USMB Coffee Shop IV

[Dajjal]

 

[Michelle420]

Morning everyone.

 

[Montrovant]

To nights evening laugh

With our cat, it's my computer chair. She goes through periods where she decides my chair is her bed, and whenever I get up, she sneaks into it to go to sleep.

Unfortunately for her, I spend a good portion of my time in front of my computers, so I usually kick her out pretty quickly.

 

[Montrovant]

Wow, unusually quiet day in the Coffee Shop today, but once the night shift came on things really started jumping. I always thought how neat it would be for friends to just buy some sort of commune and share the chores. I've always said it didn't matter where you lived as much as the sense of community that determined how happy you are in a place. Really happy to have 007 back with us.

Just so we don't wind up with something like this:

As long as the plumbing and internet work well, I could live there without issue.

 

[Foxfyre]

I do like the idea of an island, lol. And yes...I, too, browse zillow, trulia, etc looking for places I know I could never have myself. BUT..if I did win the lottery..I would buy massive amounts of land..then let people live on it with their mobile homes, cars, etc until something more permanent was built. No tent city..but a nice place with maybe tiny houses or cabins or yurts or even barracks. Like a commune, but a nice one. Only the poor will get in. Grow our own food. Raise our own critters like hens and ducks, maybe a small collection of cattle. Like in the old days. And even maybe a boarding house like in the westerns.

It's a lovely thought. I always though if I won Publisher's Clearing House or other of those huge windfalls, I would open an orphanage along the lines of Boys' Ranch. But now as my energy and stamina aren't what they used to be, perhaps something for families or adults that could take care of themselves would be more practical.

 

[Foxfyre]

Wow, unusually quiet day in the Coffee Shop today, but once the night shift came on things really started jumping. I always thought how neat it would be for friends to just buy some sort of commune and share the chores. I've always said it didn't matter where you lived as much as the sense of community that determined how happy you are in a place. Really happy to have 007 back with us.

Just so we don't wind up with something like this:

As long as the plumbing and internet work well, I could live there without issue.

I suppose we probably could too so long as we were on the ground. Don't want stairs at this juncture of our lives.

 

[Montrovant]

Wow, unusually quiet day in the Coffee Shop today, but once the night shift came on things really started jumping. I always thought how neat it would be for friends to just buy some sort of commune and share the chores. I've always said it didn't matter where you lived as much as the sense of community that determined how happy you are in a place. Really happy to have 007 back with us.

Just so we don't wind up with something like this:

As long as the plumbing and internet work well, I could live there without issue.

I suppose we probably could too so long as we were on the ground. Don't want stairs at this juncture of our lives.

I'll take one of the upper levels, I don't have to worry about that for some years yet.

 

[Foxfyre]

I have no doubt that the inconsiderate louts cruising around with an unnecessarily loud exhaust aren't bright enough to use forethought. Blatting passed the house is a shattering experience that has no nobility. No nobility at all. Why should my peace be disturbed to accommodate their immaturity?

IDK, Nosmo... but it's part of society. Some people like it.

Do like I did and buy a house on a dead end road, then you never have drive by traffic.

I've lived here for 28 years now. It's a corner lot. Why should I move to allow those nuts to ruin the peace? They should be prosecuted for disturbing the peace! Loud exhausts have no true purpose other than to annoy.

Well if you were a biker like me you'd adhere to the prophecy that "loud pipes, save lives." Nothing more dangerous than someone in a cage that mows down a biker and their excuse is, "I didn't see them." Well, if you can't see me you're damn sure going to HEAR me... now there is no excuse.

But I wasn't serious that you should move. I know a person's home is their castle, their sanctuary, and you shouldn't be expected to move to accommodate someone else's conduct.

I'd maybe talk to your town board, see if there wasn't some slacking in enforcing loud exhaust or something. I do know they enforce it here in WI. I virtually never hear a loud car or truck around here, ever. All BS aside, the only loud things here are motorcycles.

If you were my neighbor and I knew my Harley aggravated you, if going past your house was on my pathway to somewhere that I had to go, I WOULD be as quite as possible.

I wonder why there aren't more accidents involving BMWs or Hondas. The 'loud pipes save lives' notion should be supported by data. Insurance companies would know.

But thank you for the consideration by not driving passed homes where peace and tranquility are prized after a tough work week.

But I still say modifying a production wehicle with an unnecessarily loud exhaust is willful rudeness.

