Running Bear's October 2025 Coffee Shop

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Good evening all.
In 2009 I met an elderly lady named Liesbeth who came to our village. We began talking and she told me the story of her parents during WW2. Her father was in the Resistance in the Netherlands. Her mother wrote notes of the time under German Occupation.

With encouragement from a number of people, Liesbeth has written a book.
I received a signed copy from her. A book I treasure.

IMG_0709.JPEG
 
Well, I just experienced—something. I’m not really sure what, or which thing is at the root of it.
Earlier today, I was scrolling through the marketplace on Fecesbook, opening ads I thought were interesting. Some were better than others, and some were “out to lunch” as far as what they had and were asking.
Imagine my surprise when I went back to Fecesbook a few minutes ago, with at least 20 responses to my messages asking if these things were available.
It was surprising since I personally never sent any of those messages, either my phone or Fecesbook took it upon itself to decide I wanted all those items and automatically sent messages of inquiry to at least all those people.
 
bnsf971 said:
Well, I just experienced—something. I’m not really sure what, or which thing is at the root of it.
Earlier today, I was scrolling through the marketplace on Fecesbook, opening ads I thought were interesting. Some were better than others, and some were “out to lunch” as far as what they had and were asking.
Imagine my surprise when I went back to Fecesbook a few minutes ago, with at least 20 responses to my messages asking if these things were available.
It was surprising since I personally never sent any of those messages, either my phone or Fecesbook took it upon itself to decide I wanted all those items and automatically sent messages of inquiry to at least all those people
Click to expand...
One of the many reasons that I don't do social media except for here.
 


Well that sucks. I was supposed to have an online video Teams meeting based interview at 1:15pm my time. Right before that time I went from my late breakfast back to my computer to try and log in and the computer was running slower than molasses after waking up. I finally was able to get the Teams link clicked and it said it couldn't find the video camera and microphone and I needed to allow it in the browser. Well, it was already allowed and in fact I had used the same browser and stuff in Teams on Monday to talk to them. I tried unplugging the camera and plugging it back in without success. I also tried a different browser but it said the same thing (so the system was the problem).

I finally downloaded Teams on my phone and connected to the meeting as that was better than nothing but by then no one was there. I rebooted the computer and now everything works. I think there is some sort of subtle bug in the USB code on wake up from sleep as sometimes the camera doesn't show up unless it is unplugged and plugged back in or you reboot. Also I think my 24GB of memory is not really enough for everything I do even though I had quit a ton of stuff and it should just swap it out anyway.

I emailed the recruiter to apologize and explain I had technical issues to see if we can re-schedule it.

--

Also, it went from blue with scattered white clouds to being totally overcast. I came back from my walk and it was still blue with scattered clouds (including the ones by the. mountains you saw behind my house when I was walking which were an anomaly to the rest of the sky). It was 54F when I got back. I used the facilities and showered and noticed it was a little darker out but still you could see a lot of blue around a cloud sitting over the house. It was back to 50F. A little bit later it was 52F and now it is back to 50F and totally overcast. And now the forecast says it should rain today with percentage chance going up each hour the rest of the day.

Forget what I said about the solar generation.

Here is a graph of it today. My walk was during the high part.

IMG_9938.png
 
Might be off-topic, but check out the (London?) Daily Mail's article about Sir Rod Stewart's model railroad. You have to go to the section on celebrities. He moved his entire railroad from the U.S. to the U.K. by having people that move studio sets pack and ship it. He monitored their work using a TV camera! He was featured several years ago in either Model Railroader or RMC (can recall which). He models American railroads in HO, and you have to see it to believe it!
 
