Running Bear's June 2024 Coffee Shop

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ctclibby said:
Ya, I got Honywell auto majicks. Both heat and cool functions although they can not transverse from heat to cool automatically - ya got to change the switch. I set up 4 time zones: early AM, day, evening and deep night. I do like the bump up/down button. Couple of presses and you change the temp by a few degrees...until the next time zone. Boy how lazy can we get? Wait, I have a TV remote too.
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Yeah that was why I got rid of Honeywell. They could only allow 4 time periods to be defined (and I think you could have separate weekend ones). The Ecobee allows me to program them daily, which for me is important as the wife's schedule is not the same every week so some days I want it warm at 5:30am and some days at 6:30am and some days at 8am but I need to re-do the schedule weekly since her schedule changes.

The Honeywell seemed to me to be an "i" or online version of the old programmable ones. Same design thinking. For a lot of people that works great but for me it was a nuisance due to our schedules.
 
Our current house has two smart switches (and one smart plug I put in at Christmas to automatically switch the Christmas tree on and off since people tend to leave it on 24/7 otherwise). I bought the switches to test them in anticipation of the new house. I also have a few smart bulbs installed that I can turn off and on and change the color on. Mostly just a barely on dull red at night so I don't wake up when I need to get to the men's room but it slightly illuminates so I don't trip on stuff.

The new house, I am installing Lutron Caseta switches everywhere. Including closets. I can control them through the Apple Home app and tell Siri to turn them off and on. I don't like talking to Siri but I do talk to her for controlling lights and stuff. They're not cheap but should last a good long while (I've had these other ones for years that I've been testing). But its a buy once/cry once situation. I'll be able to figure out uses for them, like programming them to go on randomly when we're on vacation, make sure things are off if we forget, etc. And it's fun to tell Siri to turn on lights so I don't have to walk and do it or to turn off a basement light when I forget.
 


chadbag said:
Our current house has two smart switches (and one smart plug I put in at Christmas to automatically switch the Christmas tree on and off since people tend to leave it on 24/7 otherwise). I bought the switches to test them in anticipation of the new house. I also have a few smart bulbs installed that I can turn off and on and change the color on. Mostly just a barely on dull red at night so I don't wake up when I need to get to the men's room but it slightly illuminates so I don't trip on stuff.

The new house, I am installing Lutron Caseta switches everywhere. Including closets. I can control them through the Apple Home app and tell Siri to turn them off and on. I don't like talking to Siri but I do talk to her for controlling lights and stuff. They're not cheap but should last a good long while (I've had these other ones for years that I've been testing). But its a buy once/cry once situation. I'll be able to figure out uses for them, like programming them to go on randomly when we're on vacation, make sure things are off if we forget, etc. And it's fun to tell Siri to turn on lights so I don't have to walk and do it or to turn off a basement light when I forget.
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Red light preserves your night vision fairly well. Nice thing about working in dark rooms all those years. I could leave the lights off in the photography office and see to get around with just the dim glow coming in from the other offices.

I've been considering an apple or google home connection for my basement lights. I have a lot of dumb lamps that would be nice to be on a single switch to activate.
 
OK, gotta vent.

I sent out an email to my books-subscribers.

3400 subscribers. A few of them are kind enough to respond. I've been publishing under this pen name for four years now, and this reply was a first.

Reader started explaining why they just unsubscribed. Part one was something I could use as a teachable moment and show them how to save some money with an alternate subscription service.

He was complaining that I had pulled my books (over a year ago) from Amazon's subscription service. They required that my ebooks be exclusive to them. I make as much or more, by having my books on other platforms than only Amazon. And there are other subscription services that don't require exclusivity. And they're cheaper than Amazon's service. He could save some money.

Part two: He was railing against my inclusion of a certain type characters, and making accusations against such people. His diatribe was political in nature, and accused me of being evil I slept soundly at night.

Rather than replying to the person, I just went into my email service, and made sure he really did unsubscribe, and added his address to the blacklist that won't get emails if they do resubscribe.

I get the idea of being polite and letting me know the why he was leaving. No problem there. As I said, I could have helped guide him to cheaper options with even more books.

But I've never thought I should write to argue politics or religion with an author. I just stop reading their stuff if I disagree with what they're presenting.

Rant over. Thanks for putting up with me.
 
Boris said:
Considering how much you have saved on premiums over the years, you're most likely still ahead, plus you can make repairs quickly without waiting on an adjuster to get around to you. Some of the people who suffered damage in April 2023 are just now getting their claims settled.
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I am way ahead. I've been self-insured since 1995. My cost to replace the train shed roof is just under $4K, $3077 for roofer and materials, $850 for carpenter crew and materials. And it's been completed in 6 days. Heavily insured neighbor #1 who lost a roof, has a tarp only, paid for by him. Insured neighbor #2 who's home was completely demolished has seen an adjuster. They're staying with relatives since no cash for alternate accommodations has come through yet. But they will still stay with their son whose untouched house is just behind theirs.
 
