Congrats on the refi approval (despite the “surprise appraisal”).
Got lots to do today; thanks to yesterday’s rain, there was a non-trivial uptick in emails and calls. Suspect we’ll get some further inquiries today, especially with more rain forecast for next week.
That was great! I can see some of what he is doing (not dealing from the top of the deck, he doesn’t actually put the coins back in the box), but not how he’s doing most of it. Very impressive!
Read earlier there were some mudslides in Malibu and Lake Elsinore, but AFAIK, no more homes were damaged.
I, too, noticed some of the stuff that magician was doing but couldn’t figure out the “how” part.
The two times I was at the Magic Castle, my absolute favorite stuff was the “up-close” magic. Even when I could sort-out how things were done, the skill level was magical in its own way.
The lead programmer for a company whose CRM system I sold/customized/supported was also a magician who used to perform at the Magic Castle. He always kept a deck of cards in his pocket, and while lecturing on programming, he would be manipulating the cards. During breaks he would perform card tricks. I remember after lunch one day, two of the programmers asked how he did certain tricks. He told them that when he riffled through the deck, he memorized the location of every card in the deck. He then put the deck behind his back and randomly cut the deck, holding the top portion in front of him, while confidently announcing what card was in that position. He did this about 12 times, in quick succession. I was standing next to him and could see what he was doing -- which made the trick even better, in my mind -- but how he was able to manipulate the cards so quickly and so well was another matter entirely! For one card trick that he developed, he said that he had to practice three hours per day for a year, before he got it done well enough to perform.
I guess the panic yesterday was well worth it, I got a copy of the report from my loan officer last night. Last year the house appraised at 285K. From Zillow and my tax appraisal i was expecting around 295 and the loan officer put down 290 as a safe number for the application. It came in 300K, I guess she liked it.
My niece brought over two fancy water dishes, they have pumps and little waterfalls, I guess to aerate the water (how hard is it to change water once or twice a day?). We put one in the back bedroom and one in the dining room. A few mornings ago I found the latter one unplugged and moved a few feet. I thought someone had been engaged in rambunctious play and knocked it The plug has a straight pull connection that separates easily. After finding it in the same state a few times I heard it being played with last night. It seems someone has decided the cord makes it a better toy than a water bowl. I think it will be replaced with a plain bowl today. They really do keep things interesting.
Teh Younger was out on the boat for work today, with a group of high school students. Winds were 20-25 knots with 6 foot seas. He showed me video of the waves crashing over the jetty as they were leaving the harbor. Apparently only two of the students did any chumming, but most got a bit green around the gills. In spite of it all, he said they enjoyed their time on the ocean.
Friday…teh yay!!1!
I find today’s thread GIF unreasonably amusing.
Mac --
Congrats on the refi approval (despite the “surprise appraisal”).
Got lots to do today; thanks to yesterday’s rain, there was a non-trivial uptick in emails and calls. Suspect we’ll get some further inquiries today, especially with more rain forecast for next week.
BBL.
Pretty damned impressive sleight-of-hand:
That was great! I can see some of what he is doing (not dealing from the top of the deck, he doesn’t actually put the coins back in the box), but not how he’s doing most of it. Very impressive!
Happy Not-quite-caturday, Gerbil Nation!
Good morning, Fatwa!
We got over 1.5″ of rain yesterday. I hope those in the burn areas are safe.
Hiya, Paddy!
Read earlier there were some mudslides in Malibu and Lake Elsinore, but AFAIK, no more homes were damaged.
I, too, noticed some of the stuff that magician was doing but couldn’t figure out the “how” part.
The two times I was at the Magic Castle, my absolute favorite stuff was the “up-close” magic. Even when I could sort-out how things were done, the skill level was magical in its own way.
The lead programmer for a company whose CRM system I sold/customized/supported was also a magician who used to perform at the Magic Castle. He always kept a deck of cards in his pocket, and while lecturing on programming, he would be manipulating the cards. During breaks he would perform card tricks. I remember after lunch one day, two of the programmers asked how he did certain tricks. He told them that when he riffled through the deck, he memorized the location of every card in the deck. He then put the deck behind his back and randomly cut the deck, holding the top portion in front of him, while confidently announcing what card was in that position. He did this about 12 times, in quick succession. I was standing next to him and could see what he was doing -- which made the trick even better, in my mind -- but how he was able to manipulate the cards so quickly and so well was another matter entirely! For one card trick that he developed, he said that he had to practice three hours per day for a year, before he got it done well enough to perform.
I guess the panic yesterday was well worth it, I got a copy of the report from my loan officer last night. Last year the house appraised at 285K. From Zillow and my tax appraisal i was expecting around 295 and the loan officer put down 290 as a safe number for the application. It came in 300K, I guess she liked it.
That’s great news!
My niece brought over two fancy water dishes, they have pumps and little waterfalls, I guess to aerate the water (how hard is it to change water once or twice a day?). We put one in the back bedroom and one in the dining room. A few mornings ago I found the latter one unplugged and moved a few feet. I thought someone had been engaged in rambunctious play and knocked it The plug has a straight pull connection that separates easily. After finding it in the same state a few times I heard it being played with last night. It seems someone has decided the cord makes it a better toy than a water bowl. I think it will be replaced with a plain bowl today. They really do keep things interesting.
Hiya, Mac!
Nice news re your appraisal; teh yay!
Hope the plug-pulling cat doesn’t learn about 120v AC and water the hard way.
Maaaaaan…if I’d ever done that re scales and other pedagogy, I’d be a much better keyboard player. 🙂
It has a step down. A transformer plugs into the wall and a low voltage line comes off it like an electronic device. I should have mentioned that.
Awwwww…where’s the fun in that? 👿
I think you liked the movie Cat’s Eye. Stephen King movie.
Actually never heard of it until just now.
(Not much of a horror fan; either books or films.)
It is a series of short stories, tied together by a cat’s journey. It is rather good.
The section I was thinking of. It came to mind thinking of the 110 volts.
https://flic.kr/p/2caJfgu
I find that clip rather disturbing despite my assumption that the kitteh wasn’t really being tormented.
I just don’t enjoy watching stuff like that.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Teh Younger was out on the boat for work today, with a group of high school students. Winds were 20-25 knots with 6 foot seas. He showed me video of the waves crashing over the jetty as they were leaving the harbor. Apparently only two of the students did any chumming, but most got a bit green around the gills. In spite of it all, he said they enjoyed their time on the ocean.
I just read that President George H.W. Bush has died. RIP.