Running Bear's January 2026 Coffee Shop

[RhB Michael]

I wish Lisl von Schlaf was still around to enjoy this snow. She loved to play in it.

 

[-Possum-]

Morning folks, currently 24 and sunny, I think it'll get just above freezing today. Roads are still icy, bossman called and said stay home and we'll try again around noon. I did have to make a quick trek outside to free a little bird who got stuck inside one of the feeders.

 

[chadbag]

I spent way more after hockey than the plan was when I hit the LHS for more styrene. Today I need to hit up HomeDepot for a re-supply of adhesives. I want to try the new CA that HD is advertising plus I’ll re-stock my Gorilla Glue’s brand of CA.

This surprises me. Around here — at least at the RC based LHS — CA is much cheaper per weight or volume or however they sell it at the LHS than at HD. That’s because HD sells it in small DIY containers and the LHS sell it in hobby sized containers.

 

[santafewillie]

Willie- I have placed an order with Chet for about 20 vehicles, also.
He had a marvelous collection of vehicles, some of which I have not seen for sale before. They are some really nice vehicles.
He still has about 100 vehicles and I would love to transfer some more titles to my railroad. However, I have exceeded my modeling budget for now.
I'm looking forward to pictures of that fire engine being on your layout. Some Alabama volunteer fire departments still use these old fire engines.

They are all immaculate as well. This recent batch is the second that I have gotten, even though they are a few years before my era. But in the locale that I model, no salt is used on roads in winter and vehicles last a lot longer. Seeing a 1957 vehicle on the road around here wasn't unusual well into the 80's.

 

[Texas Hobo]

Good morning, (11:58) all! Currently 31 degrees headed for a whopping 42. Overnight we saw temps in the low 20's. We did our freeze protection stuff last night, no frozen pipes today. I was a little concerned about the well.

I always wondered if Chet had cars to support his trains or were the trains to support his fabulous car collection.

Willie - I thought I read that part of the contracts data centers had with ERCOT was that they agreed to be the first dumped should the need arise.

STAY SAFE & WARM
LATER

 

[shortwrench]

The snow started at 9 am yesterday here in Western Massachusetts. Continued for another 15 hours
with an accumulation of 18". At least it was the light fluffy stuff with the temp in the teens. No ice or wind
otherwise we would have had trees and power lines down.

A light snow is falling now. Expect 1-3" today.

 

[westtexjohn]

One mans point of view..........

The story goes that an old man lay in a hospital bed, holding his wife’s hand. He said, “You know, you’ve always been at my side these past fifty years.” “Yes, dear,” she said. The man continued, “I remember when we lost everything in that fire, you were with me. When I lost my job and was unemployed for a year, you were beside me then too. You were there when I had my first stroke. And now as I lie here, you’re with me again.” He paused for a moment and then said, “You’re nothing but bad luck!”

Hope folks are warming up........John

 

[santafewillie]

Willie - I thought I read that part of the contracts data centers had with ERCOT was that they agreed to be the first dumped should the need arise.

I believe that you are correct. I also mis-identified the agency that gave permission in my earlier post. I attributed it to the EPA, but it is actually the DOE.

 

[westtexjohn]

The one thing I do like about my new Honda is the very useful computer touch screen. Everything's there, your radio, cellphone, maps, messages, etc. etc. It's all there. Very easy to call and talk hands free. The last new car I bought was 10 years ago had none of this. Swal

View attachment 255718

Just a bit of history......... 1986 Buick Riviera

Buick called the system the Graphic Control Center or GCC. One hundred Riviera prototypes were fitted with the screens and taken to dealers around the country so they could familiarize themselves with the system. By 1986 it was available for all buyers in the Riviera.
By 1988, Buick began offering the GCC in the Reatta where it was relabeled Electronic Control Center for some reason. At the same time, Oldsmobile got to use a version of the system in the Trofeo where it was called Visual Information Center. Sadly the tech was a bit too advanced for customers at the time who found it to be distracting and confusing.
By 1990 Buick dropped the option from the Riviera and Reatta, replacing it with physical controls. Had customers stuck it out and adapted to the tech, Buick might have been a better brand for it. It wouldn't be until the 2000s that in-car touch screens would start to become a thing again. Today, nearly every newer vehicle on the road has some kind of screen in it and newer cars have screens that seem as if they're getting bigger by the year. For better or for worse, touchscreens are here to stay and we can thank brands like Buick for bringing the tech to the mainstream.

Besides all this, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of the time urged GM to not continue with the touchscreen technology as it was a distraction to drivers and thus could cause "distracted driver related accidents".

I worked at an auto parts store in Dallas back in the 80s for a while. The owner bought his mother a new Buick Riviera every two years. She had one of the "touch screen" models but only kept it for one year as she didn't really like the touch screen option.

Take care....John

 

[Marlin39]

Anheuser Busch may have done some dumb things in the past, but this years Budweiser Super Bowl commercial is actually pretty well done.

 

[westtexjohn]

Well the know finally changed over to sleet and/freezing rain this afternoon, but not before it left this behind,
View attachment 255760
Lord knows how much more before it is supposed to stop around 4 a.m.

