Welcome to Coffee Shop 17

[IronBeltKen]

Good evening,

Just a typical summer Saturday for me; spent 3 hours mowing the lawn, then finished getting the pool ready for use. Spent $140 on chroline and other pool chemicals, coulda picked up 2 more Atlas geeps with that money. Oh well. At least I had a chance to enjoy a bit of 'quality' time in the trainroom today. First I installed the decoder I had picked up on Tuesday in my new Atlas GP40-2; then I did a light weathering job on the roof, applying soot stains near the exhaust stack. If I can get some decent photos of it I'll post them in WPF.

Jim - I echo Rex's words of caution. That lowlife could very well have been armed. It's good you probably discouraged him from making a follow-up visit to your neighbors, I just don't want to read about you getting killed

Karl - I need one of those super-chippers on my property, especially after Tuesday's evening storm. There's this huge pile of dead branches in my backyard that just keeps growing bigger. I'd like to make a good sized bonfire with them, I'm just not sure of where I need to apply for the necessary permit(s).

I can hardly keep my eyes open, better sign off now. Catch y'all later.

 

[sparkyftw]

Evening everyone!

So, my friend and I signed up to do a 48 hour film festival this year. Started last night at 7pm. It has been a fun process that continues tomorrow with editing. We got some amazing shots down by the Mississippi River and the sunset. Also one great one with a coal train going by. Time for some long needed sleep before the final leg of the movie. All this work for 6 minutes.

 

[UP2CSX]

Evening, everyone.

BOC, I'm glad to hear the officer is doing OK. Sounds like your lake levels aren't going down soon. I did notice that MR staff blamed those bad marketing people for the ad, with the implication they didn't clear it with the railroad policy czar. Sounds like the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing.

Jeffrey, sounds like something has to be done with those bones. I don't envy you in your decision. You sure are good with cars though. I would have just sat there wondering why the darn thing wasn't working right.

Terry, I'll let you know how painful it is to switch to Vista 64 since I have two computers to upgrade. It sounds like having my eyes poked out with forks is going to be more fun.

Rex, those dang 50 series 16's have really gone up. I'm really dreading when we have to replace the tires on the Miata. They are 205/50 series 17's. Only two companies make those things, Michelin and Bridgestone, and Costco has them for about $350 each. Got woke up this morning about 8:30 with a giant clap of thunder. Weird getting storms forming that early. Got about an inch of rain and then the cool air cap stopped any further convection so that was the end of that. I agree with you on the MR ad, as I've stated in other portions of the forum. Just seems silly to me.

Chris, the strange thing is that smokers are a net benefit to society. They die younger, thereby not draining Social Security, the cancers they get tend to get are usually short-lived and relatively inexpensive to treat compared to other cancers, and they are an excellent source of tax revenue. Doesn't matter, though, once you've identified a group of lepers, you can attack them with impunity.

Karl, you should come on down to Alabama. As long as you live in the county and the county hasn't declared any burning restrictions, you can torch that pile right up. We regularly have people's houses burn down from out of control burns but, no big deal, I guess. Sounds like a lot of work and a lot of mulch. Maybe you can start a mulch business on the side.

Ken, lawns and swimming pools. Is it any wonder that rail forums slow down a bit in the summer. I'm sure the pool will be nice for the next several months but, every time I looked at mine, all I saw was a big wet money pit.

Ken and Rex, no worries about that guy. I'm always armed and always carry pepper spray. He was a typical skinny, rotted out meth head. I've dealt with his type nearly half my life and I knew where his hands were at all times. Even a senior citizen like me is a lot faster than he would have been. Now, if he looked like the Incredible Hulk, I probably wouldn't have been so brave.

Dan, are you doing this as part of project where other people are also taking movies? Is it all trains? Sounds like an interesting if exhausting project.

Calm, clear, and warm tonight. There's a chance we could get a ripple on the old outflow boundaries from todays' storms tomorrow and pick up a bit more rain although the prospects are not high. Just getting an inch was fantastic, though, since it looks like we'll be right back up in the high 90's next week.

