Hey everrybody... it is "7-11" day.
Lets all have a Slurpee!
Honestly, I don't know if 7-11 even has Slurpees still. I hope they do.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
York1Sacramento's Amtrak station:
I spent a pleasant, spring day back in 2003 at Sacramento:
Unlike Denver where I was threatened with arrest for having a camera the folks in Sacramento were quite friendly.
Cheers, Ed
Good afternoon
Well, the day started off with a bearing disintegrating on the John Deere mower deck. I could not get the thing off so went to the FILs as he has mega heavy-duty mechanics tools in the shop, had both off in no time. Then went to John Deere and they were closed! Apparently, they are now closed Saturday and Sunday, they use to be open both days.
My daughter had been headhunted by the Feds at her University for some sensitive work that was supposed to have started at the end of April, but because the new facility was not ready she got put on hold. She finally starts this week and this place is in the middle of nowhere. She will drive my truck to work as there is no bus within miles of the place. She asked if we could drive there for a test run so she would be sure of where she was going on her first day. She has not driven in months and wanted a little practice anyway. We find the place and it was a large grey nondescript building surrounded by farms as far as the eye can see. I'm not sure if there is even a window in the place. We are supposed to say she works in public safety.
gmpullmanInternet security. I recall the hack that shutdown a pipeline from Louisiana to the north-east was it last year or the year before? Wrecked Havoc for sure.
We were out for dinner last night and my friend who is with the Feds was telling me of one of the cyber attacks we had opened the spillways on two huge dams in the country. Both spillways were closed but only after a significant amount of water had been released. Only one was picked up by the press and was put down to employee error which was not the case.
SeeYou190 BATMAN Just ask yourself where you would get water if it stopped coming out of the tap? I would go to Walt Disney World.
BATMAN Just ask yourself where you would get water if it stopped coming out of the tap?
I would go to Walt Disney World.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Donuts. I used to have them once in a while, even after I slowed down because I was eating too much sweet, unhealthy stuff. Dunkin' was the dominant power in donuts in New England. But, they lost me completely when they caved in to the health crowd and changed their recipes to eliminate all the trans fat. Suddenly, I could no longer distinguish the donuts from the cardboard box. Since then, only about one a year, if that.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
maxman York1 Many years ago, I didn't believe the predictions that we would one day become a cashless society.
York1 Many years ago, I didn't believe the predictions that we would one day become a cashless society.
York1 John
I asked my doctor if I gave up delicious food and all alcohol, would I live longer? He said, "No, but it will seem longer."
York1Many years ago, I didn't believe the predictions that we would one day become a cashless society.
And then you got married.
Good afternoon fellas. Chloe, a fried egg sandwich and some jalapeno potato chips please.
I added a dedicated circuit in the basement today for a new freezer to be on. Will add another, maybe next weekend, to power a second refrigerator. The new fridge will replace an OLD mini-fridge that we use for drinks, plus provide some more refrigerator space that is ALWAYS lacking around the holidays. It will be a nice upgrade for us! What's more, the new fridge will probably use less power than the old mini-fridge. Win-Win.
Some inconsiderate nincompoop shot off some loud fireworks at 3:20 this morning. Not many, just enough to wake up the neighborhood. That was pleasant. Hope that's the last of them we have to hear this year.
Have a nice rest of your Sunday everyone.
Mike
BATMAN Dave, I have a lot of connections with some very senior Government officials and can tell you there is a massive cyber war going on with Russia. There is always a back and forth with them on the WWW but since the war with Ukraine started it has become a full-blown battle.
Dave, I have a lot of connections with some very senior Government officials and can tell you there is a massive cyber war going on with Russia. There is always a back and forth with them on the WWW but since the war with Ukraine started it has become a full-blown battle.
Three seconds of searching uncovered multiple news reports of Rogers blaming a software upgrade malfunction of their routers.
Good morning, everyone.
I'll apologize first -- after my last post I did not check and I see that I was top of the page.
To make up for it, it's Sunday -- donut day -- so the donuts are on me. These are from Randy's in El Segundo, California.
Many years ago, I didn't believe the predictions that we would one day become a cashless society. Little did I know that even I would get to the point that I don't carry cash.
David and TF are missed in the diner. Hope their vacations are going well.
Another view of Amtrak's Surfliner in California:
We're leaving the house now. I'll try to check back later. Have a good Sunday, everyone.
gmpullmanToo tired...
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
SeeYou190That has not happened to me in a very long time.
Same here, that's partly why I was complacent and didn't highlight and copy all my text before clicking "Submit Your Reply" which I used to do regularly. Sometimes clicking back would take me back to my reply window with ev erything still there but not so this time.
