Running Bear's February 2022 Coffee Shop

[santafewillie]

Good Morning All. Clear and 36° here this morning. Heading back up to the mid-50's today, just like yesterday, possibly 70° for the next two days.
Going out this morning for a number of medical tests at two different medical facilities to try to resolve the breathing issues that I am having. Two of the tests are going to be at my doctors office, while the chest X-ray will be at an imaging center around the corner from his office. My shortness of breath comes and goes randomly, although my oxygen level is remaining at 100. My initial thought was a breakthrough Covid case, but the home test showed negative.
While I dislike stuffing Jeff Bezos' pockets, Amazon Prime is worth it for my wife. Every trip to the closest big city costs me at least $7 for gas, plus time to look around, it's definitely worth it. Especially now that they have figured out where we actually live. There's lots of stuff that we buy normally on our weekly grocery trek, but things that need to be delivered to our son/family in San Antonio also really make it worth while. She knows which stuff is overpriced there and acts accordingly.
I think that it's an absolute shame that businesses and politics are now intermixed. Worse yet are the attempted boycotts of places that you don't agree with. I personally believe that most of these boycotts backfire anyway. I think that anyone who forms a political opinion based on some Hollywood type person is just as big an idiot as that hypocrite personality. Private jets to enviroumental conferences is a good example.

Thanks guys for all of the likes and comments on yesterday's post of police officers; Louis, Gary. Karl, Steve J, Hughie, Smudge, Tom O, OB Ken, Joe, Rick, George, Moermusic, Jaz, Sherrel, Troy, Tom, Chet, Dave, Mikey, James, IB Ken, Chad, Patrick.

Somewhat back to normal routine out in the train shed yesterday as things warmed back up, just in time for my new heater to arrive tomorrow. Doesn't look like I'll need it for the next ten days. I alternated back and forth from workbench to layout. I did get the last small stretch of track ballasted in the scene that I am working on. I also glued down some more ground cover in two areas of that scene. Over on the workbench I resumed painting figures in an attempt to get ahead of that for a while. I do need to clear the workspace to start assembling trees. While I do not have that much patience, I could easily use 200+ right now, but I'll be happy with 25-30. Did I ever post that I do not like making trees? Even the store-bought ready made ones need tweaking in my eyes.
Many folks here have commented on the "action" poses that I use on the layout. Since they seem to be enjoyed and seem to be inspiring, here are a few of my favorites.

Lee -

Willie Hope you can get to the train shed soon

I have been able to get out there and run trains, but conditions just haven't been good for modeling. And now is the time of year that spring planting needs to begin in the garden, so that reduces my time out there.
Joe - It's after I clear the workbench that I cannot find the tools/supplies that I need for a project!
A most excellent rant last evening. I don't face many of the same challenges as you, most of my neighbors are as like-minded as me and they all live at least a quarter mile away and we can leave the shades open all of the time. One lady has even come by and gone skinny-dipping with me!
George - Not only is the climate mostly (in my opinion) better down south, but compared to your state my taxes are reasonable. I just payed under $1000 for 15 acres, a four bedroom house, a barn and the train shed.

Everybody have a great day. Stay safe and warm.

 

[Espeefan]

Good morning Everybody!

I don't like paying taxes, but fair is fair. What I really don't like is big corporations and the rich often don't pay their fair share.

Taxing retirement income is "dirty pool"


How about a flat tax, every worker and corporation pays the same rate!

Oh well, time to put on my "blinders on", focus on what I can do and forget about the things beyond my control.

Have a great day Everybody, "don't let the bastards get you down!" Despite what anyone tries to tell us, the American worker drives our economy.
We are already on top, level the playing field and lets us show what we can really do! USA, USA, USA

Hi Louis!

I don't think anyone likes paying, but as the old saying goes "The government gets theirs baby!"

Retirement income? Well, if we're talking about 401K and like that, I deferred taxes when I contributed so I guess fair is fair, but I don't have to like it. I do know that not everyone has to pay taxes on their social security, just higher earners with substantial income besides their SS check, so if you're one of those, good for you!

