Running Bear's January 2025 Coffee Shop

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Afternoon all,

20° and sunny at this time. Overnight low to be about 15°, 21 degrees warmer than this morning.

I hate the new Word 365 with Co-Pilot. If I misspell a word, it pops up, not only with several words it thinks I might mean instead, it also comes up with the definition and etymology of the word. Annoying as hell.

Mikey: Happy Anniversary to you and the Mrs. We had triplets and always told everyone we had to stay together as it was them vs us. They are good kids.
 
Patrick said:
Afternoon all,

20° and sunny at this time. Overnight low to be about 15°, 21 degrees warmer than this morning.

I hate the new Word 365 with Co-Pilot. If I misspell a word, it pops up, not only with several words it thinks I might mean instead, it also comes up with the definition and etymology of the word. Annoying as hell.
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There is a setting in the app that you can disable it with. I've had to do that with my work computer, since we use many non-recognized words in the course of our business.
 


chadbag said:
I’m sure the new AI based auto correct and word suggestion systems are worse than the old school ones we’ve labored under for years
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Worthless? Mostly. I do find some of the suggestions offered up in Google Mail to occasionally be helpful, but more frequently annoying. I use the 2021 version of Word Perfect Office, mostly Quatro Pro, so I avoid 365 completely. Corel's WP has its own annoying features. But I'll stick with it as long as I can. (I'm a Fossil that dates back to 1-2-3). :eek:

I do have all the AI and Cloud features of Win 11 currently disabled, and I don't miss them. As I said. I'm a Fossil.
 
Temperature is still holding at 16°. Supposedly, lite snow is falling until around midnight, after which the temperature will "Plummet" to 7°, as it clears. The Cold Weather "Warning" ends at Noon tomorrow. Guy on the News this evening actually said said that it hasn't been this cold here since February, 2023 ????? like that's ancient History. I do dread the next gas bill. I keep the house on set on 70° the whole heating season.

Coastal Carolina is feeling Winter for a change. MCAS Cherry Point closed early today, so everyone could get home before the weather started. Guess they will work from home the rest of the week. North Country New York is feeling the wrath of Lake Ontario, with up to 24" expected, along with sub zero temperatures. FWIW: I'll take what we have in Jersey right now.

Those of y'all not used to our weather be careful, and don't fall or otherwise injure yourselves shoveling snow. Where y'all are, it won't last. Remember Spring Training first games Feb 22. That's 32 days from tomorrow.
 
Good evening and Mikey and Mrs! Happy Anniversary

It’s still cold in So. Central Wisconsin. Current readings are -2f degrees actual and the real feel is -9.

Terry’s procedure was uneventful which is very good. They changed the times twice this morning before we left the house. All that did was build up her anxiety over this. She’s doing good and while there were additional injections around the nerve path the Doctor was very please that not many injections were needed

Spent time in the train room packaging up the last commission weathering project for 2024. I really struggled on the final 2 diesels and tank car. Marlin39’s patience was outstanding! But, I do feel they turned out very well. I got to the post office to mail off the package and the postal clerk said I was only the 3rd person in 3 hours to use the window. She felt the cold was keeping the folks away.

I have no plans or weathering projects to start before 3/1. It’s my health, Terry’s health and my layout that will be prioritized. About 7 weeks of other things might feel strange. I still cannot fully (getting better though) close my grip on a golf club in my left hand! So no golf balls will be hit on the simulator. I’m walking without a left side limp and the arm does not get crazy tired after PT. I can hold things up and have been helping with a few layouts the past 6 weeks.

Unusual this afternoon that I spoke not texted with the brother. He was seeing how Terry did today. He wants us to come visit but Terry is not ready to travel. She also is not ready for the I told you so comments about the election from him…

The son in Austin did have some snow this morning. Called it mainly dust like in the cracks and grass edges. Gone this afternoon but said the media was issuing drive carefully warnings all day till about 4pm

Enjoy the evening
 
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Good morning! It's -4°F in Tipton.
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Coffee is on me!
 