Tonights Larceny is brought to by Whisper the Gargoyle wearing my White Pass & Yukon RR hat

Larceny #3.jpg
 


troyphoto said:
OK, gotta vent.

I sent out an email to my books-subscribers.

3400 subscribers. A few of them are kind enough to respond. I've been publishing under this pen name for four years now, and this reply was a first.

Reader started explaining why they just unsubscribed. Part one was something I could use as a teachable moment and show them how to save some money with an alternate subscription service.

He was complaining that I had pulled my books (over a year ago) from Amazon's subscription service. They required that my ebooks be exclusive to them. I make as much or more, by having my books on other platforms than only Amazon. And there are other subscription services that don't require exclusivity. And they're cheaper than Amazon's service. He could save some money.

Part two: He was railing against my inclusion of a certain type characters, and making accusations against such people. His diatribe was political in nature, and accused me of being evil I slept soundly at night.

Rather than replying to the person, I just went into my email service, and made sure he really did unsubscribe, and added his address to the blacklist that won't get emails if they do resubscribe.

I get the idea of being polite and letting me know the why he was leaving. No problem there. As I said, I could have helped guide him to cheaper options with even more books.

But I've never thought I should write to argue politics or religion with an author. I just stop reading their stuff if I disagree with what they're presenting.

Rant over. Thanks for putting up with me.
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It’s a strange world we live in
 
Good morning all. A surprisingly sunny day here as well in the North of England.
Looks like a Full English is on the menu. I'll have the same as Smudge please, Flo.

The belated birthday party went well. Just enough food for everyone with nothing wasted.

This afternoon I hope to be in the train room.

TLOC said:
It’s a strange world we live in
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Keyboard Warriors who have nothing better to do.
 
Good morning from Wisconsin. High 70’s and dry which is a huge contrast from yesterday’s continuous rain event and low 60’s. A soccer game at 1, a graduation party from 1 to 4 that if the grandson’s team wins they plays again at 3:30. So maybe a 30 minute party appearance if I’m lucky. Just long enough to say congrats, hug the twin graduates, give the gift cards, have a bite to eat and head back to the soccer complex.

Friday I pulled up track from the paper mill complex and Saturday started to install the new track configuration. A broken brand new turn out with no replacement at the LHS has me thinking a quick trip to Hiawatha Hobbies that opens at noon. But the hour drive back home, finding a spot at the soccer complex and walking to the field would probably make me miss 1/2 the game. I already have been feeling the unhappy wrath of the wife, I don’t need additional grief from the daughter.

The grandson wouldn’t be an issue. Between games yesterday the 3 coaches including the son in law read the riot act to the 3 leading players and their parents as the boys were acting like super stars and not working as part of the team. I missed the morning game so I didn’t see whatever triggered this. I was at Thursday night’s game and didn’t see anything unusual except they were wearing a glove on the left hand in high 70’s. I do know the daughter was ready to tear into her hubby the coach for singling out their son and his 2 best friends. The 3 sat on the bench during the 1st 1/2 of game 2 yesterday and the score was 0 to 0. They won 8-1 with the 3 guys scoring 5 of the 8 goals. But the head bans and the glove on the left hand were gone. I bet the son in law was not a happy camper going to sleep last night. But the coaches I believe were right.

Other than soccer and a party the goal this morning is adding lights above the cold storage and transload modules (12’ total) on the layout. After the hopeful second game I should be able to add the valance. From the transload facility module to the lift out is 20’? and it has quite a bit of storage damage. The modules are installed but I need the lights added, valances and fixing the damage both to track and scenery. Hopefully by Wednesday I can have the 12’ of grain terminal lights and valances installed. Then I need to order more lights and buy more masonite for the valances

have a great day
Tom
 


McLeod said:
Good Morning!

My hair is permanently formed straight back, due to the high winds we've had for a week. But, I do like the wind tan.

Somehow, a forest fire started just 1km outside town. No threat to me, as the winds were blowing it in an easterly direction.
They had the local airforce out battling that blaze, along with the volunteer fire-fighters on the ground:
View attachment 190779
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Not great photos. I have trouble holding the camera steady.
I believe they have that fire under control. It did make for a nice little airshow.
Flying those little air-tractors must be the best job in the world. Kinda like being a fighter pilot, with no-one shooting back at you.

Willie - Good to hear everything is ok with you. Tough to hear children were killed; very sad.
TomO - If you're getting lots of rain, I'll bet things are green in you're area.
Bill - A fine photo, this morning. I really like the photo variety you post.
Hughie - I've seen displays of deliberate model train wrecking in the past. It's sad that some can't do anything about their mental health.

Today, it's walk the dog, mow mine and the neighbours lawn, and then perhaps some layout time. I'm still trying to get that bridge across the river, and put the last spike in the layout.

Have a wonderful day!
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Guy we have had tons of rain for the last 6 weeks. Unfortunately it hasn’t been dry enough for the area farmers to plant. Those that were able to look like great crops are coming

I couldn’t be a farmer with all the worries
 
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