Running Bear's September 2025 Coffee Shop

[RhB Michael]

Good morning all. 79°F/64°F here. The dewpoint is creeping up and we have at least five more days of warmer (hot) temperatures moving in.

My Lenovo T520 is giving my problems today. It was acting up yesterday too. All this computer is used for is streaming TV through the internet. It is running Windows 11 21H1 since it will not upgrade past that version. I don't believe that is the trouble though. I think it needs to be cleaned. This afternoon I'm going to remove the keyboard and blow it out. I might re-paste the processor as well.

It boots, most of the time, and then hangs at the background screen. It does allow me to use the FPR to log on, and then nothing except the little blue busy circle that is only visible if you cursor to the task bar on the right side lower. Now that circle is gone, but there is no control over anything except the mouse cursor. That is moving very jittery across the screen when moving the mouse.

I can't even bring up the Task Manager to see what is hanging up this machine. Something is running in the background and hogging so much resources it won't do anything else. Unusual, since this is a i7 QM machine with 16 GB of memory and an SSD.

Hope I can figure it out. This has been a great machine since 2011.

 

[chadbag]

Social media has become a sewer full of hate and misinformation. I see U-tube as a bigger offender than FB. FB is also bad. I maintain FB to stay in touch with other retired railroaders, and related groups.
X which I tolerate only because all the hockey "insiders" use it to break their latest rumors.



.

On YouTube you can easily avoid the crap

I look at two (generally only two) Ukraine related sites to catch up and then various music educators, military history , and some more up to date military things like Task & Purpose and Cappys Army for situational awareness.

I avoid stuff from people I don’t know or recognize and avoid videos on the outrage of the day.

I do watch videos about interesting music theory or breaking down certain songs. And sometimes I see something about history that looks interesting (and not controversial). I also watch the B1M about interesting construction projects.

I don’t watch all of this daily. I only watch while eating and once done eating I turn it off.

The recommended list is full of so much crap and outrage and stuff. I just ignore it.

 

[RhB Michael]

I like the Python but I'm not really into revolvers.

In addition to half dozen seven Walthers, have W. German made SIG-Sauers. I have a P225 Police Edition and a P220. Both were new when purchased, but they are showing a lot of love from being carried so much. Not a fan of the US Made SIG-Sauers. I want stamped and rolled steel slides, not milled stainless.

I'm actually on my third example of each of these two. I'm not going to be selling or trading these two though. My nephew picked up a date coded 1988 P226 yesterday while at the gunshop. It was still tight with no rattle, good lockup, but no finish on the slide. I told him he could send it to SIG-Sauer and they would refinish it for him and install SIG-Lites for under two bills.

HK USP45 Expert and HK USP9C completes the German trio of handguns in my collection. There is an Austrian present and two three American made handguns.

 

[logandsawman]

Good morning all,

60 and sunny, light breeze. I am working the desk at the History Center till 1230 today.

I got started on lighting the layout yesterday! Running the bus wires and hooking up the structure lights and tall lamps as I work my way around the layout, starting with Wyoming. So far, 5 structures and one stationary lamp hooked up and tested.

Not sore today, but realized why I waited till after the floor was mopped. Either sitting on it or kneeling all afternoon could potentially cause issues.

Youtube--I use for railroad videos or looking up vehicle repairs mainly. Fantastic venue for those purposes.

Television: I never watch before 5pm. Then Sparingly. We prefer to loan the shows we like from the library.

Later, Dave LASM

 

[boogietrain94]

AFter a break from the interwebs I am back.

Well, howdy there internet peeps and those with real coffee

It's troy again.

My coffee is a disappointment.

I mentioned that an Internet personality I follow (Father Nathan Monk - a retired former Orthodox priest that is very political online in ways you won't expect) got a deal to have a brand's special roast of coffee named after him. I could tell reading the description that it wasn't one I'd like, but I wanted to support him and what he does. Figured I'd give it away, but haven't found anyone who's into the fruity-notes coffee profile he wanted.

