chadbag
Well-Known Member
It’s not twice as much for the same thing. It’s twice as much for four times and something that works.
Running Bear's May 2025 Coffee Shop
- Thread starter Bill Tidler Jr.
- Start date
ModelRailroadForums.com is a free Model Railroad Discussion Forum and photo gallery. We cover all scales and sizes of model railroads. Online since 2002, it's one of the oldest and largest model railroad forums on the web. Whether you're a master model railroader or just getting started, you'll find something of interest here.
And the Macbook Air runs circles around it.
The Windoze laptop I was having trouble with has a 3k oled 120hz display, 32gb ram, 1tb storage, and will also run circles around the Macbook Pro. It was $799 when I bought it less than a year ago. And I haven't had trouble out of the Air like I have this laptop.
The M4 Pro mini starts with 512gb. So I got the min and added the external storage as well
I actually bought a small windoze based computer the size of the mini. Mainly for some train software I have that runs under windows (some utilities for various modules). It was like $300 and pretty packed. No comparison to the Mac mini but I was impressed for the $300 or $325 I paid.
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a commision from some of the links and ads shown on this website (Learn More Here)
- Status
chadbag
Well-Known Member
I didn’t get checked in yesterday (Monday). It wasn’t a holiday, obviously, here in Japan but I did often think about it as I saw all the social media posts. It’s a somber yet great day to remember those who sacrificed their all.
Yesterday like I mentioned we flew from Kobe airport to Tokyo. Kobe airport is one of those small airports with 8 gates, though it seemed only 3 were being used. We flew a 737 for a flight time of 58 minutes. Due to construction at Haneda airport in Tokyo some gates were closed so we went down air stairs and got on a bus to the terminal.
Once there we grabbed a snack at a convenience store and took a train to Yokohama. The nice thing about Japanese airports is the restaurants and convenience stores inside basically charge the same as outside the airport. If there is a higher price it’s basically nothing. A couple percent maybe.
Anyway we went to Yokohama and left our luggage in a coin locker and caught another train to kamakura. It’s a seaside city and kind of famous. We went down a tourist filled little shoppig street and then left for where the daughter actually wanted to go. A place along the Enoden line, a small private railway that parallels the coast. There is a stop where everyone takes photos.
Here is the Enoden train
Then we walked to this place called Enoshima. About a mile down the way. Enoshima is actually the island with some shrines and you can walk on a bridge to get out there
Yesterday like I mentioned we flew from Kobe airport to Tokyo. Kobe airport is one of those small airports with 8 gates, though it seemed only 3 were being used. We flew a 737 for a flight time of 58 minutes. Due to construction at Haneda airport in Tokyo some gates were closed so we went down air stairs and got on a bus to the terminal.
Once there we grabbed a snack at a convenience store and took a train to Yokohama. The nice thing about Japanese airports is the restaurants and convenience stores inside basically charge the same as outside the airport. If there is a higher price it’s basically nothing. A couple percent maybe.
Anyway we went to Yokohama and left our luggage in a coin locker and caught another train to kamakura. It’s a seaside city and kind of famous. We went down a tourist filled little shoppig street and then left for where the daughter actually wanted to go. A place along the Enoden line, a small private railway that parallels the coast. There is a stop where everyone takes photos.
Here is the Enoden train
Then we walked to this place called Enoshima. About a mile down the way. Enoshima is actually the island with some shrines and you can walk on a bridge to get out there
chadbag
Well-Known Member
this is the spot where people take photos of the train crossing and the sea. But too many people to get a good shot.
This is Enoshima island from afar.
We walked from that crossing all the way to the island entrance. We actually went further as my daughter wanted to go to the Aquarium that’s 1/3 mile past and go to the gift shop but when we got there it was 5pm and they were closing. So we went back to the island and walked out to it. There is a large bridge that goes there.
There is a narrow shopping street leading up hill to a big shrine. It goes past the shrine up hill but we stoped at the first shrine.
A big fancy building seen from walking out to the island and then at the end of the shopping street(which was full of tourists) a Tori (gate) and stairs up to a Buddha where I took a pic looking back out back to the mainland.
