Running Bear's October 2022 Coffee Shop

[Snowman]

Snowman: Last year or so I purchased a camera system. The dvr plugged into my network and all of the cameras connected to the dvr via wifi. I just happened to have my network router dumping packets to a screen as I was checking something else out and had not closed it yet. Low and behold as soon as I powered up the dvr, it started sending packets. IP looked strange as I was not used to it. Search on arin.net sent me to ripe.net and I found out the ip was based in ShangHai. So I powered it down, then powered it up again with the same results. Can you say 'call home' software? Some of the packets going out were pretty large so I suspect that someone in China has some pix of the inside of my shop. End result is that I changed the packet filter on the firewall to not allow ANY ip from that dvr to go out over my internet connection. And because I am paranoid about this sort of stuff, I blocked the TV's, Alexis, Seri and and the other do gooder that I can not remember the name of just now no matter whom and/or where it was made. Well except for the ip's of the remote hosts they talk to as that is needed to work proper, but they do not call anybody else.

Later

Yep. I have a smart TV I keep dumbed down. I KNOW someone (from the darknet or the CCP) is in this Windows PC right now. I have not booted it up for nine months in Windows since I discovered it last December. As a defense I keep only a set amount in my primary account, and I've lowered my daily limits for both withdrawals and ATM direct cash withdrawals. I know they are in here right now. The most sophisticated of them can burrow so deep that they can read the characters of your Windows login itself.

For the last nine months, and when I first joined here, I used a Linux USB boot stick. I still do use it a lot. IMO every PC user should pre-build one so they can log in in the event of an emergency. You might have to enter your email account info each time you log in...and your screen preferences, if only to see what Linux thinks you are trying to do...etc. It was only mildly annoying, really. I quickly got used to it, and in fact, it was somewhat "freeing" NOT to have to scan email with each login. To set the screen size and resolution. Ok...I could deal with it. Maybe ten extra seconds each time.

 

[Alcomotive]

Good morning from a wet but still warm Wisconsin. Rained starting around 8 last night and through the night. Predictions on where you lived was up to an inch by noon today. The claim is we should see mid 70’s today.

The wife is optimistic her Packers will still finish the season great. The son was thrilled last night as his Austin FC (soccer) made it to the conference finals. I see my BlackHawks have now won 3 games so far. Seriously, some of the preseason experts thought they might only have 3 wins by Xmas. The NHL like the NFL has many of its top players injured. It just seems to me there are more of the major stars getting hurt but the statistics say injuries are down so far this season in both sports. It’s the media because of sports betting keeping us informed even of the hang nail injury! Happily since I have always been a Yankee hater as a team, they lost. Over the years of course they continually have those star players but as a team, nope, hate’m. I watched a couple innings and had to shut the announcers off. Left the screen on.

I think I need a day trip. Maybe the CP yard in Milwaukee next to the casino. I need some of my own photos of railcar ends. But no, not in the rain today. There will be time today at the bench and then who knows…

enjoy the day

In regards to the Packers....

If they do not lose any more divisional games they will be ok....BUT I currently have no faith in the way they are playing right now.

 

[TLOC]

It's the "Fame Factor". If you're a huge Utah Belt fanboy, have at it. I saw some of Allen McClelland's old V&O stuff hit e-Bay some time back, and it went for stupid money. Crude modeling by today's standards. You could still see the Pennsy stripes showing through the blue paint on the E unit. I myself happen to own one of Dick Truesdale's SP Fire Train models painted and lettered for his "Halfhollow & Huntington" railroad. I paid market price for the model at the time, no "fame factor" surcharge. He has some fame factor being the guy behind Westside Models. I was put in touch with him by a painting client & mutual friend. Nice guy, since passed on. I was going to strip and repaint it prototypically, but then I saw some of his stuff at a brass show BrassTrains put on a couple of years back. They made a big deal about it, so I kept it as is. Sentimental value. . Maybe someday someone will offer me a ton for it. It's in the photo gallery here somewhere, but here it is again. From the days when model railroads had a much higher dose of whimsy than they do today. View attachment 154346

I truly get the collector thing. I don’t share those feelings but that’s fine.

That train is marvelous.

 

[Snowman]

In regards to the Packers....

If they do not lose any more divisional games they will be ok....BUT I currently have no faith in the way they are playing right now.

View attachment 154349

LOL! You mean the Green Bay Packers, and not the packets.

Bart Starr was my hero. And the rest: They don't call it the Lombardi Trophy for nothing.

 

[Snowman]

I truly get the collector thing. I don’t share those feelings but that’s fine.

That train is marvelous.

You haven't seen mine yet.

The UB does NOT figure into my own universe, although Eric Brooman's work is exceptional.

 

[TLOC]

In regards to the Packers....

If they do not lose any more divisional games they will be ok....BUT I currently have no faith in the way they are playing right now.

