Running Bear's September 2022 Coffee Shop

[NYC_George]

A few more pictures.....

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Is that CT James?

 

[Boris]

Gary: Power outages and tree debris are a major problem, but sounds like you got through the storm relatively unscathed. The downed trees resemble what Sandy did in wooded areas locally, back in 2012.
Curt: Thank you.
Hughie: When in doubt, take the safest path. That's what happened to the posts, regardless how anyone else felt about it.

Somehow emotions have become more important than facts.

Curt: Very true.

Watched baseball this afternoon. The Orioles until the rain delay, then the Nationals to Conclusion. It was Don Mattingly's last game as manager of the Florida Marlins. Wish Donny Baseball well, He was one of my all time favorites.

 

[troyphoto]

He probably was getting quite annoyed, but being aware of where he was and the company he was in, decided this guy wasn't worth the trouble. Being a Colonel would have helped, simply because he would have dealt with far worse than an opiniated know it all in his career.

A friend that made it to Leftenant Colonel (I know I misspelled it, but I love the British pronunciation) said you know you're a Colone (or LTC) when one can refrain from punching both a second lieutenant and a general in the same day.

 

[troyphoto]

Home safe and sound ahead of whatever Ian becomes. Sadly, I have friends who attend the author's conference, that try to extend the vacation a few days to a week. One friend, first time in Tampa, flew her family (hubby and kids) in TODAY and headed to a time-share for a week. They're taking each day one at a time. She figured if they canceled, Ian would fizzle and they'd regret it. If they get stuck, then they get "Hurricane Adventureland"

Wife took me out for pizza. I'm fighting a headache from the travel and doing the first load of laundry. Cat and I are now safely ensconced in the recliner. I have some Canadian whiskey at my elbow. trying to fight off a headache from all that travel.

 

[CambriaArea51]

I'm gonna disagree on that. A constitutional monarchy has no say in politics or on government policies, and is not allowed to even express an opinion (except privately) regarding the government or their policies.

Neither do the immigrants.(nothing against you just a point I'm making) I don't agree with what is going on at the border, but if we're going to be nit picky then I guess railroads can't be talked about do to their government ties.

 

[Smudge617]

Neither do the immigrants.(nothing against you just a point I'm making) I don't agree with what is going on at the border, but if we're going to be nit picky then I guess railroads can't be talked about do to their government ties.

If you think about it, just about everything can end up going that particular rabbit hole, except maybe the weather, oops no, can't go there either.
(think about it)

 

[santafewillie]

Good evening All. Made it to our destination in Gulf Shores safe and mostly sound after lunch at a wonderful Pizza Place in Gulfport. Kitchen is in an open corner of the restaurant and there is a large wood-fired stone pizza oven there. Fun to watch and delicious as well. Then we went to the Mississippi Coast Model Railroad Museum. Somewhat disappointing since the city still has not given them all of the permits needed to open to the public at their additional location. It's been three years! No one present could or would give all of the details, so I really don't know for sure. Took some pictures but I haven't located the cable to connect the camera to the computer yet. I know it is packed somewhere and if I don't find it by morning, I'll go down the street and buy another. There's no port for a big memory card on wife's laptop, only a tiny one.

We're in a different condo than the one we planned and asked for. That one is undergoing repairs this week (and last) incurred from Hurricane Sally in 2020. The leasing company provided a different place in a different building about a mile and a half west. We could have stayed in the other building as the repairs were not in our unit, but we would be subjected to excessive noise mainly from jackhammers. This unit is almost identical with an extra half bath (not really needed), but we got the price from the original contract. This place has both an indoor heated pool and a much larger outdoor one as well. The other one just has a nice outdoor one. Our unit here has a covered parking space under the building on the pool level, but the handicap one is more accessible so we are using our last week of the permit from wife's surgery.
This is a 5th floor unit with a nice view, but not quite as nice as the 8th floor one that we gave up.

Meanwhile, my wife has the Weather Channel on 24/7. We need to keep a watchful eye on this Ian storm, but there is such a thing as overkill. I actually feel safe since Jim Cantore is over in Clearwater FL which should be enough impetus to shift any action east of Gulf Shores. I'm pretty sure that we'll see some rain though. This may affect Curt before it's over.

Gary - Sad to see the pictures of the damage, but so glad that you and your family are safe.
Joe -

Obviously, your definition of "political" (as well as mine FWIW), clashed with some one else definition of "political". and all of the "offending" posts were pulled to satisfy someone's anomyous complaint. I imagine, Sherrel got pretty frustrated by the decision and decided a hiatus was in order.

I wasn't happy with the decision and how one dissident opinion could silence the majority anonymously, but that's within the conditions and terms of participation in these forums. That's one less thing we can talk about. Time to move on. There is more I want to say, but I really don't want to cross someone's invisible line and get de-platformed again. could have been the reason.

