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The officially-unofficial "Work is cancelled so it's time to play with my Prop again" thread — Parallax Forums

The officially-unofficial "Work is cancelled so it's time to play with my Prop again" thread

They say there is a silver lining to every cloud. So when our office had a huddle this AM and decided it was time to close-up shop for a while out of safety concerns, there was an after-discussion about what we would do to pass the time:

SR: "Looks like I'll finally have some time to plant a garden this year"
AD: "I need to clean-out and paint the garage. I've been putting this off forever"
SK: "I'm going to sleep for three days and spend all of my nights soaking in a hot tub"
DW: "I'm teaching my grandson how to carve"
ME: "I'm going to lock myself in my office and play with my Prop"

(-insert the sound of a stunned and uncomfortable silence here-)

They *thought* I was odd before. Now they KNOW I'm at least a half bubble off of plumb. :)

So in the spirit of commiseration, who else is off work and planning on making some mischief with their Propeller(s)?
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Comments

  • Greetings from New Orleans, where we just got whiplash from the change in our government's posture. Over the course of Friday the 13th we have been told that all the schools in Louisiana will be closed for the next 4 weeks, all gatherings of more than 250 people in one place at a time are banned, including many world-famous and lucrative festivals and concert events, and numerous other drastic measures will be put in place.

    But none of this applies to me. Nothing we do involves large crowds and neither my company nor many of our customers can afford to stop work for a month. Not because we need the money, but because our customers and their customers badly need our services.

    I am currently deep into the recoding of a system I built around 1990. Despite several incremental upgrades it's still full of code written when a well-equipped computer had 640K of RAM. And the new system does have a Prop, bridging data between some older serial devices we can't get rid of and the new ethernet-linked system. It's a mission-critical system for an oil refinery and while we've promised to start installing it on April 6, they have hinted really, really hard that if we can have it ready earlier than that they will be ready to go.

    A few of my coworkers' wives are teachers, and they have been asked to keep reporting to work while their students stay home. Those with kids of their own are tearing their hair out figuring out how to deal with that. People who depend on the hospitality industry for their livelihood are in panic mode.

    While the oil refinery is my current problem I recently put in another system, actually a bunch of identical systems, for a company that makes the mix for daiquiri shops. Let me tell you, when one of your ingredients in a 1,000 liter batch is 80 proof rum, reliability and recoverability after a power failure are top priorities. I expect that customer's demand to explode over the next month.
  • @localroger i definitely can relate.

    Its amazing how there is a lack of uniformity anywhere. My wife is a teacher (Houston-ish). They were off on Spring Break when the district “extended” it by a week due to coronavirus concerns. Yesterday they advised all staff to return to school briefly and remove their personal effects from the classrooms. No kids. Schools in her district will be closed “until further notice”. The district right next door has a policy similar to the one you describe.

    For the sake of my wife, maybe I should lay-in more rum. She’s stuck with me now!
  • MicksterMickster Posts: 2,588
    edited 2020-03-14 12:04
    Maybe I'll have time to work on my new song: "Everybody was Kung-Flu Flight-ing"

    Quite catchy don't ya think?
  • kwinnkwinn Posts: 8,697
    Mickster wrote: »
    Maybe I'll have time to work on my new song: "Everybody was Kung-Flu Flight-ing"

    Quite catchy don't ya think?

    Yes, very catchy, but you may still want to hang on to your regular job until you have that first million or two.
  • ErNaErNa Posts: 1,738
    edited 2020-03-14 13:30
    We are just experiencing what a real threat to mankind could look like. A scenario so often dealt in many novells or movies. It's like a fire fighting excercise for every day people. The positive side is that we see what happens if not something imagined goes viral, like a funny video, but something real, like a virus that we lend the word "viral" from. We hopefully will learn that life is worth living even if the holy gral is not seen in the NYSE. And diversity make uss strong, uniformity makes us vulnerable!
  • kwinnkwinn Posts: 8,697
    ErNa wrote: »
    We are just experiencing what a real threat to mankind could look like. A scenario so often dealt in many novels or movies. It's like a fire fighting exercise for every day people. The positive side is that we see what happens if not something imagined goes viral, like a funny video, but something real, like a virus that we lend the word "viral" from. We hopefully will learn that life is worth living even if the holy grail is not seen in the NYSE. And diversity make us strong, uniformity makes us vulnerable!

    All very good points. What really concerns me is that genetic engineering hardware and techniques have now reached the point where a moderately wealthy person can purchase the equipment and pursue it as a "hobby". Having worked in the medical equipment area for many years and seen the safety and containment measures taken by research labs to isolate pathogens from the world at large the thought of a basement genetic research lab gives me the screaming willies.
  • evanhevanh Posts: 15,126
    ErNa wrote: »
    We are just experiencing what a real threat to mankind could look like.
    Operationally, it's not that different to a war footing. There's no shortage of history on that topic ... except those living in the west don't have much direct experience of course.

