107th Obsequious Banter Thread: Ugly Sweaters Edition

[Lord Defect]

Alright health nuts, I have a question.
I used an app on the iOS store, Exercise Bike, super confusing name I know. I went through the first workout and when it was done it gave me this screen

On my bike however, it read that I went 6.89 miles and only 166.2 calories.
Now I’ve read that the k is kilo and stands for 1000 to help differentiate between calories and Calories but when it comes to nutrition there’s no need for kcal as it’s always calories.
What’s the correct readout? I’m leaning towards the lower end as the workout was short sprints and moderate rests. It called for low resistance it I went to 5 out of 8 on the resistance scale, anything lower feels like a bike on its lowest gear.

 

[trostol]

 

[gertbfrobe16]

Do you keep the boiler water or does that get cycled out too? Could the ship distill its own? I assume that's a yes.

Here's a thing my phone suggested to me just now, it's probably of interest:

Boiler water gets dumped. We used to do surface blows and bottom blows to control the water chemistry. The oil king was responsible for the testing and treatment of the boiler water as well as refueling, transfer between tanks and testing the oil. We had evaps to distill sea water@ 600 gal. per hr. Boilers and leaks from pumps, packing glands and valves used about half of that. From 150 to 200 gallons an hour for each fire and engine room. We did recycle all the lube oil. The shafts on the youtube video are the same size we had but we had a different shaft bearing set up we only had one shaft bearing block not the two block set up they show. I think they replaced the wooden set up with rubber seals and different bearings, as we had temp gages on ours.

 

[Starat327]

Alright health nuts, I have a question.
I used an app on the iOS store, Exercise Bike, super confusing name I know. I went through the first workout and when it was done it gave me this screen
View attachment 616193
On my bike however, it read that I went 6.89 miles and only 166.2 calories.
Now I’ve read that the k is kilo and stands for 1000 to help differentiate between calories and Calories but when it comes to nutrition there’s no need for kcal as it’s always calories.
What’s the correct readout? I’m leaning towards the lower end as the workout was short sprints and moderate rests. It called for low resistance it I went to 5 out of 8 on the resistance scale, anything lower feels like a bike on its lowest gear.

Kcal and Calories are the same thing, Provided the C in calories is capital. It's just basically shorthanded for nutritional purposes because noone wants to know their 100 Calorie pack of Chips Ahot was actually 100,000 calories.

 

[Beef Invictus]

Boiler water gets dumped. We used to do surface blows and bottom blows to control the water chemistry. The oil king was responsible for the testing and treatment of the boiler water as well as refueling, transfer between tanks and testing the oil. We had evaps to distill sea water@ 600 gal. per hr. Boilers and leaks from pumps, packing glands and valves used about half of that. From 150 to 200 gallons an hour for each fire and engine room. We did recycle all the lube oil. The shafts on the youtube video are the same size we had but we had a different shaft bearing set up we only had one shaft bearing block not the two block set up they show. I think they replaced the wooden set up with rubber seals and different bearings, as we had temp gages on ours.

This is the greatest.

@garnetpalmetto come nerd

 

[ajgoal]

We used to change our oil by digging a hole in the ground, draining the tank's oil into the hole, and then covering it back up.

In unrelated news, I'm stuck in a one-gate airport after my early flight home got cancelled. Hoping this afternoon flight gets off the ground.

 

[Beef Invictus]

We used to change our oil by digging a hole in the ground, draining the tank's oil into the hole, and then covering it back up.

In unrelated news, I'm stuck in a one-gate airport after my early flight home got cancelled. Hoping this afternoon flight gets off the ground.

I suspect this kind of thing is why so many Superfund sites are military bases

 

[ajgoal]

I suspect this kind of thing is why so many Superfund sites are military bases

That's nothing compared to the stuff I've seen in a few decades of hazardous site remediation.

 

[VladDrag]

I suspect this kind of thing is why so many Superfund sites are military bases

It’s all superfund sites. I work and manage these types of sites for a living as an environmental geologist.

You wouldn’t believe how common it was for people to just dump waste into the ground.

 

[PALE PWNR]

There was some photography discussion here a while ago I remember vaguely reading. The girlfriend is very much into birdwatching and just bought a new DSLR camera, a Canon ESO Rebel T7 with an 18-55mm lens, a 75-300mm lens and a bag.

