# Brag here about obscure stuff no one will understand **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 24, 2005, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brag-here-about-obscure-stuff-no-one-will-understand/305326 "2005-05-24T20:29:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brag-here-about-obscure-stuff-no-one-will-understand/305326/21 "2005-05-25T02:34:22Z")
> [@Tripler](#): > > I’m in the middle of a Phase 1 this week, and we’ve gotten enough chalks processed by the end of today that we may have an early weekend. All PAX are ready for the Phase II, but we just need to get the cargo ready. I’m doing the beddown plan (giving the brief tomorrow) for it, and I don’t see any major LIMFACs. The TPFDD is almost ready, and LG is spinning up for the movement. The best part: The MTNG is loaning us some MILES gear for the trip, so you _know_ it’ll be a hoot. Don’t worry, I’ll get pictures. You win **Tripler**. I didn’t understand a word of that. I was giving advice to a general insurance company this morning that was having concerns about how the calculation of its MER would affect its MCR ratio for the purposes of compliance with the \*Insurance Act \* 1973. We also discussed the risk margins the company was using to provide a 75% level of sufficiency in the assessment of its oustanding claims and premium liabilities. ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brag-here-about-obscure-stuff-no-one-will-understand/305326/22 "2005-05-25T02:38:46Z")
> [@CynicalGabe](#): > > You are awesome. > > Doing anything this weekend? 😉 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brag-here-about-obscure-stuff-no-one-will-understand/305326/23 "2005-05-25T02:48:27Z")
> [@Cunctator](#): > > You win **Tripler**. I didn’t understand a word of that. Saweeeeeeeeet. 🆒 Tripler But every single word is absolutely true. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Purl\_McKnittington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@Miss\_Purl\_McKnittington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Purl_McKnittington)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brag-here-about-obscure-stuff-no-one-will-understand/305326/24 "2005-05-25T04:42:19Z")
> [@Lissla Lissar](#): > > Could you provide pics after you finish the dress? Is it a dress? I want to be you when I grow up. > > I was thinking of posting a new thread, but I’ll slip it in here. I have a dark blue/teal/black plaid (totally unperiod) Georgian open dress I want to recycle as something else. I’ve taken the stomacher off, and lost the sleeve ruffles a while ago. It’s a medium-weight crisp silk taffeta. What do you think? I loathe mid-Victorian. I am planning on posting pics when I’m done. I can’t wait for it to be done. I love the quasi-research/pre-construction stage, but I like dressing up more. And, yes, it’s a dress. A big pink dress. If you don’t mind going modern, I think that plaid would make a cute [shirtdress](http://www2.victoriassecret.com/images/tmblg/V223722.jpg), but I have a thing for shirtdresses. More formal than that picture because of the weight. Plaid’s tricky, especially if it’s a large one. You could go [Regency](http://www.bakerlane.com/images/rebeccaplaid.jpg), which is a universally flattering style. A [1920s day dress](http://www.revampvintage.com/1920.html) might look nice, if you did the trim in a coordinating solid fabric. Maybe with a middy collar. If you want it for Renfair, though, then I say throw accuracy to wind and be a pirate or Highland wench. A pirate’s life is a wonderful life, you know. > [@Lissla Lissar](#): > > I think I’m finally achieving good isolation with my undulations, although with bodywaves I still pull from my back muscles. I hope to be able to do belly rolls soon. Also I’m working on doing a continuous three-quarter shimmy while sideways-walking undulating with changing levels. Hip isolation is getting better, too. Figuring out the right muscles for three level hip drops is tough. Squee! You belly dance! I’ve always wanted to. Do you have any advice for a beginner? ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brag-here-about-obscure-stuff-no-one-will-understand/305326/25 "2005-05-25T05:05:25Z")
I’m not so naive as to believe that any of the requests here for more information about my splendiferous machine are sincere, but just on the off chance that someone really does want more information, their site is [here](http://www.nanodrop.com/). And bravo to everyone for living up to the challenge of this thread so fully. I don’t understand ANY of this! ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brag-here-about-obscure-stuff-no-one-will-understand/305326/26 "2005-05-25T05:38:55Z")
while practicing zen meditation at [time of juxtaposition] I reached the eighth [level/layer/demension] of awareness in that [state of juxtaposition] which is two removed from the all-seeing eye and one beyond the no thing cosmic insights into dopers’ lives ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brag-here-about-obscure-stuff-no-one-will-understand/305326/27 "2005-05-25T05:47:10Z")
I just sent a memo to our MD supplying information in response to a request related to the SAM Sustainability [gotta love that word] Assessment 2005 for constituent companies of the Dao Jones Sustainability [there it is again] Index. “Dao Jones” - where East meet West. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brag-here-about-obscure-stuff-no-one-will-understand/305326/28 "2005-05-25T06:01:02Z")
