• Cyburbia is a friendly big tent, where we share our experiences and thoughts about urban planning practice, the built environment, planning adjacent topics, and anything else that comes to mind. No ads, no spam, and it's free. It's easy to join!

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

I was channel surfing after dinner yesterday and I came across Looper, the Rian Johnson time travel movie with Bruce Willis and EMILY BLUNT. Wow, how is it possible that a woman can be that hot?!!
 
jumbach said:
Just got RIF'd.

Union making sure I get paid full salary/benefits for two months. I will likely go into the office from time to time to wrap up some projects--I will have full access to systems through August.

Working on the resume now. With my newfound credential I am hoping to be employed again before my pay runs out.

Jim
Click to expand...
That sucks, and I'm sorry. Just wanted to say, although I'm sure you know we all feel it, hoping it turns out for the better. You never know!
 
jumbach said:
I honestly don't see a problem with using video games to relax. To this day, being almost 50, I still do. Some people watch TV. Some crochet. Some cook. I relax with computer games. Work done for the day? Household tasks taken care of? Why not??

Jim
Click to expand...

No problem with video games for me either. Our daughters and I really like (among other games) the Zelda Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom games on the Switch and sitting down to play together for a little bit at the end of the evening most nights is one of our favorite things to do. We've each beaten the games many times over but we really like the open-world concept so we keep coming back and starting the games over and giving ourselves new challenges within the games.

I need to sit down at a computer and figure out if there's a way to play the original SimCity from '92 or SimCity 2000 for the PC. I have a feeling our younger daughter would LOVE those games.
 
WSU MUP Student said:
No problem with video games for me either. Our daughters and I really like (among other games) the Zelda Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom games on the Switch and sitting down to play together for a little bit at the end of the evening most nights is one of our favorite things to do. We've each beaten the games many times over but we really like the open-world concept so we keep coming back and starting the games over and giving ourselves new challenges within the games.

I need to sit down at a computer and figure out if there's a way to play the original SimCity from '92 or SimCity 2000 for the PC. I have a feeling our younger daughter would LOVE those games.
Click to expand...
You can play the original SimCity and SC4000 on Steam.

SlaveToTheGrind said:
That is was introduced me to City Planning while in college.
Click to expand...
For me, it was the map of the town the characters lived in at the back of every ā€œSweet Picklesā€ book. I was four and was hooked.

jumbach said:
Just got RIF'd.

Union making sure I get paid full salary/benefits for two months. I will likely go into the office from time to time to wrap up some projects--I will have full access to systems through August.

Working on the resume now. With my newfound credential I am hoping to be employed again before my pay runs out.

Jim
Click to expand...
They went from 11 planners to three.
 
jumbach said:
They went from 11 planners to three.
Click to expand...
Whoa.

Shocked Baby GIF
 
I caved and finally created an Instagram account last week. Wow, total instant regret, I canā€™t stand autoplay on videos, and when I looked at settings, it was a confusing mess. Ugh. Also, ad algorithm is caca-doodoo-feces, feed showed ad for Menstruation Manatee, a cute plushie that you can warm up in the microwave. I donā€™t have ladyparts, so letā€™s just say: Suckerberg > Fuckerberg > Zuckerberg. So much fail.
 
WSU MUP Student said:
No problem with video games for me either. Our daughters and I really like (among other games) the Zelda Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom games on the Switch and sitting down to play together for a little bit at the end of the evening most nights is one of our favorite things to do. We've each beaten the games many times over but we really like the open-world concept so we keep coming back and starting the games over and giving ourselves new challenges within the games.

I need to sit down at a computer and figure out if there's a way to play the original SimCity from '92 or SimCity 2000 for the PC. I have a feeling our younger daughter would LOVE those games.
Click to expand...

Steam should have it. That's where I play the original Roller Coaster Tycoon. My kid says that's where you find old stuff in the original form.
 
I want to be a wild Pantanal Jaguar in the next life. I just brought home a rescue cat that I named "Jaguar" (a black house panther, not bad luck!) and hes taking to his new home better than I thought. He walks around with his mouth open like an actual Jaguar does, its so cute.
 
jumbach said:
Just got RIF'd.

