Blue wrote on Jun 7, 2023, 15:05:
Apparently, N95s should help. It's a tough sell, but we should probably each be wearing one... I think I'm beginning to feel a little lightheaded at this point.

I'm sure you're into this already but 2-3 air purifiers helps immensely and n95s if you have to go outside are a must. Some areas where the fires are in Quebec might not get rain for up to 5 days and the atmospheric air currents are really unpredictable. Plus wildfire season is just starting, good ol' climate change. We spent $400 on air purifiers awhile ago and only need to use them a handful of times every year but it's worth it. Some people DIY them with box fans and furnace filters but they look awful and the whole home ones are pretty expensive. Our ductwork means the furnace would struggle with a MERV13 filter so we went with area purifiers instead.

Blue wrote on Jun 7, 2023, 15:05:

jdreyer wrote on Jun 7, 2023, 14:54:

Blue wrote on Jun 7, 2023, 13:31:

Beamer wrote on Jun 7, 2023, 13:00:
It looks like Mars here. It's getting darker and darker. 1pm, but looks like late dusk. And it's getting so, so, so orange out.

Yeah, it's worse here than yesterday too. No bueno.

Can Mrs. Blue wear an N95 to mitigate particle inhalation? Or are smoke particles too small for that.

Apparently, N95s should help. It's a tough sell, but we should probably each be wearing one... I think I'm beginning to feel a little lightheaded at this point.

Blue: If your wife has issues with the discomfort of a standard N95, you might want to try a KN95. These were approved for civilians during covid. Not as good as a true N95 (because they don't have back of the head straps and don't seal as tight), and not for use in hospitals. I use these, not just during covid, but for cleaning dusty equipement and for mowing the lawn (I'm allergic to mown grass). The peaked design keeps it off your face so you don't feel smothered: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08NGMNQ4H

As far as Hepa filters, I own a couple because my wife has asthma as well. The one I use is a hospital grade unit that is amazing. It even has a carbon filter to remove odors (she is very sensitive to chemical smells). Very pricey though, but absolutely worth it. I have to change the filters every year or so the way we use it (she has it running a almost all the time in the bedroom), and they aren't cheap, but each filter cartridge (there's three) has a timer on it and the unit tells you when it should be changed based on hours used: https://www.amazon.com/IQAir-HealthPro-Plus-Medical-Grade-HyperHEPA/dp/B002VXDCHW

I also had an AprilAire HEPA filter installed in my AC unit when we built the new house, instead of the standard filter. The filter cartridge costs $50, but you only replace it once a year, and it greatly reduces what gets through. Not an option if you're renting as it has to be installed before the AC unit, in the return air duct, or right under the air handler.
----
BTW: My friends in Seattle say hello to all New Yorkers, and point out that, yeah, smoke from massive forest fires suck. They know.

This comment was edited on Jun 8, 2023, 11:32.

Mr. Tact wrote on Jun 7, 2023, 16:12:

ColoradoHoudini wrote on Jun 7, 2023, 14:40:
Here is the US, we have the opposite for crimes. Certain people get less punishment because the law thinks of us to be lower stock and incapable of personal responsibility. As a person who fits in this demo, it's insulting how the law and media treat us/ignore us.

Wow, I almost got whiplash from the hard right turn after the first sentence. My version:

Here is the US, we have the opposite for crimes. The rich either hire good lawyers who get them out of almost anything, or they beat others into submission with annoyance lawsuits.

It's even worse than that. For a lot of crimes the rich might be accused of, intent plays a role. So not only does it have to be proven that you evaded taxes, but prosecutors must also show that you intentionally did so. If a rich person "accidentally" evades taxes, not a crime! Imagine if speeding worked like that.

Beamer wrote on Jun 7, 2023, 18:14:
Whoops. I read it as you said it. There's no world in which the poor are sentenced less harshly than the rich in the US. That's such an odd take.

Odd is an oxymoron... It's take that's completely disconnected from reality.

Mr. Tact wrote on Jun 7, 2023, 16:12:

ColoradoHoudini wrote on Jun 7, 2023, 14:40:
Here is the US, we have the opposite for crimes. Certain people get less punishment because the law thinks of us to be lower stock and incapable of personal responsibility. As a person who fits in this demo, it's insulting how the law and media treat us/ignore us.