  • I smell a rat.

    7,000,000,000 people on this planet?

    And Tom Hanks supposedly has it?

    And other well known individuals?
  • The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary.

    H. L. Mencken
  • kwinnkwinn Posts: 8,697
    Mickster wrote: »
    The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary.

    H. L. Mencken

    Who would be fool enough to think that politicians can lead people to safety? Maga's?
  • kwinn wrote: »
    Mickster wrote: »
    The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary.

    H. L. Mencken

    Who would be fool enough to think that politicians can lead people to safety? Maga's?

    The same "fools" who still believe that hijacked planes hit the twin towers and the pentagon and that OBL was killed and tossed overboard out of respect for Islam on 5/01/11. Many of whom are fans of Greta now. :smile:
  • So my effort today is focused on putting the finishing touches on a good UNIX-style date/time library for the P2 and the DS3231 (and compatible) RTC chip. My continued "slacking" in the "Nerd's Nest" is in doubt however, as She Who Must Be Obeyed (SWMBO'd) is making progressively firmer noises about getting some help with the gardening.


  • Those of us who are old enough to have actually experienced the disaster that is socialism, here in the UK, have total respect for Trump.

    I cringe when he routinely destroys our language but hey, he's actually trying to follow through on his MAGA.

    If I didn't have kids in USA, it would be kinda cool to see the snowflakes experience some socialism, to knock some sense into them. They'd only let it happen once :lol:
  • No additional prop time for me from Monday onward. Just more opportunity for exposure (though if not exposed by now, I should buy a lottery ticket before I run out of luck) as a hospital employee working on medical imaging systems. Off for the week since my son has the week off as well and his great uncle came out for spring training...... which cancelled Thurdsay, along with college basket ball, Coyotes vs whoever hockey and of course the patchwork of school districts which chose to do so. My sons school is fed by multiple districts, but I think they may close at the last minute. This is one time I would agree with if the state Public Health Agency stepped in and just made the policy uniform so families and businesses could plan accordingly.

    Personally, I will pull out an old copy of The Stand and re-read it again, the full uncut version or watch it in bits and pieces on youtube if it's not up on Amazon (not Hulu or Netflix, already checked). Then again, if I was a UFO type, Dream Catcher would work as well. Then go to work, business as usual.

  • @"frank freedman" I watched the first 2 hours of "The Stand" last night. Thank you for the nightmares. :)

    Back to debugging my date/time library...
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,244
    Mickster wrote: »
    7,000,000,000 people on this planet?

    And Tom Hanks supposedly has it?

    Sure, didn't you read/see "Inferno"? Tom Hanks solves puzzle clues in a race to prevent the intentional release of a killer virus. The movie ending is completely different than the book, thankfully. Typical Hollywood, but much more exciting than the book's final futile fizzle.

  • @JRoark Your quite welcome....See ya in Vegas, I mean Nebraska.

    As to my gripe of non-uniformity regarding schools etc, the governor of Az just closed all schools in Az.

    https://google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=29&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwihluqjk57oAhWPFjQIHXqhB0kQFjAcegQIARAB&url=https%3A%2F%2Fazgovernor.gov%2Fgovernor%2Fnews%2F2020%2F03%2Fgovernor-doug-ducey-and-superintendent-kathy-hoffman-announce-closure-arizona&usg=AOvVaw27zW3EbundBAP2Cg2R8mUl

    Has anybody seen Jaws and his girlfriend around lately?

  • And to add to the excitement here, we've moved into the sort of containment methods that are actually available to the Feds, the schools are closed until 20 April, the public library systems, all three, are closed until the end of the month. And let us not go into the more important activities for some.
  • Here in Louisiana I learned this (Monday March 16) afternoon that every movie theater, bar, casino, and restaurant dining room in Louisiana is closed as of Midnight through April 13. That may be extended. Restaurants can remain open only for take-out, delivery, and drive-thru. Our governor also just informed us that we have one of the highest per-capita rates of detected infection in the US so far. The business closure isn't limited to population centers; it is completely statewide.

    As I mentioned earlier my company is not affected by this, so I continue to work. Also the construction guys who are putting in my new kitchen don't seem to be affected.
  • Tracy AllenTracy Allen Posts: 6,656
    edited 2020-03-17 00:15
    Here too, Silicon Valley is closed, as is Alameda county where I live, three weeks beginning tonight. All 7 San Francisco Bay counties. A 7-page directive...