Well howdy there internet peeps, and those who remembered to let your water drip last night.

I forgot and it's -4 F Degrees according to the Apple watch. Fortunately, we're in the middle unit of 10, and I only have two short walls exposed and only one water pipe inside in a danger zone. I do wish I'd remembered to install the hose faucet insulators. They're still in the garage. And those pipes are worrisome.

Had a fun layout day yesterday. Did some scenery work (Yes, I know, track first). I've got a couple of areas I need to know the scenery more than the track layout. I'd gotten the foam risers up to that point.

Update in the layout thread in the signature below.

Also, my wire from Parts express came in. I decided I'd go with Larry Pucket's (the DCC Guy) recommendation on getting Zip wire (12 gauge OFC stranded speaker wire) for the main bus line. Saves having to twist the two wires together.

Here's how it arrived. Gotta say the packers in the Parts Express warehouse are used to small and light things, not rolling round heavy things.
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So, it was run wires under the layout.... I started dragging stuff out of storage under the benchwork... and realized I'd never drilled wiring holes in the joists. Well, crap! At 2:30 in the afternoon, I'm not allowed to run power tools in the basement, and I've got about 20 holes to drill with a Forstner Bit.

Waited until after dinner, when the wife drove over to help her mom put on a new blood sugar sensor. I was on my second half of the clean up when she returned.

Oh, and I got chewed out, because I had switched the car headlights to OFF, while starting the car and letting it run yesterday. Wanted to make sure excess juice from the alternator was feeding the battery. Wife drove the 5 minutes to get home, without her headlights. We've hit that age where we just squint and wonder why the road is so dark.

Not sure what today will bring, other than getting the hearing aids checked at 2:30. Might have temps in the Teens by then.
 


Good Morning 12° in the Ozark Foothills. Thanks for Coffee Bill. Finally getting more done on the new layout put some Track, Road and the Sinclair Fuel and Oil place on. I Didn’t make it to the Lumber Yard just too cold getting the farm chores done yesterday morning and evening was bad enough. I’ve worked many a cold nights and days in my life and as I’m getting older things can wait that are not that necessary. Going to the Lumber Yard today it’s a little warmer and try to get some more buildings built today. Talk later. Stay warm and be safe.
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Good afternoon all. Thanks for the coffee, Bill. I need it.
The Weather Guessers say we are having severe weather with storms. Not a twig moving on the trees.

Youngest grandson visiting after school. He wats a pizza for dinner?
Dawn and I shall have and Italian pasta meal. (Got to have an Italian meal at least once a week. :) )
 
Good morning all!

Currently 6F with a little light snow moving thru the area. High projected about 24F

Not sure what the day will bring yet, still way too early to tell.

Bill-Thanks for the coffee. Saves me from making it. Im sure I will require several cups this morning.

Have a safe day everyone!
 
troyphoto said:
Well howdy there internet peeps, and those who remembered to let your water drip last night.

I forgot and it's -4 F Degrees according to the Apple watch. Fortunately, we're in the middle unit of 10, and I only have two short walls exposed and only one water pipe inside in a danger zone. I do wish I'd remembered to install the hose faucet insulators. They're still in the garage. And those pipes are worrisome.

Had a fun layout day yesterday. Did some scenery work (Yes, I know, track first). I've got a couple of areas I need to know the scenery more than the track layout. I'd gotten the foam risers up to that point.

Update in the layout thread in the signature below.

Also, my wire from Parts express came in. I decided I'd go with Larry Pucket's (the DCC Guy) recommendation on getting Zip wire (12 gauge OFC stranded speaker wire) for the main bus line. Saves having to twist the two wires together.

Here's how it arrived. Gotta say the packers in the Parts Express warehouse are used to small and light things, not rolling round heavy things.
View attachment 209758
So, it was run wires under the layout.... I started dragging stuff out of storage under the benchwork... and realized I'd never drilled wiring holes in the joists. Well, crap! At 2:30 in the afternoon, I'm not allowed to run power tools in the basement, and I've got about 20 holes to drill with a Forstner Bit.