Hey, I just received my new recumbent highracer, a Reynolds Z-bone 700. Titanium frame, FWD, rear suspension, dual 700c wheels, tweener bars. I’m building it up with Velocity Spartacus Pro wheels, SRAM 9.0 half-pipe shifters, TA Zephyr cranks, Avid BB7 brakes, etc - admittedly not top of the line but all are practical components I’ve had good experience with in the past. It’s a bit heavier than I hoped though - 28 lb fully built up - but it’s not too bad for a 'bent with suspension and disc brakes. ([Here](http://www.reynoldsweldlabs.com/Bike/zbonepics700.htm) is the manufacturer’s page, but that bike is a prototype. Mine looks a bit more refined, and has a sensible color scheme - all black except for the titanium.) ---
**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brag-here-about-obscure-stuff-no-one-will-understand/305326/29 "2005-05-25T06:11:32Z")
I one-upped our lead technician the other day. He had been working on a Motorola GP350 that was experiencing picket-fencing, but only when the monitor button was depressed. Since this is not the ordinary method of operation, the tech kept sending the unit back NTF, then the client would re-submit it for repair. I asked him what the symptoms were, and he told me. I immediately asked if the battery saver circuit was activated. His face went blank and I went over and re-hosed the unit after turning the battery saver circuit off. The problem did not re-occur. I’m so good… :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Idlewild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8491ac/32.png) [@Idlewild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idlewild)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brag-here-about-obscure-stuff-no-one-will-understand/305326/30 "2005-05-25T11:11:00Z")
> [@teela brown](#): > > My new Zojirushi rice cooker is fan-tas-tic. I bought it mainly because my old one was getting long in the tooth and it was too big. This new one is much smaller and it’s as cute as a button (actually it looks a lot like a Toyota Prius from the back). What I didn’t expect was that it would cook rice about five times better than the old model. The rice comes out absolutely perfect, plump and fluffy and appetizing. The new machine is a whiz to clean, too. > > I am a happy consumer. I LOVE our wee Zoji. Not only does it make fine, fine rice, but you can chuck veggies and stock in for a quick hotpot with your rice, and it makes oatmeal. On a timer. So we got up this morning to a nice hot healthy breakfast! ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brag-here-about-obscure-stuff-no-one-will-understand/305326/31 "2005-05-25T12:41:05Z")
> [@](#): > > Brag here about obscure stuff no one will understand > > * * * > > We got a new spectrophotometer at work a couple of weeks ago. It’s the greatest spectrophotometer I’ve ever seen! This thing is the Rolls Royce of specs. It’s got a footprint smaller than a toaster. Operating it is just sheer elegance - you load one microliter (ONE MICROLITER!!!) of sample on the pedestal, drop the arm, and press a button. In seconds, it measures a full absorbtion spectrum and displays it on the computer, where you can pick any wavelength you want. Even cleanup is a breeze - just wipe the pedestal off and you’re done. No removable cuvettes, no need for a vacuum to remove the sample. Oh, and no need to dilute any samples! It can handle DNA soluitions up to about an A260 of 60-something. It’s a thing of beauty. > > Trust me on that. > > It’s replacing our old crappy spectrophotometer, which was about four times as large, required 60 microliters of sample at an A260 between 0.1 and 1.0, used a removeable cuvette that had to be kept clean and sucked dry with a vacuum, and, oh yes, liked to reset itself periodically, so you’d get absorption readouts of about -3. Piece of crap. Also, the manufacturer just charged us about $1000 to change the light bulb in it. > I’ve needed to brag about this thing for some time now, but I don’t know anyone who could possibly care. So, if you’ve got something to brag about that no one will understand, do it here! Oh, I understand. The last place I worked we were trying to get a spectrophotometer for measuring thin film thickness that had a footprint even smaller – more like the size of toast rather than a toaster (excluding the required PC). It would have replaced a thirty year old spectrophotometer the size of a desk, and was faster and did more reliable calculations to boot. But then the company went under, so we never did buy it. ---
**Author:** ![Odinoneeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/97f17d/32.png) [@Odinoneeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odinoneeye)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brag-here-about-obscure-stuff-no-one-will-understand/305326/32 "2005-05-25T12:58:36Z")
During class, I was told that we could not due a pyramid of text, only an inverted pyramid. Using the Skew command I proved them wrong. However, I was told that although we could do it, it would probably never come up. But I showed them how to do it and I’m just a learning the commands. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brag-here-about-obscure-stuff-no-one-will-understand/305326/33 "2005-05-25T13:42:26Z")