Compound that with using my model RR computer in leiu of my usual PC which has a toasted power supply thanks to games the utility company was playing last night. Both my UPS boxes were beeping wildly and the lights in the house were flickering along with nasty humming from the refrigerator. I'm surprised the PC power supply was the only thing that fried. Incoming voltage was swinging from 91 VAC to 121 VAC for about an hour around 2 AM. I turned in at 6 but my wife said more chirping and dim lights were happening at around 7.
I'm sure I can send a complaint to the power company and get their full attention
Amazon will have a new power supply delivered by noon today.
Water. Thankfully we have a good well and tasty, safe water. I've seen the bills that municipal water users get and I'm sure glad we have our own system. In a power outage I can run the well pump and water heater using a generator.
I've never sent myself a "boil order" to make the water safe.
Somehow in my original post I managed to put in a plug for Deer Park water here, once served exclusively on B&O Diners:
Deer Park by Edmund, on Flickr
Lucky kid!
Deer Park_zoom1 by Edmund, on Flickr
Internet security. I recall the hack that shutdown a pipeline from Louisiana to the north-east was it last year or the year before? Wrecked Havoc for sure.
Fortunately I've been spared any hacking or spyware on my network. A fellow I know is completely clueless when it comes to web security in spite of help and guidance from myself and another friend.
He told me once he bought $300 in Apple Itune cards at Walgreens. What for, I ask? I had to pay that to Microsoft for them to unlock my computer
Try as I may I couldn't convince him that Microsoft would never request Apple cards for any kind of "ransom". He was sure it was Microsoft because they answered the phone and said "Hello, this is Microsoft" when he called the phone number on the blue screen of death!
So it goes...
Regards, Ed
BATMANJust ask yourself where you would get water if it stopped coming out of the tap?
gmpullmanWell I wrote ten paragraphs that vaporized when I clicked "submit reply".
That has not happened to me in a very long time.
Sorry.
Well I wrote ten paragraphs that vaporized when I clicked "submit reply".
Too tired to retype everything.
Bye... Ed
hon30critter Our internet service was down for a couple of days, and it is still not up to speed. What a PITA!! I am amazed at how much a part of my life the internet has become! Every time I turned around there was something that I wanted to do that involved the internet. The outage extended all across Canada and caused some serious issues, and questions! Who designed a system that could be taken down so easily and have such a wide effect? It affected banking, airlines, all manner of businesses and millions of people. Even the cell phones on this system were dead. Now I know why I keep a wad of cash in the house. Enough ranting! Cheers!! Dave
Our internet service was down for a couple of days, and it is still not up to speed. What a PITA!! I am amazed at how much a part of my life the internet has become! Every time I turned around there was something that I wanted to do that involved the internet.
The outage extended all across Canada and caused some serious issues, and questions! Who designed a system that could be taken down so easily and have such a wide effect? It affected banking, airlines, all manner of businesses and millions of people. Even the cell phones on this system were dead. Now I know why I keep a wad of cash in the house.
Enough ranting!
Cheers!!
Dave
Keeping cash on hand is always a good idea, we always have $1000.00 cash in the kitchen cupboard. Also, you should have water on hand as they are always trying to attack the utilities. I have 150 liters stored even though I can walk across the street to the creek if it came right down to it. We also have water purification tablets on hand even though a drop of bleach would also suffice.
Just ask yourself where you would get water if it stopped coming out of the tap? If you can't walk to a supply like a creek or a lake you had better think about that.
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Good Afternoon Diners. Zoe, a Porterhouse Steak, medium-rare, a baked sweet potato, and a glass of sweet tea please.
Has not been as productive of a weekend to this point that I had hoped for, but not for lack of trying. Just a bunch of fits and starts on projects. Oh well, all bits that had to be figured out.
A late good morning. It has been a busy morning, so I'll just have black coffee, please.
I'll check back later today -- after the busyness goes away.
California Amtrak -- the distant hills almost make this look like a model railroad backdrop:
I just stopped in the Diner for Saturday lunch, and Chloe told me no one came in for breakfast today.
I will be leaving her a big tip, I hope it makes her day better.
gmpullmanAs it is we only run it about 20 or so days in the warm months.
I never turn mine off. When it gets cool enough, it just stops running.
I never turn my heater on. I honestly don't even know if it works or not.
EDIT: Not only are avatars all gone, but emoticons are not working either.
'evenin'
I installed my central air system back in 1998. I have a ranch house and electric baseboard heat which I was "nervous" about in the beginning (electric heat — way too expensive, I was warned) but today I feel we have an ideal system.
After the first year in the house (1983) I installed a good, airtight stove. it provides about 75% of our heat and the baseboard heat, with individual thermostats in all the rooms and living areas only kick in as needed and we keep them pretty low.
