URBAN CAMOUFLAGE ?
YOU CAN'T MAKE THIS UPCrime-fearing female pedestrians in Tokyo can soon protect themselves with fashion designer Aya Tsukioka's skirt that opens into a realistic-looking (except made of fabric), full-size vending machine that she hopes thugs will pass right by. It's one of several fanciful crime-avoiding creations of the genre that Japanese inventors are noted for, according to an October New York Times dispatch. Another, the "manhole bag," resembles a sewer covering when laid on the ground but can hold a person's valuables, again provided that the thug passes it up. Yet another is women's wraparound sunglasses that are extra-dark so that even shy, eye-contact-avoiding females can stare unobserved at potential perverts in trains to guard against the ubiquitous groping. [New York Times, 10-20-07]
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Okay, now my dumb question: If the first design (vending mahine) is so realistic, what is she goana do when I start trying to shove quarters into whatever slot I can find?
lindainks55 said:
My son is in Japan right now and I received an email from his traveling companion with a link to a Shutterfly account of pics they had taken so far. Many taken in shop windows and on busy streets full of wares for sale, restaurants, etc. I noticed camouflage was very popular. Maybe I better go back and look at the pics more closely to make sure what I thought I was seeing was indeed a thing not a person.
So friends, just to get something bothering me off my chest (not a BAD bother just a can't figure out bother). Chad went because he was hired by a lab there to teach some methods, procedures... BUT, he is mixing in some personal fun time too. AND, as a graduation gift he took the lady scientist he brought home this past summer with him. Sooooo, this Mom is wondering. Remember she had just completed her PhD when they visited here last July 4th, but has accepted a post-doc in San Diego at the Salk Institute. Her belongings have gone to San Diego while she is in Japan and she follows those belongings upon her return to Boston. I know there are unconventional relationships but aren't Boston and San Diego a looong ways apart? I can't quite wrap my nosy Mom head around this one. I know how dedicated he is to his work but seems he may be also finding enjoyment elsewhere. Ya think? I'm not about to bring this up with him as that is going where no Mom should go, so I'll talk about my questions here. Wish I wasn't so nosy! No, actually, I wish I knew more about this...
So friends, just to get something bothering me off my chest (not a BAD bother just a can't figure out bother). Chad went because he was hired by a lab there to teach some methods, procedures... BUT, he is mixing in some personal fun time too. AND, as a graduation gift he took the lady scientist he brought home this past summer with him. Sooooo, this Mom is wondering. Remember she had just completed her PhD when they visited here last July 4th, but has accepted a post-doc in San Diego at the Salk Institute. Her belongings have gone to San Diego while she is in Japan and she follows those belongings upon her return to Boston. I know there are unconventional relationships but aren't Boston and San Diego a looong ways apart? I can't quite wrap my nosy Mom head around this one. I know how dedicated he is to his work but seems he may be also finding enjoyment elsewhere. Ya think? I'm not about to bring this up with him as that is going where no Mom should go, so I'll talk about my questions here. Wish I wasn't so nosy! No, actually, I wish I knew more about this...
Wendy said:
Linda,
while that is a long way apart, many couples have had similar long distance relationships that have worked out well, and it may be that either one of them has plans at some point in the future to go to where the other one is when the time comes. It may also be that they are not that terribly serious and are rather enjoying things as they stand now and adopting a wait and see kind of approach to the matter :)
while that is a long way apart, many couples have had similar long distance relationships that have worked out well, and it may be that either one of them has plans at some point in the future to go to where the other one is when the time comes. It may also be that they are not that terribly serious and are rather enjoying things as they stand now and adopting a wait and see kind of approach to the matter :)
Vaughn Tolle said:
Linda, I echo Wendy's thoughts, especially those expressed in her last sentence. So, Mom, take a few deep breaths and relax.
lindainks55 said:
OK. Breathe in, breathe out. You know there isn't one darn thing I can do anyway and I wouldn't want to even if I could. He has made good decisions and when some were less than stellar he accepted the responsibility. They are both adults and very capable of conducting their own affairs (pun intended). Truthfully, I would love it if he were to find more than his studies and his work to be fulfilling! He is 35 years old!
Still wanna know tho... lol
Still wanna know tho... lol
Rox said:
Considering the excellent relationships you have with your kids, I think that if he was feeling conflicted about anything or even making permanent plans, he'd be talking to you. Aren't male children considered to be more close-mouthed? Or is that an old wives' tale?
Tracy Phillips said:
Linda, my Ma is the QUEEN of nosy.
One of my favorite sayings,
"That's some more of your business."
I know that it's just loving concern, but don't worry Ma. It don't help any to worry.
One of my favorite sayings,
"That's some more of your business."
I know that it's just loving concern, but don't worry Ma. It don't help any to worry.
lindainks55 said:
While driving over to Sam's this afternoon I passed a sign that made me SMILE, wanted to share. It was one of those signs you change the letters by sliding them in and out with a long pole, in front of a church on the south side of Maple barely east of Tyler. It read:
SIGN BROKEN
MESSAGE
INSIDE
;-)
SIGN BROKEN
MESSAGE
INSIDE
;-)
Rox said:
I get a kick out of many of the church signs and wonder if those are shared in pastoral news publications or just where they come from.
There's a used car place on the NW corner of Wassail (and I know that's spelled wrong) and Hydraulic that has a new message each month. Last month's was something like, "Give me the chance prove that money can't buy happiness."
There's a used car place on the NW corner of Wassail (and I know that's spelled wrong) and Hydraulic that has a new message each month. Last month's was something like, "Give me the chance prove that money can't buy happiness."
