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RTDNTOTO 🐻 Random Thoughts Deserving No Thread Of Their Own 21 (2026)

SlaveToTheGrind said:
Growing up, my parents always kept a record of when they filled up; gallons and cost. Why? I know my dad would calculate MPG but only saw him do that on trips. I don't think they do this anymore. Drove with my dad 700 miles a few months ago and I did not see him record the info. I started doing this when I first started to drive since that is how I grew up. Gave it up in a few years.
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It's engrained in my siblings (we all had the same dad, after all. :) )
 
Maister said:
I'll tell you the same thing I tell everyone who complains about the cost of lift tickets and downhill skiing in general....cross country ski instead. That's what we do.
Get Motivated On My Way GIF by AUSOlympicTeam
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Better workout and cardio too !
 
fun fact: I worked for the guy that was characterized in Apocalypse Now - it was based on his platoon - he was known as "the kid" as he was barely 18 and they made him point - he survived three platoon massacres because they would let him through and kill everyone behind him and then he'd have to hide and try to get back to a different platoon, in a jungle - he was a very mild mannered guy and rarely spoke about his experiences but every once in a while he'd come to the house and tell us a few just wtf stories of his experience
 
luckless pedestrian said:
fun fact: I worked for the guy that was characterized in Apocalypse Now - it was based on his platoon - he was known as "the kid" as he was barely 18 and they made him point - he survived three platoon massacres because they would let him through and kill everyone behind him and then he'd have to hide and try to get back to a different platoon, in a jungle - he was a very mild mannered guy and rarely spoke about his experiences but every once in a while he'd come to the house and tell us a few just wtf stories of his experience
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Just watched Apocalypse Now two nights ago.
 
luckless pedestrian said:
fun fact: I worked for the guy that was characterized in Apocalypse Now - it was based on his platoon - he was known as "the kid" as he was barely 18 and they made him point - he survived three platoon massacres because they would let him through and kill everyone behind him and then he'd have to hide and try to get back to a different platoon, in a jungle - he was a very mild mannered guy and rarely spoke about his experiences but every once in a while he'd come to the house and tell us a few just wtf stories of his experience
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Could it maybe have been the movie Full Metal Jacket or possibly Platoon, as opposed to Apocalypse Now? Most of Apocalypse Now takes place on a river patrol boat.
 
Maister said:
Could it maybe have been the movie Full Metal Jacket or possibly Platoon, as opposed to Apocalypse Now? Most of Apocalypse Now takes place on a river patrol boat.
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Yeah, they changed it up a bit, but he showed us the back and forth letters he shared with the movie producers - his experience was just insane - he often said he has no idea why he's still alive
 
The Terminator said:
I learned to ski when I lived in Quebec and did so on a dare. It is an overrated experience and I am not good at it, even though I do enjoy it and would def hit the slopes more if it wasn't so damn expensive, even if it meant sticking to the bunny hills. Haven't been on a pair of ski's now since 2018 :/
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The idea of careening out of control down a steep, icy hill with a pair of sticks strapped to my legs does not appeal to me.
 
The Terminator said:
Better workout and cardio too !
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We had our summer camp at Royal Gorge, the same facility that was used as a cross country ski resort in the winter. Somewhere I have a picture of me as a kid in one of the warming huts (with no snow around at all). It became "Camp Winthers" in the summer.

I was a camp counselor for a few summers in the 90's and early 00's, but not there.
 
2026 Rock and Roll Hall of fame nominations.
  • The Black Crowes
  • Jeff Buckley - not rock
  • Mariah Carey - not rock
  • Phil Collin - rockish
  • Melissa Etheridge - not rock
  • Lauryn Hill - not rock
  • Billy Idol
  • INXS - rockish
  • Iron Maiden - couldn't give two bollocks about the hall
  • Joy Division/New Order - not rock
  • New Edition - not rock
  • Oasis - not rock
  • Pink - not rock
  • Sade - not rock
  • Shakira - not rock
  • Luther Vandross - not rock
  • Wu-Tang Clan - not rock
Been "rock" in name only for many years. Needs to be changed to Music Hall of Fame.
 
My Hero Superpower is being able to pick up a suitcase and tell you--to the pound--how much it weighs.

I blame it on all those years of working as a bellman.

Just put my skill to work with someone. She gave me a bag; I told her 52 lbs, she asked me how I knew. I said it's because I picked it up.