Flat tax? I had that discussion years ago when it was a campaign issue, and here's the thing: it doesn't raise enough revenue. Every country I could find that has it as part of their tax structure also has a value added tax, and those are a stinker! Check it out: https://itep.org/value-added-taxes-...x34vkT0EUf1upKT1QD-WnK5ibdJVKt6BoCRUgQAvD_BwE

Up here in Wisconsin they're toying with the idea of eliminating the State income tax and raising the sales tax 3% to 8.1%. It's supposed to "save us money". Of course, they only have the numbers on how much less state tax would be paid. They left out the part on how much more sales tax you'll pay. That will hit the poor schlub who is always twenty bucks short at the end of the paycheck! I lived in Alabama for 18 years. Low property taxes, because most of the land was owned by coal mines, paper mills and USX. 5% state income tax, 10.1% sales tax. Moved to Wisconsin, 6.27% state income tax, high property taxes, 5.1% sales tax. know how much money I saved? NONE! I just wrote one big check at the end of the year, instead of a dozen or so little ones. It was a wash, which shocked me, and is what started this little research project. My experience here is that every time the state cuts taxes, the locals come in and raise my property taxes to make up the shortfall. It's a shell game.
Another thing which is really irritating: if you're a sales type like me and can qualify for a bonus at the end of the year (if you make your goal) the tax man comes in and takes half up front. $10K bonus? You'll get $5K

You are 100% right about workers driving the economy. I hear people (and not rich ones) say things like "but Jeff Bezos creates all these jobs" all the time. Crap. Everyone who buys from Amazon creates those jobs. One of these days people will maybe wake up, forget about politics, and remember that they are actually in charge. I can hope!

 

[NYC_George]

We are able to take OT as vacation, so we work less time for the same amount, but we have highs and lows of when we are busy as well….

When I worked for the railroad overtime was built into the runs. You were on the job at least 12 hours a day. When I went back into the construction industry overtime was paid at double time. There was plenty of overtime hours to be had on the high rise building I worked on. A lot of people called it crazy money. On days they poured concrete you could be there sometimes 16 hours. I don't know what their getting now but 13 years ago when I retired it was $49.00 an hour. $6.00 of that went to union retirement, $6.00 went to an annuity, $6.00 went to heath care and $2.00 an hour went to union dues. You got the rest. Overtime was paid at double time. all those $6.00 an hour benefits became $12.00 an hour on overtime. That's why they called it crazy money. All those hourly benefits is what we live on today. That is plus my wife's nurser's pensions and annuity's she made the 28 years she was there. I got this union job because people noticed I was a hard worker. No one wanted to hire a lazy person. There is no way anyone can live on $15.00 an hour much less retire.
George

 

[Patrick]

Morning all,

Between work and reading, it has taken me more that 2 hours to get to this point.

Weekend was decent. I got to the train show. I was there for a couple of hours on Saturday morning (really busy as people wanted to get out after the snow earlier in the week. Then I took the 2 local grandkids back in the late afternoon as they had basketball games. It was a lot less crowded and you could actually see some things better. Between the 2 trips, I was able to get some nice stuff and a far better price than I would have paid on a couple of auction sites I frequent, but haven't been able to win lately.
Here's what I got:

3 of the rail cars were $4, the 2 unbuilt car kits were $5. I spent $3 on the billboard kit (which I hadn't seen in the morning), $20 for both the Texas barn and small water tower and $8 for the 3 outhouses. People have to have someplace to go...
I also found a couple of horns:

They looked very close to ones I need (Athearn #90604) to finish the GP-9 project. For a couple of bucks, I figured they were cheap enough to make them work.

I also had a couple of hours yesterday on the layout. I'll post what I've done on my layout build. I finally figured out my wooden bridge I started a couple of weeks ago.

Louis: Belated condolences on the loss of your godmother.

BBL

 

[BigGRacing]

$49.00 an hour

Way more than I ever made, that’s for sure ! and in American funds I suspect. It’s a nice chunk of change ! I always maintained that salaries for most people have not kept up with the increase in the cost of living…..but I am not an economist….

