Running Bear’s April 2026 Coffee Shop

[chadbag]

Well, thats one Amazon driver that didn't go to the Louis school of delivery ... He did put the package right next to the sign that reads
Please Place All Packages Inside Gate...

If it weren't for the email from Amazon, I'd have no idea the package was there

View attachment 262466

Make sure you call and complain. Do it publicly on X or your favorite blast-social-media as well.

 

[DeaconKC]

@Bruette glad you're back, and for the positive news. Keeping you all in prayer.
73 and sunny here, heading for 80 today, no rain predicted til Sunday, then off and on next week. Temps are supposed to be in the low 80s, so we will se how the weather liars fare.
And YES to Baseball, my Cardinals are doing better than anyone who is in the middle of rebuilding should be.
Lady C made us an omelette for breakfast and it was very good. Today is a couple of errands then a Church activity for us Seniors tonight. Gotts swing by the gunstore and see if some mystery grips will fit a slightly unusual 1911. And then might try to get some paint on a miniature later this afternoon.
Y'all behave or it's Waffle House at 2AM!

 

[DeaconKC]

 

[Marlin39]

I preordered a Rapido SW9, in Industrial Red, a while back. DCC/Sound. I really like the early switchers. I received notice I should have it Monday.

Rapido has been putting out some really nice products lately. The warning beacon function is a really nice addition. 4 minute video

 

[Snowman]

Yeah I was using Gemini to create some "splash screens" with technical outlines of various locomotives. They didn't have to be perfect but no obvious issues like missing or extra windows, grates in the wrong places, etc. It did some good ones but I had one were I kept asking it to move some grates and fix a few issues and it would either give me back the same image after dutifully telling me it had fixed it, or it would mess up the pantographs or something even if it fixed the original problem. I went through it two days straight and then gave up.

Bit it was 100000% better than ChatGPT doing the same thing. (Both with basic paid accounts). ChatGPT has done some god abstract artwork for my AI music creations but its ability to do the icon and splash screen locomotive images I wanted was terrible.

It was random happenings, so irritating. But, you've given me an idea of perhaps it could be interference. Will monitor with the new keyboard and see. I bought 3 of these things as they tend to be discontinued after a while.

I have one that's a bit spotty too, and one of the first things I check is the batteries. And the off switch on the mouse.

As it happens I was trying to copy a diagram to a USB stick earlier this morning to move to another PC, and each time inserted the stick (which was also a Linux boot stick), the mouse froze up. Copy to clipboard (Win 11 on one of the mini-PC's), insert stick...no working cursor, so I can't paste. Remove intended target stick, cursor comes back. Meh.

Think I will wipe the thing--AFTER installing USB drivers, else I can't reinstall any software (maybe), the install Win 10 LTSC. There are enough things I don't like about Win 11 that I won't miss it.

 

[Bruette]

And YES to Baseball, my Cardinals are doing better than anyone who is in the middle of rebuilding should be

My Birds were in the midst of a rebuild in 2023 when they shocked the baseball world by winning the AL East with the best record in the American League. You never know what can happen, Go Cards!

Thank you for your prayers.

 

[santafewillie]

Troy, I'm sad to say that I have heard more than one driver say, "I totally disregard customers instructions."

I've had more than one say that directly to me when I asked. One specifically told me that he just looks for the nearest door and heads in that direction.

 

[NYC_George]

I'm bringing home Murphy Monday. I have a few things to get done before this happens. I put together his rec room bed today and this was not an easy job. He can spend some time watching the critters in the backyard from this good viewing spot. I still have to install the dog door and finish up his bed in my room. This is Murphy 3rd home this year so it may not go as I planned it would. We'll have to see what happens. Swal

 

[Marlin39]

I'm bringing home Murphy Monday. I have a few things to get done before this happens. I put together his rec room bed today and this was not an easy job. He can spend some time watching the critters in the backyard from this good viewing spot. I still have to install the dog door and finish up his bed in my room. This is Murphy 3rd home this year so it may not go as I planned it would. We'll have to see what happens. Swal


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You're a good man. It will take about 3 weeks for Murphy to acclimate and realize this is his "forever" home.

 

[RhB Michael]

My across-the-street neighbor has had her house for sale for six months now. She has a female Boxer that is a wonderful dog, but can't take her with her where she is moving.

I haven't seen this woman in several months because of the weather, but I told her I would take Willow and care for her. She is a wonderful dog. Lots of energy, and her owner says I am the only male that has been able to bond with her. She really is a great dog, and I miss having a dog in the house since Lisl passed two years ago.

She had two people in the past lined up to take her but both backed out, and told me she never thought of me because all I've owned and trained were German Shepherd Dogs. After talking with her, she couldn't understand why she never thought of me taking Willow. She has separation anxiety but that isn't a problem since I'm always home and will be with her. She is potty trained, house trained, and crate trained.

She will be perfect to share my home. She needs some obedience work, but I have nothing but time. She is going to be five years old in a few months and the current owner has had her since she was eight weeks old.

I am thrilled to death to have another dog in my home since Lisl von Schlaf passed away two years ago. I already know the dog, but now I have to find out what makes a Boxer tick and get inside of her head. I've never owned a Boxer so this is going to be new to both of us.

I know how to train German Shepherd Dogs, and I know what motivates them, and how they think even before they think of something, but a Boxer is new ground for me.

 

[Rubicon]

Ironically, to the above posts, we lost our Boxer named Murphy seven years ago tomorrow to cancer.

