Bruette
Well-Known Member
Compared to last year I paid $99 plus shipping.
I know I'm overpaying at $99, but I'll take the "free shipping"
Running Bear's November 2024 Coffee Shop
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I know I'm overpaying at $99, but I'll take the "free shipping"
Yeah. If I am going to invest in something new I wanted a Japanese prototype (or fantasy livery). While I do have a small number of NA locomoties and some intermodal stuff it's not really my thing and our family wouldn't really appreciate it if it was NA as they have no connection to the NA railroads. Wife is originally from Japan and our kids, while raised here, mostly relate to Japanese railroads. I don't have the tradition of a Christmas Train around the tree so was trying to connect the two ideas. A European train would work (for me) as well even though the family doesn't have any Euro connection, my secondary model RR is all German/Central Europe. The problem is that European N scale is wicked wicked expensive.
KATO for a while was actually releaseing special Christmas livieried US prototypes for awhile under Operation North Pole Christmas Trains based on real life ones
katousa.com
---
If people are wondering about Christmas in Japan, since Japan doesn't have a strong Christian bckground or history: They've adopted the western secular Christmas. You occasionally do see nativity etc but its mostly Santa, reindeer, lights, trees, and is all done, even the religious pieces, as a secular gift giving and fun western tradition. WHile the whole country becomes a poster child for Christmas in terms of every store, train station, mall, etc going over board (and constant Christmas music -- including and mostly "Last Christmas..."), it's not an actual Holiday there -- It's a work day, and the decorations come down on Christmas or the day after and the New Years decorations go up. New Years is the actual winter festival that is celebrated with meaning and not superficialy. Its when people go home to visit families, give gifts (some give Christmas gifts but its not the major gift giving -- thats New Years and mostly for kids).
Here is a short video I took of a famous office building in Tokyo that had a coordinated building light display at Christmas time. There are a lot of otehr similar videos on youtube but this is the one I shot as we walked back to our hotel.
That works for private vertical applications but not the public internet. When I run across that baloney I submit feedback complaining and saying that they're losing a customer with such nonsense. Public facing websites should be browser agnostic. That's why we have HTML5 and all of that.
Good morning! It's 45°F in Tipton.
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I know I'm overpaying at $99, but I'll take the "free shipping"
chadbag
Well-Known Member
I was trying to find a Japanese train (N) with a Christmas livery but have struck out. I asked on JNSForum.com if anyone knew of any prototype Japanese trains that had a Christmas themed livery and there was not a lot. A few trams and over the last decade a couple one-offs. So probably no luck finding a model of one.
Japanese train companies are well known for all sorts of special liveries -- from anime/manga, to Disney, to regional or local history or theme, to whimsy, to random. You want special and fun liveries, do Japanese trains. But alas, no luck.
I've never done the Christmas Train thing but thought it'd be fun if we can get moved in (not yet done but so so so close) before Christmas to set up a small Unitrack around the tree.
Japanese train companies are well known for all sorts of special liveries -- from anime/manga, to Disney, to regional or local history or theme, to whimsy, to random. You want special and fun liveries, do Japanese trains. But alas, no luck.
I've never done the Christmas Train thing but thought it'd be fun if we can get moved in (not yet done but so so so close) before Christmas to set up a small Unitrack around the tree.
Does it have to be Japanese prototype? I know BLI has several items in N scale for Christmas in their online outlet.
chadbag
Well-Known Member
Yeah. If I am going to invest in something new I wanted a Japanese prototype (or fantasy livery). While I do have a small number of NA locomoties and some intermodal stuff it's not really my thing and our family wouldn't really appreciate it if it was NA as they have no connection to the NA railroads. Wife is originally from Japan and our kids, while raised here, mostly relate to Japanese railroads. I don't have the tradition of a Christmas Train around the tree so was trying to connect the two ideas. A European train would work (for me) as well even though the family doesn't have any Euro connection, my secondary model RR is all German/Central Europe. The problem is that European N scale is wicked wicked expensive.
