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RTDNTOTO 🐻 Random Thoughts Deserving No Thread Of Their Own 20 (2025)

Keurig coffee is so bad - but, if you buy the filter thingy that you can fill yourself, it does make a decent cup of tea with your loose leaf teas
 
kms said:
You mean you didn't get her number? I wouldn't respond to a text. I want a phone call.
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I gave them mine, written on the back of my business card. That's how millennials do it these days in the new age of consent, the women are always in the drivers seat. You don't want to cross someone's boundaries.

Its not 1987 anymore (much to my chagrin, I'd love to buy a Volvo 245 new), phone calls are reserved for once you've gotten to know each other better.

Tout cela dit (that all being said) If I dont hear anything by next month, I'll have our mutual friend reach out, before I give up and move on.
 
luckless pedestrian said:
Keurig coffee is so bad - but, if you buy the filter thingy that you can fill yourself, it does make a decent cup of tea with your loose leaf teas
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michaelskis said:
I do something similar with a Nespresso machine. You can save the tins and get replacement foils.
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[smug]My ~$17 drip machine makes a perfectly fine cup of coffee.[/smug]

coffee brewing caffeine GIF by Jerology
 
The Terminator said:
I gave them mine, written on the back of my business card. That's how millennials do it these days in the new age of consent, the women are always in the drivers seat. You don't want to cross someone's boundaries.

Its not 1987 anymore (much to my chagrin, I'd love to buy a Volvo 245 new), phone calls are reserved for once you've gotten to know each other better.

Tout cela dit (that all being said) If I dont hear anything by next month, I'll have our mutual friend reach out, before I give up and move on.
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If you don't hear anything in a month, I think you'll have your answer. Sadly.
 
kms said:
If you don't hear anything in a month, I think you'll have your answer. Sadly.
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My brother met a girl at a 5k run and got her number. He called her three weeks later and she said, "It's probably not a good time right now, my dad's funeral is today." He waited another month and called her again and they finally went out. They've been married almost 40 years now.
 
Doohickie said:
My brother met a girl at a 5k run and got her number. He called her three weeks later and she said, "It's probably not a good time right now, my dad's funeral is today." He waited another month and called her again and they finally went out. They've been married almost 40 years now.
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I like this anecdote!

A 5k Run in the mid 80s = I imagine a running version of this:

 
mendelman said:
[smug]My ~$17 drip machine makes a perfectly fine cup of coffee.[/smug]

coffee brewing caffeine GIF by Jerology
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Said that to the Mrs. when the carafe of our Smeg broke and replacement was expensive. Had a Mr. C early on and did a damn acceptable job. On our second Keurig and we usually use the reusable pods.
 
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Just let it run it's course....it's pretty good...especially if you know the context.

 
Back from a much needed camping vacation/mental health break. I hope you all behaved yourselves while I was gone.

Resuming the job hunt in earnest tomorrow morning at 8 a.m., but I am going through my e-mails to see what may need attention sooner.

Jim

1755041670706.png
 
I
SlaveToTheGrind said:
Said that to the Mrs. when the carafe of our Smeg broke and replacement was expensive. Had a Mr. C early on and did a damn acceptable job. On our second Keurig and we usually use the reusable pods.
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I bought one for the office last winter, since everyone was complaining about the poor-tasting coffee of the big huge one we had in the department.

I wondered if I should bring it home with me after I got laid off, but our manager said that since it was purchased with my own funds and not city funds, even though it was a communal coffee pot, I was able to take it home. So, until I have a new office, it sits next to my Keurig. I use Mr. Coffee Monday-Friday, and the Keurig weekends.

Jim
 
Wow, seventeen bucks an hour. I wonder why this position hasn't been filled in over a year.
(The administrative offices in Portola, California, are exactly one hour--door to door--from my house. Tolerable. But not applying as that would be less than half of my previous pay,)

Plumas County is weird in that though the official county seat is Quincy, where the courthouse is, most county government offices are in Portola.

www.plumascounty.us

Planning Department - Executive Assistant

JOB DESCRIPTION For a detailed job description, please click on the link below. Executive Assistant/Planning DEFINITION Under direction, to serve as primary...
www.plumascounty.us www.plumascounty.us
 
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jumbach said:
I

I bought one for the office last winter, since everyone was complaining about the poor-tasting coffee of the big huge one we had in the department.

I wondered if I should bring it home with me after I got laid off, but our manager said that since it was purchased with my own funds and not city funds, even though it was a communal coffee pot, I was able to take it home. So, until I have a new office, it sits next to my Keurig. I use Mr. Coffee Monday-Friday, and the Keurig weekends.