Union making sure I get paid full salary/benefits for two months. I will likely go into the office from time to time to wrap up some projects--I will have full access to systems through August.

Working on the resume now. With my newfound credential I am hoping to be employed again before my pay runs out.

Jim
Click to expand...
I'm sorry this happened to you, and I hope it turns out for the best.

If your former employer wants your assistance closing out their projects, you should advise them of your rate for your services. After all, you owe them nothing. I'd guess $250.00/hr ought to cover your services with overhead, expenses, etc. Heck, I'd consider a 4-hour mandatory minimum as well.

[No, I'm not joking.]
 
Wannaplan? said:
I caved and finally created an Instagram account last week. Wow, total instant regret, I canā€™t stand autoplay on videos, and when I looked at settings, it was a confusing mess. Ugh. Also, ad algorithm is caca-doodoo-feces, feed showed ad for Menstruation Manatee, a cute plushie that you can warm up in the microwave. I donā€™t have ladyparts, so letā€™s just say: Suckerberg > Fuckerberg > Zuckerberg. So much fail.
Click to expand...

I used to love Instagram before they added the video feature. When I did use Instagram, I mainly followed accounts of friends, a few men's clothing blogs, Detroit architecture and history, and stuff about wristwatches, and running/fitness and 99% of the stuff that showed up in my feed were from the accounts that I actually followed and in the order that they were posted. I didn't even mind the ads that I got because A) there weren't really all that many and B) they were relevant to the things I was already following and/or "liking".

IMO, the app started going downhill in a big way when they changed the algorithm to no longer show things in the order they were posted and to de-prioritize posts from accounts you were actually following. Then things got exponentially worse when they introduced video. These days when I open the app nearly all of the posts in my feed are videos from people/topics I do not care about at all or "influencers" peddling straight up p0rnography. I've got nothing against p0rn and OF sellers but I wish there was a way I could opt out of video posts altogether.

Nowadays, I really only use Instagram to be made aware of new drops from Double Wonderful. I feel like @luckless pedestrian would really appreciate some of the stuff they put on their t-shirts:

1751994524789.png
 
Speaking of wild animals...

I was out in Sacramento for work back in May and saw sea lions in the wild! I had no idea they came that far up inland up the river - looking them up afterwards, it appears I was there just about the one time of year they do come that far inland for a few weeks.

They were massive and so loud! I could literally hear them about 4 blocks from the river while I had my headphones on listening to music.
 
MD Planner said:
109 GIF by Strays
Click to expand...
We were at a petting zoo and there were two ponies and two donkeys in a smallish pen. The pen had fencing that was flush with the ground except for by the gate.

We noticed on pony sniffing at something on the ground and saw the something hop- it was a little just fledged baby birdie. I thought for a second that the pony was going to chomp the baby but the baby hopped a few inches. So the pony snuffled the bird and the bird hopped a few more inches. They did this over and over. The pony sniffed and escorted the baby about 15 feet directly to the gate where the little baby could scoot under the gate.

When the baby came through the gate I was able to scoop it up and put it in an elevated planter out of the footsteps of others. Squee! šŸ„°šŸ„°šŸ„°šŸ„°šŸ„°šŸ„°šŸ„°šŸ„°šŸ„°šŸ„°šŸ„°šŸ¦šŸŽšŸ„°šŸ„°šŸ„°šŸ„°šŸ„°šŸ„°šŸ„°
 
Gedunker said:
I'm sorry this happened to you, and I hope it turns out for the best.

If your former employer wants your assistance closing out their projects, you should advise them of your rate for your services. After all, you owe them nothing. I'd guess $250.00/hr ought to cover your services with overhead, expenses, etc. Heck, I'd consider a 4-hour mandatory minimum as well.

[No, I'm not joking.]
Click to expand...
They are still paying me through September 7, so I am happy to wrap up projects occasionally until then.
 
jumbach said:
They are still paying me through September 7, so I am happy to wrap up projects occasionally until then.
Click to expand...
Do not do this. According to the article you're on administrative leave. You're done. September will be here soon. Use the time.to assess and search for other employment. This is not the time to show loyalty. I seriously can't stress this enough.
 
jumbach said:
Just got RIF'd.