We then walked back to the mainland and down another shopping street to the Enoden station and carried on our way to the other end of the line from where we started and took a JR train. This train is the Enoden train we picked up at Enoshima station to the Fujisawa end station
This is Enoshima island from afar.
We walked from that crossing all the way to the island entrance. We actually went further as my daughter wanted to go to the Aquarium that’s 1/3 mile past and go to the gift shop but when we got there it was 5pm and they were closing. So we went back to the island and walked out to it. There is a large bridge that goes there.
There is a narrow shopping street leading up hill to a big shrine. It goes past the shrine up hill but we stoped at the first shrine.
A big fancy building seen from walking out to the island and then at the end of the shopping street(which was full of tourists) a Tori (gate) and stairs up to a Buddha where I took a pic looking back out back to the mainland.
We then walked back to the mainland and down another shopping street to the Enoden station and carried on our way to the other end of the line from where we started and took a JR train. This train is the Enoden train we picked up at Enoshima station to the Fujisawa end station
chadbag
Well-Known Member
We left Fujisawa and took a JR train to Yokohama. (JR East is one of rail companies that was created when the Japan National Rail system was privatized back in the late 80s and it’s the dominant rail company in Times and environs and all the way to the top of Honshu). This is the train we took to Yokohama.
It was getting late so we ate dinner. Hakata style ramen. It was really good. They even had fresh garlic and garlic presses to add it to your soup. Two kinds of pork belly. Thick and thin cut. A soft boiled egg. The soup was tonkatsu style with spicy miso. (Tonkatsu are pork cutlets so the soup was a pork based soup). It wasn’t spicy but was really good. We also got a plate of Hakata style (small bite sized) gyoza
(Japanese style potstickers).
We then took another JR train to Shimbashi station. That’s the next pic. I didn’t get a pic of the Yurikamome train from Shimbashi to Daiba where our hotel is. It’s a fully automated driverless train that runs on rubber tires. It’s interesting. I’ll get some pics later since it’s how we get to and from the hotel every day. Here is the train to Shimbashi.
We’re staying at the Hilton Tokyo Odaiba. Odaiba is a man made island. We usually stay at the Hilton because the bass are a bit nicer than Japanese business hotels and old fat guys like me need it to get reasonable sleep. We had worldmark points to use up so we booked this with breakfast. This is probably my our 4th time in the last 12-15 years at this place. Here are some skyline pics off our back porch. And a pic of the Statue of Liberty taken from our balcony.
This is the best hotel breakfast ever. We only get it when we’re using points because it’s like $40-$45 a person but it beats al the other hotel biggest dive ever had. Here is my two rounds and there was a lot of other stuff I didn’t touch. This is this morning.
Btw. Japanese white bread is the best. This is kind of thin cut. It’s often thicker cut. I call it Oishi bread (Oishi means delicious or tasty) at my sister in laws place. I don’t usually eat a lot of white bread but I make an exception here. I’m looking forward to breakfast tomorrow.
After breakfast we had a little time before our appointment at the LDS Tokyo Temple with my other sister in law and so went to a mall not far from the hotel. Daughter’s main goal is clothes and other shopping. This guy was guarding one of the entrances. I guess he has his own store. We’ll be going back and I’ll try and get a pic of the giant Gundam at the mall.
The mall store didn’t actually open until 11am and we got there around 10:45. But the arcade on the top floor was open. It’s mainly UFO /Claw prize machines. There is a side room you can’t see that had video games. But everything in this pic is claw machines. (That’s this morning. Tuesday am ).
It was getting late so we ate dinner. Hakata style ramen. It was really good. They even had fresh garlic and garlic presses to add it to your soup. Two kinds of pork belly. Thick and thin cut. A soft boiled egg. The soup was tonkatsu style with spicy miso. (Tonkatsu are pork cutlets so the soup was a pork based soup). It wasn’t spicy but was really good. We also got a plate of Hakata style (small bite sized) gyoza
(Japanese style potstickers). We then took another JR train to Shimbashi station. That’s the next pic. I didn’t get a pic of the Yurikamome train from Shimbashi to Daiba where our hotel is. It’s a fully automated driverless train that runs on rubber tires. It’s interesting. I’ll get some pics later since it’s how we get to and from the hotel every day. Here is the train to Shimbashi.