 

[Alcomotive]

Good morning everyone!


I just got my noticed from OTM Tracker Model....my order is ready and completed!

I should have it by Tuesday afternoon at the earliest we shall see.

 

[Espeefan]

Way more than I ever made, that’s for sure ! and in American funds I suspect. It’s a nice chunk of change ! I always maintained that salaries for most people have not kept up with the increase in the cost of living…..but I am not an economist….

You don't have to be. Just look at your checkbook! Purchasing power hasn't moved in decades. The "trickle down" never trickled. It doesn't look as bad as it is because husband & wife now both work (mostly) and we have loads of cheap Chinese crap from Wal-Mart. Don't get me started! Interesting read here: https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-ta...rs-real-wages-have-barely-budged-for-decades/

 

[chadbag]

Good morning. It's raining and 28. Should be an interesting commute.

Louis, when I worked 40 hours here, I brought home $486.10.
If I was forced to work Saturday, 6 hours overtime, I brought home $516.66.
$30 for 6 hours work, or $5 an hour. Since I don't like working for less than minimum wage, I avoid overtime as much as possible.

Just to point out that your actual taxes are computed at the end of the year. Their automated pay systems will take out extra because you slipped over a line into a higher bracket, but because it is only once in a while that you work overtime it doesn't really push you into the higher bracket and you will get more of it back when you file.

My wife sometimes gets hung up with this as well. When they withhold more, that doesn't necessarily means you are paying that extra in taxes. That is just their algorithm for predicting your taxes and doing withholding. Your final tax paid is based on your actual tax rate. Say your actual rate is 15% (plus approx 9% in SS and Medicare). So 24%. Plus say 6% state tax for 30%. If your overtime brings your $15 hour up to $22.50 an hour, and you work 5 hours, your gross would be $112.50 and your actual net of taxes is $78.75. But you may not realize that until you file and get the extra back. The withholding algorithms are usually way wrong when dealing with occasional blips in your income (that does not greatly change the end of year income) so while you may not get more than $30 in your paycheck, you will get the rest when you file taxes.

 

[Espeefan]

Good morning everyone!


I just got my noticed from OTM Tracker Model....my order is ready and completed!

I should have it by Tuesday afternoon at the earliest we shall see.

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Nice!

 

[NYC_George]

Way more than I ever made, that’s for sure ! and in American funds I suspect. It’s a nice chunk of change ! I always maintained that salaries for most people have not kept up with the increase in the cost of living…..but I am not an economist….

You earned it. $12.00 an hour was tax deferred until now. Who paid you this wage, people like Trump. Trump had high-rise projects going in New York City and White Plains, NY. Our local covered projects from 233 street, New York City to Putnam County, NY. Trump paid everyone a live able wage not so much for the Amazon owner.
George

 

[Boris]

Joe - It's after I clear the workbench that I cannot find the tools/supplies that I need for a project!
A most excellent rant last evening. I don't face many of the same challenges as you, most of my neighbors are as like-minded as me and they all live at least a quarter mile away and we can leave the shades open all of the time.

Willie: You are truly a fortunate man. I'm used to crowded conditions, growing up in a city, then living in subdivisions with smaller lots. I'm also used to a diversity of political views and expectations...What I never dealt with before is outright in your face resentment and self importance that has been common here since we moved from Metro Baltimore.

Our tax system encourages the poor to stay poor. It should be motivating them to do better. I wish I had a dollar go every time I heard someone say "why work over time? taxes go up." I don't buy into that thinking, but many do.

Louis: That is a common rationalization, the roots of which are found in the withholding system, which bases withholding on an annualized income basis...You earn $50 a day you are withheld at the annualized rate for a $13,000 annual Income. But if you make overtime in a pay period, your withholding rate goes up to the annualized earnings of your overtime + base pay. Therefore, a higher than necessary amount is withheld, during your over time pay period. That causes the perception you are talking about.