What else would she need in relation to those two things that I could buy her for Christmas?

 

[Lord Defect]

There was some photography discussion here a while ago I remember vaguely reading. The girlfriend is very much into birdwatching and just bought a new DSLR camera, a Canon ESO Rebel T7 with an 18-55mm lens, a 75-300mm lens and a bag.

What else would she need in relation to those two things that I could buy her for Christmas?

Tripod or monopod, memory cards, spare batteries.

 

[Starat327]

There was some photography discussion here a while ago I remember vaguely reading. The girlfriend is very much into birdwatching and just bought a new DSLR camera, a Canon ESO Rebel T7 with an 18-55mm lens, a 75-300mm lens and a bag.

What else would she need in relation to those two things that I could buy her for Christmas?

A new hobby. Birds aren't real.

@Striiker

 

[Striiker]

There was some photography discussion here a while ago I remember vaguely reading. The girlfriend is very much into birdwatching and just bought a new DSLR camera, a Canon ESO Rebel T7 with an 18-55mm lens, a 75-300mm lens and a bag.

What else would she need in relation to those two things that I could buy her for Christmas?

Excuse me?

A new hobby. Birds aren't real.

@Striiker

That's exactly right.

 

[swami24]

Chrissy Hynde didn't die, I don't think.

Still touring even.

 

[ajgoal]

There was some photography discussion here a while ago I remember vaguely reading. The girlfriend is very much into birdwatching and just bought a new DSLR camera, a Canon ESO Rebel T7 with an 18-55mm lens, a 75-300mm lens and a bag.

What else would she need in relation to those two things that I could buy her for Christmas?

If she's trying to photograph birds, a 2x adapter for the 300mm is a decent way to get her "closer" without breaking the bank on some super long glass.

Monopod, batteries, and cards like @Lord Defect said.

Tripod less useful for birds imo. If you DO get a tripod, go for a decent one off the bat. Cheap ones often don't lock down well and can shift during longer exposures (we're still only talking around a 30th of a second here). I have one by three legged thing that I like, and I can break it out into a monopod too.

Weather covers are nice to have.

And if you're feeling somewhat spicy, a circular polarizer filter is nice for outside photos, but far from essential early on. Size it based on the mm reading on the front of the lens - this is a fixed number, like 55 or 72mm, it might say "filter" with the measurement. If the two lenses are different sizes, match the largest and get a step down ring to fit the filter to the smaller lens.

 

[BernieParent]

Tripod or monopod, memory cards, spare batteries.

Tag him, coward. @Tripod

 

[Kermit the Prog]

There was some photography discussion here a while ago I remember vaguely reading. The girlfriend is very much into birdwatching and just bought a new DSLR camera, a Canon ESO Rebel T7 with an 18-55mm lens, a 75-300mm lens and a bag.

What else would she need in relation to those two things that I could buy her for Christmas?

As far as entry-level cameras go, the T7 is a good one. The two kits lenses are very basic, but a decent entry for daytime photography since their apertures range from f/3.5-5.6 (the lower this number, the better, as it lets in more light. "Pro" lenses generally start at f/2.4 and go "lower"). Since these are APS-C (Cropped) sensor cameras, instead of full-frame, the reach of a 75-300mm, for example, is actually 120-480mm. It's basic glass, but, as @ajgoal said, there's no need to spend big on better glass just yet. I would, however, recommend getting an f/1.8 nifty-50 (50mm), as when friends and family see her with a camera, they'll inevitably ask to have their pictures taken. These are relatively inexpensive, and part of any photog's inventory, although the more serious will go for the pro f/1.4. When (not if) she graduates to full-frame cameras, her APS-C lenses won't be an option, so when she does eventually upgrade, the glass (lenses) should be upgraded first before the camera body

Sorry, went off on a tangent. Definitely get some SD cards. Get the better ones as she will inevitably graduate to them. I use 64GB and 128GB, but 32GB should be fine if you find the price point prohibitive. Tripods aren't necessary for what she's trying to do at this point*. She'll want the control and nimbleness of having it being hand-held, especially if the bird is in flight or taking flight. The 75-300mm is not a heavy lens. I'm not big on extension adapters, but that's a personal choice. Also, get her a decent bag, with enough room to accommodate multiple lenses. Lens cloths and cleaning kits are inexpensive and worth the pickup. I would, if finances dictate, buy a few additional batteries and battery charger. If her laptop does not have an SD card slot, a USB card adapter can be found cheaply on Amazon. Lastly, a photo production software installation or subscription is vital. Most use Lightroom, which is Photoshop "lite." I use Cyberlink's Photodirector, which I find to be superior to Lightroom and much more intuitive, but it really comes down to personal preference.