We’re staying at the Hilton Tokyo Odaiba. Odaiba is a man made island. We usually stay at the Hilton because the bass are a bit nicer than Japanese business hotels and old fat guys like me need it to get reasonable sleep. We had worldmark points to use up so we booked this with breakfast. This is probably my our 4th time in the last 12-15 years at this place. Here are some skyline pics off our back porch. And a pic of the Statue of Liberty taken from our balcony.
This is the best hotel breakfast ever. We only get it when we’re using points because it’s like $40-$45 a person but it beats al the other hotel biggest dive ever had. Here is my two rounds and there was a lot of other stuff I didn’t touch. This is this morning.
Btw. Japanese white bread is the best. This is kind of thin cut. It’s often thicker cut. I call it Oishi bread (Oishi means delicious or tasty) at my sister in laws place. I don’t usually eat a lot of white bread but I make an exception here. I’m looking forward to breakfast tomorrow.
After breakfast we had a little time before our appointment at the LDS Tokyo Temple with my other sister in law and so went to a mall not far from the hotel. Daughter’s main goal is clothes and other shopping. This guy was guarding one of the entrances. I guess he has his own store. We’ll be going back and I’ll try and get a pic of the giant Gundam at the mall.
The mall store didn’t actually open until 11am and we got there around 10:45. But the arcade on the top floor was open. It’s mainly UFO /Claw prize machines. There is a side room you can’t see that had video games. But everything in this pic is claw machines. (That’s this morning. Tuesday am ).
When the tariff wars first started, I grabbed an M4 Macbook Air to lock in a "normal" price. It was $850 for the base model, after all my discounts. It has 256gb storage and 16GB ram, and no fans. It never gets hot unless really pushing it, and battery life is extreme. I got it because I am almost certain this will be the year my 2019 Macbook Pro will stop getting the OS updated. It has 1tb storage, 32gb ram, I9 and Radeon Pro graphics. Battery life was probably 3-4 hours when new, and you could almost bake bread on it when it was doing anything strenuous.It’s not twice as much for the same thing. It’s twice as much for four times and something that works.
And the Macbook Air runs circles around it.
The Windoze laptop I was having trouble with has a 3k oled 120hz display, 32gb ram, 1tb storage, and will also run circles around the Macbook Pro. It was $799 when I bought it less than a year ago. And I haven't had trouble out of the Air like I have this laptop.
chadbag
Well-Known Member
We rode various subway and commuter trains today to get out to the LDS Temple and after that appointment to go to Harajuku and the Shibuya for shopping. We’re now on the Ginza line subway going to dinner in Asakusa. Some Unagi place (eel). We started at station 1 and are riding to the end station. This is the yellow one below.
In Shibuya we went across the famous Shibuya crossing. I’ll talk about that later but two pics. One with people streaming across and one with vehicle traffic.
I didn’t get pics of every train or subway though I tried. Lots of walking around shopping this afternoon. My feet are tired.
The sandwich is an egg salad sandwich from 7-11. Every tourist group in face book raves about them so I had to try it. It was good. Most likely due to the bread and the mayo used.
The “Mom’s Touch” restaurant was just a place I saw walking around Shibuya and I thought it funny. A burger and chicken place.
In Shibuya we went across the famous Shibuya crossing. I’ll talk about that later but two pics. One with people streaming across and one with vehicle traffic.
I didn’t get pics of every train or subway though I tried. Lots of walking around shopping this afternoon. My feet are tired.
The sandwich is an egg salad sandwich from 7-11. Every tourist group in face book raves about them so I had to try it. It was good. Most likely due to the bread and the mayo used.
The “Mom’s Touch” restaurant was just a place I saw walking around Shibuya and I thought it funny. A burger and chicken place.