View attachment 154349

I am a realist, my wife is a Packer fan. Until that final whistle blows she doesn’t really feel her team is out of it. We started dropping the season tickets to the Packers, Bears and BlackHawks in 2018. Terry though still has 4 outdoor tickets her dad had starting in 1960. I don’t miss going to the games and I sure don’t miss the prep work for the tailgating before or after.

 

[McLeod]

Good morning!

The layout swing gate seems to be completed.
What can I say. It opens, it closes, and the locomotive tests don't seem to be bothered by my design.
Even though I don't have the gate track wired, I can see it is a success just backing the cars over the joint. Everything is reasonably tight enough, and my hidden pin idea secures it well.
Some photos:
Closed:

Opening:

The locomotive tests:

You can see the 3/8" secure pin in place, in those last two shots.

It's not real pretty, but, no-one except the close family ever comes down into the basement anyway. Other than virtual train friends, no one ever visits. So, this train thing is just for the G-kids and myself.

Looks like the wife wants her garden rototilled today, along with a bunch of other chores. Trains will wait patiently.

Have a great day!

 

[Snowman]

I've known drivers to continue driving while suffering a stroke, a Heart attack is far more serious.
When I had my stroke it took me 20 mins to decide I needed help, another 45 minutes for the ambulance to arrive, (and then they made me walk to the ambulance), 20 min drive to hospital, then 30 mins waiting in the ambulance, because of Covid, 30 mins later had a stent in and was on the ward.
Not my best day.

As for getting the body returned, British Embassy is dealing with that.

My OTHER reply to your comment: World Driving Champion (1967)* Denny Hulme, who suffered a heart attack and pulled off the track...and died at the wheel in a race at Bathurst. When it's said of people "they died doing what they loved," Denny would be one right at the tip of that spear.

[* the WDC then was the predesccor of what today is known as the F1 World Champion]

He did'nt die from a sudden impact, or from any of the other misfortunes which typically befall racing drivers--fire being the worst of those...but in his case simply from failure of his body. Heart failure. But not, AFAIK, a broken heart. Just a man who lived his life to the last breath of it.

 

[Boris]

Washington 23 - Green Bay 21

Hail to the Redskins!

 

[Snowman]

I'm up. words to word today.

Then a flu vax

Then a haircut

then more words

Wife gets her flu vax tonight.

Just make sure its flu only if she wants to stay unvaxxed. Walgreens would not the place, as they have so many "accidents."

 

[Snowman]

Maths is that funny way of counting over in the Old World

Good morning!

The layout swing gate seems to be completed.
What can I say. It opens, it closes, and the locomotive tests don't seem to be bothered by my design.
Even though I don't have the gate track wired, I can see it is a success just backing the cars over the joint. Everything is reasonably tight enough, and my hidden pin idea secures it well.
Some photos:
Closed:
View attachment 154350

Opening:
View attachment 154351
View attachment 154352

The locomotive tests:
View attachment 154353
View attachment 154354
You can see the 3/8" secure pin in place, in those last two shots.

It's not real pretty, but, no-one except the close family ever comes down into the basement anyway. Other than virtual train friends, no one ever visits. So, this train thing is just for the G-kids and myself.

Looks like the wife wants her garden rototilled today, along with a bunch of other chores. Trains will wait patiently.

Have a great day!

Wow! That's rail cutting and matching of the highest order there.

 

[Alcomotive]

Utah Belt Athearn Genesis HO SD70ACe #4359 Non-DCC | eBay

Utah Belt #4359 is an Athearn Genesis HO SD70ACe. It is a very smooth runner. It is NOT DCC EQUIPPED. Upper front headlight and ditch lights are directionally controlled, the rest are non-functional. It has Details West Metal MU hoses, Tichy Train Group metal grab-irons, Detail Associates...

www.ebay.com

 

[Bruette]

Depth: Talent is spread so thinly, there is no depth. All Injuries are critical, especially with pitching.

I think there is more talent than ever. Front line pitching and top 10 hitters never have been and never will be easy to replace.

I like Houston to win the series. Thier pitching has been dominant so far. On the other hand, they did not have to face Bryce Harper.

As for managers, I am partial to Dusty Baker. He is a real class act. I like the guy!

I hope it goes seven games; more baseball is always good!

Play Ball!

 

[Boris]

If you want to learn more about one of the two states in the country that require a gas station employee dispense fuel into your vehicle:

Not for nothing, the whole thing boils down to business increasing margins while expecting the consumer to perform the labor without compensation. They already have consumers paying their credit card fees by charging 10¢ / per gallon more for credit cards, and debit cards than cash payment. Screw them! I have gotten used to having someone pump my gas.

On a related note, some local super markets, (Lidl, Walmart), are reducing or eliminating self service checkout. Apparently the cost of Shrinkage, as well as the cost of replacing worn machines and updated software exceed the increased cost of keeping automated checkouts.

