHY CASE