August 08, 2015
Failing Twice
I've started two separate posts today. The first was a true story about a time I impressed a date with my singing ability, and the second a humorous attempt to ask if any of my readers had a spare mp3 player they weren't using. The first didn't... couldn't... capture the awesomeness of the moment, and the way I was going about the second just made me cringe (as does the need to ask). So I've written about 1000 words today that nobody will ever see, and I think that's for the best. So instead, I'm just going to post the music videos I was using in the posts because I like the songs.
Here's the one that I sang in an empty beer patio.
She knew I was a theatre guy, but she wasn't expecting me to have a singing voice. Or to use the entire area as my personal stage... Vauc, it was the Olympic's, if you're curious. In any case, it was a perfect night, and sometimes the heavens align just right. Vocal magic ensued.
The second one was this:
The room I work in has somewhere around 100 people in it, and the background noise of 100 keyboards alone is enough to drive someone mad. Earplugs don't work... all I can hear then is my own breathing, which is distracting as hell. Most people have mp3 players or some variant thereof, but I can't currently afford one that can shuffle. So if any of The Pond Scum has a spare mp3 player you're not using and would be willing to send me, let me know in comments. I'm ridiculously embarrassed to ask, but there you are. My brain does dredge up songs that it'll replay in memory, and this was one of them recently. So was this:
Some years ago, an argument was posted at one of them there news aggregate sites that Eminence Front was the quintessential '80s song. I disagreed, believing that Phil Collins' In The Air Tonight holds that title. But I listen to Eminence Front a helluva lot more.
Anyway, that's my story and I'm stickin' to it. If you're curious about the first story, I can try to make it interesting enough to post. If you're able to help out on the second, you'll have my undying gratitude. And if neither works out, at least you've got these songs.
Here's the one that I sang in an empty beer patio.
She knew I was a theatre guy, but she wasn't expecting me to have a singing voice. Or to use the entire area as my personal stage... Vauc, it was the Olympic's, if you're curious. In any case, it was a perfect night, and sometimes the heavens align just right. Vocal magic ensued.
The second one was this:
The room I work in has somewhere around 100 people in it, and the background noise of 100 keyboards alone is enough to drive someone mad. Earplugs don't work... all I can hear then is my own breathing, which is distracting as hell. Most people have mp3 players or some variant thereof, but I can't currently afford one that can shuffle. So if any of The Pond Scum has a spare mp3 player you're not using and would be willing to send me, let me know in comments. I'm ridiculously embarrassed to ask, but there you are. My brain does dredge up songs that it'll replay in memory, and this was one of them recently. So was this:
Some years ago, an argument was posted at one of them there news aggregate sites that Eminence Front was the quintessential '80s song. I disagreed, believing that Phil Collins' In The Air Tonight holds that title. But I listen to Eminence Front a helluva lot more.
Anyway, that's my story and I'm stickin' to it. If you're curious about the first story, I can try to make it interesting enough to post. If you're able to help out on the second, you'll have my undying gratitude. And if neither works out, at least you've got these songs.
Posted by: Wonderduck at
11:01 PM
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Post contains 399 words, total size 3 kb.
1
I've got a stack of old cell phones; one of 'em might work for an mp3 player. Pretty sure I've got a couple of old android-based smart phones.
Posted by: Ben at August 08, 2015 11:17 PM (DRaH+)
2
Ah, I should probably be more specific... I can't have a powered-on cellphone or anything with a camera in the production area. Either are serious HIPAA violations which are grounds for immediate termination.
I've got a cellphone which is both a marvelous music player and a lackluster camera, but I turn it off before I enter the building. No, it has to be a stand-alone player. I use "mp3 player" as a generic term... if someone wanted to give me an iPond, I wouldn't turn it down.
I've got a cellphone which is both a marvelous music player and a lackluster camera, but I turn it off before I enter the building. No, it has to be a stand-alone player. I use "mp3 player" as a generic term... if someone wanted to give me an iPond, I wouldn't turn it down.
Posted by: Wonderduck at August 09, 2015 12:22 AM (jGQR+)
3
They're definitely not HIPAA violations in and of themselves. We handle a decent amount of HIPAA data here and there, and the rule is basically "don't share it out," so we just don't share it out. (C'mon, the stuff is coming from doctor's offices, you think they ban cell phones in those?)
I have no trouble believing that your company has a no-personal-devices policy so that their butt is fully covered in the event that someone DOES come in and hoover out a billion medical records or something. Our office might have something similar if we weren't constantly breaking out stacks of flash drives and copying data to them and dropping them in FedEx - if you're doing that in the course of business you're not really worried about someone snapping a cell cam pic of a screen, heh.
I actually do have an old MP3 player, been forever since I turned it on. Only 1 GB of storage though, so you might want something with a bit more space?
I have no trouble believing that your company has a no-personal-devices policy so that their butt is fully covered in the event that someone DOES come in and hoover out a billion medical records or something. Our office might have something similar if we weren't constantly breaking out stacks of flash drives and copying data to them and dropping them in FedEx - if you're doing that in the course of business you're not really worried about someone snapping a cell cam pic of a screen, heh.