When I was working, my job had four hours overtime built in daily, five days per week. I was able to calculate my withholding to reflect my actual tax bill, and so I kept most of my overtime. Many people are afraid to make adjustments, because of an irrational fear of audits.

Taxing retirement income is a can of worms. As Alan pointed out 401(k) and IRA plans merely deferred the tax advantage until retirement, when in theory, the recipient's income and tax rate was lower. That's not necessarily true, It depends on individual circumstance. Taxing Government benefits, already paid for by a Payroll Tax on after tax income is insane.....

My problem is our high property taxes. Willie pointed out that he pays less than $1000 / a year in property taxes, for a 4 Bedroom house, 15 Acres and out buildings. My corresponding payment is $ 8,000 / year in property taxes for a 3 Bedroom house, on less than a ¼ quarter acre with no out buildings. I do not really receive any services to justify that tax bill, considering I have to contract for trash pickup, and pay extra for sanitary sewer,in addition to utility costs. etc.

 

[ctclibby]

Good afternoon. A bit warmer, 46 degrees now. We has some wind yesterday and what little new snow we had drifted just enough to make things difficult. The drifts were like concrete. My tractor was out in the shed still with the mowing deck on. I had expected to be gone out of here but the buyer delayed closing so he could pay cash. After plowing my driveway and the lane for over 40 years, I had to call the neighbor to come over with his four wheeler that is equipped with a plow. The drift came across right in front of the vehicles. Thought the neighbor was going to go over the handlebars when he first hit the drift. While he was there, he also made a trail to the shed where the tractor was stranded. Of course, teh drift always decides to park in front of the shed.

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My son and his wife's sister and her husband came over a few weeks ago and loaded their items that they had stored in the basement, but we couldn't get the tractor out of the shed because of a similar drift. Now they can get it along with the plow blade and power washer on the trailer and put them into the storage unit that my son rented. When he moves up, he is going to rent a Pensky truck and load it himself. With my bum left shoulder (rotator is shot) I am going to have the movers pack and load everything. Getting too old for that crap.
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A lot of great photos here today.

Curt - That Railway Express building is outstanding.

Ken - Hope you'll phot some videos.

Karl - I'm not going to call those modules over built, but well built.

Willie - Great scenes as usual. Top notch.

Louis - I will have to agree with the cost of Amazon prime being worth it. My wife had Amazon Prime and now that I am on my own, I signed up for it also. Although I am downsizing from a 3,200 square foot house to a 960 square foot condo, there are a lot of items that I have been and will be ordering from Amazon. Libby, MT, the town I am moving to is small, not quite 2,900 population. It's a place like what Montana was in the Bozeman area years ago. There are only 2 fast food joints there, a Pizza Hut and a MacDonalds. I would go hungry before consuming what they call food. There are 2 grocery stores and even a Sears catalog store. I had to order a stackable washer and dryer from them. The laundry area is set up for that. There are 2 hardware stores and a lumber yard there. The closest town, or city of any size is Kalispell which is around 85 or so miles to the east. Guess it will be a once a month stock up trip to the Costco. I know that I will be using Amazon a lot.

Here are a couple of photos from inside the condo.

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The laundry area is in the closet to the left of the refrigerator. The cabinets have soft close doors and drawers with a quartz counter top.
My son just arrives with his wife and my little grandson. Gotta go.

Later

Nice looking condo Chet!
Can't wait to see train stuff in the 2nd bedroom?