 

[Cjcrescent]

...One of the few things I enjoyed about working plainclothes was pulling up beside one of those mobile boomboxes. I'd ask politely if they'd mind turning down the radio. ...

I kinda like the ordinance that the city of Gordo has, Jim. If anything on the "radio" can be heard outside the car when the windows are up or down, its too loud. This was challenged in court, and the city won. They won supposedly because they didn't specify what type of music was played. So I can't play my Beethoven or Copeland too loud there.

I'm back in Little Rock again to move daughter Wed. I got here last Friday and I had to drive thru that derecho (duh-ray-cho)! Scared the crap outta me! Only time that I can remember driving on an interstate and be the fastest car at 15MPH! This was the same one that knocked down many, many trees at Bluff Park, about 2.5 miles from my house. Many houses were damaged as well. I hit this thing between Forrest City, AR and Brinkley AR. I found out later that the winds were clocked at over 80MPH!

The damage at Bluff Park was supposedly so bad that the Police had some of the local TV/radio stations to broadcast a message that stated, "If you don't live in Bluff Park, don't go there to see the damage". My wife told me that Bluff Park still doesn't have any power, and that the damage was rivalling that in Olive Branch, MS, where they had an EF2 tornado! Power MAY be restored by midweek! Wow!

 

[vato loco]

Evening, everyone.
Chris, the strange thing is that smokers are a net benefit to society. They die younger, thereby not draining Social Security, the cancers they get tend to get are usually short-lived and relatively inexpensive to treat compared to other cancers, and they are an excellent source of tax revenue. Doesn't matter, though, once you've identified a group of lepers, you can attack them with impunity.

Ken, lawns and swimming pools. Is it any wonder that rail forums slow down a bit in the summer. I'm sure the pool will be nice for the next several months but, every time I looked at mine, all I saw was a big wet money pit.

Look's like we got a nanny state growing here! Can't smoke, Can't Drink, Can't eat that Greasy Hambuger and Can't have a DMSF with out proper city permit Man If i wanted a nanny state I wouldn't have grown up!

As for the Lawn and pool thing! More money is waisted on those two things than any thing else all your should worry about with your lawn is to mow it every two weeks to keep the crittters from moving in and keep the yard with in your city code and as for the pool. They are called Beaches and water parks! every state has a public water park to go swim at why go thru the trouble of the pool maintaince when someone else can do it!

 

[vato loco]

Chris, the grills look nice! We'll take good care of them when you are out of town!

Oh for chrissake, Maryland already has rediculous taxes on smokes (this in a state where tobacco was once used as currency!), I've given up the booze, bacon gives me indigestion, but pretty women? Now theres an issue I can get behind!! I mean, I'm all over it! I mean,,er, C,MON NOW! That ain't fair!!! A man's gotta have a hobby!!!!

The one is seasoned already! I'll get #2 next weekend! I have three nice grills make sure you clean them but don't unseason them or you'll be in trouble ya they are trying to pass a law down here that all men are to have blinders and or painted over sun glasses on at all Beaches and water parks and Thongs were baned 3 years ago...........

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning.

It's 72 and cloudy. The high will be around the mid 90's and it will be partly cloudy.

Preparations are still going forward for my niece's wedding next month. Friday the floating candles for the pool came in. There are 24 in all. My sister's new stove was delivered yesterday. She's happy now that she has a new oven. The problem with her old oven was that the bottom element in the oven shorted out. Fixing it would involve replacing the plug the element plugs into as it was severely damaged. This would have cost several hundred $'s so it was decided to simply get a new stove. I went by the rehab center to see my mother. She's doing better. She went through physical therapy yesterday. There's still no news on when she'll be able to come home. Yesterday afternoon I was watching a program on my new TV when suddenly the video went out. The audio worked just fine but on the video I only had a blue screen. The video on the AV inputs worked just fine as did the feed on the HDMI ports. That narrowed it down to the DVR or even more simply the patch lines between the DVR and VCR and TV. The problem ended up being a video patch line that had pulled loose from the back of the VCR and was easily corrected by simply pushing it back in.