trailrider said:
Might be off-topic, but check out the (London?) Daily Mail's article about Sir Rod Stewart's model railroad. You have to go to the section on celebrities. He moved his entire railroad from the U.S. to the U.K. by having people that move studio sets pack and ship it. He monitored their work using a TV camera! He was featured several years ago in either Model Railroader or RMC (can recall which). He models American railroads in HO, and you have to see it to believe it!
Click to expand...
I saw an article earlier this year regarding that move. Can't remember which publication had it, but it was real interesting. I'll have to check out the Daily Mail's article to see if it's the same one. As I recall, he expanded it when they rebuilt it.
He was in at least two issues of Model Railroader. So he's been on the cover of Model Railroader and the cover of The Rolling Stone! How many other musicians can say that??? I also remember another issue of something, maybe just an Internet thing, when he visited George Sellios's layout at Fine Scale Miniatures.
EDIT:
Here's the actual link to the current article:
Rod Stewart's Model Railroad
 
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Good day to all..............

chadbag said : Got my taxes done and submitted. Getting back a good chunk of money which will help catch up a month or so with the bank with the house which will buy us some time.

Last Monday, I went to get my taxes from my new CPA and got an awakening. Last years taxes (2023) were just a bit over $400 and the year before they were just a bit over $800. On Monday, I found out I owe $2,083.00. Please note, I only made about $3,000.00 more in 2024 than in 2023 but somehow I owe almost 5 times more in taxes. A bit of clarification here, my tax guy says I owe $0 fed taxes, my bill is for "self employment taxes". And there has not been that much difference in my deductions in the last five years.
Tax guy says everybody that has done my taxes for the last ten years were incorrect. My opinion is they just took a different route in my tax calculations. There is more than one route to figuring taxes. Just look at some large corporations that make money hand over fist but pay NO taxes at the end of the year. It is all in the way they "pencil whipped" the info. Tax guy says they are all committing fraud. I said that it appears the I.R.S. seems to be OK with it.
I will be using Turbo Tax next year.
It is just like finding a good mechanic, barber or attorney, you have to weed out the bad ones first.

On a good note, my old customer that I do work for on a part time basis, sent me a project to do. What I make on this job will help to pay my tax bill. However, it will also add to the taxable amount for 2025 taxes. Oh well.

I spent all day last Tuesday doing nothing as I felt like a gutted fish after my Monday encounter with the tax guy.

So much for my issues.

I agree with Willie. I never do social media except for a few model railroading forums.
I have absolutely ZERO affinity for mark zuckerturd.

My pick-up has been in the shop now for six weeks. My mechanic says they cannot find out what is causing the vibration that occurs between around 55 mph and 65 mph. He is messing with it late in the work day to try and keep my bill down. We shall see.

Not much time for anything else for now. I have just about had enough for this week.

Everyone have a great evening........John
 
John, I would have another professional look at your taxes. Any time someone says your previous preparers were doing something fraudulent to me is a red flag. There are many legit reasons that can lower your tax burden. Something smells lazy and fishy to me

It was announced this afternoon that Ace Frehley of KISS passed away today. At 74 way too young

Ace Frehley Passes Away​

Ace Frehley, the founding guitarist of the iconic rock band KISS, has died at the age of 74. His family confirmed that he passed away on October 16, 2025, in Morristown, New Jersey, following injuries from a recent fall at home.

Circumstances of His Death​

  • Frehley suffered a fall in late September, which led to a brain bleed.
  • He was hospitalized and placed on life support before his family made the decision to turn off the ventilator.
  • His family expressed their devastation, stating they were able to surround him with love and support in his final moments.

Legacy and Career Highlights​

  • Frehley was known as "The Spaceman" and was a key member of KISS from its formation in 1973 until his initial departure in 1982.
  • He rejoined the band for a reunion tour in 1996 and remained until 2002.
  • Frehley was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with KISS in 2014.
  • He had a successful solo career, with notable hits like "New York Groove
While I never was a fan of KISS we did see them in concert in Chicago and a few friends of ours were fanatics

Nothing in the train room today. I did look at my notes and the time on the Swing Bridge project is at 17.25 hours. That is actual work time not my breaks or wait times for glue to dry. There might be another 3 hours left on the project depending on how the weathering goes. I planned to weather some of my stuff today but life got in the way. I have 3 different NHL games on my monitor right now

Enjoy the night

Edit, sorry I missed Troyphoto’s post regarding Ace’s death
 
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westtexjohn said:
Good day to all..............

chadbag said : Got my taxes done and submitted. Getting back a good chunk of money which will help catch up a month or so with the bank with the house which will buy us some time.