Libby proper is about 2,600 people. I would guess that in the surrounding area there are another 2000 or so. Still does not amount to a ton of folks though. There are more fast food places that you can see on the surface of stuff. Not the big 5 in any way, but smaller ma/pa places. Brads Burgers, the BBQ place down Mineral of which I can't remember the name just now and a few more. You can get hot food in the Pastime Bar which is usually good. We even had a Mexican food truck with great stuff until the snow flew. He is supposed to be back in the spring. Three ( I think ) major restaurants which usually have good stuff.
Kalispell is 90 miles east, Bonners Ferry about 50 miles West ( North ), Spokane is 100 miles further than BF with , Hayden and CDA before it. Eureaka 70 miles North toward border. Roeursars ( sp? ) and Empire Foods are the main grocery outlets of which they pretty much set prices to what they want. Troy at 15 miles west has Steins grocery which sometimes has good stuff cheap. We have found that if we know we are gonna spend 100 or so on food, we head to the Super1 in Bonners Ferry as the selection is better and prices are cheaper - besides, it gets our butts outa the house for a bit. We hunt in our back yard - no Moose or Elk; if ya want those you go out of town 20ish miles or so in the boonies. Fishing is bountiful, I head for my 'spots' on the river; 10 miles out between Libby and Troy for 12 to 14in trout. Hit a spot, no fish? Go to the next spot. Usually home within an hour with dinner. Think that the fishing license is $20 still, which reminds me I need this years.

We have just under 3 acres with 2800^2 house and 2 outbuildings - pay about 1400 a year property taxes, no State sales tax, although there is a minimal State Income tax. We got here in 2004 and the first thing we really loved about it is that we could go to the Mayor's or Sheriff's office any City/State/County function and actually sit at a desk and talk with them, walk in - no appt necessary.

The other side of the coin is really not that bad. We do our $500 Kalispell CostCo run every month or so and stock up - we have a big pantry and multiple freezers. Kalispell also has a 'Cash-n-Carry' ( Now USFoods ) which we hit as I process all of our meat: Ribeye, Sirloin, Brisket, Pork ribs, Tenderloin and BACON. Got a good meat slicer a few months back and will start buying slab bacon and slice it. If you need anything Federal, it ain't gonna happen here. Drivers License is a pain as they are only open for a few hours a couple times a week and ya have to actually sit and wait. I am still CDL so I get to visit every year for some reason or another. After this summer, it will be back to the 5 year license.

Once you get used to it here you will like it! Sure of it. After talking with you the other day you say that GG used to be like it is here. You should fall right in.

Didn't mean to ramble.
26F here, supposed to get to 45F later this afternoon. We will see.

Enjoy your day!

 

[NYC_George]

Good morning everyone!


I just got my noticed from OTM Tracker Model....my order is ready and completed!

I should have it by Tuesday afternoon at the earliest we shall see.

View attachment 140449View attachment 140452

James this is a beautiful car. What detail. Tie unloader, right? I know because this was the last job I worked on before leaving the railroad. Unloading ties for the conversion to 3rd rail electrification of the Harlem Division, Penn Central.
George

 

[D&J RailRoad]

Discussing taxes is a nice pass time. Just like the weather, nobody is going to be able to effect change.
That tie unloader. I'm pretty sure it's HO but the couplers on the gondola suggest O scale.

 

[troyphoto]

Just a quick note for Willie et al:

Business and politics have always been intertwined. Caesar was in debt up to his eyeballs and needed to make "business arrangements" with the Gauls/celts of Britain.... A few conquests later and he's Emporer of Rome

In the US, the 3/5ths clause was included to keep the businesses of the south thriving (eg agriculture)

Heck, read any railroad history about who was getting taxpayer dollars, or getting tax breaks.

The main difference between then and now is that the common peons like us are able to communicate in real-time with those around the world, and can see how the system is intertwined.

How many of us here watch the news for information about investing/retirement funding?

 

[PNKFLOYD]

Many folks here have commented on the "action" poses that I use on the layout

Willie- I haven't worked at a service station since high school, but you nailed my look in the tire repair scene!

 

[logandsawman]

Good morning all,

+7 and sunny here in Central Minnesota. I am back at work today, my covid experience now behind me. I kept a short diary of the symptoms, I had a 99.8 temp on Day 1 and by Day 3 was down to a steady 97.4.

Chet - Good to read about your new digs

Willie - The man at the tire shop is my favorite, I knew people that looked like that, and one of them worked at Rube's Tire in Forest Lake.

There were sheet soaking sweats lasted 2 nights, along with very mild sore throat, muscle aches, slight congestion. My wife started with her fever on my Day 3 but it only lasted a day or two as well.

We both had 2 doses of Moderna but neither of us got the booster.