Well, I also ordered a bag of their dark roast that sounded yummy.

IT... IS...NOT....DARK

it might be roasted, but it's not dark. And I don't care for medium roast coffee.

This will be the last pot from that bag. I even added sweetner to cover up the taste.

Going back to my favorite Guatemalan antigua dark roast from Volcanica Coffee. I just got four bags of it in.

UGH... I think I'll go make a fresh pot of the good stuff.

get some of that death wish black. that stuff is darker that my some of my staff herelol

 

[boogietrain94]

WHASSUPPPPPPPPP!!
after a quick chug of coffee I bring you todays shenanigans. First anyone wanna talk sports my teams are the steelers Packers and colts. I do cheer for Chicago most anyone in all sport but the Sox. wheres that guy who likes the orioles I gots a base ball question for him.

anyway Mrs flo ill take the all you can eat pancakes please

y'all got some nice pew pews on here recently I like guns but with a background I cannot have sadly. I used to be into competitive airsoft. and have the scars and stories from thoes days lol.

after much thought I am redebateing trains again funds are improving and I'm not worried about having to move so now the decision is between ho and n scales.

Hope all is well God bless each and every one of you til I ramble on again thanks

 

[boogietrain94]

AFter a break from the interwebs I am back.

get some of that death wish black. that stuff is darker that my some of my staff herelol

and for some reference most of my staff are African immigrants from the likes of Chad Kenya or bowandi so they are dark dark but I love them dearly even if they are hard to understand at times lol

 

[Bruette]

Other than occasionally knocking figures over, it does no harm

You have a pet in your train shed, how cool is that? Does he/she eat spiders? That could be a bonus, fewer webs to clean up.

My grandson found a salamander in his room. It took him a few days to catch it and take it outside without hurting it. He was okay with his roommate in the meantime.

mix in some of your dark ground coffee before making it to make your own blend

That is what I would do. It's better than tossing it out.

Television: I never watch before 5pm.

My TV near my desk is on from the time I wake up until I go to bed. Where I watch TV until I fall asleep. My wonderful wife leaves the TV on after I fall asleep knowing turning it off may wake me up. God must love me, I don't know how my wife puts up with me.

I often have no idea what they are saying on TV unless I read the closed caption which is off if I watch sports. I don't usually want to know what the broadcasters are saying. TV is my cure for tinnitus, no problem.

There is always something interesting or entertaining on Amazon Prime TV. When I'm not watching baseball that is.

I do turn the TVs off when we go to work.

 

[logandsawman]

You have a pet in your train shed, how cool is that? Does he/she eat spiders? That could be a bonus, fewer webs to clean up.

My grandson found a salamander in his room. It took him a few days to catch it and take it outside without hurting it. He was okay with his roommate in the meantime.

That is what I would do. It's better than tossing it out.

My TV near my desk is on from the time I wake up until I go to bed. Where I watch TV until I fall asleep. My wonderful wife leaves the TV on after I fall asleep knowing turning it off may wake me up. God must love me, I don't know how my wife puts up with me.

I often have no idea what they are saying on TV unless I read the closed caption which is off if I watch sports. I don't usually want to know what the broadcasters are saying. TV is my cure for tinnitus, no problem.

There is always something interesting or entertaining on Amazon Prime TV. When I'm not watching baseball that is.

I do turn the TVs off when we go to work.

I also prefer closed captioning. My hearing loss in one of the decibel ranges make some words hard to understand,

In conversation I often fake it, unless the details are important.

I learned a cool trick to fool tinnitus several years ago. Using my imagination, I amplify the false buzzing and singing as loud as possible and hold that thought. After a few repetitions, the sound disappears. Somehow the mind decides to ignore it.

Anyway works for me. Honestly and all joking aside, it is all in your head.

 

[Texas Hobo]

Good morning all. 79°F/64°F here. The dewpoint is creeping up and we have at least five more days of warmer (hot) temperatures moving in.