Last edited:
chadbag
Well-Known Member
I bought
I bought an M4 Pro based Mac mini with 24gb RAM and 512GB storage. And I added an external 4TB thunderbolt disk. It’s the most amazing computer I’ve had. It’s blazing fast.
troyphoto
Snarky Old Fart (in training)
Well, howdy there internet peeps and those running circles around computers
It's Troy again.
Today will probably be a Costco run. And I need to do a cleaning burn on the Kamado grill to get rid of the pig fat on the grates.
Since I switched my Acid Reflux to 1/day dose instead of the other med at 2/day (plus a bedtime dose most nights), I also shifted when I take my magnesium supplement. I couldn't remember it in the evening since that was the only thing I was taking at dinner. Something about no acid reflux meds in the evening and I'm out of that habit.
So I added the magnesium to the morning pill pile. And I'm sleeping in an extra hour each morning. Which is good. I was only getting 5-6 hours of sleep, and I like 7 hours better.
In other news, I've been listening to the Stephen Sears audiobook on Gettysburg while I do my walk. then I come back and read about that chapter's battle movements and such in:
Each right hand page is the same map, with the rectangles and arrows showing how the Corps, Division, and Regimental positions and movements changed from the previous map, where key commanders are – while the left page has a dry recap of the events depicted. This listen, then look is exactly the right combination for my brain.
I sense a short shelf layout, or diorama of a supply train in the early 1860s with a battle around it coming in my future. But, we'll see.
It's Troy again.
Today will probably be a Costco run. And I need to do a cleaning burn on the Kamado grill to get rid of the pig fat on the grates.
Since I switched my Acid Reflux to 1/day dose instead of the other med at 2/day (plus a bedtime dose most nights), I also shifted when I take my magnesium supplement. I couldn't remember it in the evening since that was the only thing I was taking at dinner. Something about no acid reflux meds in the evening and I'm out of that habit.
So I added the magnesium to the morning pill pile. And I'm sleeping in an extra hour each morning. Which is good. I was only getting 5-6 hours of sleep, and I like 7 hours better.
In other news, I've been listening to the Stephen Sears audiobook on Gettysburg while I do my walk. then I come back and read about that chapter's battle movements and such in:
Each right hand page is the same map, with the rectangles and arrows showing how the Corps, Division, and Regimental positions and movements changed from the previous map, where key commanders are – while the left page has a dry recap of the events depicted. This listen, then look is exactly the right combination for my brain.
I sense a short shelf layout, or diorama of a supply train in the early 1860s with a battle around it coming in my future. But, we'll see.
I have mainly Windoze because many programs and games I use are M$ only. There's something about just opening the laptop and using it without drama. I thought long and hard about getting more storage, but for the money Apple wants for another 256gb, I was able to get a 2TB ssd and an enclosure, and have a lot of money left over.
Good morning. It's clear and 73. I get to go to w*rk and face the music about why I didn't get a 4 hour job complete on Saturday when I was there for 9 hours. We'll see if it makes a difference that I never got the RV and parts to actually do the job until 45 minutes before we went home for the weekend. I'm guessing it won't matter.
kbkchooch
Verified Human
Good morning gang!
53° under cloudy skies with a daytime high of only 71°. Looks like we should get some rain later today, in fact for the next five days there is rain in the forecast. Great weather if you’re a duck.
Play hooky today so I shall be in the basement.
BBL
53° under cloudy skies with a daytime high of only 71°. Looks like we should get some rain later today, in fact for the next five days there is rain in the forecast. Great weather if you’re a duck.
Play hooky today so I shall be in the basement.
BBL
chadbag
Well-Known Member
The M4 Pro mini starts with 512gb. So I got the min and added the external storage as well
I actually bought a small windoze based computer the size of the mini. Mainly for some train software I have that runs under windows (some utilities for various modules). It was like $300 and pretty packed. No comparison to the Mac mini but I was impressed for the $300 or $325 I paid.
Kusojiji
RANK AMATEURS OF THE MODEL RAILROAD FORM MEMBER
That's what I hear, that the apple stuff is more stable, which is why I took a look.
Kusojiji
RANK AMATEURS OF THE MODEL RAILROAD FORM MEMBER
@chadbag My god man, you gotta be fried! I guess refueling with all that good food is helping!