Waited until after dinner, when the wife drove over to help her mom put on a new blood sugar sensor. I was on my second half of the clean up when she returned.

Oh, and I got chewed out, because I had switched the car headlights to OFF, while starting the car and letting it run yesterday. Wanted to make sure excess juice from the alternator was feeding the battery. Wife drove the 5 minutes to get home, without her headlights. We've hit that age where we just squint and wonder why the road is so dark.

Not sure what today will bring, other than getting the hearing aids checked at 2:30. Might have temps in the Teens by then.
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Morning all,

16° and clear this morning, 37° and above freezing later.

Bill: Thanks for the cuppa!

I am aware that the Co-Pilot can be turned off. I have it off and don't use 365 at home. This is my work system that I have to leave it as software loads as possible to assist with support of end-users. Trust me, it is my job to know. We are currently making the move to Office 365, so I have to be able to answer questions. Life of the Network Administrator.
 
Good morning from the south end of Wisconsin. It’s +8f degrees but the real feel is -12. The weather app is claiming it’s snowing but not on my corner! High later today should be low 20’s but feeling still below zero but with 1-2” of the white stuff!

It is travel day for a buddy and me. Heading to a work session on a layout about 1 hour in good weather north.

Yesterday I spent 30 minutes at a friend’s work bench area. Guiding him through his soon to be 1st attempt at weathering. It really was just discussing with him how to mix paints for his fades and base coats. Told him no way is right or wrong it’s finding your own way! 1st time to his house and train room. Oh boy does he have the trains! Many are brand new still in the box and he’s been gathering for years for his own layout. He also has to have 2-300 building kits! He does modules for a N scale club but he’s just starting the home layout. Going to build something representing the switching areas on the Chicago Northside in the 60’s and 70’s. No too big at 4’x 24’ with all sides accessible.

Last night around 9 I started texting with a member of the RiverRail.org operators group I belong too. He mentioned at a session a few weeks ago he’s not happy with his weathering using Arcylics. Got an outline from him for things we will discuss on Sunday with a phone call.

As I mentioned yesterday I have no commissioned work by design due until mid-March. I’m taking time away from the weathering bench to concentrate on my health, Terry’s health and my layout. Terry’s Trigeminal Neuralgia is preventing her from flying and we generally don’t drive for trips in the snow. So we are struck except for day trips. The doctor yesterday told her absolutely no flying until the next office appointment 2/17! So I may disappear from the forums in the morning just because I’m cutting back from online even more than I have. I did remove my SmartNews app, the ABC News app and the Drudgereport App on New Years day and 21 days later I’m still ok with it! Enjoy your day
 
Patrick said:
I am aware that the Co-Pilot can be turned off. I have it off and don't use 365 at home. This is my work system that I have to leave it as software loads as possible to assist with support of end-users. Trust me, it is my job to know. We are currently making the move to Office 365, so I have to be able to answer questions. Life of the Network Administrator.
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You have my sympathies. It sucks having to inflict that on yourself just so you can guide the other hapless users through the minefield.
 


Good mornin' y'all! 19 and clear with w/c 12 here in sunny Nacogdoches. High for the day 40 and low tonight 19 and no precipitation in the forecast. Gulf coast got a good bit of snow. I can remember a couple of times we got several inches in Galveston and on the Mainland. Glad I'm not trying to ply my way around Houston this am.
Not sure about all this AI business. I know most of the AI generated graphics I see are just plain weird looking. I don't have the time or patience to try to learn how to use it. I made the move from a Windows PC to MacBook a couple of months ago, so still dealing with that. And yes, I still put pencil to paper on a daily basis.
Waiting for trash folks to empty our container so we can fill it back up. They missed yesterday because of the holiday. It's amazing how much crap you accumulate in such a short period of time. Moving day getting closer.
A tad chilly, but looks like another nice day in East Texas. Y'all have a good day and take care.
 
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