I couldn't agree more, and I thought of following Sherrel's lead, but realized that it would do no good. While I certainly would like to know the real reasoning behind the post removal, it's not worth the time. Still trying to reason how politics had anything to do with it.

Need to go now as we're joining SIL and friends for a nightcap after we just had dinner with them at Bahama Bob's beach restaurant. I'd rather relax here at the condo after two days of driving, but my wife had two Margarita's and can't drive in the dark.

 

[Alcomotive]

Is that CT James?

Nope NY

 

[ctclibby]

Good Morning all!
48F in Libby.
55F in Mt Prospect ( Chicagoland )

We both agree and have decided that something has changed. We are seeing double, maybe even triple the traffic on the Interstates in the last three days. Even between midnight and dawn. No holidays for awhile and skool started a month or more ago, so no clue as to why. Any of you other truckers seeing same?

Later

 

[ctclibby]

Obviously, your definition of "political" (as well as mine FWIW), clashed with some one else definition of "political". and all of the "offending" posts were pulled to satisfy someone's anomyous complaint. I imagine, Sherrel got pretty frustrated by the decision and decided a hiatus was in order.

I wasn't happy with the decision and how one dissident opinion could silence the majority anonymously, but that's within the conditions and terms of participation in these forums. That's one less thing we can talk about. Time to move on. There is more I want to say, but I really don't want to cross someone's invisible line and get de-platformed again.

Hmmm, "one dissident opinion" happens all of the time these days to silence whomever. I have always taken anomyous complaints with a grain of salt. One, forget it, multiples of almost the same maybe time to do something. It would be good if the powers that be did at least some accounting about this. I would think that since it is "The Coffee Shop" people can and should be able to express their opinion as long as there is no finger pointing or name calling ( or other flames ) and stuff keeps at the polite conversation level. This forum may be the only place that some are comfortable with talking about whatever and it is good to get stuff "off your chest" sorta speak. Only my $.02 worth and probably does not amount to a hill of beans.

Later

 

[santafewillie]

Any of you other truckers seeing same?

I ain't a trucker, but traffic was very light EB along IH10 yesterday, truck or otherwise. WB seemed a little heavier but I only travel this way a couple of times a year so I have nothing to compare with. Saturday I traveled SB IH35, EB IH20, SB IH49, EB IH10 and EB IH12; and only encountered traffic of any significance while in the city of Baton Rouge where LSU had a home football game with New Mexico State.

 

[Patrick]

Morning all,

Getting ready to head to the office and this is the wife's last Monday. After 2 weeks of getting up later, I can honestly say I'll not be missing the 3:30a wake up time. I'll keep the 6:30a start time.

Currently 53° and clear, going for 82° later.

BBL

 

[ctclibby]

I ain't a trucker, but traffic was very light EB along IH10 yesterday, truck or otherwise. WB seemed a little heavier but I only travel this way a couple of times a year so I have nothing to compare with. Saturday I traveled SB IH35, EB IH20, SB IH49, EB IH10 and EB IH12; and only encountered traffic of any significance while in the city of Baton Rouge where LSU had a home football game with New Mexico State.

Willie: I thought that you were the mother of all truckers...teehee.
I can see lite traffic down south maybe because of impending Ian. We usually travel I55, I57 then all the spaghetti in Chicagoland, or I40, I81, I64 the I95 to VA. Those roads have gotten busier. Oh, just wait until you get to go through Bristol when a race let's out. Mass cars of which most now think they are NASCAR drivers. Game days anywhere are a PITA too. Stay safe in your travels!

Later

 

[santafewillie]

Oh, just wait until you get to go through Bristol when a race let's out. Mass cars of which most now think they are NASCAR drivers.

I went to many races at Bristol, old track and new one when a vendor used to give me free tickets. Since their company HQ was in Kingsport, that's where they gave us hotel rooms. I was able to use 11W which avoided all of the traffic.

 

[TLOC]

Good Morning all!
48F in Libby.
55F in Mt Prospect ( Chicagoland )

We both agree and have decided that something has changed. We are seeing double, maybe even triple the traffic on the Interstates in the last three days. Even between midnight and dawn. No holidays for awhile and skool started a month or more ago, so no clue as to why. Any of you other truckers seeing same?

Later

Last week we drove very familar sections of I94, I90, I57, I39 and I88 which we have also driven each more the 3 times this past summer. I played passenger last week and Terry noticed the additional truck traffic. I started paying attention and she was right many more trucks out there.

I think it was the aftermath of the possibility of the rail strike. That was projected to happen the previous week and the still contacts to be ratified by the rank and file of 12 unions. I think shippers are not taking any chances right now.