I had a neurology appointment yesterday in Tokyo, near Shinagawa, about a two hour transit each way. Got there around 945 and finally got to see the doc around 1245 after the new guy check in process. Left there around 1330 after they took 6 vials of blood. We were lucky to get seats in both directions, but I was toast by the time we got back home.
Japanese bread comes in a cube and is cut into 4, 6, or 8 slices, thinner as you go up. 4 slice is awesome toasted with butter. I normally use 2 slices of the 8 slice for sandwiches. I have a lodge cast iron square pan that is the same size and fry my egg in it for a フライド卵サンド (fried egg sandwich). (lets see your mac do that haha!)
I had a neurology appointment yesterday in Tokyo, near Shinagawa, about a two hour transit each way. Got there around 945 and finally got to see the doc around 1245 after the new guy check in process. Left there around 1330 after they took 6 vials of blood. We were lucky to get seats in both directions, but I was toast by the time we got back home.
Japanese bread comes in a cube and is cut into 4, 6, or 8 slices, thinner as you go up. 4 slice is awesome toasted with butter. I normally use 2 slices of the 8 slice for sandwiches. I have a lodge cast iron square pan that is the same size and fry my egg in it for a フライド卵サンド (fried egg sandwich). (lets see your mac do that haha!)
migalyto
Well-Known Member
Good morning all!
Currently a very cloudy 55F. The weather app says no rain till tonight, but the skies and the radar say different.
Looks to be a batch out west of us that appears like its going to drop at least a little precipitation. Another
nice temperature day at 70F.
Have a couple more small things left to do to set the outdoors up for summer. Will try and get that all
accomplished today. Laundry is also on the agenda. Not sure what else.
Have a safe day everyone!
Currently a very cloudy 55F. The weather app says no rain till tonight, but the skies and the radar say different.
Looks to be a batch out west of us that appears like its going to drop at least a little precipitation. Another
nice temperature day at 70F.
Have a couple more small things left to do to set the outdoors up for summer. Will try and get that all
accomplished today. Laundry is also on the agenda. Not sure what else.
Have a safe day everyone!
Kusojiji
RANK AMATEURS OF THE MODEL RAILROAD FORM MEMBER
We've been overcast the last couple of days as you can see in Chadbag's photos. Threat of rain that never happens where I live. Even with that, the humidity has been pretty low. Temps are also down, so it is nice and comfortable.
Wife and I planted our yearly crop of egg plant, bell peppers and cucumbers. We augmented with marigold, hoping. In my other raised box, she is trying sweet potato. She did a good job with onions last season in that box and snap peas in the one with the cucumbers now.
She kinda took over the vegetable garden when I told her that I was tired of feeding the birds and bugs. I was going to just concrete the whole thing and put another carport up for shade.
Wife and I planted our yearly crop of egg plant, bell peppers and cucumbers. We augmented with marigold, hoping. In my other raised box, she is trying sweet potato. She did a good job with onions last season in that box and snap peas in the one with the cucumbers now.
She kinda took over the vegetable garden when I told her that I was tired of feeding the birds and bugs. I was going to just concrete the whole thing and put another carport up for shade.
Kusojiji
RANK AMATEURS OF THE MODEL RAILROAD FORM MEMBER
The red/white train in Chadbag's blog above is a keihin kyuko line which uses standard gauge track at 1435mm. The JR trains ride on 1067mm. The keikyu trains run a lot faster than the JR stuff. Not only that, they have 3 levels of express: express, rapid express and more rapider express. We refer to them as the black, red and green due to the colors in their headboard. The difference is that the black train stops at every stop. The red one skips a few and the green one only hits the major terminals.
One time we got drunk in Tokyo and got on the black one by mistake. Took a few hours to get home...
