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RTDNTOTO šŸ» Random Thoughts Deserving No Thread Of Their Own 20 (2025)

jumbach said:
Our office's preferred Starbucks has closed. It was only a two minute walk.

Oh well. This being downtown, we can go to another one that is about a five minute walk.

Or, we could dust off the coffee maker we have in the cabinet.
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Thereā€™s only one coffee spot near-ish to my office. There used to be a Starbucks but it closed. I bought a Nespresso machine for my office. Itā€™s basically a food dessert where Iā€™m at.
 
A long bike ride with a lot of hills on an e-bike is still a workout - it's not a motorcycle - you still are pedaling against gravity, it's just lessened a little

so there - f off

crabby Monday
 
WSU MUP Student said:
Looks like Cyburbia let me into the site for the first time in months!
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Animated GIF
 
Food is always helpful @Gedunker

omg, so I was just in a meeting and I hit the old-lady trifecta:

1. City Solicitor, who is my age, made a Gladys Kravitz joke about a zoning enforcement matter, and I was the only other person who got the joke
2. In discussion on language of wherever possible vs wherever feasible, a reference to the new generation preferring feasible to possible because everything is possible -
3. There is an employee here who was taught in high school by one of my personal friends who is my age - she even said, isn't he close to retirement and I said no, he has a few years to go yet
 
luckless pedestrian said:
Food is always helpful @Gedunker

omg, so I was just in a meeting and I hit the old-lady trifecta:

1. City Solicitor, who is my age, made a Gladys Kravitz joke about a zoning enforcement matter, and I was the only other person who got the joke
2. In discussion on language of wherever possible vs wherever feasible, a reference to the new generation preferring feasible to possible because everything is possible -
3. There is an employee here who was taught in high school by one of my personal friends who is my age - she even said, isn't he close to retirement and I said no, he has a few years to go yet
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I went out with our Engineering Division to inspect infrastructure in a neighborhood that hasn't been accepted yet. This is the third time over the past several years, all because we reinspect it and he will not properly fix the issues.

The developer showed up while we were out there and I had a conversation with him while my guys kept going. He kept saying that he repaired everything, so I showed him three sets of markings for the same issues, so he complained that we were being too strict and that all of his repairs are fine. I walked over to a "concrete repair" picked up a bit of the failed skim coat that to hide damage, and handed it to him asking "Do you really think that this is an acceptable repair?" As he stood there with the bit of concrete in his hand looking at me with that dog tilted head thing going on, I quickly got the impression that he is not accustomed to being told the truth and was unsure how to respond.

I finally explained that we want to work with him, but he needs to work with us and that if it is failing this soon after installation, it is an indicator of a much bigger issue.
 
Having a house under contract to buy, and not being able to sell your current house is really stressful and hard on a marriage. Any suggestions of how to deal with it?

60 days snd counting down until I need a laaaarge sum of money.
 
Doohickie said:
Why did you imply I said that when it was @Gedunker ?
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That can happen when a post is copied and edited in the quoted material.

The wake is being catered - soul food - yummy! - so I don't think I need to bring food. I should make a donation to the guest of honor's charity, I guess.
 
donk said:
Having a house under contract to buy, and not being able to sell your current house is really stressful and hard on a marriage. Any suggestions of how to deal with it?

60 days snd counting down until I need a laaaarge sum of money.
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oh wow - yeah, that is so stressful

free stuff that's good for you is what I recommend - like walking in the park near where you are moving to, also bike rides

I find that when we are outside together that it helps with the stress of life, let alone crisis stress that you have

I hope the house sells soon!!
 
MD Planner said:
Yeahhhh, I gotta tell you if your fireworks are landing in my yard or my roof we're going to have a problem. And the police may or may not be involved. Know what I'm sayin' ?
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Fireworks are illegal here, but thereā€™s always an idiot. Every 4th, I go out and hose down my entire yard and roof.
 
Happy Canada Day!
True north strong and free!

(The one day of the year I assert my Canadian-ness. Iā€™m American first and foremost.)

With that said, how do you get 20 Canadians out of the pool?

Say, ā€œPlease get out of the pool.ā€

Jim
 
Son's truck was impounded Saturday night. Parked in front of a single-wide driveway in 1940s development. He thought it was a sidewalk. Tried to get out of impound yesterday but no staff was available to meet at the lot. $400 fee he will be paying.
 
I believe the claims of Confederate victories at Gettysburg July 1 and 2 are the product of "Lost Cause" mythologies surrounding the centennial of the battle. In reality, the Confederates lost the chance to occupy the definitive high ground (Cemetery Ridge) on the first day, owing in large part to the stubborn defense of the Iron Brigade. Lee lost troops he could not afford to lose on July 2 for no tactical advantage.