One thing I have found valuable is to comb through Facebook Marketplace, specifically for "local pickup," as I find this more trustworthy and reliable. You can get some absolute steals from other owners who are either upgrading, switching to mirrorless, moving to Sony, or getting out of the game.

* - When she does need to have a tripod, do not skimp. Most bargain tripods are poorly constructed and break with alarming ease and frequency.

 

[PALE PWNR]

Tripod or monopod, memory cards, spare batteries.

If she's trying to photograph birds, a 2x adapter for the 300mm is a decent way to get her "closer" without breaking the bank on some super long glass.

Monopod, batteries, and cards like @Lord Defect said.

Tripod less useful for birds imo. If you DO get a tripod, go for a decent one off the bat. Cheap ones often don't lock down well and can shift during longer exposures (we're still only talking around a 30th of a second here). I have one by three legged thing that I like, and I can break it out into a monopod too.

Weather covers are nice to have.

And if you're feeling somewhat spicy, a circular polarizer filter is nice for outside photos, but far from essential early on. Size it based on the mm reading on the front of the lens - this is a fixed number, like 55 or 72mm, it might say "filter" with the measurement. If the two lenses are different sizes, match the largest and get a step down ring to fit the filter to the smaller lens.

As far as entry-level cameras go, the T7 is a good one. The two kits lenses are very basic, but a decent entry for daytime photography since their apertures range from f/3.5-5.6 (the lower this number, the better, as it lets in more light. "Pro" lenses generally start at f/2.4 and go "lower"). Since these are APS-C (Cropped) sensor cameras, instead of full-frame, the reach of a 75-300mm, for example, is actually 120-480mm. It's basic glass, but, as @ajgoal said, there's no need to spend big on better glass just yet. I would, however, recommend getting an f/1.8 nifty-50 (50mm), as when friends and family see her with a camera, they'll inevitably ask to have their pictures taken. These are relatively inexpensive, and part of any photog's inventory, although the more serious will go for the pro f/1.4. When (not if) she graduates to full-frame cameras, her APS-C lenses won't be an option, so when she does eventually upgrade, the glass (lenses) should be upgraded first before the camera body

Sorry, went off on a tangent. Definitely get some SD cards. Get the better ones as she will inevitably graduate to them. I use 64GB and 128GB, but 32GB should be fine if you find the price point prohibitive. Tripods aren't necessary for what she's trying to do at this point*. She'll want the control and nimbleness of having it being hand-held, especially if the bird is in flight or taking flight. The 75-300mm is not a heavy lens. I'm not big on extension adapters, but that's a personal choice. Also, get her a decent bag, with enough room to accommodate multiple lenses. Lens cloths and cleaning kits are inexpensive and worth the pickup. I would, if finances dictate, buy a few additional batteries and battery charger. If her laptop does not have an SD card slot, a USB card adapter can be found cheaply on Amazon. Lastly, a photo production software installation or subscription is vital. Most use Lightroom, which is Photoshop "lite." I use Cyberlink's Photodirector, which I find to be superior to Lightroom and much more intuitive, but it really comes down to personal preference.

One thing I have found valuable is to comb through Facebook Marketplace, specifically for "local pickup," as I find this more trustworthy and reliable. You can get some absolute steals from other owners who are either upgrading, switching to mirrorless, moving to Sony, or getting out of the game.

* - When she does need to have a tripod, do not skimp. Most bargain tripods are poorly constructed and break with alarming ease and frequency.

I appreciate all of the in-depth responses. Thank you all for helping me navigate the space that I know absolutely nothing about.

