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

Do we really need airplane safety briefings anymore? I know the FCC requires them, but we all know how to use a seat belt, to put our own mask on before helping others, Federal law prohibits smoking in the lavatory, and that the nearest exit may be behind you.
 
jumbach said:
Do we really need airplane safety briefings anymore? I know the FCC requires them, but we all know how to use a seat belt, to put our own mask on before helping others, Federal law prohibits smoking in the lavatory, and that the nearest exit may be behind you.
Click to expand...
No one actually listens anyway. Soon as I get on the plane my AirPods are in and I don't hear a damn thing the rest of the flight.
 
I was having lunch yesterday with a friend & he gets a call from his daughter who's in college. Her apartment was on fire and didn't know what to do. Mom & brother left immediately to go there.

Spoke to him last night about the details. A lithium battery in an electric skateboard blew up - a literal explosion. They lost everything in the apartment. Damage to other units. Entire complex building evacuated. Daughter was in class so not harmed. Her 2 room mates were home & 1 was sent to the hospital, has some burns but overly serious.

That's not quite the phone call you expect or want to get.
 
Planit said:
I was having lunch yesterday with a friend & he gets a call from his daughter who's in college. Her apartment was on fire and didn't know what to do. Mom & brother left immediately to go there.

Spoke to him last night about the details. A lithium battery in an electric skateboard blew up - a literal explosion. They lost everything in the apartment. Damage to other units. Entire complex building evacuated. Daughter was in class so not harmed. Her 2 room mates were home & 1 was sent to the hospital, has some burns but overly serious.

That's not quite the phone call you expect or want to get.
Click to expand...
I really hope she had insurance . . . but even if she does, it's still a major PITA. You'd be amazed how many people--renters especially--don't have it.

I am glad she's OK though.
 
jumbach said:
I really hope she had insurance . . . but even if she does, it's still a major PITA. You'd be amazed how many people--renters especially--don't have it.

I am glad she's OK though.
Click to expand...

Thinking back to that, I remember being in college and the first year in an apartment, I didn't have insurance. I thought hey, I have nothing of value so what does it matter. Then a guy I knew who lived in a dorm room and had a small fire. (Lava lamp exploded). He lost most of his stuff to smoke damage but it was enough of a wakeup call to me to get it.
 
Fast, faster, fastest

Germany has blitzers (mobile police speed cameras) that the police put up here and there and if you speed by one you get blitzed with the flash of the light and then a ticket gets automatically sent to you.

I just got a ticket in the mail for going 6 kph (or 3.7mph) over the speed limit. 🫤
 
My former employer presented a weiner about their GIS database, which is pretty comprehensive.

This was my idea and it had its beginning 10 years ago. At.the beginning of the webinar, someone else.got credit for it.
 
kms said:
My former employer presented a weiner about their GIS database, which is pretty comprehensive.

This was my idea and it had its beginning 10 years ago. At.the beginning of the webinar, someone else.got credit for it.
Click to expand...
Did HR get involved? 😁😀

But seriously, it totally sucks when someone else gets credit for your weiner work. Jerks.
 
Why do so many people do their social media rants/blurbs in their car? Do people.from less car-centric societies use cars as much for their commentary?
 
SlaveToTheGrind said:
Creeps up on you and then kicks you in the ass and we sit here thinking where did the time go?

I'm the youngest at 55 with my siblings at 58 in February, and 57 and 61 in May (born on same day). Parents sill kicking around and will be 90 in August.
Click to expand...
I turned 77 in November, one brother still alive at 79. I just had right hip replaced. The year I turned 60 a contractors helper stopped me and asked, if you don't mind my asking, how old are you? When I told him his jaw hit the floor. Maybe that was the year I removed the mustache. I kept one for forty years but it became uncontrollable. Started going up my nostrils and I could not stand it!
 
dandy_warhol said:
Why do so many people do their social media rants/blurbs in their car? Do people.from less car-centric societies use cars as much for their commentary?
Click to expand...

Yes! Maybe for the sound, that is not a lot of background noise - or lighting - but yeah it is a phenomenon

and that word always is followed by the following in my mind:

 
michaelskis said:
Thinking back to that, I remember being in college and the first year in an apartment, I didn't have insurance. I thought hey, I have nothing of value so what does it matter. Then a guy I knew who lived in a dorm room and had a small fire. (Lava lamp exploded). He lost most of his stuff to smoke damage but it was enough of a wakeup call to me to get it.
Click to expand...
The thought of NOT having it seems so absurd to me.


I am aware of at least four cases in the last two years of people in my circle having to deal with a relative who passed away suddenly with no life insurance. These are people in the 30's and 40's with kids, who really should have had some sort of plan other than having their families beg for help online.
 
Back
Top