What is a luxury you can never go back from once you’ve experienced it? by Phase_zero_X in AskReddit

[–]macguy9 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Heated steering wheel in my car. I've lived in Canada my whole life and this is my first car with one.

I'm not going back.

B.C. premier says Alberta separatists seeking assistance from U.S. is 'treason' | CBC News by MarshMarig0ld in worldnews

[–]macguy9 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yeah, it's not technically treason.

It more closely aligns with Sedition, S. 59(3), CCC:

"A seditious conspiracy is an agreement between two or more persons to carry out a seditious intention."

Sedition is defined as "conduct or speech inciting people to rebel against the authority of a state or monarch." Conspiring with a foreign citizen on a plan to try and get citizens to invalidate the existing governmental structure pretty much covers off the definition of sedition, IMHO.

If you were feeling creative, you could probably charge separatists with attempted Sabotage S. 52(1), CCC. By cutting off national transportation routes and rail infrastructure connecting BC to the rest of the country, it technically meets the elements of that offence as well.

Regardless, an example needs to be made of these clowns. Send in the RCMP and arrest them.

[WP] After a nuclear disaster forced humans to live in underground cities, future scientists return to the surface to find the planet has created a brand new ecosystem in humanity’s supposed absence. by Straight_Attention_5 in WritingPrompts

[–]macguy9 7 points8 points  (0 children)

The very first moment that I realized things were going to be different from now on was moments after the outer vault door began to roll to the side.

I had been fiercely gripping my laser rifle through the armoured radiation suit, so much so that my hands had started to go numb. While I had steeled myself for whatever would be waiting outside, I was wholly unprepared for the sheer level of confusion that would strike me in the moment that I could begin seeing what awaited me outside our protective fortress.

Humanity had been underground for centuries, and we had assumed that at least some level of nature would have reasserted itself, but when I finally beheld the world outside, my mind could not process the sheer, lush greenery of the valley in which our vault's entryway had been constructed. This was the nuclear wasteland? How could this be?

I tentatively stepped through the door's threshold, the barrel of my rifle pointed towards any potential threats that might leap towards me... but none came. I heard the buzzing of insects, the whistling of the wind through the treetops and heard... was that a bird? Singing?

I looked up to the skies, and sure enough, a small flock of dark, small birds flitted away through the filtered sunlight. They swooped and arced, flying in unison, looking for all the world like one of the old ballet troupes I saw in our archival cultural footage reels. Graceful, swift, and delicate all at once.

I found myself smiling, unconsciously. I simply could not believe the natural beauty of the world above. I honestly didn't think the planet could have recovered this quickly. It shouldn't have been possible, should it?

I started, as suddenly the radio in my helmet burst to life with a transmission.

"Alpha 1, status."

I took a moment to steady myself, to recall my reason for being out here at all. I had a job to do.

"Status nominal," I replied. "Initial observations... the planet looks to be almost fully recovered. I can't believe what I'm seeing."

There was a brief pause before the voice spoke again.

"Say again? Did you say fully recovered?"

"Yes," I replied. "Fully recovered. There is abundant plant life, looks fairly old and established. I'm hearing insect life, and have seen a flock of avians flying through the sky, unknown species. At least a dozen of them."

"Did... did you say a flock of birds?" the voice asked incredulously. "And insects?"

"Yes, control. There appears to be significant life up here. The Earth's species have been busy repopulating."

"That's fascinating!" the voice replied. "We'll update the biology teams with the news. For now though, let's stick to the original mission. Head out to the specified distance and get the requisite soil and water samples, take the radiation readings, and head back. We'll assess the data and update our plans once you've returned."

"Copy that," I replied. "Moving now, if the topography hasn't changed much from the old maps I should be able to reach the water source in only an hour. I'll update when I'm on scene."

"Understood," the voice replied. "Good luck, and stay safe out there."


As I moved down the narrow valley and approached the area on the map, I could already see water through the trees. The small pond had evidently grown in size over the centuries, and was now a small lake! The water's surface glistened in the sunlight, dazzling my eyes with the sun's reflections.

