Running Bear's August 2022 Coffee Shop

[Boris]

I think it was 2014 when Lionel tried to have their Christmas Boxcars manufactured in the USA. Very few were delivered on time. I got mine in March the following year. For my patience I did get a free hat and a $50 gift card.

It will take a long-term commitment before American manufacturing supplants the Pacific rim. China for example has dozens of factories capable of making a variety of products. Factories dedicated to making one product line are finding it hard to compete.
Having a labor force capable of making a variety of products requires investing in training. Keeping shareholders happy makes that challenging. Not to mention the cost of payroll and benefits. Pacific rim companies don't have to pay for health care. Their governments cover that.

Ollie's is a major player in the grey market. I love looking around in Ollie's, especially the book section.

That's the patented answer one would expect from Wall Street Lobbyists. My concern is our Corporate Greed, fueled by Private Capital, has jeopardized our National security, by even depending on a Hostile Communist Country to manufacture such critical items we used to manufacture. After all slave labor employed by the State Owned Industry is significantly cheaper than domestic labor, and totally unregulated. That greatly increases the profit margins of our Investment Bankers, Importers and Retailers. WW-2 was won because the "Arsenal of Democracy" supplied the world. Now, we depend on a Belicose enemy to produce what we need on their terms. Other Pacific Rim countries are really not much better.

Like with Deregulation and Privatization, Global Trade is but another bill of snake oil.

 

[kbkchooch]

Star Trek movies, while the whole cast was great, IMHO Chris Pine was a better Captain Kirk then Shatner was! You can tell he studied for the part!

 

[MikeInHubCity]

That's the patented answer one would expect from Wall Street Lobbyists. My concern is our Corporate Greed, fueled by Private Capital, has jeopardized our National security, by even depending on a Hostile Communist Country to manufacture such critical items we used to manufacture. After all slave labor employed by the State Owned Industry is significantly cheaper than domestic labor, and totally unregulated. That greatly increases the profit margins of our Investment Bankers, Importers and Retailers. WW-2 was won because the "Arsenal of Democracy" supplied the world. Now, we depend on a Belicose enemy to produce what we need on their terms. Other Pacific Rim countries are really not much better.

Like with Deregulation and Privatization, Global Trade is but another bill of snake oil.

Joe- sadly, that supply chain issue as a result of sourcing most things from overseas, is not limited to just our hobby. That’s impacting practically every industry. Fashion, automotive, traditional retail, etc.

 

[JeffH]

Importing labor is the quick way to reduce the cost of a product. The country exporting the labor is the winner, as the only thing being "consumed" is the worker's time.

China is the World leader in exporting labor. China is winning. And it's not just their slave labor... it's their whole mindset... their culture...

 

[D&J RailRoad]

Surfs up in the basement! Hot water heater is dying and losing vital fluids. Picking up a replacement after work from HD, this stuff just doesn't stop!

Why would ya heat hot water again?

 

[D&J RailRoad]

Importing labor is the quick way to reduce the cost of a product. The country exporting the labor is the winner, as the only thing being "consumed" is the worker's time.

China is the World leader in exporting labor. China is winning. And it's not just their slave labor... it's their whole mindset... their culture...

and there are countries who welcome it whole heartedly with open arms and willing to pay for it.

 

[PRR Modeler]

Afternoon All,

Started out running errands then ballasted a T/O and about 9' of 2 spurs. After that I taped the edges of the last track to ballast tomorrow (about 10'). Also tomorrow at 6 pm I start the dreaded GI prep for the procedure on Friday.

Joe- Thank you. The fire sounds like the origin story of the horror movie "Silent Hill". I have picked up several RR books at Ollies. I think what we are dealing with is directly related to decades of big buissness doing anything to maximize profits without regards to anything else.

Karl- Beautiful layout shot.

Willie- Civilian aircraft are just not as impressive. There's something about military aircraft that gets your blood pumping.

TomO- The old girl is showing her age but she still has a bite.





I hope everyone has a good night.

