# So, what made you smile today? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 18, 2021, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-made-you-smile-today/950882 "2021-09-18T19:28:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 21
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2024, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-made-you-smile-today/950882/401 "2024-11-27T01:48:19Z")
Well… I’m a game VFX artist, and I’ve been using the Unreal engine for the last seven years or so. The company that contacted me is Epic, the company which _makes_ the Unreal engine. Honestly, I’m trying to not get my hopes up too high- I know several artists who’ve interviewed with them in the past and been turned down. But I was always taught that the best time to look for a job is when you’ve got one, so it doesn’t hurt to talk to them. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2024, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-made-you-smile-today/950882/402 "2024-11-27T04:50:06Z")
Do you actually know much about the company in terms of working for them? I certainly understand your automatic attraction, but that may not translate into a great work experience… I don’t wanna be a bummer or anything but it just occurred to me that being really familiar with and tied to and interested in the actual engine itself wouldn’t necessarily mean that much in terms of an actual job, if you know what I’m saying and the only reason I’m motivated to say anything is because it’s not often that people really love the job they have, and you do love the job you have, and I’d just hate to see you throw away something that’s working for you in such an important part of your life for the wrong reasons. Please forgive me-I only mean to be helpful, it’s just a caution. I hope whatever happens is the best possible thing and works out great. And I hope you come back and tell us or send me a message and tell me! ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2024, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-made-you-smile-today/950882/403 "2024-11-27T05:37:13Z")
At a nearby park, I encountered a couple with a stroller. That’s a super common sight and the rider in the stroller is almost as likely to be a small dog as it is a human baby. Today’s occupants were a teacup pig and a border collie puppy ☺. Smile? Hell, I was almost overcome by the cute. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2024, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-made-you-smile-today/950882/404 "2024-11-27T12:06:40Z")
I made somebody else smile. When walking my dog, I came across a young mother pushing her daughter in a carriage. The daughter was wearing a tiara and brandished a bubble-blower like a scepter. I took a bow and said “Greetings your highness, it’s a pleasure to meet you!” Later the young mother told me she and her daughter like to play princess occasionally. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2024, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-made-you-smile-today/950882/405 "2024-11-28T22:26:47Z")
Without going into details, I’ve gotten to know a friend of a friend who happens to work in my industry. He understands a particular difficulty that I’m dealing with, and he’s gone out of his way to put me in touch with a literal expert, who willingly shared materials and guidance that he normally charges for to help me out. Some people are just great people, you know? So grateful! ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2024, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-made-you-smile-today/950882/406 "2024-11-28T22:27:38Z")
Not just smile but laugh out loud. My late SIL had a fantastic job - she was a mobile Central Service Technician. The company she worked for had numerous company contacts around the country and would send her to sterilize surgical instruments for hospitals. She would be supplied a company apartment for as long as she was stationed there. One Thanksgiving, she was in Atlanta and just four or five hours away, so we drove up there to spend T-day with her and we all prepared a smallish dinner for ourselves. At the conclusion of supper, I picked the leftovers off the bird and she took the carcass and THREW IT OUT THE BACK DOOR INTO THE WOODS BEHIND HER APARTMENT BUILDING! Whenever I think of that, I have to stop whatever I’m doing and cackle like a mad bastard. Some day, I will trek back to that place and see if the carcass is still there. As if. 😆 ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2024, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-made-you-smile-today/950882/407 "2024-12-21T13:50:15Z")
Cue Dr John singing _Such a Night_…… We went to Pittsburgh last night to hear a friend’s band do an interesting show. The band is **John Gresh & No Bad Juju**. They _usually_ perform New Orleans Blues but last night they were a Tom Waits Tribute Band. The band members are all big Tom Waits fans, and they came up with this idea. Hopefully they will repeat it. What a night! We arrived early and hung out with the band. John introduced us to the brewery manager, who gave us fantastic service all night. Then who walks in but Joey, owner of **Joey’s The Edge** , a bar we frequent where John Gresh plays a few shows each summer. Joey is a music fan who loves Old Tom’s music Other local musicians arrived. Because of our “VIP” seats we got to chat with everyone as they came in. Just when I thought things couldn’t get any better, a guy walks in and I did a double take. He smiled and I knew it had to be who I thought it was. **Rick Sebak** , in the flesh!!! I got up and offered my seat and he hung out with us for the first set. If you are in Pittsburgh, [Golden Age Beer Company](https://www.goldenagebeer.com/) is worth a visit. They brew strictly German beers and do a wonderful job. (Oh, and the Doctor John reference. John Gresh just so happens to look and sound like the doctor. ) ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2024, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-made-you-smile-today/950882/408 "2024-12-21T18:30:09Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > (Oh, and the Doctor John reference. John Gresh just so happens to look and sound like the doctor. ) Ah. I was thinking you were going to say you’d stolen someone else’s girlfriend ! ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2024, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-made-you-smile-today/950882/409 "2024-12-23T05:04:36Z")