Union making sure I get paid full salary/benefits for two months. I will likely go into the office from time to time to wrap up some projects--I will have full access to systems through August.

Working on the resume now. With my newfound credential I am hoping to be employed again before my pay runs out.

Jim
Click to expand...

Paying you until September is severance pay - @MD Planner is right, walk away, it's hard, I know but you need to get working on your next big gig
 
I recently discovered that the tiny "boutique" grocery store near us has ice cream at their deli counter. It's a little bit further of a walk but a couple scoops there is much less expensive than a couple scoops at the old school ice cream parlor closer to our house (though the parlor has a much wider selection) so I've started walking to the grocery store nearly every evening.

Yesterday I took a little bit different route than normal and had to run through two particular blocks because I was being eaten alive by black flies. I'm used to the occasional black fly while sitting on some of the beaches here in Michigan or out on a trail run in the middle of summer but I've never experienced them like that here in a suburban neighborhood. I woke up early this morning and had a couple welts on my upper arms and back from the bites. :bloody:

I would say that I definitely won't be cutting down that street again anytime soon but I'm honestly sort of curious if it was a one-time thing or if they'd come out in force again tonight or tomorrow?
 
The Cat I adopted 3 days ago might have run away. I think he slipped out the door when I was taking some trash out in a Benadryl & melatonin delirious pre-sleep state and didn't realize it. Im hoping hes just hiding somewhere I cant see, there is one upper cupboard that I didnt have time to check before leaving 4 werk.
 
MD Planner said:
Do not do this. According to the article you're on administrative leave. You're done. September will be here soon. Use the time.to assess and search for other employment. This is not the time to show loyalty. I seriously can't stress this enough.
Click to expand...
Thatā€™s basically what my boss said. Iā€™m taking his advice.

He knows a couple of secret job openings heā€™s going to fill me in on.

Meanwhile, I have enough years in with PERS I may look at retiring there, but at 49 Iā€™m not ready to actually retire. But that would give me something. Not making any decisions yet.

btrage said:
Agreed, unless there's a chance the staff reductions get reversed??
Click to expand...
There is a chance. Our bosses are secretly hoping that people complain about projects not being done and such and the council does not follow through. Shhh.

luckless pedestrian said:
Paying you until September is severance pay - @MD Planner is right, walk away, it's hard, I know but you need to get working on your next big gig
Click to expand...
All eight cuts were in planning. I donā€™t know why Jackie didnā€™t just say that.

luckless pedestrian said:
Paying you until September is severance pay - @MD Planner is right, walk away, it's hard, I know but you need to get working on your next big gig
Click to expand...
And after that ends, Iā€™ll get a check for my unused vacation and sick time, which will add another couple paychecks on to that. And we have enough resources to be fine for quite some time after that.

I think I can theoretically go on unemployment in September but I donā€™t want to do that. That program is underfunded and there are folks that need it more than us.
 
WSU MUP Student said:
Speaking of wild animals...

I was out in Sacramento for work back in May and saw sea lions in the wild! I had no idea they came that far up inland up the river - looking them up afterwards, it appears I was there just about the one time of year they do come that far inland for a few weeks.

They were massive and so loud! I could literally hear them about 4 blocks from the river while I had my headphones on listening to music.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I remember those.

Lots of wild turkeys, too. And squirrels EVERYWHERE.
 
Aaah, the weeks after the 4th of July, when the world turns its collective attention to.....back-to-school. Ugh. Sure sign of this change of seasons within the season is the advent of the track teams running all over hell in the early mornings. I'm on two different buses in two different cities before 7:30 a.m. The world is now completely dominated by track kids from the high schools, like bands of street-toughs but with taper hair cuts and running shorts.

So with all this, how far off can pumpkin spice season within the season really be? You be the judge, but the seasons within the seasons move quickly, friends. Don't let back-to-school-early hijack your summer! Fight!!
 
jumbach said:
I think I can theoretically go on unemployment in September but I donā€™t want to do that. That program is underfunded and there are folks that need it more than us.
Click to expand...
And you not taking advantage of a program that exists for this circumstance will not help the fact that it is underfunded. Employers pay premiums based upon how often they lay people off. So you're actually hurting everyone by not claiming this benefit. Secret jobs are great and all that but you need to bring as much money in as possible until you find another full time job.
 