I did get the driveway clear earlier today, so there is only 4-6 remaining so that wont be too bad to get rid of tomorrow. I also will have to clear some more area in the back yard tomorrow so the dogs can go potty. There is a small part off the deck they can use now, but the little dog especially needs a bigger area. The Border Collie can go anywhere, but the little one almost does a faceplant in the snow trying to go relive herself.

I too had snow and ice falling at my place, but it didn't leave any wooden measuring devices behind.

I better get busy....John

 

[NorthBrit]

Last Saturday (24th) a taxi arrived at our hotel and took us to the railway station. The Dolce Vita Orient Express was waiting.
Three wonderful days on board travelling to Venice and Siena.
Arrived back in Rome this evening (26th).

Visit Italy by La Dolce Vita Orient Express train

Give in to the charm of pure luxury and the pleasures of an iconic train La Dolce Vita Orient Express and experience an unforgettable journey through Italy

www.orient-express.com

Another day (tomorrow) in Rome, then we travel to the port of Citivecchia.

 

[NYC_George]

Can anyone here help me install an onn webcam in windows 11. I have a lot of trouble installing hardware on my new Windows 11 computer. I misplaced my DD214 Marine Corp discharge papers somewhere and I need to get a copy of the form to get a discount on the new Honda I bought a few days ago, I have to show my driver's license and SS card on my computer's web cam to verify who I am.
Swal

 

[santafewillie]

Can anyone here help me install an onn webcam in windows 11.

I cannot directly tell you, but I asked Google "How do I set up my webcam?" and it gave a detailed explanation with videos.

 

[kbkchooch]

Life isn't fair. I cleaned up what had fallen yesterday and last night after the 1st plowing of the driveway. Fixed the plow that had lost one of the bolts that holds the plow ro the frame of the tractor. Oh what fun it was looking for a 3/4 inch x 2 inch bolt in an unheated garage! With the plow restored I went out plowing snow and ice, get back in the house, had lunch and checked the local weather app. It seems the European weather model is calling for a repeat snow event for next weekend! Daily high temps this coming week wont be over 22 °. Where are we gonna put it??
Global warming my !

Mother nature is psychotic!

 

[NYC_George]

I cannot directly tell you, but I asked Google "How do I set up my webcam?" and it gave a detailed explanation with videos.

Not matter what I do Willie is doesn't work in Windows 11. I have to make sure the next time I buy something it's Windows 11 compatible. I'll have to try it on my Windows 10 computer. Swal

 

[NYC_George]

I just got it to work Willie. There's a very small sliding tab on the top of the web cam and as I started to slide it to the right my face started to appear the more, I moved it to the right. I see now it's called the privacy cover. It doesn't say anything about moving the thing in the instructions. I looked at many different YouTube videos and not one person mentioned this. I guess it something you should automatically know? Swal

 

[troyphoto]

If you're emailing in the forms, can you use the camera on your phone to take a photo of each, and email those files?

 

[Kusojiji]

Sadly the tech was a bit too advanced for customers at the time who found it to be distracting and confusing.

I still find it too difficult. My latest car stereo has touch screen and I need to be parked in order to do anything with it. At least my steering wheel control works so I can adjust the volume with my thumb.

 

[RhB Michael]

Just a bit of history......... 1986 Buick Riviera

Buick called the system the Graphic Control Center or GCC. One hundred Riviera prototypes were fitted with the screens and taken to dealers around the country so they could familiarize themselves with the system. By 1986 it was available for all buyers in the Riviera.
By 1988, Buick began offering the GCC in the Reatta where it was relabeled Electronic Control Center for some reason. At the same time, Oldsmobile got to use a version of the system in the Trofeo where it was called Visual Information Center. Sadly the tech was a bit too advanced for customers at the time who found it to be distracting and confusing.
By 1990 Buick dropped the option from the Riviera and Reatta, replacing it with physical controls. Had customers stuck it out and adapted to the tech, Buick might have been a better brand for it. It wouldn't be until the 2000s that in-car touch screens would start to become a thing again. Today, nearly every newer vehicle on the road has some kind of screen in it and newer cars have screens that seem as if they're getting bigger by the year. For better or for worse, touchscreens are here to stay and we can thank brands like Buick for bringing the tech to the mainstream.

Besides all this, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of the time urged GM to not continue with the touchscreen technology as it was a distraction to drivers and thus could cause "distracted driver related accidents".

I worked at an auto parts store in Dallas back in the 80s for a while. The owner bought his mother a new Buick Riviera every two years. She had one of the "touch screen" models but only kept it for one year as she didn't really like the touch screen option.

Take care....John

If the cell phones of today had been available in '86, those touch screens would have had better acceptance. As it was, they were more than 10 years ahead of their time and people couldn't adapt. Especially for the generation of customers those cars were targeted to. If it didn't have a knob, button, or lever to perform some function, they didn't want anything to do with it. A lot of them couldn't even figure out interval windshield wipers and auto-dimming headlights.