She had me weigh it anyway: 51 lbs 9 oz.

I don't need a luggage scale at home because I AM one.
 
The police have officially ended their search of the young man in Marquette. Sounds like there is enough evidence to conclude that he fell through the ice and in Lake Superior with those currents under the ice, it might be quite some time before, or if, he is found.

www.myupnow.com

Police end official search for missing NMU student Trenton Massey

MARQUETTE, Mich. (WBUP/WJMN) — UPDATE (2/25/26 at 4 p.m.): The official search for Trenton Massey has come to an end, Marquette Police Chief Ryan Grim says.
www.myupnow.com www.myupnow.com
 
jumbach said:
My Hero Superpower is being able to pick up a suitcase and tell you--to the pound--how much it weighs.

I blame it on all those years of working as a bellman.

Just put my skill to work with someone. She gave me a bag; I told her 52 lbs, she asked me how I knew. I said it's because I picked it up.

She had me weigh it anyway: 51 lbs 9 oz.

I don't need a luggage scale at home because I AM one.
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That's impressive!
 
jumbach said:
My Hero Superpower is being able to pick up a suitcase and tell you--to the pound--how much it weighs.

I blame it on all those years of working as a bellman.

Just put my skill to work with someone. She gave me a bag; I told her 52 lbs, she asked me how I knew. I said it's because I picked it up.

She had me weigh it anyway: 51 lbs 9 oz.

I don't need a luggage scale at home because I AM one.
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Coming back from NPC24 and my suitcase was loaded with landjaeggers, beer summer sausage, and brats (all frozen) from a meat shop in Nicollet, MN. Used to live nearby and had to bring home some favorites. They do ship in the winter. My suitcase was over the limit so I had to cram what I could in my carry on. Problem solved but the overall weight in the plane did not change. I'm guess it has something to do with distribution of weight but there could be a passenger without baggage below. Does not make sense.
 
SlaveToTheGrind said:
Coming back from NPC24 and my suitcase was loaded with landjaeggers, beer summer sausage, and brats (all frozen) from a meat shop in Nicollet, MN. Used to live nearby and had to bring home some favorites. They do ship in the winter. My suitcase was over the limit so I had to cram what I could in my carry on. Problem solved but the overall weight in the plane did not change. I'm guess it has something to do with distribution of weight but there could be a passenger without baggage below. Does not make sense.
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Yeah, I've never understood charging for bags. The bag will weigh exactly the same whether I carry it on or check it.

My wife one time had a bag that was three pounds over and they wouldn't budge. So, she opened the suitcase, took out her coat, and put it on, then closed the suitcase back up. Ha. 48 pounds. Win!

I travel with only one medium-size suitcase and a small carry on (briefcase size), so it's never an issue for me. Oh, and my CPAP, which technically shouldn't count as luggage but sometimes it does.
 
jumbach said:
Yeah, I've never understood charging for bags. The bag will weigh exactly the same whether I carry it on or check it.

My wife one time had a bag that was three pounds over and they wouldn't budge. So, she opened the suitcase, took out her coat, and put it on, then closed the suitcase back up. Ha. 48 pounds. Win!

I travel with only one medium-size suitcase and a small carry on (briefcase size), so it's never an issue for me. Oh, and my CPAP, which technically shouldn't count as luggage but sometimes it does.
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Never had my bipap count as luggage. As I understand, federal law prohibits this action.

 
luckless pedestrian said:
I don't like goat cheese
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I do like goat cheese.

We had a kale salad with dinner last night. Usually my wife puts a bit of parmesan cheese in with it but we had half a container of goat cheese crumbles so she used some of that instead and we all agreed it was a big improvement. It went great with the dressing she makes.

We still have a bit of goat cheese left... maybe I'll make myself a goat cheese omelet for lunch.
 
the little bistro down the block makes a great flat bread with goat cheese, prosciutto, balsamic, + more - its very good.
 
jumbach said:
Well, today something happened that hasn’t happened in my 32-year driving career.

Ever since I started keeping records in 1994, I had NEVER put gas in my gas tank on a February 25. Until today. Happened at 7:32 a.m. Pacific, at the Pilot just off I-80 Exit 46 in Fernley, Nevada.

Going back through my several vehicles I have owned and checking records. Nope, February 25 was the last holdout. Now, every single day of the year is represented at least once.

Honestly, I was expecting balloons and a marching band. I didn’t even notice the absence of that date until I had already logged it in my book, and it got its first tally mark.