KATO for a while was actually releaseing special Christmas livieried US prototypes for awhile under Operation North Pole Christmas Trains based on real life ones
N Operation North Pole Christmas Trains
katousa.com
---
If people are wondering about Christmas in Japan, since Japan doesn't have a strong Christian bckground or history: They've adopted the western secular Christmas. You occasionally do see nativity etc but its mostly Santa, reindeer, lights, trees, and is all done, even the religious pieces, as a secular gift giving and fun western tradition. WHile the whole country becomes a poster child for Christmas in terms of every store, train station, mall, etc going over board (and constant Christmas music -- including and mostly "Last Christmas..."), it's not an actual Holiday there -- It's a work day, and the decorations come down on Christmas or the day after and the New Years decorations go up. New Years is the actual winter festival that is celebrated with meaning and not superficialy. Its when people go home to visit families, give gifts (some give Christmas gifts but its not the major gift giving -- thats New Years and mostly for kids).
Here is a short video I took of a famous office building in Tokyo that had a coordinated building light display at Christmas time. There are a lot of otehr similar videos on youtube but this is the one I shot as we walked back to our hotel.
Boris
Beach Bum
Possibly, never gave that much thought but it makes sense, now that you mention it.
Patrick
What, me worry?
Sometimes sites need to be programmed with extensions that do things other than tracking and Spyware. It costs less to write those extensions for a few browsers than all. Case in point, one of our vendors hosts one of our internal programs and it only works using Chrome. Any other browser flags as Unsupported browser.
chadbag
Well-Known Member
That works for private vertical applications but not the public internet. When I run across that baloney I submit feedback complaining and saying that they're losing a customer with such nonsense. Public facing websites should be browser agnostic. That's why we have HTML5 and all of that.
troyphoto
Snarky Old Fart (in training)
Well, howdy there internet peeps and those eating McD's as a "healthy meal"
It's Troy again.
Started down the chore list today.
1. Messed around on the Waste management website. The order I put in for a replacement Recycling Bin, after they took my old one that came from the previous recycling service - That order never got completed and is missing from my records. WM never replaced it. So I put in a "Missing Bin" notice. I was going to just cancel the service, since I pay out of pocket for it. But the document that tells you how to cancel is an infinite loop that avoids the form and goes back to itself.
I'm not impressed by WM. But they hold the contract for our Condo Complex.
The board looked at changing contractors, but WM wants $50 per bin to pick up the old ones. And the other service wanted $25 per bin to set out new ones. It was cheaper to absorb the increase in costs and keep paying WM. BUT, for recycle, each condo owner decides if we want to pay for the recycle pickup. Otherwise, I'd be driving them about 20-25 minutes to a collection center. I don't mind for cans, but the plastic will just hit the landfill.
2. Sleep Study. I made an appointment with my doc to talk about getting a sleep study. Sleep apnea is a potential cause or exacerbator to lots of my medical conditions like ED, Acid Reflux, etc. The reason I had to talk to the doc is that Insurance wouldn't likely pay if we didn't have a consult. Well, our deductible is so high, I'm paying full price anyway.
Oh, and my hospital network is the one the Guardian cited in it's first article on how hospitals are notorious for overcharging. Yep, this AT HOME sleep monitor for a one night test is going to cost me $900+
Wife said I'm getting expensive. She might have to trade me in on a younger model.
I said she couldn't keep up with the younger ones. She'd better keep me around.
In other news, got my next book totally outlined today with some AI help. Tomorrow I'll try letting it write some of the scenes. I think I've learned enough to get it to produce a decent first draft. we'll see.
I was going to make a cocktail tonight, but I dumped the Sweet Vermouth after my trip. It had passed its shelf life. So I had a pop tart instead. Not quite the same, but I'll go with it.
It's Troy again.
Started down the chore list today.
1. Messed around on the Waste management website. The order I put in for a replacement Recycling Bin, after they took my old one that came from the previous recycling service - That order never got completed and is missing from my records. WM never replaced it. So I put in a "Missing Bin" notice. I was going to just cancel the service, since I pay out of pocket for it. But the document that tells you how to cancel is an infinite loop that avoids the form and goes back to itself.
I'm not impressed by WM. But they hold the contract for our Condo Complex.
The board looked at changing contractors, but WM wants $50 per bin to pick up the old ones. And the other service wanted $25 per bin to set out new ones. It was cheaper to absorb the increase in costs and keep paying WM. BUT, for recycle, each condo owner decides if we want to pay for the recycle pickup. Otherwise, I'd be driving them about 20-25 minutes to a collection center. I don't mind for cans, but the plastic will just hit the landfill.