I completed a lot of stuff while on sick leave, put a trim board around the layout to attach the ground to

The front trim boards with the slight ups and downs, will be painted black

Things are happening on my layout. Will be energizing the track this week, I think

Have a great day, Dave LASM

 

[Texas Hobo]

Good morning all! A rather pleasant day started here. Predictions have us going in to the low to mid 60's, breaking out the shorts.
Flo, just a bowl of oatmeal and coffee.

Overtime - Back when I worked hourly, you needed to work at least 16 hours OT in order for your paycheck to reflect a reasonable profit. Just a few hours and the deducts ate up most of the gain. OT was time and a half, with the seventh day being double, holidays double and a half. It has been a long while since I worked, but my last job paid $50 an hour with the same OT rules.

Taxes - If everyone paid their fair share it probably wouldn't be so bad. However, those 1%-ers work at figuring ways nor to pay or at least pay a minimum in taxes. Big corporations do the same, paying folks to figure ways to beat the system.

CTC- Your part of the world sounds fantastic. Sounds like a place I would thoroughly enjoy, the wife not so much.
Willie - Looks like one of your little people needs "to go" real bad.

STAY SAFE
LATER

 

[NYC_George]

Willie- I haven't worked at a service station since high school, but you nailed my look in the tire repair scene!

Willie tells stories with his models. 100's of stories we can all identify with.
George

 

[ctclibby]

Good morning all! A rather pleasant day started here. Predictions have us going in to the low to mid 60's, breaking out the shorts.
Flo, just a bowl of oatmeal and coffee.

Overtime - Back when I worked hourly, you needed to work at least 16 hours OT in order for your paycheck to reflect a reasonable profit. Just a few hours and the deducts ate up most of the gain. OT was time and a half, with the seventh day being double, holidays double and a half. It has been a long while since I worked, but my last job paid $50 an hour with the same OT rules.

Taxes - If everyone paid their fair share it probably wouldn't be so bad. However, those 1%-ers work at figuring ways nor to pay or at least pay a minimum in taxes. Big corporations do the same, paying folks to figure ways to beat the system.

CTC- Your part of the world sounds fantastic. Sounds like a place I would thoroughly enjoy, the wife not so much.
Willie - Looks like one of your little people needs "to go" real bad.

STAY SAFE
LATER

It is fantastic. There are people that have city life in the blood - not so good for this part of the woods. Your wife might like it after a year or so assimilation - ya never know. We are both pretty much hermits so no real need to go anywhere. I get to the local pub's every 3 or 4 days and sometimes the wife comes along. We don't go to the local restaurants often as they are spendy. I have been all over the USofA and have seen a ton of beautiful places - most are nothing but cars. If Southern Utah or Northern New Mexico had trees and mountains like here, we probably would be there as it too is great. Pre 2004 we had a computer store in Everett, Wa with 30,000 cars going by each and every day. All of them were the 'I want it now!' types. We looked at each other and thought - where do we want to be in 5 years? The Puget Sound area is really beautiful but it has the 'nothing but cars' problem. Mom wanted to go to Glacier Park so we decided to hop Amtrak and take her. During that trip we met the Libby area and decided we wanted to be in Montana. We fell into a 'computer monitor recycling' binge in Everett and Marysville where we would fill 40ft containers with them and get paid. Wa State at that time was charging a minimum of $10 to allow electronics into the recycle stations. We did it for free and would make $4 to $5,000 per container cash until the State told us we were gonna go to jail if we continued processing. Geesh, had a business license but that didn't matter. That allowed us to bank some $$$, then we bought a class C motor home along with a C50 16ft van. Loaded everything we owned and headed East. The thought was we were going to explore I90 for a suitable location but somehow got on US2 instead of I90 and could not get past Libby. Y'all might not know, Libby is/was a superfund site and was being cleaned up as we got here. They say that Libby does not have its own dirt anymore, all has been trucked out with new coming in. W.Grace mined Tremolite Asbestoes and sold it to the world. Heck, there are recipes for biscuits with the stuff it them.

Later