Wow, I almost got whiplash from the hard right turn after the first sentence. My version:

Here is the US, we have the opposite for crimes. The rich either hire good lawyers who get them out of almost anything, or they beat others into submission with annoyance lawsuits.

Whoops. I read it as you said it. There's no world in which the poor are sentenced less harshly than the rich in the US. That's such an odd take.

ColoradoHoudini wrote on Jun 7, 2023, 14:40:
Here is the US, we have the opposite for crimes. Certain people get less punishment because the law thinks of us to be lower stock and incapable of personal responsibility. As a person who fits in this demo, it's insulting how the law and media treat us/ignore us.

Wow, I almost got whiplash from the hard right turn after the first sentence. My version:

Here is the US, we have the opposite for crimes. The rich either hire good lawyers who get them out of almost anything, or they beat others into submission with annoyance lawsuits.

JeffD wrote on Jun 7, 2023, 14:08:
Diablo3 had the option of having a character online/season and local/offline which can play online but only with other characters who are also local/offline. Hardcore might have been restricted to online only on PC but console versions supported it offline because of the more secure save file access.

The local/offline was only for console I believe (for any difficulty, not just hardcore). PC didn't have any sort of offline play.

Blue wrote on Jun 7, 2023, 15:05:
Apparently, N95s should help. It's a tough sell, but we should probably each be wearing one... I think I'm beginning to feel a little lightheaded at this point.

A couple of years ago I purchased a bunch of Coway air purifiers back when Bed Bath & Beyond had a great sale on them, in anticipation of wildfires that seem to occur every few years (files from BC spilling into Alberta the other 3 times over the last 10 years). Of course, because I had just bought them, the halo effect of a useful purchase stopped wildfire smoke from entering my city.

But this year the warranty expired on my purifiers, so the smoke arrived from BC last month and the purifiers were a big help - HEPA + carbon filters cleaned the air very quickly. Although I did have to close the gap at my front door when I noticed the smell still got in. Once I plugged the gap (it was only a few millimeters wide and a couple of inches long!), the air purifiers took an hour to clean up the air in the entire house.

Maybe next time you can buy similar highly-rated HEPA air purifiers - at least two - one for the office, the other for the bedroom, minimum. Although have to be sure there aren't any drafts in those rooms from outside...

ColoradoHoudini wrote on Jun 7, 2023, 14:40:
"The answer is simple: the country makes its fines proportionate to an individual's income. The more you make, the more you pay."

Here is the US, we have the opposite for crimes. Certain people get less punishment because the law thinks of us to be lower stock and incapable of personal responsibility. As a person who fits in this demo, it's insulting how the law and media treat us/ignore us.

Yeah, someone like Elon Musk, picking him not for political reasons but because he's the richest person living in the US, can basically do whatever he wants. Fines are of no consequence. In some cases, the value of doing something you get fined for is above what the fine is. This is especially true for corporations, who we endlessly see flaunting regulations that help them grow, and getting hit with fines that don't change their strategies.

But money is weird in the legal system as a whole. While I see an argument about whether it was done well, I get very confused by people that argue bail reform wasn't needed. Bail is such a weird thing. Did you get accused of something? Well, if you're poor, even if it's minor, you're going to sit in jail pending trial. Even if the charges got dropped, you sat in jail because you couldn't make bail. In that time, your minimum wage job likely fired you, you got behind on your rent and may get evicted, and you weren't earning those days, making you behind when you're already paycheck to paycheck.
Are you rich? Well, even if it was something not minor, you can make bail, go back to work (or use vacation days to take paid leave), and if the charges get dropped, you're really no worse for the wear, but even if they don't, you were pretty comfortable while waiting.

jdreyer wrote on Jun 7, 2023, 14:54:

Blue wrote on Jun 7, 2023, 13:31:

Beamer wrote on Jun 7, 2023, 13:00:
It looks like Mars here. It's getting darker and darker. 1pm, but looks like late dusk. And it's getting so, so, so orange out.

Yeah, it's worse here than yesterday too. No bueno.

Can Mrs. Blue wear an N95 to mitigate particle inhalation? Or are smoke particles too small for that.

