Running Bear's January 2025 Coffee Shop

[migalyto]

This was in my recommended YT videos. Some may of already seen it.

A neat cab ride inside the UP Big Boy.

 

[Patrick]

Karl: I'm about 2 weeks younger than you, but the wife is older. When you turn 65, you have to sign up for at least Medicare Part A (Hospitalization), or you will be fined. The fine is basically paying more for Medicare per month than you would have otherwise. You can avoid Part B if you have an available employer sponsored plan. Part B is $185 per month for 2025. The fine generally make the payment higher. If your employer has a prescription plan, it must comply with Medicare regulations. If you choose to stick with your employer's prescription plan and it doesn't comply, you will be fined when you go to buy a Part C or prescription plan. Once again, the fine is forever, adding to what you pay.

On one hand, I see the need to to have everyone enrolled in something. It makes sense to have a larger pool. On the other hand, if I don't want it, why fine me when I do need or want it.

I agree on Medicare Advantage plans. They only seem to be of great value to Insurance companies and their agents. Although to hear the insurance companies, they're losing money on every policy. Then why are they selling them?

 

[NYC_George]

My upgrades will start by adding bluepoint machines on each switch. Manually thrown with an under table rod mechanism.

I have about 20 tortoise switch machines. I'm going to use 6 on the new layout design. They all work but many are missing a lot of the parts they came with. If anyone here wants the rest let me know.
Swal

 

[Bruette]

I was being somewhat sarcastic

Me too

I unplugged it

Which in most cases will reset it, well done!

If you have one with a microprocessor, most newer ones do, it's like rebooting your computer.

I probably wiped any fault code it captured by unplugging it.

Most will store codes, even after being unplugged and often after being reset.

I've had to reset ours twice now. I believe it has been from an unbalanced load or from being overloaded.

I still haven't figured out how to clear the saved fault codes. I really don't care as long as it works!

 

[Bruette]

I am wondering whether to purchase more freight wagons? I really have far too many, but ----.

I can relate; it is always fun to buy more. But when they arrive, I wonder "Why did I buy these, what am I going to do with all this stuff?!"

If you have some wagons in storage, try rotating them onto the layout, it will look new.

 

[kbkchooch]

Karl: I'm about 2 weeks younger than you, but the wife is older. When you turn 65, you have to sign up for at least Medicare Part A (Hospitalization), or you will be fined. The fine is basically paying more for Medicare per month than you would have otherwise. You can avoid Part B if you have an available employer sponsored plan. Part B is $185 per month for 2025. The fine generally make the payment higher. If your employer has a prescription plan, it must comply with Medicare regulations. If you choose to stick with your employer's prescription plan and it doesn't comply, you will be fined when you go to buy a Part C or prescription plan. Once again, the fine is forever, adding to what you pay.

On one hand, I see the need to to have everyone enrolled in something. It makes sense to have a larger pool. On the other hand, if I don't want it, why fine me when I do need or want it.

I agree on Medicare Advantage plans. They only seem to be of great value to Insurance companies and their agents. Although to hear the insurance companies, they're losing money on every policy. Then why are they selling them?

It's a racket as far as I can tell. Wife is 5 years younger than I and a county employee, so we are both covered under her insurance, I really will need nothing until she retires in 8 years.

 

[rgeiter]

My poor Hammy. Was diagnosed with congestive heart failure a couple of months ago. He was about 20lbs then but now about half that. He still eats and gets around a little. Mostly, though, he lays down and stares into space. It’s so sad.

Last night I looked in on him and decided to lend him my phone so he could watch some cat TV. Lasted about 10 minutes but it was nice to see him watching birds rather staring into nothing. He is on heart medicine and water pills. Takes them well. Always gets treats after.

 

[Bruette]

My poor Hammy. Was diagnosed with congestive heart failure a couple of months ago.

I know what you are going through. I lost my Beagle Tucker to congestive heart failure. He did well for many months after first being diagnosed. He was on steroids to improve heart function and Lasix. I hope Sammy keeps responding well to his medications and God Bless you both.

