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I call the help desk guy back, he wants me to submit a ticket. We do the "I can't and it's garbage and I'm trying REAL HARD to not yell at you" dance. "Oh, it looks like the new password system manager is hung on the server. I just reset it. Try it again." Why does everything get enshittified?

It's behind the new password system. So I call someone up to see if they can submit the requests for me. They do and 2 hours later I get a call from helpdesk. "Oh, yeah, your login appears to be in some limbo state. It happens. Give it an hour and try again." An hour later I try again and nada.

I add a 1 to the end of the last password even though we aren't supposed to do that. "Doesn't match your company's password requirements" I l33t an i into a 1. It takes it. I use the l33t'ed password to log in, copied from the submittal "Wrong password". I can't log into the helpdesk system.

New password system at work means I have to set a new password. I do so. I go to log into to the system and it says "Wrong password" I try again, carefully. "Wrong password" Once more, "Locked out". I go through the process reset my password "Cannot be the same as a recent password".

Vangelus @vangelus.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

Reposted by Aaron

if you're at #TFcon I have some things for sale on site! (SG Drift is sold)

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Aaron @aksmth.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

He then redline revs his car to get up beside us and rolls down his window to meanmug us. I’m not paying attention to him at first because whatever. Then I look over and he looks like he’s 14 years old and big mad. We just princess waved to him and started laughing. Another redline hammer take off.

Aaron @aksmth.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

First fun TFCon story that isn’t transformers related. Driving back from dinner and in dense traffic I had to squeeze in to try and turn left and the guy behind me didn’t appreciate that and started flashing his lights like a disco. I can’t make my turn with the timing left so kept going straight.

Vangelus @vangelus.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Reposted by Aaron

Tonight at 7:30pm eastern, @aksmth.bsky.social and I will enter the world of a greenlit Transformers live-action movie as we return to the 2006 retro news dive and approach the nefarious month of April youtube.com/live/dg7PET-...

youtube.com

Marching Over the Transformers News History of 2006 - June 23 2026

YouTube video by Vangelus

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Reposted by Aaron

Vangelus @vangelus.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

Tonight at 7:30pm eastern, the retro newsdive continues @aksmth.bsky.social and I journey into the breach of the spring of 2006's hottest, freshest Transformers news youtube.com/live/nOHOkD0...

youtube.com

Springing through the Transformers News History of 2006 - June 16 2026

YouTube video by Vangelus

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Aaron @aksmth.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

The cat car is a constant desk fidget toy for me.

Aaron @aksmth.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

Ain’t that the fuckin truth

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Aaron @aksmth.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Angry with myself this morning. Flying out and while in the TSA line realized I still had my knife and multitool on me. So those got surrendered.

Yeah the immediate need for a large cash sum was the final straw. It wasn't "could be a fine" it was "must have in the next hour" and I'm staying on the phone with you. That's when I went "Oh, pressure tactics." 🚩🚩🚩. I'm sure that cops have better things to do than listen to someone drive to a bank.

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I was legit confused/concerned because I've done jury duty before and liked the experience. Then all the gish galloping started happening and all the red flags started flying.

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Hey I thought that was going to remain a secret. At least until the podcast got released...

"Yeah, that's a scam. We aren't hunting people down for missing jury duty the day after, and we don't have any officers with that name. That one's been going around the last month or so. Is there anything else I can do for you?" So yeah. Be aware out there.

I told him that I'd be waiting on my front steps. I went ahead and called the department's non-emergency number and said "I think I just spent a half hour on the phone with a jury duty scam. Do you have a LT Yoshamier?"

I'd be more than happy to call his department's front desk number back and ask to be re-routed to him in case of phone shenanigans and IMMEDATELY he went to saying that I was being non-compliant and that they'd send someone to my address to arrest me.

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I let him know that I was fully compliant with him and had answered his call already, but that I deal with potentially sensitive military program information that could hold a higher penalty for leaking than a judge's bench warrant gag order.

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It started to fall apart when he refused to let me mute the phone to make a brief teams call because I may then violate a gag order. I couldn't call my boss to let him know that I was going to have to step away for a bit to deal with a legal issue. The judge wouldn't like that.

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Aaron @aksmth.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

Hey, so... Guess who has two thumbs and just spent a half hour on the phone with a Jury Duty Notice Scammer? THIS GUY! He had just enough information about me to make it seem reasonable and then whammied me with the 10K in surety bond money that I'd need to prevent it from becoming a real problem.

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60+ people waiting in line at Target for what I assume is some Pokémon drop. Some even had chairs.

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Aaron @aksmth.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

Finally got in my dice order so I feel like it's time to try an Extra Life fundraising push! 2 options for you dice goblins out there! www.extra-life.org/participants...

Aaron @aksmth.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

Hey, “friend”. How are you doing “pal”?

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Aaron @aksmth.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

I feel attacked somehow.

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Aaron @aksmth.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

Dear Amazon. You know I just bought a tripod off of you. Do you think I'm some sort of tripod collector that wants every color variation of the same tripod I just got delivered?

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Aaron @aksmth.bsky.social · 11/04/2026

It has 3 different super modes.

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Aaron @aksmth.bsky.social · 11/04/2026

Metal Cardbot has such an Armada/Energon/Cybertron feel and I love the hand feel.

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Aaron @aksmth.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

That sure is a mode where they're combined...

Aaron @aksmth.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

"I've got 0% APR on that loan. Is there an option where you pay me for the loan?" "UH, probably not. Uh, so, uh, have a good day?" "You too ma'am".

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Aaron @aksmth.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

MAN ON MAN did I just have fun on a cold call. I've got a 0% APR loan on the HVAC system I had installed last year. That company just called me asking if I wanted to talk to one of their loan specialists about getting a better deal.

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Aaron @aksmth.bsky.social · 04/04/2026

Well, did you find anything?

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New AndyRoo Gaming Gang Dice drop incoming.

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I’m sure something methtastic was happening.

“HOW ABOUT YOU STAY THE FUCK OUT OF MY BUSINESS FUCKFACE!” “Alright man, no worries. Just wanted to make sure everything was cool.” “FUCKER. AIN’T NOBODY RIGHT IN THIS FUCKING SHITHOLE TOWN!” “Okay, have a good one!” I was in and out for one item and in that time he was already gone.

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I kept a side eye out seeing he almost caused 3 accidents in 3 seconds. He shot out of his car and well into personal space. “THE FUCK YOU LOOKING AT ASSHOLE?!?” “Nothing man, just making sure everything was okay. Looked like there might have been an emergency.”

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Aaron @aksmth.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

Just about got into a fight at the grocery store by a man with chihuahua syndrome. I’ve parked my car and I’m crossing the lot when a BMW swerves past a car on a speed bump and pulls the wrong way across a handicap parking spot.

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Yeah, I don’t usually answer unknown numbers. But I was waiting on one anyway so it took me a tick to realize what the game was.

Aaron @aksmth.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

“Well, I was given your contact information as a business lead.” “Ma’am, I’m no where near being able to contract your services for my business. I can’t get them to do things for me, let alone hire someone to do Excel work.” “Well, how’d I get you as a business lead?” “That’s a good question.”