 

[santafewillie]

Good Morning All. A light shower with 71°, which is supposed to be the high for today. NWS is still predicting thunderstorms today, but all that I see right now on the radar is light rain that will probably last all day. Cold front will hit early tomorrow morning, actually shortly after midnight and we'll see 47° by sunrise. Then three days of cool sunshiny weather before the next predicted rain event Friday. Barometric pressure is extremely low at 29.65 if that means anything. From what I remember from a meteorology course that I took in college, it means continued rain or a hurricane. Wind gusts over 31 mph all day yesterday, should stay below 20 mph today.

It's already sprinkled enough this morning, that today will be a mostly indoor day. No particular plans since I am caught up on household tasks. I'll have to find at least a small task to satisfy my wife; she probably has a notebook full of suggestions. Unusual for me, I seemed to have gotten two mosquito bites overnight, top of foot and right forearm. I never get mosquito bites although they attack my wife constantly. I think that it's the lack of beer yesterday, we had a bottle of wine at the local Italian eatery instead.

Thanks for the likes and comments yesterday for the pictures of the current project.

Yesterday being Sunday meant a very short day out in the train shed. I put finishing touches on some chairs that I got from MiniPrints in the summer. I had to touch up a bit of paint and then I added figures.

Then they found homes.

Guy -

No one seemed to say it was a stupid idea and will fail soon.

I can't comment since I have no experience with gates, but it looks good to me.
I don't mean to be picky, but the loco 5305 from yesterday is technically a SD40-2W.
Terry - I hate it when I find an unexpected obstacle in the yard while mowing. I keep a spare set of three blades ready in the shop.
Tom O - And I thought that I was the only one who noticed chatterbox Kevin!
Curt - Videos worked for me.
Ken (D&J) - Tell your daughter to verify that she has all of her credit cards intact, lest her daughter borrowed a few. Sorry to read this.

This one's for you Louis, today is National Bologna Day.
Everybody have a great day. Still wondering about Karl and now Justin.

 

[Bruette]

This one's for you Louis, today is National Bologna Day.

I still have enough Esskay bologna left to make a sandwich. I will celebrate today!

 

[Bruette]

Yes, I go to concerts to listen to music, not to hear a lead vocalist continually say "Hey there people..." or "Hey people do ya wanna hear "Ridin' the Storm Out"?

Back in the early 2000s I saw Pantera at Ozzfest. The lead singer would not shut up! Even their died hard fans were booing! I never seen anything like it.

Speaking of Ozzfest, of all the 100s of shows I saw, the two or three Ozzfest shows I saw, were all in my top five.

 

[Bruette]

Vaccines done

Checked in with my train buddies.

Now it's off to the rest of the day.

Have a great day Everybody!

 

[JeffH]

Flo!!! I distinctly asked for decaf! Why can't I sleep?

So...anyway...and this probably belongs in the "What are you listening right NOW?" thread...

...I'll ask here: Best LP/CD album cover in your opinion? CD guys are are, by definition, at a disadvantage. CD covers are so small you almost need (well I would) a magnifying glass.

But there is one classic I have in mind. And it is not "Candy-O."

LOL! You mean the Green Bay Packers, and not the packets.

Bart Starr was my hero. And the rest: They don't call it the Lombardi Trophy for nothing.

I have a friend whose father played for the Packers with Bart Star. He had a very short career in the NFL, and retiredas a football coach at Valparaiso University. He also taught sailing at Culver Summer Schools for many summers, and was a good friend of Buddy Melgus, of The America's Cup fame (not mention C-Scow boats and sails).

Norm Amundsen is still alive. I think he turned 90 recently.

 

[Boris]

I am a realist, my wife is a Packer fan. Until that final whistle blows she doesn’t really feel her team is out of it. We started dropping the season tickets to the Packers, Bears and BlackHawks in 2018. Terry though still has 4 outdoor tickets her dad had starting in 1960. I don’t miss going to the games and I sure don’t miss the prep work for the tailgating before or after.

I gave up my Eagles seats, when I learned I was moving to Baltimore in 1983. Bob Irsay's slipping out of town and moving the Colts to bumpkinville in March 1984, did in my interest in season seats, and football. (I was still on the Redskins waiting list, and I didn't cancel that until I moved to. Jersey in late fall 1985. I had a "Half Season" package with the Devils in 2010-2011, but their abysmal performance caused me not to renew. Come to think of it, I haven't been to a game since. The worst of it was riding the train (Red Bank to Newark), when there was also a Rangers game, and the jerky Rangers fans were also on the train. At least the train ride was free as the Transit Conductors honored my Amtrak Pass. The Rock was a 2 block walk from Newark Penn station, and one could walk through the Gateway Building, so only a half of block was in the weather.