Running Bear's January 2023 Coffee Shop

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Louis - Baltimore - I think that the biggest problem with your city is the corruptness of the ruling class, from the Mayor, City Attorney, Police Department, etc.; that has pervaded the city for most of the last few years. As you posted, "idiots who vote for idiots!".
It goes back a lot further. We get an honest official, followed by an idiot, followed by a crook and it goes on and on. The mayor we have now seems to be honest. but overmatched. The new attorney general has zero experience!

They talk and they talk, but they ignore the drug problem. Drugs cause theft, violence, and homelessness. Some addicts consume $100s/day. They don't work for it!
 
It goes back a lot further. We get an honest official, followed by an idiot, followed by a crook and it goes on and on. The mayor we have now seems to be honest. but overmatched. The new attorney general has zero experience!

They talk and they talk, but they ignore the drug problem. Drugs cause theft, violence, and homelessness. Some addicts consume $100s/day. They don't work for it!
If we legalised drugs likely they would not cause much more problems than they do now,but the bottom would fall out of the prices, so may be less theft,violence,homelessness, but I would not hold my breath….
 


I tried something once a single green tablet given as freebies to encourage us to buy more, I barely slept 4 days was nutty as a fruitcake, but although I had no bad repercussions I decided it was too easy and basically losing 4 days not worth the hassle, plus I slept over 24 hours my mum said she was close to calling an ambulance. But honestly I am too tight with my hard earned cash to waste it on drugs…now high heels are another matter lol
 
If we legalised drugs likely they would not cause much more problems than they do now,but the bottom would fall out of the prices, so may be less theft,violence,homelessness, but I would not hold my breath….
The other side of that is a) The folks who will not try them because they ae illegal might be tempted to try them, causing more demand. A certain percentage will become addicted. And b) the same goes for people who have never tried them because they are too poor. might try them if the price dropped.
Either way it adds to the problem.

I am too tight with my hard earned cash to waste it on drugs…now high heels are another matter lol

Me too, except its trains🚂, not high heeled shoes. 👠
 
Good evening. 30°, clear with moonlight. going down to 28°.

The Good news is that the NJ Devils beat the NY Rags 4-3 in Overtime...the bad news is that Xavier beat Villanova, who dropped to 8-8. Jay Wright, where are you when we need you???

For the second consecutive day, I ran trains on my layout. I still have too many cars on the layout, and have to decide which ones to put away.

Tomorrow, I plan on permanently mounting the photo backdrop on the end module, which also contains the yard. Monday, I go for the CT scan of my heart and chest. Already established that I have a heart, so I need to be kinder and gentler.

As usual, many interesting comments.

Baltimore Coal Train EB on #12 @ Harrisburg PA in September 1974 - Steven M Geisler photo.jpg

Baltimore Coal Train, (C&I Hoppers), for the Canton Coal Tipple, passing the Harrisburg Postal Sorting Center on #12 track, adjacent to the former PRR Station, in this Steven M Geisler photo, from September 1974. If I remember correctly, the C&I train was barged over to the now defunct Bethlehem Steel Sparrows Point Steel Mill. Speaking of defunct, the Harrisburg Post office built on the site of the Reading Company Passenger Station, is now closed, and relocated to a suburban location. Platform track 10, in the foreground is also gone, as are all the locomotives in the consist, and the train it self. Tracks #11 and #12, remain , now belonging to the NS, but the Catenary wire is long gone. Harrisburg, is still a good place to watch NS freight, and Amtrak passenger trains, pretty much all day long.
 
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Future plans,,
IMG_0498.JPG

Saturday, June 7, 2009
Maryland Midland GP38-AC poses in front of the Former Western Maryland Railway station in Union Bridge MD for display on National Train Day. (My pic)
I have the loco in HO scale, and the station as an unbuilt craftsman kit. Someday I hope to replicate the scene.

Sadly this engine has left the property since the "Orange Borg" took over (G&W) but thankfully, one of her twin sisters soldiers on in its MMID blue and orange livery as a "heritage" unit.
 
Something occurred yesterday that has me more than a little conflicted.
I got no less than 8 separate emails in my dedicated email address that's only associated with my Apple ID, calling me by my correct first and last name, and telling me I was part of a class-action lawsuit involving Apple's questionable butterfly keyboards.
While I haven't made it a secret I'm a huge anti-fan of them (it feels like I'm trying to type on a 2x4), I'm wondering how the legal company got my correct info, and what makes them think I want to join a lawsuit and probably get a whopping $5 for my trouble...

Because Apple was probably legally required to give them the contact information for those who purchased the item in question (subject of the suit). That is the address Apple has for you.
 