Today's Weather for:
Sundown, LA 71446-6114 6/14/2009

Heat Index: 78°F
Humidity: 92%
Dew Point: 71°F

So Far Today
High: 76°F
Low: 72°F
Rain: 0.00"
Rain Rate: 0.00"/h
Gust: 5mph NNE

Today High: 95 Partly cloudy. Highs in the mid 90s. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight Low: 75 Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 70s. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph.

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm18/forum-2/IMAG0011.jpg

 

[blownoutcylinder]

Good Morning--

We's be getting sunshine right now with our high going to 22C--this afternoon/evening we'll be having another bout of showers and those t'underin' boomers ag'in. Tomorrow will be sunny---period.

Audrey's gone out for her morning walk and I'm getting my bicycle ready to take to the park to do some shots so that a friend who is in China has some idea what to see when he gets here----he's going to be at the university next Sept, so we's be looking after him while here---

Jim Sometimes marketing guys can get so excited at their work that they end up going a little half cocked about things---I worked at a place where one would get a prototype just out the dang door and the marketing dept already would have 14,000 orders for the thing--and you'd be looking at them going "Prototype---do you remember the definition?---think now--P-R-O-T-O-T-Y-P-E--can we say prototype?" But then again, it could just be: PANIC advertising for PANIC times---

 

[blownoutcylinder]

Jim So far I've been lucky in that I'm just custom building the 'pooters and so my Vista64's go in clean. Whenever I did an upgrade I'd have to get more than necessary in terms of memory b/c the dang software is more memory intensive than before---and '64 is a real pig when it comes to that!!

 

[kbkchooch]

Karl - I need one of those super-chippers on my property, especially after Tuesday's evening storm. There's this huge pile of dead branches in my backyard that just keeps growing bigger. I'd like to make a good sized bonfire with them, I'm just not sure of where I need to apply for the necessary permit(s).
.

Ken I can't see getting an outside burn permit in your area....too close to Columbia. You'lle be mobbed by tree huggers and "green police" right after you strike the first match.
Little do the idiots know that they are now living on what 35 years ago, was some of the best farmland in the state!
Bite the bullet! Rent a chipper for a day. It will only cost you 2 more geeps! Oh, and make sure you do it when the boy is home. Tell him that hard work builds character! I like to remind mine, that a Dad with a sore back is 50 times meaner than than a Dad who is just a little tired.

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Whenever I did an upgrade I'd have to get more than necessary in terms of memory b/c the dang software is more memory intensive than before---and '64 is a real pig when it comes to that!!

My sister is finding that Vista is a real memory hog - period! Her computer came with 4 gigs of RAM and she's had to add 2 more gigs since then. Also it was almost constantly tied up with updates - several times a day! I went in and turned the automatic updates off. Amazing the amount of trouble the programmers went to to hide that option. I also dumped the Norton anti-virus (another memory hog) and installed AVG8. That freed a lot of memory. The AVG found several Trojans that had slipped by the Norton undetected. My opinion of Norton slipped a few more points downward from the already subterranean level it already occupied. It's ALMOST as bad as McAfee.

 

[blownoutcylinder]

My sister is finding that Vista is a real memory hog - period! Her computer came with 4 gigs of RAM and she's had to add 2 more gigs since then. Also it was almost constantly tied up with updates - several times a day! I went in and turned the automatic updates off. Amazing the amount of trouble the programmers went to to hide that option. I also dumped the Norton anti-virus (another memory hog) and installed AVG8. That freed a lot of memory. The AVG found several Trojans that had slipped by the Norton undetected. My opinion of Norton slipped a few more points downward from the already subterranean level it already occupied. It's ALMOST as bad as McAfee.

The dangest thing is that on my puppies that I have here I can turn the updates off from the Control Panel----Systems and maintenance---Windows Update. Remember my crab about forgetting to do that? I knew what to do but do I do that?---Noooooo

I'm almost always going to people and reminding them about reading install manuals as well---it is annoying having to clean up the mess after someone forgets to clear the disk of the old OS BEFORE installing the new one---not ALL of Vistas issues comes from Vista--it comes from people trying to stuff a new OS on top of the older OS-----hence my harp----Clean Install, Clean Install----sounds like,' only 2, only 2'

 

[IronBeltKen]

Good morning and Happy Fathers Day to you dad's!