2. Sleep Study. I made an appointment with my doc to talk about getting a sleep study. Sleep apnea is a potential cause or exacerbator to lots of my medical conditions like ED, Acid Reflux, etc. The reason I had to talk to the doc is that Insurance wouldn't likely pay if we didn't have a consult. Well, our deductible is so high, I'm paying full price anyway.
Oh, and my hospital network is the one the Guardian cited in it's first article on how hospitals are notorious for overcharging. Yep, this AT HOME sleep monitor for a one night test is going to cost me $900+
Wife said I'm getting expensive. She might have to trade me in on a younger model.
I said she couldn't keep up with the younger ones. She'd better keep me around.
In other news, got my next book totally outlined today with some AI help. Tomorrow I'll try letting it write some of the scenes. I think I've learned enough to get it to produce a decent first draft. we'll see.
I was going to make a cocktail tonight, but I dumped the Sweet Vermouth after my trip. It had passed its shelf life. So I had a pop tart instead. Not quite the same, but I'll go with it.
santafewillie
Same Ol' Buzzard
So just pile them up at the entrance to their facility!
troyphoto
Snarky Old Fart (in training)
funny thing is, only about 1/3rd of the bins are from WM. The rest are from the contractor who went bankrupt and left their bins. But they have a clause in the contract that says they get to pick up the old... Oy Vey... Corporatism run amok...
kbkchooch
"retired" conductor
Good evening gang!
Just got finished setting the prices on all the "stuff" I am taking to the local train show this Sunday. Easily enough to cover an 8 ft table, and then some! Structures, kits, rolling stock and locos, some with DCC. Some are too modern, some are just excess. With new Atlas RS3s on order, and 44 tonners from Rapido on order, time to get rid of some of the lesser locos.
Troy, who is confused enough to equate McDs with healthy? I can't judge though, as I sit here with a jar of Jif, and a sleeve of Ritz crackers, washing it down with Twisted Tea!
Cya alll in the a.m.
Ya don't say!
Just got finished setting the prices on all the "stuff" I am taking to the local train show this Sunday. Easily enough to cover an 8 ft table, and then some! Structures, kits, rolling stock and locos, some with DCC. Some are too modern, some are just excess. With new Atlas RS3s on order, and 44 tonners from Rapido on order, time to get rid of some of the lesser locos.
Troy, who is confused enough to equate McDs with healthy? I can't judge though, as I sit here with a jar of Jif, and a sleeve of Ritz crackers, washing it down with Twisted Tea!
Cya alll in the a.m.
Ya don't say!
Bill Tidler Jr.
Retired NS Signal Construction Gang Signalman
troyphoto
Snarky Old Fart (in training)
Well, howdy there internet peeps. And those practicing for the winter gymnastics
Unfortunately, too many of us will participate
Gonna rain today... then tonight get cold and let the wintry mix hit. Ugh.
Going to chat with the LLM (Large Language Model) today and see how good it's first drafts can be.
Oh, I need to get some HEET for the gas tank. Don't forget to treat the gas in your vehicles if you live in cold climates. Don't want the fuel line freezing.
Unfortunately, too many of us will participate
Gonna rain today... then tonight get cold and let the wintry mix hit. Ugh.
Going to chat with the LLM (Large Language Model) today and see how good it's first drafts can be.
Oh, I need to get some HEET for the gas tank. Don't forget to treat the gas in your vehicles if you live in cold climates. Don't want the fuel line freezing.
TLOC
Well-Known Member
Good morning from Wisconsin. 39f degrees now 45 later. 40% chance of rain, (not the white stuff yet) this afternoon around 1. From the overnight rain Monday the manual rain gauge had just under 2.5”. The grass in the neighborhood looks lush green and of course it needs another cutting. I know a few of the neighbors have moved the snowblowers into position but will need those cutting machines again, yep I’m one of them.
I spent time in the train room and at the bench yesterday. I worked on 2 cars of my own and those were done with oils and are in the drying cabinet until Friday morning. The cabinet prevents any dust from settling on the cars while the oils dry. Usually 24 hours is enough time but we’ll be gone this afternoon and evening and Thursday I hope to be one of the gofers at a layout building session. I figure if I am well enough to go on campus to a Volleyball match tonight I’ll be well enough for trains on Thursday
Unusual for me but I had given no thought yet to Christmas and have no clue what to get Terry! I finally asked after dinner last night and got one of those, I don’t need anything. I fell for that line years ago and let’s just say I was very unlucky for a couple weeks! Jewelry is out as is clothing! I’ll figure it out.