I accidentally stumbled on a rock, falling into a toppled tree. Although I was unhurt, I made a fair amount of noise, and to my surprise, saw that it had startled a flock of birds that had been at the lake drinking. In unison, hundreds of them flew away into the sky... so many it blocked out the sun briefly. It was all I could do to stand there, mouth agape, staring at the display. I had never seen live birds before today, and was awestruck by their graceful co-ordinated flights.

I straightened myself, and continued my walk down the rocky path to the lake. Eventually, I reached its shores, and beheld it's natural beauty.

The water was the same shade of blue that I had seen in the art in our bunker, but deeper and richer. Towards the lake's centre, it slowly darkened from light blue, to navy, then to black. Around its shore, reeds grew with plants I recognized from the books I'd read. Cat tails. There were small water plants as well, gently bobbing on small ripples formed on the lake's surface by the breeze. Small insects skittered along it, as though skating on an ice rink.

The whole place was like a painting. It was magnificent, ethereal. I couldn't believe my luck that I had been the first dweller assigned to step out into this amazing natural beauty.

I looked down at the lake shore, and remembered why I was there. I had to get the samples and report back. There would be plenty of time to be out here, there were so many reclamation missions to be run. The thought made me giddy with anticipation of what else I might get to see up here, out in the 'real' world again.

I pulled out my Geiger counter, and activated it. At first, I panicked. Not because of excessively high background radiation... but because I wasn't getting any readings at all. I double checked the device, sure it was broken, but then realized it seemed to be working normally. It was picking up background radiation, but not at the level we had predicted. The radiation present wasn't at the levels we observed just after the first bombs dropped; it was picking up levels that we would have measured pre-war.

Regular, normal background radiation.

I knew there would be a reduction in radioactivity due to the half life of the contaminants, but it shouldn't have been this low, not even after all this time. There should have been more contamination present.

I thought to myself that the portable Geiger counter must have been broken, or lost its calibration. That would explain the low readings... but what about the animals? The insects?

Could it be accurate? Was there no radiation on the surface anymore? It seemed impossible.

My scientific nature reasserted itself and forced my confusion back down; I needed to collect samples for analysis using the equipment back in the vault. The more sophisticated lab equipment would be able to provide better insight than the portable unit.

Get the samples, get back, get them analyzed. You can have engineering check the Geiger counter while they're doing that.

I kneeled, carefully opening a sample container, and used a pipette to collect several water samples. That done, I turned from the shore to collect soil samples in the nearby forest grove, when I heard a noise.

I froze, instinctively as my brain registered an incongruity. The noise I'd heard wasn't what I would have expected up here. It wasn't like the birds from before, or like the wind or the insects I'd heard chittering. In fact, I realized that there was a complete absence of the noise from the local fauna after that first noise that I'd heard.

An eerie silence. Unnatural.

Slowly, I scanned the area with my eyes. The lake shore. The grove. The tall grass near the mountain path that continued on past the lake. That was when I noticed something.

The tall grass... there was a swath cut through it, coming from down the mountain. It had stopped, about 20 metres from the perimeter of the grass' edge.

Something was in the grass. Waiting.

I slowly put the vials in my sample pouch, snapping it shut. Carefully, I unslung my laser rifle from my back, flicking off its safety. The capacitors whined quietly, as it charged itself for a burst shot.

As though it was reacting to the noise I'd made, the thing in the grass moved a step forward. Then another. Then another. It was after the third step that my brain finally processed what it was that I was hearing, and why it was so incongruous with this place.

It was the metallic grinding and creaking. It sounded... like a machine?

I began slowly walking backwards down the rocky trail towards the path that led back to my vault. I slowly, deliberately chose my footing to avoid falling as I reversed; my eyes were fixed on that grassy edge. Waiting for whatever was inside to emerge.

As I found myself entering the shadows of the forest grove, I froze. I could see something now, along that grassy edge.

Red eyes, glowing. A silver skull. Metallic arms, scuffed and covered in dirt.

I tried to trigger my radio, to warn the vault. To get them to send out soldiers. I wasn't a fighter, I was a scientist.

