It's a real burden being right so often.

Mal ,'Bushwhacked'


Natter 78: I might need to watch some Buffy for inspiration

Off-topic discussion. Wanna talk about corsets, duct tape, butt kicking, or physics? This is the place. Detailed discussion of any current-season TV must be whitefonted.


erikaj - Oct 07, 2026 10:55:33 am PDT #14275 of 14508
"Somewhere in this building is our talent." Toby Ziegler, my spirit animal

You're making me think of the part in Office Space where the techies want to launder money, but end up looking it up in the dictionary first. which doesn't help.


Atropa - Oct 07, 2026 12:34:10 pm PDT #14276 of 14508
The artist formerly associated with cupcakes.

I used AI to help me write my review, and dang, I sound impressive. Not that it'll make a bit of difference to my actual review rating, because it's an open secret that ratings are pretty much decided before employee reviews are submitted.


JenP - Oct 08, 2026 7:07:36 am PDT #14277 of 14508

You're making me think of the part in Office Space where the techies want to launder money, but end up looking it up in the dictionary first.

Ha! I didn't remember that part. I would have to look it up, too.

I used AI to help me write my review, and dang, I sound impressive.

Well, I for one (of many who also), think you ARE impressive, so, score one for AI, I guess. Continued good vibes on the job front. And all the fronts.

I have to go write an email about finance stuff. Do not want.


Steph L. - Oct 08, 2026 7:58:35 am PDT #14278 of 14508
It's actually been a really hard year, when you stop and do the math. Eliot would cry, too, if it didn't take him seventy minutes of therapy, two cocktails, and a Sondheim medley before he can experience a human emotion through the haze of his PTSD.

You're making me think of the part in Office Space where the techies want to launder money, but end up looking it up in the dictionary first.

Ha! I didn't remember that part. I would have to look it up, too.

There's a subreddit called Explain Like I'm Five (ELI5), and I too had to look up what money laundering actually is, and that subreddit had the best explanation: [link]

I'm fascinated how Reddit can be both a cesspool and a super great source of info depending on which subreddit you wander into.


-t - Oct 08, 2026 8:51:30 am PDT #14279 of 14508
I am a woman of various inclinations and only some of the time are they to burn everything down in frustration

Breaking Bad was probably where I really understood it best.

I almost never go to Reddit because of the cesspool aspect and I approach all links to it with caution but they are often good. It's kind of weird but definitely interesting!

Of course, if JenP's restaurant etc *is* laundering money, they should have paid their taxes faithfully! So either they are bad at it, maybe mixed up which books were for what purpose, or maybe they just got a little ambitious with using every loophole they thought they could and went too far. I can see that happening even if $20M worth is kind of astounding. My guess is they are making enough money that they thought they could get away with not paying taxes like Amazon, etc, but are in reality small potatoes enough that more actual rules apply. What's most surprising to me about that story is that the IRS has enough infrastructure in place to pursue it!


DavidS - Oct 08, 2026 9:08:44 am PDT #14280 of 14508
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."

Breaking Bad was probably where I really understood it best.

They actually show that clip in law school to explain money laundering.

I once went to a salon that obviously only existed for money laundering. Pretty big space with multiple chairs but only one woman working there (and her dog) and no clients. Open at odd hours. Clearly not making enough money to stay open but it did.

I got to pet one of my two favorite neighborhood dogs this morning! This is a fairly regular occurrence as the family drops off their daughter at the Montessori around the corner about the time I'm getting coffee, but nonetheless I get a big dopamine hit every time I see his wiggly doodle dog self.

Theo is a good boy and I'm not shy about telling him that.


Jessica - Oct 08, 2026 9:31:52 am PDT #14281 of 14508
And then Ortus came and said "It's Ortin' time" and they all Orted off into the sunset

I once went to a salon that obviously only existed for money laundering. Pretty big space with multiple chairs but only one woman working there (and her dog) and no clients. Open at odd hours. Clearly not making enough money to stay open but it did.

I think most big city neighborhoods have at least one of these. Where I used to live in Brooklyn it was a Mexican restaurant that everyone knew not to go into for food. (If you, a newbie to the neighborhood, strolled in and tried to order something, they might serve you but it was VERY obvious they weren't expecting anyone to treat this establishment like a real restaurant.)

I was in an AI training session this morning and the tool we were using for the session was aggressively Ted Lasso themed. Sadly there was no option to switch the agentic personality from Coach Lasso to Coach Kent (or Chilton).


dcp - Oct 08, 2026 10:36:10 am PDT #14282 of 14508
The more I learn, the more I realize how little I know.

This week's onerous tasks completed! Tuesday, root canal. Wednesday, optometrist. Today, 'flu and Covid (Pfizer) immunizations.

Therefore I am treating myself to Chinese takeout for lunch today.


Steph L. - Oct 08, 2026 10:38:21 am PDT #14283 of 14508
It's actually been a really hard year, when you stop and do the math. Eliot would cry, too, if it didn't take him seventy minutes of therapy, two cocktails, and a Sondheim medley before he can experience a human emotion through the haze of his PTSD.

dcp, that's a lot of Care and Maintenance of the Human Shell. You definitely deserve Chinese takeout!


-t - Oct 08, 2026 10:58:15 am PDT #14284 of 14508
I am a woman of various inclinations and only some of the time are they to burn everything down in frustration

Go dcp! Enjoy your well-earned treat!

I have a mysterious luncheon today. I got an invitation but no explanation of where it will be or what it's for, but it appears to be everyone in the "wing" we just moved to, so maybe it's about that? I just hope there will in fact be food because I didn't bring anything for lunch.

Getting my Hep B second dose and RSV vax after work, then I think I am done with getting jabbed until towards the end of November when I can get the new COVID. CVS keeps coming up with new things I maybe should get, so I am going to try to get pneumonia then as well, why not?