Jim
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You should’ve just left it there, put a little brass plaque with the inscription "Destiny is what happens to you and legacy is what you leave behind. You’re welcome — Jumbach" on it.
 
dandy_warhol said:
Just told Hubby I wanted to join a band and his response was, "Ok."

Not the reaction I expected.
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Sounds like a you do you answer as long as I don't have to go to every show. In other words, fine, as long as I get to do (insert hobby) in peace.
 
Planning Related, so perhaps not so random.

Take a look at this map. This is the first community north of the Wisconsin / Michigan boarder. Michigan legalized recreational marijuana. Wisconsin didn't. There are a few others that don't show up on the map yet as well. Lume Cannabis Co gets more than 28 Thousand customers a month... They are only now considering regulations to limit the number of cannabis businesses in the Town.

Screenshot 2025-08-13 141049.jpg
 
michaelskis said:
Planning Related, so perhaps not so random.

Take a look at this map. This is the first community north of the Wisconsin / Michigan boarder. Michigan legalized recreational marijuana. Wisconsin didn't. There are a few others that don't show up on the map yet as well. Lume Cannabis Co gets more than 28 Thousand customers a month... They are only now considering regulations to limit the number of cannabis businesses in the Town.

View attachment 65108
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Years ago those might of been oleo stands... I believe at one time Wisconsin banned Margerine and one would have to travel out of state to purchase it. I wonder if its easier to open a dispensary in Michigan compared to Illinois. I can't seem to recall quite this many in Northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin is a lot more populated than up north.
 
Nonsense on LinkedIn:

We recently came across your profile and would like to invite you to apply for inclusion in the 2025 edition of Who's Who in America! There is no cost or obligation to be included in Who's Who in America! This is an Invitation- Only opportunity and inclusion is contingent upon verification and acceptance by the Marquis Submissions Department. Marquis has been publishing the biographies of the world's most influential professionals since 1898. Inclusion is considered by many to be the pinnacle of success! We hope you'll consider applying to be a part of this 125-year long tradition!

I fail to see how this would be a benefit.
 
Gave my friend on the darkside a name for one of our better planners. I would hate to lose a good planner but I'd rather see the kids succeed.
 
Wifey just joked that we should incorporate our house as a city, and make myself the Director of Planning.

Not much of a tax base, though, in a city with a population of two or three humans at any given time (and two birds).

But then, why stop at just being a city? The First Lady of Molossia was on the Planning Commission with me at one point, as both envoy and commissioner.

en.m.wikipedia.org

Republic of Molossia - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org en.m.wikipedia.org
 
I was camping, so I didn't post this earlier. Sorry. Here is last Sunday's column. - Jim


Standing On My Head Again

By James D. Umbach, AICP

August 10, 2025

THE LIGHTS ARE ON, I THINK . . . IS ANYONE HOME?

“Alexa, turn off the lights.”

“I’m having trouble connecting.”

“Alesa, turn off the lights!”

“I’m having trouble connecting.”

Never mind, I’ll do it myself.

For several years, Alexa has been dutifully turning our lights on and off (either when we ask her to, or on a timer) to make our lives easier. I have the outside lights programmed to come on at dusk, and off at dawn, just like people did with the old plug-in timers back in the day. But, a few weeks ago, Alexa decided to stop following the second rule of robotics by no longer handling our household’s lighting needs. “Odd,” I thought. I unplugged her and plugged her back in, to no avail. I unscrewed and re-screwed all the lights, also with no effect.

So, that day, we decided it must be some glitch that will work itself out. Shortly thereafter, Your Columnist got a letter stating that there was a temporary communications issue between Amazon and Sengled brand bulbs that they hoped to resolve; in the meantime, we can use the switches and control the lights manually, like it’s 2007. But then, a couple of weeks later, I got another e-mail from Amazon, explaining that there was a permanent compatibility issue, and that, as of August 1, we would no longer be able to control our Sengled lights with Alexa, but we could use other brands.

Oh well. Until I get around to buying a different brand of smart bulb, we’ll just have to go back to the dark ages. Now we know why it’s called the Dark Ages—there was no Alexa around to turn the lights on and off.

= = =

The November 30, 1975 issue of the New York Times states that, in that era of energy preservation, there are two city utilities that will allow customers to exchange their old bulbs for new ones: Commonwealth of Chicago and Edison Detroit. In Chicago, you can pay 17 cents a month for the privilege of picking up to ten new bulbs a month at any of their offices. Detroit, on the other hand, allows customers to bring in their old burned-out bulbs and exchange them for new ones in “unlimited” amounts. I don’t live anywhere near either city, but I wonder if the deal is still good, and if I can take the old Sengled bulbs in and exchange them for a different brand that actually talks to Alexa?