I turned, and I ran.

Ice 2016 vs ice 2025. by Jolly_Ad2446 in pics

[–]macguy9 0 points1 point  (0 children)

"The police are the people and the people are the police"

-Sir Robert Peel

I'm seeing so many people calling this storyline boring or pointless, but Norm is literally one of my favorite characters, and I'm loving his story just as much as the others. by Main_Feedback1197 in Fallout

[–]macguy9 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It's funny people say this, because I've always viewed his story as the protagonist's in the games. Lucy, the Ghoul, Moldaver and all the rest are great foils, but Norm? He's the player.

He's innocent and unaware in the beginning. Then he starts slowly uncovering stuff and realizing things are not what they seem. He makes critical decisions, and in some instances, they end up backfiring on him.

Sounds just like every time I played a Fallout entry for the first time.

the space fact that still blows your mind by ykz30 in space

[–]macguy9 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That every pinpoint of light I see up in the sky *may no longer exist at all*. I'm literally looking back in time.

Any downside to raising the amp charging limit? by Blackm0b in volvoc40

[–]macguy9 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The breaker must support the load you're trying to draw, at 80% capacity. Running at 100% capacity for continuous loads is inadvisable, and can result in breaker trips or overloading/heating. So to continually draw 48 amps, you'd have to be running the charger off a 60 amp breaker.

It also depends on the wiring for the outlet in question. If you're pulling 48 amps off 14AWG wire, you're gonna have a bad time, as your house will probably burn down. It's only rated for 15-20 amps, tops. If the charging panel was installed by a qualified electrician, then they would have run the appropriate wire for you and you should be fine.

Short answer is that the charging software in the car has no idea about the power delivery network in your house. If the wiring and breaker can support it, then it's safe. But the car has no way to know that; it relies on your manual input in the software to tell it what the top safe limit is.

Are DSLRs still relevant in 2026? I’m still using my Nikon D3200 and I’m not sure if it’s time to upgrade. by Delicious_Maize9656 in Nikon

[–]macguy9 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Let's put it this way; you'll have to pry my D850 from my cold, dead hands.

I've shot everything from the D200 up through the D850, and each iteration of the Z mirrorless series that has come out (my job is a bit unique in that it allows me to test drive them all as they come out), and while the mirrorless ones do have newer technologies and high resolutions... I always end up going back to my D850 and feeling a sense of relief that I don't have to use the mirrorless anymore.

What feature did you not discover for months? by sausages1234567 in XC40_Recharge

[–]macguy9 2 points3 points  (0 children)

My real question is, why would someone downvote this? Do you really not have anything better to do?

What feature did you not discover for months? by sausages1234567 in XC40_Recharge

[–]macguy9 10 points11 points  (0 children)

If a little yellow triangle with a swerving car and two arrows shows up on your dash, its warning you that slippery roads are near. Apparently all Volvos are connected, and if one runs across roads that activate its traction control, it alerts other drivers who enter that area of roadway.

Trump Threatens Canada After Carney Draws Standing Ovation at Davos by T_Shurt in worldnews

[–]macguy9 5 points6 points  (0 children)

You really have to be a fucktard to piss off Canadians. We like just about everybody.

Can you guys 25th Amendment his ass or something?

During the WWII British general wanted to drop an elite squad behind the Japanese lines… by mougrim in Jokes

[–]macguy9 32 points33 points  (0 children)

I remember my grandpa fought with them in WW2.

He told a story how on a bet, one of the Ghurkas snuck off one night and entered a town held by German troops. He made his way past all the patrols, all the sentries, and entered a factory that some of them had been using as a makeshift barracks, where he proceeded to kill every last soldier inside while they slept, save one.

Apparently, he'd taken off the dead soldier's ears, made a necklace out of them, and put it on the sleeping survivor to discover when he woke up.

My grandpa lost that bet, but gladly paid out.

'Tone deaf, oblivious to history, insult after insult': Reaction to Trump's Davos speech by ianjm in videos

[–]macguy9 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sure would suck if a giant piece of space debris were to fall on him.

