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

Take a photo for me! I've yet to see a McLaren on the east side lol.

Sometimes I wonder how many zoning permits I've signed off on during my 20+ year career.
I like to point out to my family when visiting nearby cities I worked in that "I approved that" or "that was my project."
 
I spotted this McLaren last year. Not the best picture but I was driving. 🄓
 

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And given where you live, those first two cars are just the help's cars.

;)

I like walking past this particular house as I think the guy that lives there must flip cars or maybe he's a broker hunting down specific cars for other buyers. There are always interesting cars there. This house was the first I saw with a Cybertruck parked outside... but he had three of them all at once. Off the top of my head, I recall seeing an old Shelby GT, a couple different Ferrari, a military grade HMMWV, new Bentleys, old Rolls Royces, all sorts of muscle cars from the '60s and '70s, etc.
 
Kind of car related… the oldest and I have been at the DMV for over two hours now so he can get his learners permit. He took the test online a couple weeks ago. I was going to schedule an appointment but those were 8 weeks out.

The attitude of the clerks and the speed at which they work only support the stereotypes. At times they are downright rude. They explain something and if the person asks for clarification, they just keep repeating themselves instead of making an attempt to provide customer service.

Why does it need to be this bad?
 
When Meta AI is asked what a Storey County Planning Commission meeting is:
 

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I like walking past this particular house as I think the guy that lives there must flip cars or maybe he's a broker hunting down specific cars for other buyers. There are always interesting cars there. This house was the first I saw with a Cybertruck parked outside... but he had three of them all at once. Off the top of my head, I recall seeing an old Shelby GT, a couple different Ferrari, a military grade HMMWV, new Bentleys, old Rolls Royces, all sorts of muscle cars from the '60s and '70s, etc.
There’s a guy down the street from me with a collection of Maseratis in his front yard. The house likes like crap and he doesn’t garage the cars. His house is conveniently blurred out on Google Maps šŸ˜† https://maps.app.goo.gl/dxHDxczB1oA3Aqo57 (Street View Ā· Google Maps)
 
Should I let my AICP lapse ?
Reasons to do it are -
1 . I am retired
2. Have not pursued any consulting work
3. Save money from paying membership
4. Even lost interest sitting through a free webinar at friday lunch time for those CM's

Can you think of any other good reasons to let it lapse?
 
Should I let my AICP lapse ?
Reasons to do it are -
1 . I am retired
2. Have not pursued any consulting work
3. Save money from paying membership
4. Even lost interest sitting through a free webinar at friday lunch time for those CM's

Can you think of any other good reasons to let it lapse?
Let it lapse.
Check to see if there's a "retired" label you can use for a while, or if you can go cold turkey.
 
My first roller coaster. I was about 10; I wanted to ride a gentle ride like a carousel, not a roller coaster. My brother told me that this was a train that would take us to the carousel. By the time I realized his statement was not correct, we were already through the tunnel and on our way up the hill.

This is the Demon in Santa Clara, California. This park is scheduled to close permanently in 2027.

Gentle by today’s standards.

 
Speaking of roller coasters, what’s your favorite way to get rid of annoying guests in ā€œRoller Coaster Tycoon?ā€ Mine is to launch them off a roller coaster so fast that it derails and crashes into a pond, where the guest and everyone else on the train drowns while strapped into the ride. (A little sadistic?)
 
Anybody use theses in a class besides me ?

1757295516773.png


As posted on FB
Geospatial analysis Ā·

Before GIS & Google Earth… there was the stereoscopeIn this photo, a cartographer uses a stereoscope to study overlapping aerial photos. By viewing them in 3D, surveyors could: Measure terrain height Map rivers, roads & cities Create topographic mapsThis was the cutting-edge of mapping technology in the mid-20th century — a perfect blend of science, optics, and patience.From paper photos & stereoscopes āž to satellites & drones, the mission is the same: turning images into maps.#MappingHistory #Cartography #Surveying #GIS
 
National Park Service LEGO Vignettes

On Star Trek Day we remind all away teams visiting National Parks to please use caution around the wildlife so everyone may live long and prosper. This warning obviously goes double for anyone in a red shirt. #FindYourAwayTeam #StarTrekDay

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Red shirts. Always petting the fluffy cows
 

The real question is who is she?

I keep going back and forth on this whole situation. Sure, what she did was wrong, but for the hate and discontent on a national level to come out against her might be a bit too much. Sure, she took a ball from a kid... but the kid got tons of much cooler stuff a because if it, well before any of this went viral.

I would also love to say that we as a society have hit a breaking point where we will hold people accountable for their actions... but I think this is a one off situation.
 
My first roller coaster. I was about 10; I wanted to ride a gentle ride like a carousel, not a roller coaster. My brother told me that this was a train that would take us to the carousel. By the time I realized his statement was not correct, we were already through the tunnel and on our way up the hill.


This is the Demon in Santa Clara, California. This park is scheduled to close permanently in 2027.

Gentle by today’s standards.


This is one of the greatest things I have ever heard. I almost wish my kids were gullible enough to fall for this line!
 
Anybody use theses in a class besides me ?