Vaughn Tolle said:
Rox, on whether male children are more close-mouthed; I don't know if that's universally true, but in our family (there are 6 children, 4 male, 2 female) it is close to the mark. My mother (my dad died in 1974, when most of us were still under 21) was the "last to know" about the serious relationships of my 2 younger brothers (both of which ended in marriage), and claims that she wouldn't have known about the next brother to me (number 3 in the line) but for his engagement before my dad's death. I think I may be the most open of all of us with my mom, regardless of gender, but that has come with age (notice I didn't claim maturity :-)).
Danny said:
Linda,
My wife and I were in a long distance relationship when she moved back to Colorado(her grandmother had cancer and she was close to her). It isn't nearly as far as Boston and San Diego(one of my sisters is in that area now) but they can work out. It just forces more communication to take place.
Tracy,
The vending machine camo. I saw some picture of these on a website I frequent, but I couldn't find it on that website so here is a NYTimes article on it with pictures:
http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2007/10/20/world/...
Signs,
I saw one that read:
"Patience is something we admire in the driver behind us, not in the one in front of us."
I've got to get back to fixing data again now. 8 hours of data fixes.
My wife and I were in a long distance relationship when she moved back to Colorado(her grandmother had cancer and she was close to her). It isn't nearly as far as Boston and San Diego(one of my sisters is in that area now) but they can work out. It just forces more communication to take place.
Tracy,
The vending machine camo. I saw some picture of these on a website I frequent, but I couldn't find it on that website so here is a NYTimes article on it with pictures:
http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2007/10/20/world/...
Signs,
I saw one that read:
"Patience is something we admire in the driver behind us, not in the one in front of us."
I've got to get back to fixing data again now. 8 hours of data fixes.
Vaughn Tolle said:
Danny, sorry to hear about the need to do 8 hours of data fixes. Not fun at all.
Yes, the long distance relationships can work out, and as Danny says, more communication (both qualitative and quantitative) is a key for the same.
Yes, the long distance relationships can work out, and as Danny says, more communication (both qualitative and quantitative) is a key for the same.
Wendy said:
Danny, thanks for the link. I had a hard time envisioning what these things could look like.
They were surprisingly more realistic than I thought they would be, and I would imagine especially at night might work rather well, although, my question would be if someone is pursuing you, are you really going to have the time to stop and transform into a vending machine without them noticing? The manhole cover thing I think would work well, but the others, well, I am having some issues with logistics, plus at the same time, you would have to find the right place to blend in with other machines, because I think a vending machine in the middle of the sidewalk might be a bit suspicious. And with all the press this thing has gotten, I don't know how effective it would be now as people will know they are out there and will be watching for them...
They were surprisingly more realistic than I thought they would be, and I would imagine especially at night might work rather well, although, my question would be if someone is pursuing you, are you really going to have the time to stop and transform into a vending machine without them noticing? The manhole cover thing I think would work well, but the others, well, I am having some issues with logistics, plus at the same time, you would have to find the right place to blend in with other machines, because I think a vending machine in the middle of the sidewalk might be a bit suspicious. And with all the press this thing has gotten, I don't know how effective it would be now as people will know they are out there and will be watching for them...
Danny said:
I should clarify, when my wife went back to Colorado this was prior to us being married.
The 8 hours of data fixes is that the project I worked on started enforcing the rules the way they should have been, so now I'm finding out just how many people have gotten into a state they should never have been in. Sadly that means looking at data and SQL queries all day long.
The 8 hours of data fixes is that the project I worked on started enforcing the rules the way they should have been, so now I'm finding out just how many people have gotten into a state they should never have been in. Sadly that means looking at data and SQL queries all day long.
lindainks55 said:
Danny, Just because I don't understand the language you were speaking doesn't mean I can't understand you're facing some long hours of work! As usual, you know we'll keep the light on!
Thanks everyone for listening to the TOO NOSY Mom! You are such good listeners and have excellent advice! I am hoping two things - that Chad is happy and that he isn't hurt. I can't cause or prevent either but it doesn't seem to stop me from being a nosy Mom! But as you've all pointed out he might be acting like a man instead of the little boy I still have stuck in my head and just maybe exactly where they are is exactly where they both want to be. It's hard for Mom's to grow up too!
Thanks everyone for listening to the TOO NOSY Mom! You are such good listeners and have excellent advice! I am hoping two things - that Chad is happy and that he isn't hurt. I can't cause or prevent either but it doesn't seem to stop me from being a nosy Mom! But as you've all pointed out he might be acting like a man instead of the little boy I still have stuck in my head and just maybe exactly where they are is exactly where they both want to be. It's hard for Mom's to grow up too!
Danny said:
Linda,
How would I describe an SQL query? Well, I think it would be much like a secretary, you tell it what you want it to retrieve and it does that. The difference now being, that what is returned is the raw data. So it would be like the secretary returning some hand written notes or something that you might have to make sense out of.
Vaughn did say it correctly above, Structured Query Language. Now, since I do understand the data, what I have to look at to make sense out of, is how different parts of the data need to get tied together and in what order so other systems which rely heavily on the data will work properly.
How would I describe an SQL query? Well, I think it would be much like a secretary, you tell it what you want it to retrieve and it does that. The difference now being, that what is returned is the raw data. So it would be like the secretary returning some hand written notes or something that you might have to make sense out of.
Vaughn did say it correctly above, Structured Query Language. Now, since I do understand the data, what I have to look at to make sense out of, is how different parts of the data need to get tied together and in what order so other systems which rely heavily on the data will work properly.
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