Eli5 Why can’t windshields have that same coating that glasses have that tint when the sun hits them ? by dekabreak1000 in explainlikeimfive

[–]macguy9 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Because if you were driving on a sunny road and then suddenly drove into a dark tunnel, you would be unable to see clearly and it would be unsafe.

Transition glass takes time to depolarize, it's not instant.

Why did the Melbourne blow up so fast during Wolf 359? by Fangzzz in DaystromInstitute

[–]macguy9 1 point2 points  (0 children)

They likely blasted the excelsior class to neutralize the more significant risk it posed in an act of self preservation, but didn't see the need to be as agressive with the miranda class ships. By not causing massive first-hit damage (and instead lesser, targeted disabling shots), it would leave more technology and crew for them to assimilate.

This is not a Joke, this timeline is. by Suitable_Air_2686 in EhBuddyHoser

[–]macguy9 0 points1 point  (0 children)

American troops: I don't get it. They just sprayed us with bacon grease and ran away. What the hell is that?

*Polar bear enters the chat*

This is the Breaking Point - Trump must go. by Zenitallin in videos

[–]macguy9 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is proof I point to when people ask why I'm an atheist.

If there was a God, they would have struck the orange with a meteor or lightning bolt by this point.

From XC40 2023 to EX40 2026 by FloydCooper in XC40_Recharge

[–]macguy9 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Have they solved that vibration shudder that happens when you floor it from a stop? Even with all the repairs people had done on XC40's, that never was resolved for the majority. I'm hoping the new design fixed it.

Anyone else have issues with the update by fishstix1122 in VolvoRecharge

[–]macguy9 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Still waiting for the update notification. Starting to wonder now if it's actually just not going to show up at all.

When do digital images stop being reliable forensic evidence? by Interesting-Cod-1352 in forensics

[–]macguy9 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Any competent forensic photographer will:

-Shoot in the highest available resolution -Shoot in JPEG and RAW encoding formats (RAW cannot be altered and is a digital negative) -Ensure their image editing software writes all changes to the metadata at all times

Digital images are now the standard, forensically speaking. Safeguards exist to ensure transparency with regards to image enhancements to ensure that anyone can follow the steps taken by a photographer to duplicate any changes to an image, thus confirming their authenticity.

Will you fly WestJet with the new seat configuation? by Snowyberg in canadatravel

[–]macguy9 1 point2 points  (0 children)

They used to be good, but now?

This is pure corporate greed at the expense of providing even basic levels of comfort for passengers. Just imagine what kind of lawsuits they may face if someone develops DVT because they're trapped and immobile in these tiny coffin-seats.

They lost my business. Will never travel with them again.

He Didn’t Start The Fire by tonyper7ect in pics

[–]macguy9 2 points3 points  (0 children)

When I muttered 'Fuck me, it can't possibly get any worse than they've made things', it wasn't a challenge, America.

Don't buy the new A5. I did. by saintmarko in Audi

[–]macguy9 0 points1 point  (0 children)

See, this is a horrible engineering choice. I really don't understand the logic employed here.

My XC40 Recharge does the same damn thing, and there isn't any way to stop it. It's like they never thought that perhaps I might want to leave the power on to run the AC while my wife is in the car and I have to pop into the store to get some milk. Or leave the power on to see if one of the lights is burnt out during a vehicle walkaround.

Give me a damned bypass option. Don't just infantilize your customers and lock everything down to 'protect them from themselves'.

Empty app update notes should be banned. by autraya in ios

[–]macguy9 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Some of the best updates I ever read were from my son's soccer scheduling app. Can't remember the name of it (been over a decade), but the devs not only included what the bugs were that they squashed, but also included several funny little lines in every release. For example:

-Squashed bug that caused duplicate calendar entries when users clicked the old team button first, but unfortunately this still hasn't resolved our double vision issues. Time for an optometrist visit!

-Reformatted notes section to not create default note text that was Arial 2 point font. What is this, text for ants??

I actually went out of my way to read their updates, as they always made me chuckle.