I own 110 Columbia Royal Blue 78s. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brag-here-about-obscure-stuff-no-one-will-understand/305326/34 "2005-05-25T13:46:50Z")
I am the Keeper of the Cookies of the Dark Side. Goodnight, **Boris B** , whereever you are! 😉😃 [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=7441&highlight=cookies+Boris](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=7441&highlight=cookies+Boris) ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brag-here-about-obscure-stuff-no-one-will-understand/305326/35 "2005-05-25T16:14:46Z")
There are tons of different bellydance styles. I do classical Egyptian cabaret, My school includes occasional bits of folkore dance, Greek, and Persian. I think [www.shira.net](http://www.shira.net) has some great information. I personally don’t like American Tribal- I like the isolation and fun arm movements in Egyptian. Try a few different schools out. Levels of professionalism vary. My first dance teacher sucked. It doesn’t take very long to learn some of the basic movements, but it’ll be a year or so until it all starts to feel natural. It’s a lot of fun, and everyone’s always amazed. "“You bellydance? That’s _awesome_! Show me!”. It also makes for fun dancing at clubs. Was that too straightforward for this thread? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Clanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brag-here-about-obscure-stuff-no-one-will-understand/305326/36 "2005-05-25T16:45:12Z")
Too much hardware stuff. By using this ```auto DECODE(TO_CHAR(MSC_DATE,'DY'), 'MON',1,'TUE',2,'WED',4,'THU',8,'FRI',16,'SAT',32,'SUN',64) ``` and this ```auto NVL(DECODE(PTU_MON,'Y',1),0) + NVL(DECODE(PTU_TUE,'Y',2),0) + NVL(DECODE(PTU_WED,'Y',4),0) + NVL(DECODE(PTU_THU,'Y',8),0) + NVL(DECODE(PTU_FRI,'Y',16),0) + NVL(DECODE(PTU_SAT,'Y',32),0) + NVL(DECODE(PTU_SUN,'Y',64),0) ``` in my select statements, when I look for matching days I can do a bitwise AND ```auto if( msc_day* & ptu_day[j] ``` instead of a bunch of ugly string comparisons. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brag-here-about-obscure-stuff-no-one-will-understand/305326/37 "2005-05-25T20:33:37Z")
Good style dictates you use 0x0001, 0x0002, 0x0004, 0x0008, 0x0010 etc… if your using them for bitwise comparisons. It helps later programmers figure out their purpose and also makes line alignment a bit easier. just FYI :). ---
**Author:** ![dwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwyr/32/363_2.png) [@dwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwyr)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brag-here-about-obscure-stuff-no-one-will-understand/305326/38 "2005-05-25T23:51:44Z")
I now know how to fix an Isoton level sensor on a Coulter LH750 using only a box cutter and masking tape. (And I absolutely love my Zojirushi neurofuzzy rice cooker. It rocks.) ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2005, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brag-here-about-obscure-stuff-no-one-will-understand/305326/39 "2005-05-26T00:59:24Z")
My new all mountain ride is XT from end to end. Manitou on both ends with lock outs. I may put the remote front kit on. Hydraulic discs, with a reverse throw rear deraileur. Carbon fiber bar, raised chain stay, and eggbeaters complete the ride. 26 lbs ready to ride. ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2005, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brag-here-about-obscure-stuff-no-one-will-understand/305326/40 "2005-05-26T01:34:04Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > We got a new spectrophotometer at work a couple of weeks ago. It’s the greatest spectrophotometer I’ve ever seen! This thing is the Rolls Royce of specs. It’s got a footprint smaller than a toaster. Operating it is just sheer elegance - you load one microliter (ONE MICROLITER!!!) of sample on the pedestal, drop the arm, and press a button. In seconds, it measures a full absorbtion spectrum and displays it on the computer, where you can pick any wavelength you want. Even cleanup is a breeze - just wipe the pedestal off and you’re done. No removable cuvettes, no need for a vacuum to remove the sample. Oh, and no need to dilute any samples! It can handle DNA soluitions up to about an A260 of 60-something. It’s a thing of beauty. > > Trust me on that. > > It’s replacing our old crappy spectrophotometer, which was about four times as large, required 60 microliters of sample at an A260 between 0.1 and 1.0, used a removeable cuvette that had to be kept clean and sucked dry with a vacuum, and, oh yes, liked to reset itself periodically, so you’d get absorption readouts of about -3. Piece of crap. Also, the manufacturer just charged us about $1000 to change the light bulb in it. > I’ve needed to brag about this thing for some time now, but I don’t know anyone who could possibly care. So, if you’ve got something to brag about that no one will understand, do it here! Oh? If it’s so nifty, why haven’t we seen it on CSI? :dubious: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brag-here-about-obscure-stuff-no-one-will-understand/305326.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brag-here-about-obscure-stuff-no-one-will-understand/305326.md?page=3)