My Lenovo T520 is giving my problems today. It was acting up yesterday too. All this computer is used for is streaming TV through the internet. It is running Windows 11 21H1 since it will not upgrade past that version. I don't believe that is the trouble though. I think it needs to be cleaned. This afternoon I'm going to remove the keyboard and blow it out. I might re-paste the processor as well.

It boots, most of the time, and then hangs at the background screen. It does allow me to use the FPR to log on, and then nothing except the little blue busy circle that is only visible if you cursor to the task bar on the right side lower. Now that circle is gone, but there is no control over anything except the mouse cursor. That is moving very jittery across the screen when moving the mouse.

I can't even bring up the Task Manager to see what is hanging up this machine. Something is running in the background and hogging so much resources it won't do anything else. Unusual, since this is a i7 QM machine with 16 GB of memory and an SSD.

Hope I can figure it out. This has been a great machine since 2011.

There must be something unique going on. I have a Surface 7 Pro and the same thing happens. With only Task Manager open CPU is at 100% and Memory at 90% +. I have 2 Asus laptops and neither of them ever have this issue.

 

[kbkchooch]

Hiya gang!

Getting ready to leave for sister-in-laws 70th birthday surprise party, 2 hours away. I just found out it is being catered by Mission BBQ, so the eats shall be grand!

Question, does anyone know of a template that I can buy or print for nose grabs on F7s? Even if I can download it and print it out? I drilled a bunch of handrail and grab iron holes last night but the ones up the side of the nose are giving me trouble trying to lay them out straight. Sadly the Bowser add on kit gives lots of details, but no real instruction.

Coffee. The wife and kid like Duncan, I like Royal Farms Columbian. At work we have Folgers (it's free!). 2 cups a day is my max, then I switch to flavored waters (Mio) or Coke Zero. Weekends coffee is a rarity.

Social media. I do have a FB account, mainly to keep tabs on family and friends. Youtube is mainly for entertainment or historical stuff, and TV is just for local news or Nascar. 99.5% of the stuff on network TV is worthless.

BBL, with a full belly!

 

[Bruette]

In conversation I often fake it, unless the details are important.

I do fairly well if I look right at the one talking to me. More than one person talking, other background noise or the speaker not looking at me, I smile and nod.

it is all in your head.

There is a lot of truth to that! Nothing is as bad as it seems if you can avoid thinking about it.

it's free!

Free coffee is always good coffee!

 

[bnsf971]

Karl, Walthers used to offer an F unit detail kit with template.
It was for Athearn, but it would be better than what you have now.

 

[bnsf971]

That Lenovo desktop from 2011 is not supposed to be able to run Win 11. When MS released it and people started putting it on stuff older than what was supposed to use it. MS at the time said eventually the older stuff that does work with it eventually won’t.
You may have reached that point.

 

[troyphoto]

I’m not a coffee drinker but can you mix in some of your dark ground coffee before making it to make your own blend?

I am because I am a big mixer of things. Whatever it is I’m drinking or eating it’s often blend or mix or combo of things to try it out (as appropriate).

I had about 2/3rds of my Volcanica for yesterday's pot. So I added some of the Mad Priest. After trying that - it was consumable, but not it's usual grand brew - I approached today with an open mind, but it was about what I was afraid it would be.

Now I have a choice: Mix it and make Great coffee into two bags of merely-ok coffee. Or go back to Great Coffee.

 

[TLOC]

I watched the grandson’s 3 on 3 hockey and they won and had a great time. 5 really close buddies and a girl who has played hockey with them the last 3 years. The goalie is assigned by the organizers. Lots of money spent on raffle tickets ( good cause so why not). I usually win something

My 1pm tee time is going to be 2 groups late or 24 minutes. This place is packed and there was a medical emergency this morning on the course. So to get things moving we r being warned on the 1st tee to keep it moving. There are 3 rangers (usually 1) patrolling and pushing the golfers to catch up

Just waiting for out slot…

Chad, wishing you the best in the search

 

[Texas Hobo]

Good afternoon, all! It's already 90 and feels like 99. It is very much still summer here. The week's forecast is mid 90's with Thursday 97. Not sure about Willie's end of the state, but here Fall is just wishful thinking.