 

[Sirfoldalot]

Good speeds. But, there is always a but. What speeds are you paying for and r u happy

I do not remember what we are paying for as Wifey pays that invoice, but I do know that we have the cheapest service from Frontier - I'll have to check?
I am pleased with the speed -- there are a few times (normally less than an hour) in the middle of the night when I cannot sleep that it has been off - I presume for maintenance?

 

[Bruette]

Louis - You seemed to be up rather late for you last night! 9:30-10:00 pm.

I was not feeling well. I kept waking up coughing, sneezing, and blowing my nose. I got up because I did not want to wake up my wife.

 

[kbkchooch]

Why would ya heat hot water again?

OK Mr. Carlin, I hear ya!

 

[kbkchooch]

-- there are a few times (normally less than an hour) in the middle of the night when I cannot sleep that it has been off - I presume for maintenance?

Probably porn site overload crashing your service...........Go back to sleep!

 

[Sirfoldalot]

Star Trek - I liked the Original Series and Voyageur (with Janeway). I avoid all the other ones like the plague, I got tired of Riker and Pickard, also never could watch Deep Space 9. All the new stuff is garbage to me. I like being blunt sometimes.

DAVE Exactly my path too! We must have gone to the same school?

 

[bnsf971]

I didn't watch the DS9 series very much. Mainly because a friend of mine was executive producer of another series that was in production before DS9 started. Somehow, DS9 miraculously beat them to the punch with the exact same premise as the one he'd invested heavily in.

 

[BigGRacing]

Unfortunately so many of us are diabetics. Both types 1 and 2 are represented here in the diner, a great gathering place for diabetics. Thanks Mel and to the ladies!

I alternate between 2 miles walking at about 40 minutes with Terry to 35 or better alone. I swim for 30 minutes on the non-walking days. I am a carb counter since January.

It’s funny, I have gout now, but my sugars are fine…..we are all often so different with our issues.

 

[Bruette]

It’s funny, I have gout now, but my sugars are fine…..we are all often so different with our issues.

I have gout as well. My pharmacist said to me "you have the disease of Kings" "only a king can eat so much meat to get gout"
I said, "welcome to America" My pharmacist is a Coptic Christian from Egypt. The best pharmacist I ever had!

All of God's creations are unique.

 

[Boris]

Joe- May I presume that you’re referring to the days of the single tube on PA Hwy 9?

Absolutely. Fridays and Sundays back ten were brutal during prime travel time.

 

[Sirfoldalot]

TomO -- Purdy sure that we are paying $50 a month for internet.
I just ran Frontier's speed check and it shows as:
321 download
358 upload
I'm using a laptop, but they suggested a wired connection to the router.

 

[Boris]

Afternoon All,

Started out running errands then ballasted a T/O and about 9' of 2 spurs. After that I taped the edges of the last track to ballast tomorrow (about 10'). Also tomorrow at 6 pm I start the dreaded GI prep for the procedure on Friday.

Joe- Thank you. The fire sounds like the origin story of the horror movie "Silent Hill". I have picked up several RR books at Ollies. I think what we are dealing with is directly related to decades of big buissness doing anything to maximize profits without regards to anything else.

Karl- Beautiful layout shot.

Willie- Civilian aircraft are just not as impressive. There's something about military aircraft that gets your blood pumping.

TomO- The old girl is showing her age but she still has a bite.

View attachment 150580

View attachment 150581

I hope everyone has a good night.

Curt: The freight house lighting is great.

 

[Boris]

Joe- sadly, that supply chain issue as a result of sourcing most things from overseas, is not limited to just our hobby. That’s impacting practically every industry. Fashion, automotive, traditional retail, etc.

China is the World leader in exporting labor. China is winning. And it's not just their slave labor... it's their whole mindset... their culture

It's not what China does that bothers me...they are what they are and have been that way since the Communists took over, and they will never change until they take everything over...they are relentless.

My problem is that American Business, Capital, Government and Media are so eager to enable them much to our own detriment. Capital is totally unwilling to invest in domestic sourcing...that's ultimate greed at its worst. These Billionaires can't afford to change...it may force them to cut short their vacations in the Hamptons.

 

[Bruette]

As I suspected, I tested positive for Covid. The good news is last night was the worst of it. I feel much better already.
The bad news is my wife now has a sore throat. That is how it started for my grandson and me.