Jim/Chris - you guys are "preachin' to the choir" here, the swimming pool was my wife's desire from the gitgo. I saw trouble on the horizon but she wanted it anyway. Now as always, I figured its better to let her have what she wants for long-term harmony in the marriage. It also helps me get out of trouble faster whenever I'm a Bad Boy - like this morning, when I determined I absolutely must have another one of these, while MBKlein still has them on sale for $70 - less than 1/2 of MSRP - and in my paint scheme, so I placed an online order.

Karl, it's too late - I already ordered that 2nd geep! Since I live across the Patapsco in Baltimore County, I may have a better shot at getting that burn permit. This county guv'mint isn't quite as far left-leaning as in Howard County, and with all the recent rains, there won't be any danger of wildfire formation. IIRC, my neighbor opposite from us actually has bonfire parties once and awhile.

Carey - so that's what they call the kind of windstorm that ripped thru my area last Tuesday! It snapped off lots of tree branches - I spent ~45 minutes picking up the debris from my lawn before I mowed yesterday. Luckily there aren't any super-large trees very close to my house. Glad you got thru yours safely.

Jeff - good luck with that foot surgery, sounds like you don't have much choice. Hopefully your mom will be able to at least attend the wedding, even if she can't move back home yet.

BOC - got flood insurance? Seems like your gonna need it with all the nonstop T-storms your area keeps getting!

Well, I'm outta here. I get to actually enjoy the rest of this day, since the lawn is mowed and the pool is ready for swimmers. Maybe I'll finish dressing the new Geep...

 

[wheeler1963]

Well just back from Franklin NC where I met Larry and his lovely wife. I made a 5 hour 15 minute speed run back home. Not too bad for 330 miles. Larry should be getting back to Florida sometime this evening. Time for a nap!!!

 

[Alcomotive]

Good timing! Long haul for Larry! When he hit south GA he will be dry all the way home.
Glad ya could meet up! Catch them zzzzs man! even 5 hrs on a bike is a long haul!

 

[bnsf971]

The dangest thing is that on my puppies that I have here I can turn the updates off from the Control Panel----Systems and maintenance---Windows Update. Remember my crab about forgetting to do that? I knew what to do but do I do that?---Noooooo

I'm almost always going to people and reminding them about reading install manuals as well---it is annoying having to clean up the mess after someone forgets to clear the disk of the old OS BEFORE installing the new one---not ALL of Vistas issues comes from Vista--it comes from people trying to stuff a new OS on top of the older OS-----hence my harp----Clean Install, Clean Install----sounds like,' only 2, only 2'

I have mine set to notify about new updates, but I have to approve them before install. There is also an option to ignore updates I don't want, so I don't keep getting pop-up reminders about them. My 'puter has 4Gb of RAM, which is minimum for Vista64. It is also the maximum my computer can have, until they come out with economical 3Gb per stick Ram. I am told 32-bit will only recognize and use up to 3Gb, so more than that is wasted.
I think the biggest waster of resources in modern computers is the factory-installed garbage 90%+ of us will never use. I've removed most of it, and turned off the rest of it, and my computer works just fine, as long as I don't try to install any 32 bit programs. It came with both Norton and MacAfee installed, and they immediately went to war with each other when I turned on the computer. I deleted both of them, and went with AVG (currently 8.5).

Chris, we have the world's largest water park here, it's called the Pacific Ocean.

 

[RexHea]

Hi everyone! How's your weekend going? Got another rain this morning which managed to cancel out the carpenters this afternoon. Yeah, they were going to work a little to catch up.

BOC seems to have it right when starting fresh with Vista. Those I know that have bought new computers with Vista haven't had any great problems other than some compatibility issues. However, several that have tried using it by replacing XP have. Speaking of computers, Vista, and viruses, I have had a PC for 20 years at home and longer at work and never have had a computer virus. That includes the days when there weren't any computer virus scanners...I know, just lucky! We had a guy out at the college where I worked and every time someone had a problem with a computer being hung-up that wouldn't clear, he would claim a virus. He wouldn't check a thing; just take the computer and do a "format C:

I have mine set to notify about new updates, but I have to approve them before install. There is also an option to ignore updates I don't want, so I don't keep getting pop-up reminders about them.