= = =

Now, if you really want a long-lasting bulb, go visit the fire station in the city of Livermore, California. In that station, there is a bulb that has been burning continuously, or nearly so, since 1901. There have been a few brief interruptions, including a panic-inducing one in 2013, in which the webcam appeared to indicate that the “Centennial Bulb,” as it is known, had finally burned out. Turns out, though, that it was merely the power supply to the bulb that had died—an electrician quickly fixed it, and the light burns (albeit dimly) to this day. If you don’t want to make the drive to Livermore—located on the edge of California’s Bay Area—you can visit it at bulbcam.cityofpleasantonca.gov to see it glow. (The station also serves the nearby city of Pleasanton, which is why that city hosts the webcam.)

If you have any bright ideas about this week’s (or any) column, you can reach me at umbachjd@yahoo.com. I even write back, so you won’t be left in the dark.
 
Have you ever had a BZA agenda item with this many attachments and pages for a 900 acre project ?

A. Docket No: SPU-2025-013 Petitioner: Bluegrass Creek Solar, LLC & Participating Land Owners Address: (Complete legal on file) N. of Baseline Rd between Old State Rd & I-69 Nature of Case: Applicant requests a Special Use #48 for a Large-Scale Commercial solar energy generating facility, with extension of time to establishment of 3 years.

(A) SPU-2025-013-1 Attachment: 41 pages
(B) SPU-2025-013 attachment Attachment: Location & Paecel Maps - 12 pages
(C) Bluegrass Creek Solar Layout Attachment: Site Plan Details - 12 pages
(D) Bluegrass Creek Solar Simulations Attachment:
(E) Submittal to BZA for Special Use - Part 1 Attachment: Application - 191 pages
(E) Submittal to BZA for Special Use - Part 2 Attachment: Parcel Lease Agreements - 190 pages
(F) Amended Decommissioning Plan Agreement Attachment: 11 pages
0_-Bluegrass_Creek-_Summary_of_Expert_Reports[1] Attachment: 2 pages
1_-_Property_Value_Impact_Analysis[1] Attachment: 120 pages
2_-_Public_Health_and_Safety_Review[1] Attachment: 11 pages
3_-_Ground_Cover_Plan_and_Pollinator_Scorecard[1] Attachment: 73 pages
4_-Battery_Energy_Storage_System(BESS)_Safety_Overview_and_Report[1] Attachment: 10 pages
5_-_Glare_Analysis[1] Attachment: 13 pages
6_-_Noise_Assessment[1] Attachment: 42 pages
 
JNA said:
Have you ever had a BZA agenda item with this many attachments and pages for a 900 acre project ?

A. Docket No: SPU-2025-013 Petitioner: Bluegrass Creek Solar, LLC & Participating Land Owners Address: (Complete legal on file) N. of Baseline Rd between Old State Rd & I-69 Nature of Case: Applicant requests a Special Use #48 for a Large-Scale Commercial solar energy generating facility, with extension of time to establishment of 3 years.

(A) SPU-2025-013-1 Attachment: 41 pages
(B) SPU-2025-013 attachment Attachment: Location & Paecel Maps - 12 pages
(C) Bluegrass Creek Solar Layout Attachment: Site Plan Details - 12 pages
(D) Bluegrass Creek Solar Simulations Attachment:
(E) Submittal to BZA for Special Use - Part 1 Attachment: Application - 191 pages
(E) Submittal to BZA for Special Use - Part 2 Attachment: Parcel Lease Agreements - 190 pages
(F) Amended Decommissioning Plan Agreement Attachment: 11 pages
0_-Bluegrass_Creek-_Summary_of_Expert_Reports[1] Attachment: 2 pages
1_-_Property_Value_Impact_Analysis[1] Attachment: 120 pages
2_-_Public_Health_and_Safety_Review[1] Attachment: 11 pages
3_-_Ground_Cover_Plan_and_Pollinator_Scorecard[1] Attachment: 73 pages
4_-Battery_Energy_Storage_System(BESS)_Safety_Overview_and_Report[1] Attachment: 10 pages
5_-_Glare_Analysis[1] Attachment: 13 pages
6_-_Noise_Assessment[1] Attachment: 42 pages
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A lot of useless pages that the BZA will never read. Neighboring jurisdiction sent us a notice of a solar farm. Report not out yet so I cannot compare, but would like to.

Correction, it is 48 mile transmission line, not a solar farm. But those have been kicked around and will be coming.
 
I received a very angry phone call yesterday from someone who said they have been trying to get a hold of me and said they sent me multiple e-mails. I looked in my box and was unable to find any of them. Finally, I discovered them in my junk mail folder, all from this week. I don't know if IT or Microsoft set up the rules for what goes into that folder, but I tend to get 20 to 30 emails a day in there so it is hard to keep up. I try to glance at it a couple times a month, but that is about it.

How often do you go through your junk or spam folder?
 
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