Most common date: January 1 (31 times). Least common dates: February 25 (1), February 29 (1), April13 (1)
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My records only go back to 2007 but this had me wondering...

I have indeed filled up on February 25th!
  • Feb 25, 2009 I bought 16.312 gallons of gas at $1.799/gallon at Meijer in Troy, Michigan
  • Feb 25, 2015 I bought 15.432 gallons of gas at $2.2399/gallon at Mobil in Birmingham, MI
  • Feb 25, 2023 I bought 16.792 gallons of gas at $3.499/gallon at Mobil in Birmingham, MI
  • Feb 25, 2024 I bought 14.742 gallons of gas at $3.399/gallon at Mobil in Birmingham, MI
No idea what my most frequent date for filling up is. My records are spread across several different spreadsheets. Maybe I'll have to load them into Power Query and take a closer look.
 
same resident went on another rant on FB local group chat calling for me to be fired. Now a few Council members are starting to ask questions. How do y'all deal with this? Like this stuff really tanks my mental health, especially when its filled with half truths, and just riling up the masses for just doing my job.
 
arcplans said:
same resident went on another rant on FB local group chat calling for me to be fired. Now a few Council members are starting to ask questions. How do y'all deal with this? Like this stuff really tanks my mental health, especially when its filled with half truths, and just riling up the masses for just doing my job.
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Ran into this twice. Once was a single council member who was denied approval from the Historic District Commission and wanted my head for it. He had zero support from the rest of the Council so it was no big deal.

The last job... well, that was a train wreak.

I agree document everything, open lines of communication with the CM and HR, and try to be as transparent about your activities as possible. Also remember that questions themselves are not bad because it give you and the CM the opportunity to provide the whole truth.
 
Got an interesting project for a native american religious ceremonial site. I look at it like no big deal, just some buildings, but people want to argue about it. There might be noise outside...
 
My wife got a dozen bagels from the shop near our house yesterday.... which means I'll be finding sesame seeds on the kitchen counters for at least the next week.

We wouldn't have this problem if she had read my mind and gotten a dozen salt bagels instead of basically 2 of every variety that has sesame seeds on them.
 
I have spent far too much time answering formal constituent requests, an OPRA request, and repeated questions from the AG’s office about a project we “preliminarily” awarded affordable housing funds to.

The neighbors don’t want the project, the town approved the zoning and the project is allowed as of right now and that’s all we require along with mayoral support. Neighbors have sued the town and because the site is on the border of a neighboring town who does not want their side of street (town boundary splits the street) the neighboring town has sued to town the project is in.

Some of the assertions being made by the public are entertaining. Did the developer disclose that we were intending to sue them in the application? No, the lawsuit was filed AFTER the application was received. Do you think this is an appropriate project for our neighborhood? That is for the town’s planning and zoning boards to decide, we encourage you to attend any public meetings about the project as is your right. How can you say this fits “neighborhood standards”? The proposal is a modest two story building with 12 one bedroom units for disabled people. The design is complementary and similar to existing two story homes in the neighborhood with adequate setbacks and natural landscaping. Why do you think it’s appropriate to house disabled people near the highway? Your home is next to the same highway separated by mixed commercial uses that front the highway.
 
Stayed overnight last night in the city I work in, 30 miles from home, due to a city-sponsored event that ran late.

It was weird this morning having a 2-minute commute rather than my usual 36 minutes. I am remarkably refreshed for a Friday.

Jim
 
I have taken to scheduling coffee meetings off-site with people who want a one-on-one with me, and I really like stepping out for a good conversation. I send my ED staff to networking events, which are also important, but I do love a personalized networking conversation that's not so on the surface, like what happens at a networking event
 
MD Planner said:
From where I grew up you could be in 4 different states in about 40-45 minutes.
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That's thing about living in the west. Our states are big.

I thought it was all that when I was in the east and drove in five states and one Federal District all in one day. (I think about 40 counties total.)
 
jumbach said:
Stayed overnight last night in the city I work in, 30 miles from home, due to a city-sponsored event that ran late.

It was weird this morning having a 2-minute commute rather than my usual 36 minutes. I am remarkably refreshed for a Friday.

Jim
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I have a 60 mile commute one way. It sucks... I usually just drive home no matter what. I like sleeping in my bed.

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Thanks for all the advice. Small town, we can't please everyone.
 
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