 

[Bruette]

It's a racket as far as I can tell.

I'm with you. The first rule to running a confidence game is to make it as complicated as possible.

 

[NorthBrit]

I can relate; it is always fun to buy more. But when they arrive, I wonder "Why did I buy these, what am I going to do with all this stuff?!"

If you have some wagons in storage, try rotating them onto the layout, it will look new.

I do rotate rolling stock. Just got to say enough is enough ------- until.

 

[troyphoto]

I do rotate rolling stock. Just got to say enough is enough ------- until.

You obviously need a larger staging yard

 

[NorthBrit]

You obviously need a larger staging yard

Household Authorities said 'No', to having the large bedroom.

 

[troyphoto]

Household Authorities said 'No', to having the large bedroom.

Well, not all of it. Just about 4 feet of wall space to extend the current areas. It will be Wafer Thin!

 

[michaeljoe]

For those who enjoy auto racing, one of the years biggest race begins this Saturday....The Rolex 24 at Daytona.
....IMSA (international Motor Sports Association).. will be running 4..classes of cars this weekend at Daytona raceway.
..... Green flag is it about 1:00 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, 24 hours of racing.

These are the same cars that run the 24 hours of La Mens. I have seen these cars race before they're fun to watch they're very loud and very fast.
..... Anyways I thought I'd just passed that on.

 

[D&J RailRoad]

Awwwww, I don't think the open wheel, F1 racing is as exciting as the stock car racing of NASCAR.

 

[troyphoto]

BUBBA J: They're making a LEFT TURN!

As someone who had to (job requirement) had to walk the press access of the infield at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, I'm not someone who ever saw the "sport" in auto racing. I mean, where's the ball/puck?

I ask it that way, because one of the papers I worked at had a sports reporter who refused to call any sport without a ball a sport (track and field, swimming, badminton etc) ... so the sports editor made him put in all the bowling league stats each week. Because, you know, it has a ball.

When the only thing between a journalist/fan and instant death is a wire fence, or a metal guardrail as cars wizzzzzz by at 200+ mph, I'll leave that to the people who enjoy such things.

 

[kbkchooch]

BUBBA J: They're making a LEFT TURN!

As someone who had to (job requirement) had to walk the press access of the infield at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, I'm not someone who ever saw the "sport" in auto racing. I mean, where's the ball/puck?

I ask it that way, because one of the papers I worked at had a sports reporter who refused to call any sport without a ball a sport (track and field, swimming, badminton etc) ... so the sports editor made him put in all the bowling league stats each week. Because, you know, it has a ball.

When the only thing between a journalist/fan and instant death is a wire fence, or a metal guardrail as cars wizzzzzz by at 200+ mph, I'll leave that to the people who enjoy such things.

To quote Hemmingway "there are only 3 sports, bullfighting, mountain climbing and auto racing. Everything else is just a game."

 

[rgeiter]

I know what you are going through. I lost my Beagle Tucker to congestive heart failure. He did well for many months after first being diagnosed. He was on steroids to improve heart function and Lasix. I hope Sammy keeps responding well to his medications and God Bless you both.

Thank you!

 

[Bill Tidler Jr.]

I would definitely avoid Part C - Aka "Medicare Advantage". The only ones to benefit from Part C, are the Insurance carriers and their agents.

I am a railroad retiree and I have a "Medicare Advantage" plan and I have never had any problem with it. In fact, it saves me $250-300 a month in premiums. YMMV

 

[Boris]

It's a racket as far as I can tell.

Well of course it is....and pretty much one size fits all take it or be punished invention of the government.

In my case Amtrak....the government personified....cut off both me and the wife when I turned 65....she is younger.....I signed up with Medicare in advance, but had to scramble to find her suitable coverage for three years....Fortunately, the RR Union sponsored plan had a major medical policy she was able to sign on to, as well as the medicare supplement.

Depending on one's circumstances, Medicare is generally a good thing. It's one of the few Government programs that Actually works. But you're on your own. There is little guidance available other than a government brochure, that is vague or some commercially slanted stuff promoting Medicare Advantage.

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