 

[PALE PWNR]

As far as entry-level cameras go, the T7 is a good one. The two kits lenses are very basic, but a decent entry for daytime photography since their apertures range from f/3.5-5.6 (the lower this number, the better, as it lets in more light. "Pro" lenses generally start at f/2.4 and go "lower"). Since these are APS-C (Cropped) sensor cameras, instead of full-frame, the reach of a 75-300mm, for example, is actually 120-480mm. It's basic glass, but, as @ajgoal said, there's no need to spend big on better glass just yet. I would, however, recommend getting an f/1.8 nifty-50 (50mm), as when friends and family see her with a camera, they'll inevitably ask to have their pictures taken. These are relatively inexpensive, and part of any photog's inventory, although the more serious will go for the pro f/1.4. When (not if) she graduates to full-frame cameras, her APS-C lenses won't be an option, so when she does eventually upgrade, the glass (lenses) should be upgraded first before the camera body

Sorry, went off on a tangent. Definitely get some SD cards. Get the better ones as she will inevitably graduate to them. I use 64GB and 128GB, but 32GB should be fine if you find the price point prohibitive. Tripods aren't necessary for what she's trying to do at this point*. She'll want the control and nimbleness of having it being hand-held, especially if the bird is in flight or taking flight. The 75-300mm is not a heavy lens. I'm not big on extension adapters, but that's a personal choice. Also, get her a decent bag, with enough room to accommodate multiple lenses. Lens cloths and cleaning kits are inexpensive and worth the pickup. I would, if finances dictate, buy a few additional batteries and battery charger. If her laptop does not have an SD card slot, a USB card adapter can be found cheaply on Amazon. Lastly, a photo production software installation or subscription is vital. Most use Lightroom, which is Photoshop "lite." I use Cyberlink's Photodirector, which I find to be superior to Lightroom and much more intuitive, but it really comes down to personal preference.

One thing I have found valuable is to comb through Facebook Marketplace, specifically for "local pickup," as I find this more trustworthy and reliable. You can get some absolute steals from other owners who are either upgrading, switching to mirrorless, moving to Sony, or getting out of the game.

* - When she does need to have a tripod, do not skimp. Most bargain tripods are poorly constructed and break with alarming ease and frequency.

Only other question I have is, when I am looking at lenses like the 50mm one you suggested, do I need to be aware of any compatibility issues with the camera and lens?

 

[Kermit the Prog]

Only other question I have is, when I am looking at lenses like the 50mm one you suggested, do I need to be aware of any compatibility issues with the camera and lens?

Good question. Although there are off-brands, like Tamron and Sigma, for example, I'd stay on-brand and get a Canon 50mm. Compatibility-wise, pretty much all Canon, and Canon-compatible off-brand lenses, will fit and work with her crop-sensor camera, but APS-C lenses (like the kit lenses that came with her T7) won't do the same with a full-frame camera.

If you have a question about which lenses, camera bodies, compatibilities, etc., just drop in a question or message me and I'll be glad to reply. I'm sure the other photogs on here would be just as willing.

I keep editing as more things pop into my head. Some people may recommend getting the 85mm instead of the 50mm. Besides an increase in price, the 50mm is more flexible as you'll get a broader range of view and she won't need to "foot zoom" (i.e. move backwards) as much as more people try to fit into the photo. She can always crop-zoom the 50mm photo in post production, if necessary.

 

[Flybynite]

Unclear if connected or just taking advantage of the power-outage, but apparently there were reports of gun stores being robbed after the power went out and police deployed to surround them as a preventative measure.

WTF is going on.

 

[Striiker]

I appreciate all of the in-depth responses. Thank you all for helping me navigate the space that I know absolutely nothing about.

If you need any help explaining to her that what she’s looking at aren’t really birds, I’d be willing to send you some literature.

 

[Lord Defect]

Unclear if connected or just taking advantage of the power-outage, but apparently there were reports of gun stores being robbed after the power went out and police deployed to surround them as a preventative measure.

WTF is going on.

I did not hear about the gun stores part of that story. Knowing about it now I could definitely see how this would be a coordinated distraction.

 

[Starat327]

Update:

Baby Staratette has decided to take after her mother and refuse to come out, still. You got 5 days, little one. Remember we can make your life hell for the next 18 years...

 

[mja]

Update:

Baby Staratette has decided to take after her mother and refuse to come out, still. You got 5 days, little one. Remember we can make your life hell for the next 18 years...

Uh, as a father of three, that last bit is unfortunately a two way street.