I saw something the other day that made me laugh out loud. It was a pickup truck with oversized wire connectors hanging off the trailer hitch. It was an electric truck. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2024, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-made-you-smile-today/950882/410 "2024-12-23T12:09:52Z")
My dogs always make me smile. When I walk them and they start rolling around in the snow, and then get all fired up and start chasing each other. They are having SO much fun. When they get their doggie ice cream (it’s made for dogs) and Lani pick the paper cup up with her front teeth and carries it to her bed to eat it. “I got this, just need some time alone” Taking a nap with Jax (Jackson). He often sleeps on our bed. I can see him from my office. Some mornings I can’t resist joining him. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2024, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-made-you-smile-today/950882/411 "2024-12-23T12:39:43Z")
Mini-milestone on a project I’m working on. Got these pieces laid out and said ‘yup, that’s gonna work’. I’m not sure how I’m going to cross the finish line yet, but I like how it looks so far and I’m confident I can get from where I am now the general vicinity of where I want to be. [![](https://i.imgur.com/oLoS0jF.jpeg) ](https://i.imgur.com/oLoS0jF.jpeg) A dry run to see how the lights are going to fit, and while I’m going to make some changes and iterations, I was very happy that everything more or less fit together. Also, now that I’m more confident I’ll be able to finish this, I’m more comfortable taking a few steps backwards to fix some things I’m not happy with, knowing I’ll be able to get back to this spot easily and it won’t (shouldn’t) be a waste of time. [![](https://i.imgur.com/LxzIgg1.jpeg) ](https://i.imgur.com/LxzIgg1.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2024, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-made-you-smile-today/950882/412 "2024-12-24T02:23:38Z")
New windshield wipers. I’m easily pleased. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2024, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-made-you-smile-today/950882/413 "2024-12-24T04:00:27Z")
That looks good! I had a client ask if she could call me directly to set up all her stuff because I was friendly and she could laugh with me while my coworkers just barked at her. She was fun and easy to work with. While I can’t arrange customer intake to my liking, I do hope I get to work with this one again. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2024, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-made-you-smile-today/950882/414 "2024-12-24T15:32:58Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > I saw something the other day that made me laugh out loud. It was a pickup truck with oversized wire connectors hanging off the trailer hitch. > > It was an electric truck. I saw that a few days ago, too. The wire nuts are 3D printed, and I saw mention of them in a 3D printing reddit. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2024, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-made-you-smile-today/950882/415 "2024-12-25T04:52:56Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Mini-milestone on a project I’m working on 3D printing meets neon lights? Nice hobby and-or-job. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2024, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-made-you-smile-today/950882/416 "2024-12-25T04:56:19Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > New windshield wipers. I got those a few days ago, too, and yes, they make driving in the rain/snow a pleasure again. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2024, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-made-you-smile-today/950882/417 "2024-12-25T13:48:33Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > they make driving in the rain/snow a pleasure again. In my case, not a pleasure, but at least tolerable. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2024, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-made-you-smile-today/950882/418 "2024-12-25T20:55:46Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > 3D printing meets neon lights? They’re actually just led lights in filament form. I got my inspiration from that ghost on the left in this picture. I was surprised at how well it turned out and used the same type of lights to make the fish. [![](https://i.imgur.com/ziL4Uf0.jpeg) ](https://i.imgur.com/ziL4Uf0.jpeg) I do like adding LEDs to my 3D prints. I turned them all on for this but they normally get turned on and off randomly. Otherwise it starts to get too bright in my living room at night. I should figure out how to take a better video of it one of these days since most of the lights are animated, but everything gets washed out when I try to do that. Edit: Having said that, you can use a different style of LED strips to make surprisingly realistic “neon” signs. Here’s part of one that I made. [![](https://i.imgur.com/2LPF1dC.jpeg) ](https://i.imgur.com/2LPF1dC.jpeg) And here’s another iteration, currently printing: [![](https://i.imgur.com/MthXiRr.jpeg) ](https://i.imgur.com/MthXiRr.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Capn\_Carl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Capn\_Carl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capn_Carl)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2024, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-made-you-smile-today/950882/419 "2024-12-25T21:36:24Z")
This morning I hiked up Camelback Mountain in Phoenix. I hike fast. Not like when I was younger, but I’m still rarely passed. Today fit man half my age slowly caught up to me, then ran past me on a flat section. As it got steep, I passed him back. This was repeated 2 more times but then we were all out of flats and I left him behind. I’m 61, and this felt good. That’s what Santa brought me, and it was sweet. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2024, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-made-you-smile-today/950882/420 "2024-12-26T02:54:43Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > but everything gets washed out when I try to do that. maybe a couple of polarizing filters at right angles to each other? interesting hobby. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-made-you-smile-today/950882.md?page=20) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-made-you-smile-today/950882.md?page=22)