Apparently, N95s should help. It's a tough sell, but we should probably each be wearing one... I think I'm beginning to feel a little lightheaded at this point.

ColoradoHoudini wrote on Jun 7, 2023, 14:40:
"The answer is simple: the country makes its fines proportionate to an individual's income. The more you make, the more you pay."

Here is the US, we have the opposite for crimes. Certain people get less punishment because the law thinks of us to be lower stock and incapable of personal responsibility. As a person who fits in this demo, it's insulting how the law and media treat us/ignore us.

Summed up nicely by this story from The Onion. That story is 12 years old, but the satire still rings true.

Blue wrote on Jun 7, 2023, 13:31:

Beamer wrote on Jun 7, 2023, 13:00:
It looks like Mars here. It's getting darker and darker. 1pm, but looks like late dusk. And it's getting so, so, so orange out.

Yeah, it's worse here than yesterday too. No bueno.

Can Mrs. Blue wear an N95 to mitigate particle inhalation? Or are smoke particles too small for that.

Precisely three weeks since the last update and not a single word from EA about the rampant issues with their $70 hot mess.

"The answer is simple: the country makes its fines proportionate to an individual's income. The more you make, the more you pay."

Here is the US, we have the opposite for crimes. Certain people get less punishment because the law thinks of us to be lower stock and incapable of personal responsibility. As a person who fits in this demo, it's insulting how the law and media treat us/ignore us.

WaltSee wrote on Jun 7, 2023, 14:32:
Yes, Trudeau is making a bonfire, I hear, of all Canadians who dissent. Reportedly, he said:

"I really grew tired of people expressing themselves unless they were in perfect agreement with me, so I've instituted what I call a much-needed 'patriotic fire' throughout all of Canada! When we're through, we will all be of one accord and one mind--mine! Great, isn't it? There's a bonus, too, as current weather is pushing the fumes to the south to plague our American neighbors, as they have all of these antiquated notions of freedom of expression and thought! How primitive--well, they will now be eating the smoke of what used to be like-minded Canadians! I have to say that when I was an underwear model, I never dreamed such fun as this was possible!" (J/K...sort of...;))

Alright, seriously. Please stop shitposting about your worldview. If there's someone who's "tired of people expressing themselves unless they were in perfect agreement with me," it appears to be you.

Reality: It's been warmer and drier, leading to significant wildfires. Climate Change is worsening this
WaltC: It's the liberals' fault!

Yes, Trudeau is making a bonfire, I hear, of all Canadians who dissent. Reportedly, he said:

"I really grew tired of people expressing themselves unless they were in perfect agreement with me, so I've instituted what I call a much-needed 'patriotic fire' throughout all of Canada! When we're through, we will all be of one accord and one mind--mine! Great, isn't it? There's a bonus, too, as current weather is pushing the fumes to the south to plague our American neighbors, as they have all of these antiquated notions of freedom of expression and thought! How primitive--well, they will now be eating the smoke of what used to be like-minded Canadians! I have to say that when I was an underwear model, I never dreamed such fun as this was possible!" (J/K...sort of...;))

Diablo3 had the option of having a character online/season and local/offline which can play online but only with other characters who are also local/offline. Hardcore might have been restricted to online only on PC but console versions supported it offline because of the more secure save file access.

So I have no love loss to people who want to gamble with hardcore in diablo 4... IMO they are the perfect demographic to protest against the lack of offline modes. You are setting yourself up for disappointment with diablo4 hardcore.

Blue wrote on Jun 7, 2023, 13:31:

Beamer wrote on Jun 7, 2023, 13:00:
It looks like Mars here. It's getting darker and darker. 1pm, but looks like late dusk. And it's getting so, so, so orange out.

Yeah, it's worse here than yesterday too. No bueno.

There is a fire only about a hundred kilometer away here.
Yesterday there was a constant smoke smell outside, today, nothing.
It has been raining for 2 days straight, hopefully it helped.
Had no idea the smoke was going that far south...

Beamer wrote on Jun 7, 2023, 13:00:
It looks like Mars here. It's getting darker and darker. 1pm, but looks like late dusk. And it's getting so, so, so orange out.

Yeah, it's worse here than yesterday too. No bueno.