Flo, may I have another diet Dr Pepper? It seems the one I have is empty
Be well and enjoy the day
I spent time in the train room and at the bench yesterday. I worked on 2 cars of my own and those were done with oils and are in the drying cabinet until Friday morning. The cabinet prevents any dust from settling on the cars while the oils dry. Usually 24 hours is enough time but we’ll be gone this afternoon and evening and Thursday I hope to be one of the gofers at a layout building session. I figure if I am well enough to go on campus to a Volleyball match tonight I’ll be well enough for trains on Thursday
Unusual for me but I had given no thought yet to Christmas and have no clue what to get Terry! I finally asked after dinner last night and got one of those, I don’t need anything. I fell for that line years ago and let’s just say I was very unlucky for a couple weeks! Jewelry is out as is clothing! I’ll figure it out.
Flo, may I have another diet Dr Pepper? It seems the one I have is empty
Be well and enjoy the day
santafewillie
Same Ol' Buzzard
Good Morning All. Clear and a chilly 42°, coldest night this season so far. We'll see the mid-30's for the next 2 nights and back to fall weather Friday; temperature is predicted to be in the lower 80's Sunday. I'll see how well I cleaned the chimney on the wood-burning heater tonight...for the first time this season. It's much later than usual as we usually have to light it up at least a couple of times in October! This is the latest that I remember, but 40 years ago is hazy now.
I got out the chainsaw yesterday after a few days off, and cleared out a big branch that my wife has been complaining about for weeks. While it didn't encroach on the driveway, it was close.
Speaking of the driveway, our easement road is in bad need of repair after the excessive rains this past spring. Back when the road out front was still a gravel road, the county guys would use their grader and turn up our road and fix it. It is not an official county road, so they are not required to maintain it, but the local crew foreman had them do it anyway. Now that the county road is paved (well sorta), they don't bring the grader out any more. So maintenance is up to us residents. The road itself is a quarter mile long (1320') and is used by five households. I only use the first 200' for my access, but 980' of the road is on my property. Half of the road is on the adjacent farm field, but no one knows how to get in touch with that owner. So me and Bubba have been talking with folks who have the equipment to fix it. No one has a huge grader needed to really fix it, but one fellow does have a small grader blade that fits on his tractor; and is willing to do the job for us. Some of the ruts up the hill are almost 1' deep. The shoulder needs to be graded down into the road so runoff water will drain into the ditches on either side. Quote is for $1600 split at least four ways, I don't know if the neighbor from hell is willing to participate since no one wants to talk to him. It would be great if the farmer who leases the field next door would help as well, but no one knows how to get in touch with him either now that the one neighbor who did, died last spring. The cost doesn't bother me, but it would strain a couple of others.
Out in the train shed yesterday, I did nothing of substance. I did add some bushes and shrubs to the woodsy scene and continued adding figures to other parts of the layout. I want to add some more trees to that scene, but it is hard to access. There's a grain elevator in the way, although not glued down, it has wiring for interior lighting which would have to be removed in order to get it out of the way.
Here is a better picture of the carving on the figure that I pictured yesterday. I removed the baby in her arms and she now just appears to have her arms folded across her chest.
I'm just trying to avoid having too many duplicate figures on the layout, but in reality, I will be the only one who knows.
While on the subject of figures, I now have over 1100 scattered about and some parts of the layout still have none in place. There's no shortage of them to use, here is a container of figures from Chet's layout that I am using in addition to the supply that I am/have been painting.
Troy - If you snore at all, the overnight sleep study will confirm that you have sleep apnea. They always do for some reason. I think that they do even if you don't snore. Save your money and go straight to a CPAP mask. You'll have to remove the mask if it cures the ED!
Karl - Good luck with the sale at the train show.
Lots of birthdays today. The late guitarist and band leader Duane Allman (1946-1971), current Eagles and former James Gang guitarist Joe Walsh is 77. The late former Attorney General and Senator, Robert F. Kennedy was born in 1925, and current President "Sleepy" Joe Biden is 82.
Everyone have a wonderful Wednesday.
I got out the chainsaw yesterday after a few days off, and cleared out a big branch that my wife has been complaining about for weeks. While it didn't encroach on the driveway, it was close.