I'm probably in the minority in my views, however.
 
Gedunker said:
I believe the claims of Confederate victories at Gettysburg July 1 and 2 are the product of "Lost Cause" mythologies surrounding the centennial of the battle. In reality, the Confederates lost the chance to occupy the definitive high ground (Cemetery Ridge) on the first day, owing in large part to the stubborn defense of the Iron Brigade. Lee lost troops he could not afford to lose on July 2 for no tactical advantage.

I'm probably in the minority in my views, however.
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The Maine regiments played a key role in the early days of Gettysburg
 
SlaveToTheGrind said:
Son's truck was impounded Saturday night. Parked in front of a single-wide driveway in 1940s development. He thought it was a sidewalk. Tried to get out of impound yesterday but no staff was available to meet at the lot. $400 fee he will be paying.
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Lesson learned. I hope.
 
donk said:
Having a house under contract to buy, and not being able to sell your current house is really stressful and hard on a marriage. Any suggestions of how to deal with it?

60 days snd counting down until I need a laaaarge sum of money.
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luckless pedestrian said:
oh wow - yeah, that is so stressful

free stuff that's good for you is what I recommend - like walking in the park near where you are moving to, also bike rides

I find that when we are outside together that it helps with the stress of life, let alone crisis stress that you have

I hope the house sells soon!!
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If your library has the culture pass thing like mine do, get one and go to a museum or some place you haven't been to. I got to see the Musical Instrument Museum, take a trip with the kid to Sedona to see a Pioneer Museum, and even got luck to go to the Symphony and Heard Museum
 
Gedunker said:
I believe the claims of Confederate victories at Gettysburg July 1 and 2 are the product of "Lost Cause" mythologies surrounding the centennial of the battle. In reality, the Confederates lost the chance to occupy the definitive high ground (Cemetery Ridge) on the first day, owing in large part to the stubborn defense of the Iron Brigade. Lee lost troops he could not afford to lose on July 2 for no tactical advantage.

I'm probably in the minority in my views, however.
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Worth reading -
thestrategybridge.org

Architect of Battle: Buford at Gettysburg

Late in June 1863, the divisions of two great armies roamed Maryland and Pennsylvania. In retrospect, their confrontation at the crossroads of Gettysburg seems almost inevitable. However, the outcome of that confrontation was largely the work of one Union officer. This officer was born in Kentucky t
thestrategybridge.org thestrategybridge.org
 
Anybody else grow tired of reading comments that some developer is handing out "freebies"? Can i disclosure the amount of stress and emotional damage these comments cause as my "freebie"
 
I'm wondering what the point of e-mail customer service is, if every time you e-mail them, the response is "Please call us at ------ and we will be happy to assist you with this."

Doctors' offices are the worst offenders. I am not able or do not want to spend time on hold getting help with a simple situation, such as moving my appointment time or a refill request. I understand it could be a HIPAA concern, but if I am already authenticated through the portal I don't see why that should be an issue.

Jim
 
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Gedunker said:
I believe the claims of Confederate victories at Gettysburg July 1 and 2 are the product of "Lost Cause" mythologies surrounding the centennial of the battle. In reality, the Confederates lost the chance to occupy the definitive high ground (Cemetery Ridge) on the first day, owing in large part to the stubborn defense of the Iron Brigade. Lee lost troops he could not afford to lose on July 2 for no tactical advantage.

I'm probably in the minority in my views, however.
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Maybe that hasn't always been the case, but I was under the impression that view was fairly widely held these days. Buford's dismounted cavalry reinforced by the Iron Brigade in the face of heavy casualties prevented the Confederate army from seizing the high ground on day 1 and as a consequence Lee was compelled to attack under very disadvantageous conditions on both the 2nd (uphill into a wooded area where Union troops had a chance to build field fortifications the night before) and 3rd days (where Pickett charged a distance of over a mile on flat open land under continual heavy bombardment) of battle.
 
kjel said:
Thereā€™s only one coffee spot near-ish to my office. There used to be a Starbucks but it closed. I bought a Nespresso machine for my office. Itā€™s basically a food dessert where Iā€™m at.
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I have a Nespresso machine at home and love it. I have even started re-using the tins and have a kit with new foil tops so I an put Italian Roast in. I have been kicking around the idea of getting one for the office.
 
I went to Canada for the first time in 4 years yesterday, on Canada Day nonetheless! I wanted to see if they'd still let me in since I'm a former Permanent Resident. Since I renounced voluntarily before my PR expired, they told me that it wasn't an issue and let me pass after talking to me for about a minute. I also think it helped that I was dressed in office clothes and told them I was coming to celebrate Canada Day and support the local economy. Coming back into the U.S. was like going through a tollbooth, once I told the CBP Officer I worked for [a] city and had nothing to declare.