One time we got drunk in Tokyo and got on the black one by mistake. Took a few hours to get home...
santafewillie
Same Ol' Buzzard
Good Morning All. Mostly cloudy and 68° here this morning. It appears that the rain has left my area for now. It's still in the forecast for tomorrow and Thursday but not today. However it is raining just 22 miles north of here on the Oklahoma side of the Red River border, but appears to be just moving east. Mild weather for the rest of the week if the forecast is correct. Shouldn't reach 90° again until Sunday, but just barely. Rain total for Sunday night was 2.1" and the rain last night was negligible.
Spent far too much time yesterday in front of the computer screen since it was so wet outside. At least I'm not watering the garden or yard. Later after most of the standing water ran off, I did get some time in the train shed. I waited because there is nothing like standing and walking around with wet tennis shoes on. Otherwise I also did some household tasks for my wife. Today will be no different. I will start with my usual task of emptying the dishwasher. I need to pick some Cilantro this morning as it's getting ready to go to seed.
Cooler day meant a cooler train shed yesterday, so I spent some time out there after a 2 day absence. It was a mixed day. I put up the supplies that I bought Saturday and ran trains while looking for some of the remaining freight cars that I know still have McHenry couplers on them. Even though they haven't failed yet, they will and I don't wish to wait to replace them. Problem is that all of the remaining cars are all brown Santa Fe 3-bay covered grain hoppers, so I have to examine each one to find the ones that I am looking for. I know the car numbers but it is still a challenge since I have over 125 cars that all fit the general description. They can be at any one of 7 grain elevators or at the ethanol plant; or in trains parked on any one of over 2 dozen staging tracks. I found three yesterday and made some other minor repairs on them while I had them on the workbench.
Tom O - Your experience as well as what Marlon posted and what Sherrel had told me in the past, has reinforced my thoughts on never wanting to visit Kalifornia.
Mike - I'm a bit jealous that you have gotten your pool ready already. Mine is usually up and running by now and we normally are using it by Memorial Day, but not this year. Untimely rain and not enough sunny days in the forecast to warm the water up are the culprits. And I don't see any of that changing soon, although I am going to make a concerted effort this week. Current water temperature is still below 70°. By comparison, last year it was 78° and ready to go on the Friday before Memorial Day, but then that damn tornado on Saturday added a lot of debris that needed to come out. I will use it at 78°, but my wife won't get in until at least 81°.
Everyone have a terrific Tuesday.
Spent far too much time yesterday in front of the computer screen since it was so wet outside. At least I'm not watering the garden or yard. Later after most of the standing water ran off, I did get some time in the train shed. I waited because there is nothing like standing and walking around with wet tennis shoes on. Otherwise I also did some household tasks for my wife. Today will be no different. I will start with my usual task of emptying the dishwasher. I need to pick some Cilantro this morning as it's getting ready to go to seed.
Cooler day meant a cooler train shed yesterday, so I spent some time out there after a 2 day absence. It was a mixed day. I put up the supplies that I bought Saturday and ran trains while looking for some of the remaining freight cars that I know still have McHenry couplers on them. Even though they haven't failed yet, they will and I don't wish to wait to replace them. Problem is that all of the remaining cars are all brown Santa Fe 3-bay covered grain hoppers, so I have to examine each one to find the ones that I am looking for. I know the car numbers but it is still a challenge since I have over 125 cars that all fit the general description. They can be at any one of 7 grain elevators or at the ethanol plant; or in trains parked on any one of over 2 dozen staging tracks. I found three yesterday and made some other minor repairs on them while I had them on the workbench.
Tom O - Your experience as well as what Marlon posted and what Sherrel had told me in the past, has reinforced my thoughts on never wanting to visit Kalifornia.
Mike - I'm a bit jealous that you have gotten your pool ready already. Mine is usually up and running by now and we normally are using it by Memorial Day, but not this year. Untimely rain and not enough sunny days in the forecast to warm the water up are the culprits. And I don't see any of that changing soon, although I am going to make a concerted effort this week. Current water temperature is still below 70°. By comparison, last year it was 78° and ready to go on the Friday before Memorial Day, but then that damn tornado on Saturday added a lot of debris that needed to come out. I will use it at 78°, but my wife won't get in until at least 81°.
Everyone have a terrific Tuesday.
- Status
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a commision from some of the links and ads shown on this website (Learn More Here)