Speaking of the driveway, our easement road is in bad need of repair after the excessive rains this past spring. Back when the road out front was still a gravel road, the county guys would use their grader and turn up our road and fix it. It is not an official county road, so they are not required to maintain it, but the local crew foreman had them do it anyway. Now that the county road is paved (well sorta), they don't bring the grader out any more. So maintenance is up to us residents. The road itself is a quarter mile long (1320') and is used by five households. I only use the first 200' for my access, but 980' of the road is on my property. Half of the road is on the adjacent farm field, but no one knows how to get in touch with that owner. So me and Bubba have been talking with folks who have the equipment to fix it. No one has a huge grader needed to really fix it, but one fellow does have a small grader blade that fits on his tractor; and is willing to do the job for us. Some of the ruts up the hill are almost 1' deep. The shoulder needs to be graded down into the road so runoff water will drain into the ditches on either side. Quote is for $1600 split at least four ways, I don't know if the neighbor from hell is willing to participate since no one wants to talk to him. It would be great if the farmer who leases the field next door would help as well, but no one knows how to get in touch with him either now that the one neighbor who did, died last spring. The cost doesn't bother me, but it would strain a couple of others.
Out in the train shed yesterday, I did nothing of substance. I did add some bushes and shrubs to the woodsy scene and continued adding figures to other parts of the layout. I want to add some more trees to that scene, but it is hard to access. There's a grain elevator in the way, although not glued down, it has wiring for interior lighting which would have to be removed in order to get it out of the way.
Here is a better picture of the carving on the figure that I pictured yesterday. I removed the baby in her arms and she now just appears to have her arms folded across her chest.
I'm just trying to avoid having too many duplicate figures on the layout, but in reality, I will be the only one who knows.
While on the subject of figures, I now have over 1100 scattered about and some parts of the layout still have none in place. There's no shortage of them to use, here is a container of figures from Chet's layout that I am using in addition to the supply that I am/have been painting.
Troy - If you snore at all, the overnight sleep study will confirm that you have sleep apnea. They always do for some reason. I think that they do even if you don't snore. Save your money and go straight to a CPAP mask. You'll have to remove the mask if it cures the ED!
Karl - Good luck with the sale at the train show.
Lots of birthdays today. The late guitarist and band leader Duane Allman (1946-1971), current Eagles and former James Gang guitarist Joe Walsh is 77. The late former Attorney General and Senator, Robert F. Kennedy was born in 1925, and current President "Sleepy" Joe Biden is 82.
Everyone have a wonderful Wednesday.
Boris
Beach Bum
Good morning! 54° and cloudy. Overnight, we had rainfall of 0.04". More substantial rain and "plunging" temperatures tonight.
WM has a fee or fine for everything. They are "surcharging" residential customers if the trash in the 96 gallon toter is higher than the edge, and fining them if the lid is not closed securely. Their rates are the highest and come with the most restrictions on use.
When I first came here they had 100% of the business, now they have maybe 5%....But.....they don't care.
Troy, a one time fee of $50/container is worth the cost to be rid of them.
WM has a fee or fine for everything. They are "surcharging" residential customers if the trash in the 96 gallon toter is higher than the edge, and fining them if the lid is not closed securely. Their rates are the highest and come with the most restrictions on use.
When I first came here they had 100% of the business, now they have maybe 5%....But.....they don't care.
Troy, a one time fee of $50/container is worth the cost to be rid of them.
D&J RailRoad
Professor of HO
I had trash service when I first moved into my current house back in 2011. About a year later, I had received the third price increase notice within a year and decided, I can haul my trash to the dump myself for a lot less. I notified the WM to cancel my contract with them and to let me know when they will pick up their trash bin. They gave me a pickup date and I happened to be home that day. I had just received a new camera that day and was reading the instructions when the WM trash bin truck arrived to pick up my roll away bin. I took a few pictures of him as he loaded into the truck and drive away. A few weeks later I got a letter from WM that I owed them for a roll away bin because it wasn't set out for them to pick up. I contacted them to dispute the claim, stating that I saw the driver when he took it from the foot of my driveway. They claimed the driver came by but didn't find the bin. I then remembered I had a few pictures of him loading it and offered to send it to WM. She said she would get back in touch with me. A few days later I received a letter from WM acknowledging recovery of the bin and my account was closed.
Gotta watch those rascals.
Gotta watch those rascals.
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