Fanfic Writers' Virtual Water Cooler

[SF_and_Coffee]

Yeah, the castro's like that... with more flags... and neon spandex. In the daytime.

Maybe we can confuse aliens into leaving earth alone.

I just saw a man arguing with a wall. And he lost.

You didn't see the guy in a pink bodysuit and silver cape ride past on a unicycle.

This planet is insane

Why are there two walgreens on every block on this street?

No, no... that really does sound like my suburb. Or at least parts of it. We've got more bars, churches, fetish shops, people being... unique in their fashion sense... It's a real interesting mix, all crammed together into this tiny strip of land between the lake and the interstate. And Walgreens! LOL

[Feast of the Muse]

Yeah, the castro's like that... with more flags... and neon spandex. In the daytime.

Maybe we can confuse aliens into leaving earth alone.

I just saw a man arguing with a wall. And he lost.

You didn't see the guy in a pink bodysuit and silver cape ride past on a unicycle.

This planet is insane

Why are there two walgreens on every block on this street?

Not the place you'd expect to feel odd holding hands with your girlfriend out in public. And yet...

*sigh*

We were faaaaaaar too normal for the Castro.

[SF_and_Coffee]

Not the place you'd expect to feel odd holding hands with your girlfriend out in public. And yet...

*sigh*

We were faaaaaaar too normal for the Castro.

You'd probably fit in perfectly here. My 'burb is a bit more sedate than the Castro. But definitely not the sort of place where same-sex couples would be out of place. We're actually known for being the suburb most attractive to the LGBT population. We're also one of the most ethnically-mixed ones, too. It's an interesting place to live, and quite nice.

[WraithRichard]

You'd probably fit in perfectly here. My 'burb is a bit more sedate than the Castro. But definitely not the sort of place where same-sex couples would be out of place. We're actually known for being the suburb most attractive to the LGBT population. We're also one of the most ethnically-mixed ones, too. It's an interesting place to live, and quite nice.

If they have good pizza and hot dogs, that's my dream neighborhood.

[SF_and_Coffee]

If they have good pizza and hot dogs, that's my dream neighborhood.

We have great pizza, and at least one place that specializes in Chicago-style hot dogs and Italian beef sandwiches. Some pretty good Lebanese, Greek, Thai, and Vietnamese food, too.

[WraithRichard]

We have great pizza, and at least one place that specializes in Chicago-style hot dogs and Italian beef sandwiches. Some pretty good Lebanese, Greek, Thai, and Vietnamese food, too.

Where IS this place?

PS: good night.

[SF_and_Coffee]

Lakewood, Ohio. First inner-ring suburb west of the Cleveland city limits, right up against the lake. About a ten- or fifteen-minute drive from downtown Cleveland.

[Feast of the Muse]

You'd probably fit in perfectly here. My 'burb is a bit more sedate than the Castro. But definitely not the sort of place where same-sex couples would be out of place. We're actually known for being the suburb most attractive to the LGBT population. We're also one of the most ethnically-mixed ones, too. It's an interesting place to live, and quite nice.

Ooh! Yes I like diverse. No offense to anyone, but it's a really big world and I get tired of only seeing white and black people with an occasional exception. I need more colors in my rainbow, dammit!

[SF_and_Coffee]

I was in the grocery store the other day, and in five minutes I encountered people speaking four different foreign languages -- only one of them European -- and people in everything from an abaya and niqab to shorts and dreadlocks.

[mathpiglet]

*Points to suit and tie that make me look like Castiel from Supernatural and clears throat*

Corporate/Retail computer sales here. Mac or PC I can answer any question you may have.

Compaq is one of the lower end consumer brands, but realistically as long as you don't abuse the thing it'll last a good while. Norton is garbage, you can get the same protection for free.

Stay away from Acer/HP/Compaq netbooks. They're slow as hell and last 2-3 years tops if you take very good care of them and avoid problem situations like mentioned above.

Asus and Toshiba netbooks are less likely to give you issues, but if you want a netbook sized tin of whoopass, Lenovo X120E is the cheapest thing next to a Macbook Air with great specs.

My son tells me the same thing. My Toshiba laptop is 4+ years old and doing fine. But when it needs to be replaced, I think I'm going with lenovo.

I was in the grocery store the other day, and in five minutes I encountered people speaking four different foreign languages -- only one of them European -- and people in everything from an abaya and niqab to shorts and dreadlocks.

My school is like that! We are small but very diverse!

[WraithRichard]

I hate non-diversity. My high school was mostly whites and Asians who wanted to be white. Everyone else wanted to be white, too.

Boring.

[Feast of the Muse]

I was in the grocery store the other day, and in five minutes I encountered people speaking four different foreign languages -- only one of them European -- and people in everything from an abaya and niqab to shorts and dreadlocks.

This makes me miss Nashville. While not quite that diverse, you can get plenty of languages and certainly accents just being around. It's an interesting but not well known fact that the Nashville area was originally a meeting place of several tribes for sport and trade, and I think it still sends out that "gather here" energy. One of the local jokes is, "You're so Nashville if you've moved back here more than once." (Scroll down for the contenders.)

[Womble]

Asus and Toshiba netbooks are less likely to give you issues, but if you want a netbook sized tin of whoopass, Lenovo X120E is the cheapest thing next to a Macbook Air with great specs.

Toshiba are built like tanks. My old Toshiba lasted for four years without a hitch, and it was a very "outgoing" laptop- it flew with me to Europe a few times and spent a lot of time out of the house on cafe tables and such. The battery died after three years, but that's a typical lifetime of any battery pretty much, nothing brand-specific). I had to replace it because the video card grew obsolete and didn't get driver updates anymore, so it started giving me issues.

(Note to self: when it comes to computers, always buy the very latest stuff).

My new laptop is a Packard Bell. Had it since December. The "hull" seems to get permanent spots if anything oily drips on it, but hardware wise, it works flawlessly and it's a pretty brilliant deal for the price. A Dell with the same stats would cost $300 or so more.

[Choo1701]

I can't remember who said it, but someone mentioned that you simply can't take the water cooler thread off topic .... well i can still try right?

BTW: if you have a nervous disposition about that "helpful" paper clip: look away NOW!

Spoiler:

Best comment:

KILL IT WITH FIRE!

Looks like you`re trying to kill it with fire, would you like to wear protective clothings?

It looks like you are trying to kill yourself, would you like help with that?

-Yes, please pass me the cyanide
-No, but I’m taking you with me

Oh, and one for you tech heads out there

[Feast of the Muse]

Oh, and one for you tech heads out there

Ah, the oatmeal! It buuuuurns! LOL