    ORDER OF THE HEALTH OFFICER OF THE COUNTY OF ALAMEDA DIRECTING ALL INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN THE COUNTY TO SHELTER AT THEIR PLACE OF RESIDENCE EXCEPT THAT THEY MAY LEAVE TO PROVIDE OR RECEIVE CERTAIN ESSENTIAL SERVICES OR ENGAGE IN CERTAIN ESSENTIAL ACTIVITIES AND WORK FOR ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES AND GOVERNMENTAL SERVICES; EXEMPTING INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS FROM THE SHELTER IN PLACE ORDER BUT URGING THEM TO FIND SHELTER AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO PROVIDE IT; DIRECTING ALL BUSINESSES AND GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES TO CEASE NON-ESSENTIAL OPERATIONS AT PHYSICAL LOCATIONS IN THE COUNTY; PROHIBITING ALL NON-ESSENTIAL GATHERINGS OF ANY NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS; AND ORDERING CESSATION OF ALL NON-ESSENTIAL TRAVEL

    DATE OF ORDER:

    MARCH 16, 2020

    It is something already familiar around the world. Take it seriously. Yes, I'll line up projects to to work on from home, thankful I can do that. There is loophole for travel to a place of work to fetch tools necessary for work from home. If I run out of Propeller projects, my wife has a long list of @home projects waiting!
  • Pretty much the same thing here, too Tracy. Its getting rather serious, and quickly too.

    My day job is law. I just received an email from the chief judge that a “quarantine court” has been set-up to deal with the due process issues arising from anyone who has tested positive but refuses to voluntarily self-isolate. This court will also hear matters pertaining to refusals to test when symptoms are consistent with Covid-19. In that same email, all of my hearings and trials for the next 60 days were summarily reset. The unspoken undertone was the courthouse is basically closed, and unless you have a darned-Skippy good reason to be there, dont show up.

    So yeah. I’ve got my P2-Eval Rev B board, a nice cache of adult beverages, and I’m not afraid to use either of them! :)
  • It's almost as if someone has managed to make the authorities understand the implications of a geometric progression. Which is actually kind of wonderful, even if it is also a personal pain in the posterior. I never thought I would see this country, particularly under its current leadership, willing to take such measures on such short notice. If only they can roll from this to dealing with climate change with similar vigor, we might actually have a future.
  • ErNaErNa Posts: 1,738
    Do we recall that one day a president was unwilling to shake hands with a chancellor? You never know what things are good for. Exception: the P2 is good for things we can not imagine just now!
  • ErNa wrote: »
    Exception: the P2 is good for things we can not imagine just now!
    The P2 can cure COVID-19? That's great news! :smile:

  • ErNaErNa Posts: 1,738
    It will keep us in self quarantine, we will stop COVID_19 and make CODE_P2 viral!
  • David Betz wrote: »
    The P2 can cure COVID-19? That's great news! :smile:

    Think of it as "brain sanitizer".

    The Sturgeon Genteel says: "When used as directed, the Parallax P2 has shown remarkable efficacy in the treatment of pre-COVID-19 symptoms: boredom, listlisness, depression and bing-watching "Lord Of The Flies" on Netflix."

    Go with it. :)

  • Clock LoopClock Loop Posts: 2,069
    edited 2020-03-19 18:59
    I would have already purchased a P2 to stay inside, but in 2008, the system took my "inside" location away from me, so now I can't have a p2, the circuit board doesn't do so well in the rain, nor does all my house stuff that is getting rained on. Ironic, if I had been able to keep my home, I wouldn't be a homeless spreader.
    I must be playin golf, because this is all par for the course.

    Cause and Effect. The prior matters for the future.

    It now haunts us.
  • K2K2 Posts: 691
    Sorry to hear all this, Clock Loop!

    Some cheap switching power converters I ordered from China a month ago are still held up. So with all this free time I undertook to make my own. Got a big ferrite toroid out of my stash two days ago, wrapped a primary and secondary, wired up a power MOSFET, programmed a P1 to drive its gate (via a gate driver IC that won't be named to avoid upsetting tonyp12), and fired a test kiln with it. (The test kiln tests glazes and not power converters - except in rare circumstances.)

    This same P1 gets a 4-to-20 mA input from a thermocouple transmitter. Closing the loop allows precise firing profiles to be automated. So now I have even more time to kill. :neutral:
  • K2 wrote: »
    So now I have even more time to KILN. :neutral:

    I fixed that for ya. :)

  • K2K2 Posts: 691
    edited 2020-03-23 17:11
    JRoark wrote: »
    I fixed that for ya. :)
    It's true. This break is actually fantastic. Our clay supplier (Laguna) is one of innumerable California companies currently closed. Our backyard (part of an ancient lake bed) consists of dirt that fires well but isn't so great for throwing. Maybe a little bentonite would fix that...

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