On a whim, I joined a class action lawsuit against Starkist Tuna in 2013. In 2018, I received a voucher for $5.03 towards the purchase of Starkist Tuna!

I usually end up with about $5 or $1 or something from these. In most causes you automatically get to be part of it unless you take action to withdraw if you are part of the class and it is not worth my time to try and get out.

However, I was automatically part of the class of Apple Developers that benefited from a settlement with Apple and I ended up with over $1000. Just this Fall it was paid out. Totally unexpected. I had had an app in the app store during the period of time in question. App never made that much...
 


Can't speak - still in shock! Just received out SoCal Gas Bill for last month!
It is $321.00 -- 3x last year!

Natural gas prices up more than 300% since January 2022​

Court said prices are being pushed higher in part because of liquefied natural gas, or LNG, shipments going to countries in Europe that have been stocking up on natural gas in the face of cutoffs after Russia invaded Ukraine in February. Gazprom, the Russian-owned natural gas company, is the continent’s primary supplier of gas.

“This is about all the LNG we are exporting to Europe,” Court said. “They’re selling our natural gas to Europe because they get a higher price.” The resulting inventory shortages lead to higher prices for U.S. consumers, he said — and the companies can put on the squeeze because “consumers really need it.”

We haven't seen price increases like that here in Utah. Based on my last bill and the handy yearly comparison it seems we were $11.03 last year for the same month and $13.31 this year on a per decatherm basis (but including the flatfees like basic service and taxes as I don't have the straight price per decatherm for last year -- the bill for this year last month says $10.99756). Looking at the bill my numbers don't make sense since the flat fees aren't that much but the comparison chart shows "Decatherms/Day" and "Dollars/Day" from last year and this year, which is how I calculated the $11.03 and $13.31.

Anyway, it appears about 21% increase based on the per day" numbers. Luckily this year the next month's bill will be low as we were gone most of the month and I had the heat set at 55F instead of the 68F (day / 60F night) we normally do plus no one was using hot water so it just maintaned the tank and didn't have to replace any.
 
The other side of that is a) The folks who will not try them because they ae illegal might be tempted to try them, causing more demand.

Not likely. basic research shows that this doesn't really happen.

With the prices falling (when legalized) there won't be the "salesmen" on the corners trying to push them on the kids and everyone else.

Current MJ only legalization in most states is accompanied by large taxes and high costs of business as they can't get banking services and all sorts of things due to the federal illegality making banks etc unavailable to them. (I have a friend who runs the largest MJ store chain in Alaska; he's outlined the struggles they have and the costs incurred -- personally I've never tried and don't have any inclination to do so -- I don't even drink, which is legal). I read about in CO that the stores had (have?) to make weekly CASH payments of their taxes to the state authorities because no bank will do business with them. Carrying that much cash is high cost for security and they have to do it weekly.
 
If we legalised drugs likely they would not cause much more problems than they do now,but the bottom would fall out of the prices, so may be less theft,violence,homelessness, but I would not hold my breath….
Legal or not, I would like to see people locked up for public intoxication. Intoxicated people are a danger to themselves and others.
Even if they are released 24 hours later. No junkie wants to spend 24 hours without drugs.
Better yet would be mandatory treatment for repeat offenders. I think it would be cheaper than the current drain on the economy.
 
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Baltimore Coal Train, (C&I Hoppers), for the Canton Coal Tipple, passing the Harrisburg Postal Sorting Center on #12 track, adjacent to the former PRR Station, in this Steven M Geisler photo, from September 1974. If I remember correctly, the C&I train was barged over to the now defunct Bethlehem Steel Sparrows Point Steel Mill. Speaking of defunct, the Harrisburg Post office built on the site of the Reading Company Passenger Station, is now closed, and relocated to a suburban location. Platform track 10, in the foreground is also gone, as are all the locomotives in the consist, and the train it self. Tracks 3 11 and #12, remain , now belonging to the NS, but the Catenary wire is long gone. Harrisburg, is still a good place to watch NS freight, and Amtrak passenger trains, pretty much all day long.
That brings back good memories!

When I was a coal sampler at the canton tipple, we loaded many barges destined for Bethlehem Steel.
1673161839409.png
 
Good morning all, and as usual; great discussions. Just enjoying my coffee this morning and grabbing a bagel shortly.
I just find that there is a act of accountability in our main government leaders and this inefficiency drips down hill. That’s why I enjoy family, friends and doing my hobbies to get my head into more pleasant aspects of life. As always, I wish you all here a fantastic day! You deserve it!
I am not saying you are entitled…..lol
 


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