 

[TLOC]

Hmmm, "one dissident opinion" happens all of the time these days to silence whomever. I have always taken anomyous complaints with a grain of salt. One, forget it, multiples of almost the same maybe time to do something. It would be good if the powers that be did at least some accounting about this. I would think that since it is "The Coffee Shop" people can and should be able to express their opinion as long as there is no finger pointing or name calling ( or other flames ) and stuff keeps at the polite conversation level. This forum may be the only place that some are comfortable with talking about whatever and it is good to get stuff "off your chest" sorta speak. Only my $.02 worth and probably does not amount to a hill of beans.

Later

Todd, Bingo! Thanks and totally agree.

Nothing in my mind was political and whoever complained needs to look in the mirror and ask why? I come here because it’s a good model railroading forum. I stayed here because of the “Diner” where opinions are given, rants are read and frustrations of members have been let out! I have never been dished publicly, I received one nasty email about something I wrote on Ukraine. I was able to not allow that member‘s postings appear on my feeds, that is cool.

When I was going through my anxiety attacks in December 2021 and JanFeb of 2022 the Urkrainian crisis started. I mentioned I didn’t think it was good for me to be involved with that. Members here took that as I would complain to the “powers that be” but I would not have. I would have left! But, until a couple weeks ago discussion of that Crisis was barely mentioned and for that I will love you folks forever. I am, I hope over those anxiety attacks and believe I can handle any discussion of any matter. But censorship may now have arrived.

While truck is traffic on the US Interstates maybe be up, the diner traffic is definitely down. I hope that the temporary discussion about the Monarchy doesn‘t have the censorship trigger finger too ready to go on other subjects.

be safe out there Todd

 

[ctclibby]

Todd, Bingo! Thanks and totally agree.

Nothing in my mind was political and whoever complained needs to look in the mirror and ask why? I come here because it’s a good model railroading forum. I stayed here because of the “Diner” where opinions are given, rants are read and frustrations of members have been let out! I have never been dished publicly, I received one nasty email about something I wrote on Ukraine. I was able to not allow that member‘s postings appear on my feeds, that is cool.

When I was going through my anxiety attacks in December 2021 and JanFeb of 2022 the Urkrainian crisis started. I mentioned I didn’t think it was good for me to be involved with that. Members here took that as I would complain to the “powers that be” but I would not have. I would have left! But, until a couple weeks ago discussion of that Crisis was barely mentioned and for that I will love you folks forever. I am, I hope over those anxiety attacks and believe I can handle any discussion of any matter. But censorship may now have arrived.

While truck is traffic on the US Interstates maybe be up, the diner traffic is definitely down. I hope that the temporary discussion about the Monarchy doesn‘t have the censorship trigger finger too ready to go on other subjects.

be safe out there Todd

Thanks Tom - we are safe and sane truck drivers; only for TWO mo runs!

I suspect the powers that be won't say squat, especially if the complaint came from an advertiser or marketing group. If this is the case, I feel for them as they have to keep paying the bills. It sure looks like participation has dwindled because of the choice, maybe even loosing users that have gone away without saying anything to anybody. Would be interesting to see the "page hit summary" for last month and in a few days for this month. If you don't have users, ya sure are not gonna have advertisers. Quite the scale to balance.

Later

 

[D&J RailRoad]

I guess if ya can't talk politics in the correct vein, ya can't talk it at all.
Been tryin to get setup for members of the club I recently joined to come by here next Saturday for a open house view of the empire. Two different members have offered to send me the club email roster so I could put out a message. Haven't heard back from either one.
I finished up what should have been a small task late last night after 10pm. One of the sidings on the layout was powered from the mainline bus. When a loco or freight car with Dust Monkeys was in the siding, the mainline showed occupied. Should have been an easy task to swap that power drop over to a non-signaled bus, but noooooo! Somehow in the process I created a short that took over an hour to find. It was in a cluster of wires away from where I was working. The insulation tape had fallen off the wires. Stuff dried out over the years, so the glue was gone. To make it tougher, the shorting wires were able to pull themselves into a pass-through hole in a 2X4 so it wasn't easy to spot it. Gremlins, hard at work down there.
One of the items I've been putting off now for the past three or four years is a grade crossing signal system. I've got as far as installing the gate and buck boards. Just can't bring myself to get into figuring out the sensors and Tortoise machine application.

 

[santafewillie]

Good Morning All. It's hazy and 79° here in Gulf Shores AL this morning. View from our balcony this morning.

Obviously I located the misplaced camera/laptop cord!
No one in the condo pool yet, although it feels to be a comfortable 85°.

Meanwhile someone is cleaning the pool next door.

While the chair/umbrella crew is setting up their stuff.

They didn't used to let "Ike" drive his truck on to the beach, so that's something new.

For now, wife is out getting herself some coffee and driving over to see her sister. She'll be back in a bit to get with me. I believe that we're going to the zoo today, before the hurricane hits later this week! Meanwhile I am getting ready to go for a walk. I'll be back later with more pictures.

Everybody have a great day.

 

[D&J RailRoad]

dang Willie, you could do one heck of a dive into that pool.