I actually do have an old MP3 player, been forever since I turned it on. Only 1 GB of storage though, so you might want something with a bit more space?
Posted by: Avatar at August 09, 2015 04:22 AM (qxzj1)
4
That's bigger than the one I've got. (the one advantage was that it took a single AAA battery, and thus could be "Recharged" instantly.). Why they don't make players that can take microSD cards, I don't know.
Posted by: Mauser at August 09, 2015 07:27 AM (TJ7ih)
5
...stacks of flash drives and copying data to them...
We're expressly forbidden to plug ANYTHING into our computers other than a mouse and keyboard. Hell, I can't bring a flash drive into the office. Again, it's all about preventing walking out with data, and yes, you're right, that's the HIPAA violation, not the equipment per se.
...you think they ban cell phones in those?
Knowing the penalties involved? I'll bet docs and nurses don't carry 'em casually. I know they don't in my doc's office (I checked last time I was there).
We're expressly forbidden to plug ANYTHING into our computers other than a mouse and keyboard. Hell, I can't bring a flash drive into the office. Again, it's all about preventing walking out with data, and yes, you're right, that's the HIPAA violation, not the equipment per se.
...you think they ban cell phones in those?
Knowing the penalties involved? I'll bet docs and nurses don't carry 'em casually. I know they don't in my doc's office (I checked last time I was there).
Posted by: Wonderduck at August 09, 2015 12:03 PM (jGQR+)
6
I have an older model 60GB iPond. I'll see if it still works.... I'll see if I can still find it.
...
Found it!
I'll charge it up and see what happens. It's kind of clunky by 2015 standards, but if the battery's still good it should serve your needs just fine.
...
Found it!
I'll charge it up and see what happens. It's kind of clunky by 2015 standards, but if the battery's still good it should serve your needs just fine.
Posted by: Pixy Misa at August 09, 2015 07:17 PM (2yngH)
7
Pixy, you're in Australia.
Posted by: Wonderduck at August 09, 2015 09:11 PM (jGQR+)
8
Yes, but it can't cost that much to send something as small as an iPo -
Crap. Parcel rates start at up to 20kg. Maybe I could iron it flat and send it as a postcard...
Crap. Parcel rates start at up to 20kg. Maybe I could iron it flat and send it as a postcard...
Posted by: Pixy Misa at August 09, 2015 09:39 PM (2yngH)
9
I was misreading the postage calculator, but it's still about double what I expected.
Still, if it works, and no-one else has something suitable, I'll send it to you.
Still, if it works, and no-one else has something suitable, I'll send it to you.
Posted by: Pixy Misa at August 09, 2015 09:43 PM (2yngH)
10
I mean, don't get me wrong, that's an amazing offer, Pixy! But, for example, shipping UPS from the US to Australia is a minimum $160A... I can't imagine it's much less going the other way.
Though USPS to Australia is about $30 (and air mail the other way is the same)... that's nowhere near as expensive as I expected. Then again, I'm only used to shipping via UPS. Still, it's an awful lot.
Though USPS to Australia is about $30 (and air mail the other way is the same)... that's nowhere near as expensive as I expected. Then again, I'm only used to shipping via UPS. Still, it's an awful lot.
Posted by: Wonderduck at August 09, 2015 10:13 PM (jGQR+)
11
Now that I'm looking at the right chart, a a standard airmail parcel, under 500g, is A$14.10 - about US$10. That's not too bad.
Posted by: Pixy Misa at August 09, 2015 10:58 PM (2yngH)
12
I was looking at the 1kg price; I've never held a iPond. I figured it'd be less, but best to be conservative.
Either way, Pixy... wow and thank you. Even if it doesn't work, thank you!
Either way, Pixy... wow and thank you. Even if it doesn't work, thank you!
Posted by: Wonderduck at August 09, 2015 11:16 PM (jGQR+)
13
I've got a 32GB (I think) iPond that I haven't used in probably 5+ years (broadly since I switched from iTunes to Amazon Music). Yours if you want it as well.
Posted by: ReallyBored at August 10, 2015 05:39 AM (DOcWF)
14
RB, that sounds much more palatable than having Pixy ship something from Australia. I'll e-mail you when I get home from work, assuming the address you have listed is real!
Thank you, everybody!
Thank you, everybody!
Posted by: Wonderduck at August 10, 2015 06:12 AM (jGQR+)
15
It's the one I use for the baseball league, so I hope it's real!
Posted by: ReallyBored at August 10, 2015 06:39 AM (tDrvi)
16
You wouldn't want my spare iPond. When it skips like bad vinyl, it's pretty close to thrashed. (Yeah, iPond Classic, so the 1" HDD is on it's last few spins.)
Posted by: Mikeski at August 10, 2015 08:18 PM (/KkcU)
17
RB, near as I can tell my email succeeded...
Posted by: Wonderduck at August 11, 2015 04:12 PM (jGQR+)
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