I have two pet peeves; willful rudeness and purposely misspelled words. Pop spent his life as a pro prior a print shop and highly skilled typographer. Like nails on a chalkboard, whenever I see a purposely misspelled word I wonder why I bothered to pay attention in school if misspelling could be accepted.

My Dad was a Master Pressman. We even had a small print shop shortly after Ma and Dad retired. We had two offset presses, one B&W, the other color. I think Paw was more into fishing than growing the little printing business though. I tried to drum up business for it but, his heart just wasn't into it.

Is there stats somewhere that say people that ride quite bikes get in less accidents? I can't find any.

One of my pet peeves is close to misspelling I suppose, it's people that willfully mispronounce words using a T where a D should be, as in anT instead of anD. Or racial dialects, like saying "code" instead of "cold," or "ax" instead of "ask."

Perhaps if you'd ever ridden motorcycle you'd understand what I'm saying about noise. I HAVE had someone merge into my lane while riding, and since they didn't hear me, I kicked their freakin' door. They heard that and I invited them to pull over. That didn't think that was an appealing option for them. When they have their stereo cranked and they're texting or whatever else they can do distract them, the're dangerous to everyone, especially bikers.

I was one of the very few females to take printing in college. And that was back in the day when copy for the newspaper was done via a linotype machine, i.e. one of these:

. . .but the headlines and odd size copy--also words on flyers, posters, etc.--were set via copy using individual lead letters set by hand. We held a wooden rack thing in our hand and put the backward letters in upside down. I turned out to have a strong aptitude for that. To this day I can read backwards and upside down easily.

Hombre and I watch "The Amazing Race" on television, and last week one of the challenges for the racers was to hand set a block of type that way. Most struggled a bit with it, but I was just thinking what a piece of cake that would have been for me.

 

[Nosmo King]

IDK, Nosmo... but it's part of society. Some people like it.

Do like I did and buy a house on a dead end road, then you never have drive by traffic.

I've lived here for 28 years now. It's a corner lot. Why should I move to allow those nuts to ruin the peace? They should be prosecuted for disturbing the peace! Loud exhausts have no true purpose other than to annoy.

Well if you were a biker like me you'd adhere to the prophecy that "loud pipes, save lives." Nothing more dangerous than someone in a cage that mows down a biker and their excuse is, "I didn't see them." Well, if you can't see me you're damn sure going to HEAR me... now there is no excuse.

But I wasn't serious that you should move. I know a person's home is their castle, their sanctuary, and you shouldn't be expected to move to accommodate someone else's conduct.

I'd maybe talk to your town board, see if there wasn't some slacking in enforcing loud exhaust or something. I do know they enforce it here in WI. I virtually never hear a loud car or truck around here, ever. All BS aside, the only loud things here are motorcycles.

If you were my neighbor and I knew my Harley aggravated you, if going past your house was on my pathway to somewhere that I had to go, I WOULD be as quite as possible.

I wonder why there aren't more accidents involving BMWs or Hondas. The 'loud pipes save lives' notion should be supported by data. Insurance companies would know.

But thank you for the consideration by not driving passed homes where peace and tranquility are prized after a tough work week.

But I still say modifying a production wehicle with an unnecessarily loud exhaust is willful rudeness.

I have two pet peeves; willful rudeness and purposely misspelled words. Pop spent his life as a pro prior a print shop and highly skilled typographer. Like nails on a chalkboard, whenever I see a purposely misspelled word I wonder why I bothered to pay attention in school if misspelling could be accepted.

My Dad was a Master Pressman. We even had a small print shop shortly after Ma and Dad retired. We had two offset presses, one B&W, the other color. I think Paw was more into fishing than growing the little printing business though. I tried to drum up business for it but, his heart just wasn't into it.

Is there stats somewhere that say people that ride quite bikes get in less accidents? I can't find any.

One of my pet peeves is close to misspelling I suppose, it's people that willfully mispronounce words using a T where a D should be, as in anT instead of anD. Or racial dialects, like saying "code" instead of "cold," or "ax" instead of "ask."

Perhaps if you'd ever ridden motorcycle you'd understand what I'm saying about noise. I HAVE had someone merge into my lane while riding, and since they didn't hear me, I kicked their freakin' door. They heard that and I invited them to pull over. That didn't think that was an appealing option for them. When they have their stereo cranked and they're texting or whatever else they can do distract them, the're dangerous to everyone, especially bikers.