The A/C mounted in the "attic" is also nice since the cool air is delivered from above. As it is we only run it about 20 or so days in the warm months. I don't mind warm days but Dee Ann sleeps better when it is cool (and lower humidity) so I fire up the A/C for her benefit.
I ran 6" and 8" flex ducts in the ceiling area. Crawling over them can be a pain but I seldom have to go in the attic area. After the 2011 fire it was all replaced by a "professional" installer and they didn't do as good of a job as my original system.
Coils at Pinole by Mike Danneman, on Flickr
Didn't know Alcos were allowed to smoke in California!
Alco smoke in wine country by Mike Danneman, on Flickr
Best wishes to all —
Ed
Kevin, did your wife get ahold of your log-in?
Rick, congratulations on the good news from the cardiologist!
Tin Can, that certainly sounds eventful. Glad to hear it wasn't serious.
We don't have central air as our house has no ductwork (hot water baseboard heat). We aren't fans of mini-split systems. I looked into miniduct high velocity systems a few years ago. I may go that route someday, but it won't be simple. The way my house was built, I will need two air movers and want them to run off a single compressor. Only one system out there that can do that right now and the technology to do so is new, therefore pricey. For now, we'll get by with window units in the bedrooms upstairs and a portable unit downstairs.
Friends...
I know this sounds campy, but I am very lucky that I married my best friend, and we have been together for 34 years. There is not one I would rather hang out with, spend time with, or talk to.
Dave: Sounds like your friend was a really good guy who will be missed.
John & Kevin: I understand your thoughts on friends. I have a couple of friends who I can call on to do anything for me, I would do anything for them. Unfortunately, we live hundreds of miles apart and rarely see each other. We pick up conversations like nothing has changed. I haven't made any friends here except for work friends; and my eye issue has kept me from getting involved in the local model rr scene. Hopefully that will change later in the year.
Had a very eventful day at work yesterday; we had a bomb threat called in to the local PD for our campus. I was the only administrator on campus, everyone else was on vacation. We got through it, no bomb; but not without evacuating buildings, closing campus, and calling for bomb sniffing dogs. We later found out that several campuses across the country had threats called in at about the same time yesterday.
First of all I saw my cardiac surgeon this morning and I am now cleared to drive and can now lift 20lbs and I asked if that included bowling and he said yes!
Last I rode a motorcycle was in 1974 and I broke my pelvis in 3 places, no riding since then but I worked for Harley Davidson back in the early 2000's.
Regarding AC, mine would not shut off, made an appointment with the dealer, but I tried installing a new Nest Controller and that took care of the problem so cancelled the appointment.
Rick Jesionowski
Rule 1: This is my railroad.
Rule 2: I make the rules.
Rule 3: Illuminating discussion of prototype history, equipment and operating practices is always welcome, but in the event of visitor-perceived anacronisms, detail descrepancies or operating errors, consult RULE 1!
My AC is from 1974 still going.
York1I have not ridden a motorcycle in 50 years, but at one time I was zipping through San Diego traffic at 50 mph on one.
I think it has been about 25 years for me. My last motorcycle was a HD DynaGlide Daytona.
My favorite was my 1973 FLH. Somehow all my pictures of my motorcycles have one of the girls in them.
Those kids creeped into nearly every picture I took.
Good morning, diners. I'm a little late today, but I'll still have bacon and eggs.
Dave, sorry to hear about your friend. It sounds like he was a great influence on your life. The best obituary for a man is that he left the world a better place.
SeeYou190Sorry to hear that. I don't have anyone in my life that I have considered a friend for a very long period of time.
Strangely enough, I am in kind of the same place. I have a lot of aquaintances, but none that I could call close friends. In my case, this was completely done by me on purpose, and I don't regret it. At one time, I had a 'best' friend, but I won't go into why that ended.
I have not ridden a motorcycle in 50 years, but at one time I was zipping through San Diego traffic at 50 mph on one. That was enough for me for the rest of my life.
California is one of the most beautiful states, with lots of trains running. This is another one of the Surfliner, this time at San Clemente:
Have a great Friday, everyone.
moelarrycurly4My AC tried to be flakey but I found the issue. I have a loose connection from 24v transformer to blower contactor.
I had my entire A/C system replaced about 5 years ago. For the first six months after the installation I had all kinds of goofy problems.
They finally got them all straightened out, and the system has been flawless since then.
Good luck with your repairs.
It Reached 100 degrees here yesterday. My AC tried to be flakey but I found the issue. I have a loose connection from 24v transformer to blower contactor.
sometime blower does not come on. I will attack it early in the morning.
Today is the second coat of paint on the living room day... here I go.
I am looking forward to next week and putting all this mess back together.