Random Abstract Memory

[Podey]

Since we don’t have a “random thoughts” thread, I thought I’d start one where people can waffle on about whatever non-RD stuff is going on in their life.

Topic

[Podey]

I’ve witnessed a new horror of AI in the past day. There’s been a random stabbing and a manhunt near me, the police released blurry door-cam captures of the suspect and people have been putting them through AI to make them hi-res and to generate a clear face and those AI images started getting shared around more than the actual ones because apparently people think AI can magic what someone looks like from a blurry image rather than it being a completely bloody generic face.  The police have had to issue a statement asking people not to use AI on suspect photos as it hampers the identification process but what’s even worse is the reaction to that…some people genuinely can’t see how it’s any different to a police issued photo-fit.

I despair sometimes.

[Warbodog]

[Podey]

That did give me a good laugh, thanks Warbo!

[Professor Flibble]

Had to give a presentation at uni recently about doing interviews with writers. Did a Thunderbirds intro for it, which amused everyone. I also kept putting jars of Dolmio into the slides

[Moonlight]

American Blu-ray cases are so flimsy. Every time I import a BD/4KBD from Europe the case is so nice and solid and simply better made.

[Flap Jack]

Yeah, I imported the Blu-ray of Superman & Lois Season 2 from America, and when I opened the package the case literally fell to pieces in my hands. I couldn’t believe it.

[Nick R]

Yeah, I imported the Blu-ray of Superman & Lois Season 2 from America, and when I opened the package the case literally fell to pieces in my hands. I couldn’t believe it.

Are you sure you didn’t just discover you have Kryptonian super strength?

[Moonlight]

I can understand the desire to use less plastic, but maybe use less plastic in packaging that actually gets thrown away. I get tired of opening modern DVD / Blu-ray cases for the first time and finding one or more discs completely loose in the box. But then there’s those goddamn complete series sets where they stack the discs and you have to come within about 5% of snapping the discs in half to remove them.

[Podey]

Not sure what music everyone is into around here but I’m obsessed with the new Ecca Vandal album that came out on Friday (which was the first time I’d heard them). 

Punk/alt Rock. 

[Warbodog]

Sounds good, if a bit fast and busy for me these days. My 6 year old might appreciate another loud grrrl to go with the Distillers.

[Warbodog]

Still insane.

[Ian Symes]

Congrats! Don’t tell your new employers about your obsession with octogenarian women.

[Technopeasant]

What about orangutan women?

Congratulations Warbo.

[Warbodog]

What’s your current weird fixation?

I’ve been enjoying old film serials by Republic Pictures (specifically), after the more famous likes of Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers failed to grip me previously. Sitting through a whole repetitive 4-hour ordeal at once would be torture, but a few short chapters a day of repetitive runarounds, punctual punch-ups every 15 minutes and desperate cliffhangers are treats to look forward to, like I’m a 10 year old in the 1940s.

Some I’ve enjoyed:

– Mysterious Doctor Satan (1940) – characters saying “Doctor Satan” with a straight face multiple times per episode never stopped being amusing

– Haunted Harbour (1944) – The Fugitive meets Scooby-Doo with more grounded villains than usual (favourite so far)

– The Crimson Ghost (1946) – more of a live-action cartoon with a pompous Halloween villain and his death ray

– Drums of Fu Manchu (1940) – impressively creepy (ongoing)

Radar Men from the Moon (1952) made me laugh, but was too dumb to stick with.

[Dave]

What’s your current weird fixation?

I’ve been enjoying old film serials by Republic Pictures (specifically), after the more famous likes of Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers failed to grip me previously. Sitting through a whole repetitive 4-hour ordeal at once would be torture, but a few short chapters a day of repetitive runarounds, punctual punch-ups every 15 minutes and desperate cliffhangers are treats to look forward to, like I’m a 10 year old in the 1940s.

Have you encountered any Buster Crabbe yet? My dad was a kid in the 40s and used to love seeing his serials at the cinema.

[Warbodog]

Looks like he was mainly Tarzan, Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers. I’ve generally not stuck with ones focusing on Olympian physique heroes, favouring academic evil baddies, but I’m probably missing out on the fun.

[Ben Saunders]

Hey look it’s the Misfits skeleton guy. 
Right now I’m into Old School Runescape, Doctor Who and Heinz soups 

[Rushy]

For the past few months, I’ve been re-editing the entire series of the Walking Dead. I’ve always felt that show had such massive potential. And the main thing dragging it down is that 50% of every episode in the later seasons is completely disposable. 

I’m cutting it down from 11 seasons + spinoffs to a far more reasonable five-season show, obviously taking care not to lose anything on a narrative or character development level. 

[Warbodog]

[Technopeasant]

You can keep the dirt collection bit.

My weird fixation is documenting first-person games on 8 and 16 bit micros.

https://90sfps.fandom.com/wiki/Non-PC_platforms

Game consoles as well, but I find that less interesting.

https://90sfps.fandom.com/wiki/Consoles

[Ben Saunders]

Apparently my G&T password was found in a data breach about a month ago. Is everybody already aware of this? Am I late to the party?