I walked across the [guess which] bridge and crossed into [New York adjacent city in Southern Ontario] to celebrate Canada Day by smoking a [brand redacted] cigar and eating rotisserie at Swiss Chalet. It was underwhelming NGL, but felt good to be back as a visitor. I was having mad border anxiety about returning since I left Montreal, especially recently with all the tensions between Washington and Ottawa, hearing stories of Americans being tripped up. I think if they see your attitude is pro-Canadian and you don't have a record or act sketch, its fine. I look forward to visiting that side more now that I know I can without hassle.
 
The Terminator said:
I went to Canada for the first time in 4 years yesterday, on Canada Day nonetheless! I wanted to see if they'd still let me in since I'm a former Permanent Resident. Since I renounced voluntarily before my PR expired, they told me that it wasn't an issue and let me pass after talking to me for about a minute. I also think it helped that I was dressed in office clothes and told them I was coming to celebrate Canada Day and support the local economy. Coming back into the U.S. was like going through a tollbooth, once I told the CBP Officer I worked for [a] city and had nothing to declare.

I walked across the [guess which] bridge and crossed into [New York adjacent city in Southern Ontario] to celebrate Canada Day by smoking a [brand redacted] cigar and eating rotisserie at Swiss Chalet. It was underwhelming NGL, but felt good to be back as a visitor. I was having mad border anxiety about returning since I left Montreal, especially recently with all the tensions between Washington and Ottawa, hearing stories of Americans being tripped up. I think if they see your attitude is pro-Canadian and you don't have a record or act sketch, its fine. I look forward to visiting that side more now that I know I can without hassle.
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I was born in California to a Canadian mother, so I got the citizenship accidentally. I didn't even know I had it until I was 15 or so.

I don't really assert it much (I am American first and foremost), except yesterday I wore a hockey jersey. Sometimes having that second passport can be useful though.

I have found that having a TSA PreCheck plus Canadian passport trips up TSA. (I always travel with the Canadian passport domestically because I get treated better. But when traveling overseas to any country but Canada, I use my American passport but keep the Canadian one tucked in my bag.)


Jim
 
You know, being charged a $125 "no show fee" from a doctor is BS. Especially when I had every intention of going and was on my way, but got turned around by the police department due to a fire on the hill behind the office and multiple road closures.

Jim
 
jumbach said:
I was born in California to a Canadian mother, so I got the citizenship accidentally. I didn't even know I had it until I was 15 or so.

I don't really assert it much (I am American first and foremost), except yesterday I wore a hockey jersey. Sometimes having that second passport can be useful though.

I have found that having a TSA PreCheck plus Canadian passport trips up TSA. (I always travel with the Canadian passport domestically because I get treated better. But when traveling overseas to any country but Canada, I use my American passport but keep the Canadian one tucked in my bag.)


Jim
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I was born in Michigan's Upper Peninsula... which might as well be Canada... or Wisconsin.
 
jumbach said:
You know, being charged a $125 "no show fee" from a doctor is BS. Especially when I had every intention of going and was on my way, but got turned around by the police department due to a fire on the hill behind the office and multiple road closures.

Jim
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I'd appeal that, and I'd be furious.

There's a Seinfeld episode about this.
 
kms said:
I'd appeal that, and I'd be furious.

There's a Seinfeld episode about this.
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Actually got an e-mail. The computer just automatically NS's everyone that doesn't show up. They will go in and manually reverse it, since their office was closed anyway. We can reschedule on the portal.

They should reprogram it so that NS's have to be manually added, for exactly situations like this. They tend to be lenient during snowstorms as well.
Jim
 
jumbach said:
Actually got an e-mail. The computer just automatically NS's everyone that doesn't show up. They will go in and manually reverse it, since their office was closed anyway. We can reschedule on the portal.

They should reprogram it so that NS's have to be manually added, for exactly situations like this. They tend to be lenient during snowstorms as well.
Jim
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I'm glad it worked out.
 
michaelskis said:
I was born in Michigan's Upper Peninsula... which might as well be Canada... or Wisconsin.
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So was Mrs. Bubba - she managed to get out of there after two weeks (when her father was discharged from the USAF at Sawyer AFB and moved the family to western NY).
 
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Bubba said:
So was Mrs. Bubba - she managed to get out of there after two weeks (when her father was discharged from the USAF at Sawyer AFB and moved the family to western NY).
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I know that area well. I did my undergrad just down the road form there. I remember when they closed the base and everyone was worried what that would mean for the area. It's now home to Marquette International Airport (They fly to Canada as well as several places in the Midwest).

I spent the first 22 years living up there.
 
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