I miss that little bugger. Highly intelligent, but a bit stubborn.
Boxers have no idea of personal space, of that I will warn you. LOL

 

[RhB Michael]

I can believe that. The current owner says she's very curious and always wants to know what she (the owner) is doing. No different that a German Shepherd Dog. Always curious, alert, always snooping, smelling, looking, in other words, very nosy. I'm used to that. It is, to me, the sign of an intelligent dog.

Very sorry for your loss. They leave a big hole in your heart when that time comes.

 

[Boris]

I preordered a Rapido SW9, in Industrial Red, a while back. DCC/Sound. I really like the early switchers. I received notice I should have it Monday.

Rapido has been putting out some really nice products lately. The warning beacon function is a really nice addition. 4 minute video

I have one of their SW-1200s (silent), runs nice.

 

[Boris]

Time to take a ride on the Reading.

Bob Wanner Photograph...T-1 2120 on the pit at Darby Creek, Early 1950s. Assigned to Rutherford working Daily Rutherford - Darby Creek Train.

 

[Snowman]

Quick Youtube humor: "I asked my girlfriend to bring me a screwdriver. She replied 'Flathead, Phillips or Vodka?' That's when I knew she was a keeper."

Related humor, courtesy comedian Yakov Smirnoff: "When I first came to the USA from Russia I got a job as a bartender. One night a guy comes in and asked for a martini. I did the best I could, but he turned up his nose and said 'I want a DRY martini, not this...thing.' So I gave him an olive in an empty glass.
He wasn't happy. 'Just make me a Screwdriver. You can do THAT can't you?' Well I didn't know what it was, so I had to ask. 'Simple. Just two ingredients. Orange Juice and Vodka. Even you should be able to handle it,' he said, shaking his head and muttering about foreigners. So I made him one...with three ingredients. Orange Juice, Vodka...and Milk of Magnesia. I call it a Phillips Screwdriver."

If you don't get it, just ask.

 

[chadbag]

Ironically, to the above posts, we lost our Boxer named Murphy seven years ago tomorrow to cancer. View attachment 262518
I miss that little bugger. Highly intelligent, but a bit stubborn.
Boxers have no idea of personal space, of that I will warn you. LOL

Question about the rifle. What stock is that? It appears to be a simple fixed stock. I can get behind that sort of thing in some cases.

 

[migalyto]

I can believe that. The current owner says she's very curious and always wants to know what she (the owner) is doing. No different that a German Shepherd Dog. Always curious, alert, always snooping, smelling, looking, in other words, very nosy. I'm used to that. It is, to me, the sign of an intelligent dog.

Sounds like our Lab. Her nose and ears are always working. She can hear and smell a crumb drop on the floor from anywhere in the house.
God forbid something go on in or outside this house and her not know about it.

 

[Rubicon]

Question about the rifle. What stock is that? It appears to be a simple fixed stock. I can get behind that sort of thing in some cases.

Yup. Magpul MOE Fixed carbine stock from the days when I lived in the Peoples Republic of Taxachusetts.

We escaped in 2018. I think that picture dates from 2015, I call it my M4gery. First things I did after moving was go to a Magpul CTR carbine stock and a traditional flash hider instead of the brake. I had to grind out the "pin" that was required for MA to get it off. Thankfully the shop that did the pin and weld barely touched the threads and I was able to get the brake off without damaging the barrel. I've been thinking of getting a can for it. My son runs one on his and I really like it.

I don't have a picture of the current configuration, but it is similar with a short bipod, Vortex Strikefire 2 and a 3X magnifier. This was my first (and only) build.

 

[DeaconKC]

Yup. Magpul MOE Fixed carbine stock from the days when I lived in the Peoples Republic of Taxachusetts.

We escaped in 2018. I think that picture dates from 2015, I call it my M4gery. First things I did after moving was go to a Magpul CTR carbine stock and a traditional flash hider instead of the brake. I had to grind out the "pin" that was required for MA to get it off. Thankfully the shop that did the pin and weld barely touched the threads and I was able to get the brake off without damaging the barrel. I've been thinking of getting a can for it. My son runs one on his and I really like it.

I don't have a picture of the current configuration, but it is similar with a short bipod, Vortex Strikefire 2 and a 3X magnifier. This was my first (and only) build.

Watch out, building ARs is an addicting pastime.

 

[chadbag]

Yup. Magpul MOE Fixed carbine stock from the days when I lived in the Peoples Republic of Taxachusetts.

We escaped in 2018. I think that picture dates from 2015, I call it my M4gery. First things I did after moving was go to a Magpul CTR carbine stock and a traditional flash hider instead of the brake. I had to grind out the "pin" that was required for MA to get it off. Thankfully the shop that did the pin and weld barely touched the threads and I was able to get the brake off without damaging the barrel. I've been thinking of getting a can for it. My son runs one on his and I really like it.

I don't have a picture of the current configuration, but it is similar with a short bipod, Vortex Strikefire 2 and a 3X magnifier. This was my first (and only) build.

OK, so it is a Magpul. I technically am a Magpul dealer -- though they may have purged me -- I sometimes get dealer emails still. But I kind of stopped being "in business" around the time the fixed MOE stock came out so never had any in my inventory. I have a couple rifles or rifle ideas that use fixed stocks. Most of them are CTR or UBR or other of the Magpul collapsible (or sometimes other brands collapsible). But a simple no frills rifle sometimes is best with a fixed stock. Also "precision" types -- if you don't put the fancy stocks and stuff on them -- are good candidates for a fixed stock. They don't move when their locked in position (ie your prone or in a supported stance up against the cheek or whatever -- no movement). I have one or two A1 style old school stocks that work well -- slightly shorter pull length than the overlong A2.

I may re-enter the business in the future if I can straighten out my situation day job wise, house wise, etc. It won't be that soon. But it was fun.

Thanks!