Same here or I would otherwise forget.

......... I agree with you on the MR ad, as I've stated in other portions of the forum. Just seems silly to me.

Were you on that forum when the tsunami hit Asia? I couldn't believe the absurd comments made about Soundtraxx naming their new decoder, Tsunami . They thought it "inappropriate" to continue the name after the disaster and demanding that it be changed...yeah, right! All I see with the MRR ad is a serene setting around a father and son bonding while enjoying a walk. Granted, perception is everything, but wouldn't you hope that a father has enough sense and responsibility to know that a train whistle means get off the track; that a distant rumble of noise means a train is coming; or maybe he knows there is only one train a day! I can't believe MRR succumbed to any complaints, bad economy or not. (I would like to have that photo for a poster.)

...It's ALMOST as bad as McAfee.

Enlighten me: what is suppose to be "bad" about McAfee?

[I kinda like the ordinance that the city of Gordo has, Jim. If anything on the "radio" can be heard outside the car when the windows are up or down, its too loud....So I can't play my Beethoven...

Yeah, there are several towns and cities that have that ordinance and Texas has something like it statewide. The problem around here is getting the cops to do anything about it. I believe a crate of RPG's would work well . Don't worry about playing with your St. Bernard in Gordo; just keep the barking down .

Hope all have a very good day!

 

[stationmaster]

I'd ask for a coffee, Flo, but you'd have to have a boat to deliver it.

Yes, I think MR magazine screwed up. The picture surely dredged up old memories for me. As I said on another board here, it actually reminded me of an old Norman Rockwell painting. A situation to which most of can relate and reminder a reminder of simpler times.

Out on the boat this weekend. The guys working on the nursing home layout told me to stay away. They are installing the DCC system that Jim so graciously donated. And also installing the decoders in the engines. The must have heard of my lack of soldering skills. It's OK with me.

The grandkids are here aboard. Jay brought his GF with him. She's a cutie. I can tell he inherited his Granpa's taste in girls, that's for sure. I let her man the helm(is that proper with her being a female?) both yesterday and today. She had never done it before. Jay was a pretty fair instructor. I let her pilot out on Huron yesterday and today she graduated to piloting through the river and across Mullett Lake. The Cheboygan River is narrow and has some skinny turns. I usually take it though there and through lockage to Lake Huron.

Kendra(that's her name) asked if she could come up again when the grandkids come up. I told her that they were coming up in a couple of weeks to spend the summer and wouldn't be back home until school started. She said, "Really? That's OK." I think she's really enjoying herself. Not much to do up here for kids unless we're on the boat. I guess they could go to the beaches tough.

This SATCOM thing is neat. I need to get it on the other boat too. Pretty nifty that I can go fishing and still harass, um, erm, I mean, communicate with all of you. You have to have a pretty fair arm to hit me with any monkey dung this far out. We're currently about a half mile from Canuckian water.

Nice twins there, Chris. And you're gonna have triplets? WOW!! You'll be able to cook for the whole crew here. I'll furnish the steaks if someone will furnish the beer, brats, hotdogs, baked beans, and 'tater salad.New York strips or Porterhouse sounds good if there are no objections.

Well, I did receive some great news last night. I got a phonecall from one ofthe guys working on the layout. They are going to build anothe layout for the kid with cancer, Great deal!!

Well, gotta go for a bit.

Bob

 

[RexHea]

Hey Jim/Bob/someone! Which board has a discussion about the Ad? Maybe I can better understand what all the fuss is about.

 

[vato loco]

Nice twins there, Chris. And you're gonna have triplets? WOW!! You'll be able to cook for the whole crew here. I'll furnish the steaks if someone will furnish the beer, brats, hotdogs, baked beans, and 'tater salad.New York strips or Porterhouse sounds good if there are no objections.

Bob

Bob, I also Have a Webber kettle Smoker too. I do believe I have enough grills to burn up to 30#'s of charcoal every 90 mins.! I hope my carbon foot print is huge! If you can't tell I love to cook on the grill!