View attachment 65299

As posted on FB
Geospatial analysis Ā·

Before GIS & Google Earth… there was the stereoscopeIn this photo, a cartographer uses a stereoscope to study overlapping aerial photos. By viewing them in 3D, surveyors could: Measure terrain height Map rivers, roads & cities Create topographic mapsThis was the cutting-edge of mapping technology in the mid-20th century — a perfect blend of science, optics, and patience.From paper photos & stereoscopes āž to satellites & drones, the mission is the same: turning images into maps.#MappingHistory #Cartography #Surveying #GIS
Our professor made us try these as more of this is what they did in the "olden days."

My first job was spending 10-16 hours a day doing this with "modern" equipment in 2002. It was fun for a while and my eyesight got much better. But it got old real quick. My glasses looked almost exactly like these.
Screenshot 2025-09-08 095952.jpg
 
I will say this: I'm not sure this is as black and white as it's been portrayed. Yes, the Karen is an awful person. But the guy who grabbed the ball came from quite a ways away and literally grabbed the ball from Karen's feet. To me, his behavior was not any better. The only thing that distinguished him from her is he de-escalated the situation by giving her the ball. The incident raises questions though... is there actually any etiquette or rule set concerning retrieval of a ball that goes into the stands? It's kind of gotten to the point that if there is a kid nearby, the retriever gives the ball to the kid. Aside from that.... when it's bouncing around, what are the rules?
 
Our professor made us try these as more of this is what they did in the "olden days."

My first job was spending 10-16 hours a day doing this with "modern" equipment in 2002. It was fun for a while and my eyesight got much better. But it got old real quick. My glasses looked almost exactly like these.View attachment 65305
Hey...Grandpa...is that an onion on your belt?

o_O
 
Could or would you sleep there ?

1757346718109.png


High on the vertical granite face of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, USA a climber rests for the night in one of the most dangerous sleeping spots on Earth. Their portaledge—a thin platform of fabric and metal—dangles thousands of feet above the valley floor, secured only by ropes and anchors drilled into the rock. Below, the void stretches endlessly, and the slightest glance downward is enough to stir both fear and awe.

The danger is ever-present. Winds can slam against the wall without warning, gear can shift in the night, and even the act of rolling over in sleep demands caution. Every sound—the creak of a carabiner, the whisper of rope under tension—feels amplified in the silence of the cliff. For the climber, trust in equipment and focus on routine are the only safeguards against disaster.

Yet, there is beauty in the peril. From this precarious perch, the climber sees Yosemite Valley bathed in moonlight, rivers gleaming like silver threads and forests stretching into darkness. Above, a sky crowded with stars seems close enough to touch. This balance of danger and wonder—sleeping suspended in the air, between earth and sky—is what makes resting on El Capitan both terrifying and unforgettable.
 
Just got an email from IT that the phishing scam emails we got last week were from them as a test to see who likes to click links.
We have those as well. I had to take a 10 minute video class on the risks of phishing. I usually click the link to see what garbage they use and then don't do anything with it.
 
Grabbing a ball in the stands at an MLB game is a scrum and all's fair without being a d!ck. Even if the ball was at her feet, he grabbed it first. He wins. Period.

She was an absolute Karen and deserves the scorn she gets.

You can't really see what happened.... what if he knocked it out of her hand and then grabbed it?
 
Last night's Bills–Ravens game ended with a score of 41–40, marking the first time that exact score has ever occurred in professional football. The most common score in professional football is 20-17. You can check it out on Scorigami.
 
You can't really see what happened.... what if he knocked it out of her hand and then grabbed it?

I like to play this game...

WHAT IF his kid had tied dads shoelaces together & he fell
WHAT IF there was a tornado
WHAT IF the beer vendor was in the way
WHAT IF it was a Pirates fan
WHAT IF a European Swallow fell from the sky because he flew the wrong migratory route & was exhausted
 
I like to play this game...

WHAT IF his kid had tied dads shoelaces together & he fell
WHAT IF there was a tornado
WHAT IF the beer vendor was in the way
WHAT IF it was a Pirates fan
WHAT IF a European Swallow fell from the sky because he flew the wrong migratory route & was exhausted
My point is that we really don't know what transpired. And absent that, it really seems harsh to condemn Baseball Cheryl (which is apparently her actual name). Yes, demanding the ball (after it had been given to a kid) was a bad look, but it could have just as easily the correction of a wrong than the commission of a wrong.
 
Well, based on very credible information (from a source that works within said department), I’m getting an offer for a planning job this week from an agency I got a ā€œno thank youā€ from a month ago.

This could put me in an awkward situation with the new not-planning-but-close job I am sipppsed to start Monday.

In the meantime, my job this week is food delivery driving. Doesn’t pay well, but gets me something to do.
 
My point is that we really don't know what transpired. And absent that, it really seems harsh to condemn Baseball Cheryl (which is apparently her actual name). Yes, demanding the ball (after it had been given to a kid) was a bad look, but it could have just as easily the correction of a wrong than the commission of a wrong.
We know it's the lady. If a kid is involved, anyone taking something away from the kid is instantly guilty. Always, no question, and besides, look at the haircut.
 
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