The Terminator said:
The Cat I adopted 3 days ago might have run away. I think he slipped out the door when I was taking some trash out in a Benadryl & melatonin delirious pre-sleep state and didn't realize it. Im hoping hes just hiding somewhere I cant see, there is one upper cupboard that I didnt have time to check before leaving 4 werk.
Click to expand...
I hope you find him. He's probably sleeping in some super obvious hidden corner. Cats love to do that.
 
ursus said:
Aaah, the weeks after the 4th of July, when the world turns its collective attention to.....back-to-school. Ugh. Sure sign of this change of seasons within the season is the advent of the track teams running all over hell in the early mornings. I'm on two different buses in two different cities before 7:30 a.m. The world is now completely dominated by track kids from the high schools, like bands of street-toughs but with taper hair cuts and running shorts.

So with all this, how far off can pumpkin spice season within the season really be? You be the judge, but the seasons within the seasons move quickly, friends. Don't let back-to-school-early hijack your summer! Fight!!
Click to expand...
Planit said:
Really! You had to bring up pumpkin spice! Ugh!
Click to expand...
And Halloween decorations. After all, that is the next holiday that retailers can milk people for the same $hit they bought last year so the stores will be stocking soon. Labor day is only good for furniture sales and cars sales with the only decorations being on windows (store and cars).
 
ursus said:
Aaah, the weeks after the 4th of July, when the world turns its collective attention to.....back-to-school. Ugh. Sure sign of this change of seasons within the season is the advent of the track teams running all over hell in the early mornings. I'm on two different buses in two different cities before 7:30 a.m. The world is now completely dominated by track kids from the high schools, like bands of street-toughs but with taper hair cuts and running shorts.

So with all this, how far off can pumpkin spice season within the season really be? You be the judge, but the seasons within the seasons move quickly, friends. Don't let back-to-school-early hijack your summer! Fight!!
Click to expand...

Within about a half mile of our house in a few different directions there are 3 high schools and 2 middle schools and all the track and cross country kids like to run through our neighborhood.

The public high school at the end of our street must be hosting some sort of early morning running camp this week because the streets were lousy with teenagers running through the 'hood yesterday morning and today I went to the track to work out and as I was finishing up kids were starting to show up... and they did not look happy to be at the track at 7:00 a.m. on a rainy Tuesday. The kids from the private schools on the other side of our neighborhood seem to like to run through a little bit later in the day, just before lunchtime. I always wonder what will happen if three different high school running groups all cross paths simultaneously at one of the intersections. Is there going to be a brawl? Some sort of impromptu race?
 
Would you try this ?

1752074825006.png

Chicken-Fried Bacon Fries at Soul Bowl: Beef bacon strips double-breaded in tempura flour and fried. Garnished with fresh parsley and served in a cup. Choice of dipping sauces: Cashville Hot, a brown sugar Nashville-style hot sauce; or 24k Gold BBQ, a passion fruit Charleston gold barbecue sauce.
 
JNA said:
Would you try this ?

View attachment 64847
Chicken-Fried Bacon Fries at Soul Bowl: Beef bacon strips double-breaded in tempura flour and fried. Garnished with fresh parsley and served in a cup. Choice of dipping sauces: Cashville Hot, a brown sugar Nashville-style hot sauce; or 24k Gold BBQ, a passion fruit Charleston gold barbecue sauce.
Click to expand...

Those sound awesome!
 
Thinking about hanging up a shingle as a Planning Consultant for the time being, helping developers make sure their projects would pass muster with various agencies.

Haven't decided anything yet, but I certainly have the experience and qualifications to do that. Marketing, though, is not my strong point.

Jim
 
MD Planner said:
And you not taking advantage of a program that exists for this circumstance will not help the fact that it is underfunded. Employers pay premiums based upon how often they lay people off. So you're actually hurting everyone by not claiming this benefit. Secret jobs are great and all that but you need to bring as much money in as possible until you find another full time job.
Click to expand...

and you give a false sense of the state of the economy by not signing up for benefits - be a statistic!
 
Back
Top