[Quinn: Clochebusters World Champion]

Not something I was aware of but a quick search for WordPress data breach and you get articles like this 

https://dailysecurityreview.com/security-spotlight/390000-wordpress-accounts-hacked-by-mut-1244-in-supply-chain-attack/

[Podey]

Mum (71) has unexpectedly been in a wheelchair for the last two months, she has what was initially thought to be a ganglion cyst but was later diagnosed as arthritis in her foot and has been unable to walk very far. A few weeks earlier I had to call an ambulance out for dad (72) because he collapsed at home and he’s still a bit weak and prone to dizzy spells so he can’t push the wheelchair and so I’ve needed to go everywhere with them in that time – including a week away in Yorkshire! 

Dad also can’t cook (he’s been helping out in other ways, like hoovering and some washing up) so I’ve been cooking for all three of us every night and then squeezing my self-employed work into the afternoon and evenings. 

Which is to say, apologies if I’ve been short or snappy with anyone on here of late, it’s been quite tiring…

Mum had a steroid injection two weeks ago and it’s reduced her pain levels, thankfully and she’s moving around a bit more freely but still can’t walk very far and I’m just hoping she does manage to get back to how she was before. They’re both very active walkers so she’d hate it if she wasn’t able to do that anymore, as accommodating as she’s been to the idea of using a wheelchair for now (I’d never get dad in one unless his legs had literally been blown off!).

[clem]

Which is to say, apologies if I’ve been short or snappy with anyone on here of late, it’s been quite tiring…

I’m pretty sure you don’t have anything to apologise for, Podey. Sending best wishes to you and your folks for a full recovery.

[Professor Flibble]

Very sorry to hear about that, Podey. I don’t think I’ve been on here much recently anyway, but I haven’t noticed any snappiness from you.

[Dave]

Sorry to hear that Podey, hope your parents make a good recovery and things ease up for you.

[Jonathan Capps]

Apparently my G&T password was found in a data breach about a month ago. Is everybody already aware of this? Am I late to the party?

I have not been aware of this. Without revealing too much, is this is a G&T specific password or is it used for any other sites?

[Ian Symes]

Also, what’s your mother’s maiden name?

[Jonathan Capps]

I’m showing my 9 year old Podey’s post and demanding I get the same dedication when I’m in my 70s.

[Warbodog]

I figured Red Dwarf: Titan would comfortably be my best book of 2026, considering its significance, quality and my otherwise indifference to keeping up with new releases, but in my complacence I was ambushed by a library book of Neill Cameron’s Donut Squad, aimed at kids aged 7-14 (or 7-9 according to Amazon), which is the funniest comic I’ve read since Viz. I’ve already ordered the other books that I can pass off as birthday and Christmas presents, can’t wait.

No, I couldn’t find any other tenuous Red Dwarf connections besides a character obsessed with “justice.”

[Technopeasant]

And I thought you just posted that page because it said titan.

[International Debris]

Just recovered from my third bout of covid and, once again, it’s worsened my long covid, in lots of pain right now.

That’s what’s going on in my life. No one said it had to be happy, right?

[Podey]

Sorry, IB – I’ve had it x3 and it has royally kicked my arse every time. Not sure if it was long Covid but I really struggled with tiredness and brain fog for a year or two after my first.

Just as personal choice, I still mask up over winter etc and especially if I’ve got a cold or anything as I don’t want to spread it. What absolutely baffles me though is it is 2026 and I still see people walking around with masks on their chin.

[Ben Saunders]

I definitely got it at least once, maybe twice, but it’s hard to tell what’s “long Covid” and what’s just general ageing/being a fat bastard/depressed keeping my constantly tired and sore and out of breath and a little stupid.

A lot of people I know have been getting Covid more recently, comparatively, it felt like nobody was getting it for ages. is there a new strain or something?

[Dave]

I’ve also had covid recently for the third time, but thankfully no long-term effects. It definitely seems to have come around again strongly, I know several others who have had it recently.

[Podey]

Sorry, IB – I’ve had it x3 and it has royally kicked my arse every time. Not sure if it was long Covid but I really struggled with tiredness and brain fog for a year or two after my first.
Just as personal choice, I still mask up over winter etc and especially if I’ve got a cold or anything as I don’t want to spread it. What absolutely baffles me though is it is 2026 and I still see people walking around with masks on their chin.

*ID, of course.

[International Debris]

I definitely got it at least once, maybe twice, but it’s hard to tell what’s “long Covid” and what’s just general ageing/being a fat bastard/depressed keeping my constantly tired and sore and out of breath and a little stupid. 

Were you like that immediately before your infection? I know a few people who’ve very clearly got quite bad brain fog from it and reckon it’s getting old. Friend of mine said she was losing her memory through age, when she was 36. 

We’re in the middle of a wave at the minute, which is partly the result of a new subvariant which has come from the US, with the friendly name of PJ2.1.

I still mask in shops and on public transport throughout the year, it’s only when I head out to social events that I don’t. Knowing that there’s a wave I should have been more careful tbh, although this was a very, very mild case – I must have had a low viral load as it never got beyond a sore throat, and the lines on the tests were faint. Similarly the relapse hasn’t been as bad as before, but I do have increased pain in all my joints and muscles again, and currently enjoying experiencing the lung capacity of an asthmatic hamster.

Taking a break from the meds I’m on to let my immune system have a rest and reset before restarting them again at the end of the week, and hoping that knocks the worst of the inflammation on its head again.

[Author]

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