Last Monday, I went to get my taxes from my new CPA and got an awakening. Last years taxes (2023) were just a bit over $400 and the year before they were just a bit over $800. On Monday, I found out I owe $2,083.00. Please note, I only made about $3,000.00 more in 2024 than in 2023 but somehow I owe almost 5 times more in taxes. A bit of clarification here, my tax guy says I owe $0 fed taxes, my bill is for "self employment taxes". And there has not been that much difference in my deductions in the last five years.
Tax guy says everybody that has done my taxes for the last ten years were incorrect. My opinion is they just took a different route in my tax calculations. There is more than one route to figuring taxes. Just look at some large corporations that make money hand over fist but pay NO taxes at the end of the year. It is all in the way they "pencil whipped" the info. Tax guy says they are all committing fraud. I said that it appears the I.R.S. seems to be OK with it.
I will be using Turbo Tax next year.
It is just like finding a good mechanic, barber or attorney, you have to weed out the bad ones first.

On a good note, my old customer that I do work for on a part time basis, sent me a project to do. What I make on this job will help to pay my tax bill. However, it will also add to the taxable amount for 2025 taxes. Oh well.

I spent all day last Tuesday doing nothing as I felt like a gutted fish after my Monday encounter with the tax guy.

So much for my issues.

I agree with Willie. I never do social media except for a few model railroading forums.
I have absolutely ZERO affinity for mark zuckerturd.

My pick-up has been in the shop now for six weeks. My mechanic says they cannot find out what is causing the vibration that occurs between around 55 mph and 65 mph. He is messing with it late in the work day to try and keep my bill down. We shall see.

Not much time for anything else for now. I have just about had enough for this week.

Everyone have a great evening........John
Click to expand...
What kind of truck and how many miles?
 
chadbag said:
Where did you get them from? And what are your plans for them? And can you take pics of them once out of the package? I have a pocket tram but didn’t try and take it apart yet iirc. Or if I did it wasn’t fun.
Click to expand...
Pm sent with the contact info. I am planning on putting them under a boxcar or combine body to use as a railcar. I've used their chassis' before and they work great.
 


westtexjohn said:
My pick-up has been in the shop now for six weeks. My mechanic says they cannot find out what is causing the vibration that occurs between around 55 mph and 65 mph. He is messing with it late in the work day to try and keep my bill down. We shall see.
Click to expand...
We had a really strange one last week. 1/2 ton GMC pickup came in with a vibration when braking. The higher the speeds the worse it was. Road tested, felt the vibration really when braking at any speed over 30 mph. This started after the customer had another shop change the brakes. Checked the brakes, Front rotors had recently been turned but when measured with a micrometer they were .001 above the discard spec. Rear drums and shoes looked brand new. When informed of the marginal front rotors customer had us replace them with new. Still no change in braking. After a bit of head scratching we measured the runout on the rear axle shafts .015 on one side and .010 on the other. Suddenly it dawned on us what happened. At 100,000 miles the other shop probably had to take quite a few large hammer blows to get the drums off which explains the new drums. They probably wailed on the drums enough to ruin them, and in the process bent the axle shafts. Bent shafts can affect the contact of the rear shoes as the drum rotates. 2 new axle shafts later she stops smooth as glass!

In your case I would start with the tires and get them "road force" balanced. Road forcing can find high spots in the tire that will spin balance just find, yet cause vibration on the road , usually at a set speed range like 55 to 65. Almost every tire and wheel are a little egg shaped. Road forcing directs the high and low spots to orient in a way to reduce vibration, or can also show a tire that needs replacement to balance properly. Usually an internal invisible defect.
 
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