Chad - Hang in there. My daughter just got hired after 18 months. A layoff caught her. Like you she had applied to over 100 jobs, did the interviews and saw the reposts. She noted there were quite a few scam jobs, trying to get your info. Even sites like LinkedIn and Indeed were hit with scammers. In the end she wound up with a job she really wanted, doing what she liked and as a bonus 12G more than she asked for.

Guns - While I do have a concealed carry license, I am not that big a fan of guns. I do enjoy going to the range with my grandsons, but more as a thing to do with them than the actual shooting.

I pretty sure a week without internet wouldn't bother me much. I don't go anywhere that I need a map to find. Weather is on the TV. Social media, the only social media I use is right here in the diner. Definitely a better class of people. I think as it was stated earlier, convenience.

Alan - Welcome to retirement.

And now for something totally different, I going to try and learn to play piano. As of now I know nothing, well very little. I can find C and D on the keyboard.

STAY SAFE
LATER

 

[Bruette]

Now I have a choice: Mix it and make Great coffee into two bags of merely-ok coffee. Or go back to Great Coffee.

When you put it like that I say go with the great coffee. It's only money and not much money if you think about it.

I still see things through the eyes of a poor kid that was taught to never waste anything. I'm slowly learning to let it go. I don't even finish my plate anymore!

 

[troyphoto]

Well, howdy there internet peeps and those who thought Karl wanted to get grab irons for his Sis-in-law's nose...

It's Troy again

Social Media:
I left Twitter when the owner let all of the banned folks back in.

I have trained my youtube to not show me content I don't like. Click the stack of three dots under a suggest vid and you'll find a "Not Interested" option.

Facebook, I police who my friends are, and move people into the "mere acquaintances" status, then have that group excluded from seeing most of the posts I make.

I have one gaming friend that I let see the posts because I enjoy watching him post "THAT'S BULLSHIT AND YOU KNOW IT!" on my political memes. I then respond with facts and links and ask him to let me know what's not correct. He's actually starting to stay in the conversation for another round of comments - sometimes two rounds! Sloooooooowly getting him to engage outside of his echo chamber. It helps that I was where he's at politically about 15 years ago. So I understand the basic sentiments he's learned over time. I'm slowly walking him back into rational discussion about the issues and not knee jerking his way through the outrage of the day.

Since I'm skirting the political topics there, here's my peace offering: Wife and I went to pull the artificial flowers from her father's gravestone today. That's an hour down and an hour back. So we stopped in at The West End restaurant (been in business for 136 years according to the menu) in Decatur Indiana.

Here's her tenderloin. It's not full-smash. But does have the best breading according to her.

I had a fairly generic Philly Cheese Steak sandwich and fries. No pics of it

Then we had PIE!

her's is baked apple with caramel glaze

Mine was Coconut Cream, because I LOVE coconut cream!

 

[bnsf971]

I had about 2/3rds of my Volcanica for yesterday's pot. So I added some of the Mad Priest. After trying that - it was consumable, but not it's usual grand brew - I approached today with an open mind, but it was about what I was afraid it would be.

Now I have a choice: Mix it and make Great coffee into two bags of merely-ok coffee. Or go back to Great Coffee.

Since I am still living the way my parents taught me (you ordered it, you use it), and since I’m super-cheap, I’d probably get another bag of the really good coffee, and mix them all together to make “really okay” coffee, instead of tossing what is now two bags of “barely okay” coffee.

A couple of months ago, the River place accidentally sent me three 2-pound bags of espresso. I mixed one bag with a 2 pound bag of medium Columbian, and had four pounds of strong Colombian coffee. I gave the other two bags to my daughter in law, because by the time I work through the four pounds I have, the other two bags would have been stale.