I was one of the very few females to take printing in college. And that was back in the day when copy for the newspaper was done via a linotype machine, i.e. one of these:

. . .but the headlines and odd size copy--also words on flyers, posters, etc.--were set via copy using individual lead letters set by hand. We held a wooden rack thing in our hand and put the backward letters in upside down. I turned out to have a strong aptitude for that. To this day I can read backwards and upside down easily.

Hombre and I watch "The Amazing Race" on television, and last week one of the challenges for the racers was to hand set a block of type that way. Most struggled a bit with it, but I was just thinking what a piece of cake that would have been for me.

The family shop had two Linotypes. The clinkity-clankity sound of the machine was fascinating! When my brother went to work there they started offset printing. There are now three offset presses and a modern plate maker. But there are still a dozen or more cabinets with individual type faces.

Redirect Notice

Pop called that rack you placed the letters in a 'stick'. Not very technical. Stick after stick of type was assembled on the 'stone' inside a four sided clamp. The art of typography was how that type was positioned within that clamp. I remember my uncles raising and lowering individual letters so the impression would appear consistent. Sometimes they shimmed letters with pieces of onion skin paper.

Once assembled, the page of type would be fitted into a press. There were five presses at the shop. One was the Little Giant, a horizontal press where the finished work would pass beneath a gas fired dryer. It looked like this:

Redirect Notice

Another press was The Heidelberg with a big chrome cylinder powering paper onto type. This is the Heidelberg:

Redirect Notice

Another Heidelberg press is the Windmill with a rotating arm taking one piece of paper (usually an envelope) from a rack to the type and then to another rack. It looks like this:

Redirect Notice

But my favorite are the two hand fed Platen presses. They look like this:

Redirect Notice

You must develop a rhythm when operating these presses. Otherwise, they'll call you "Lefty" and not in a political sense.

 

[Foxfyre]

I've lived here for 28 years now. It's a corner lot. Why should I move to allow those nuts to ruin the peace? They should be prosecuted for disturbing the peace! Loud exhausts have no true purpose other than to annoy.

Well if you were a biker like me you'd adhere to the prophecy that "loud pipes, save lives." Nothing more dangerous than someone in a cage that mows down a biker and their excuse is, "I didn't see them." Well, if you can't see me you're damn sure going to HEAR me... now there is no excuse.

But I wasn't serious that you should move. I know a person's home is their castle, their sanctuary, and you shouldn't be expected to move to accommodate someone else's conduct.

I'd maybe talk to your town board, see if there wasn't some slacking in enforcing loud exhaust or something. I do know they enforce it here in WI. I virtually never hear a loud car or truck around here, ever. All BS aside, the only loud things here are motorcycles.

If you were my neighbor and I knew my Harley aggravated you, if going past your house was on my pathway to somewhere that I had to go, I WOULD be as quite as possible.

I wonder why there aren't more accidents involving BMWs or Hondas. The 'loud pipes save lives' notion should be supported by data. Insurance companies would know.

But thank you for the consideration by not driving passed homes where peace and tranquility are prized after a tough work week.

But I still say modifying a production wehicle with an unnecessarily loud exhaust is willful rudeness.

I have two pet peeves; willful rudeness and purposely misspelled words. Pop spent his life as a pro prior a print shop and highly skilled typographer. Like nails on a chalkboard, whenever I see a purposely misspelled word I wonder why I bothered to pay attention in school if misspelling could be accepted.

My Dad was a Master Pressman. We even had a small print shop shortly after Ma and Dad retired. We had two offset presses, one B&W, the other color. I think Paw was more into fishing than growing the little printing business though. I tried to drum up business for it but, his heart just wasn't into it.

Is there stats somewhere that say people that ride quite bikes get in less accidents? I can't find any.

One of my pet peeves is close to misspelling I suppose, it's people that willfully mispronounce words using a T where a D should be, as in anT instead of anD. Or racial dialects, like saying "code" instead of "cold," or "ax" instead of "ask."

Perhaps if you'd ever ridden motorcycle you'd understand what I'm saying about noise. I HAVE had someone merge into my lane while riding, and since they didn't hear me, I kicked their freakin' door. They heard that and I invited them to pull over. That didn't think that was an appealing option for them. When they have their stereo cranked and they're texting or whatever else they can do distract them, the're dangerous to everyone, especially bikers.

I was one of the very few females to take printing in college. And that was back in the day when copy for the newspaper was done via a linotype machine, i.e. one of these:

. . .but the headlines and odd size copy--also words on flyers, posters, etc.--were set via copy using individual lead letters set by hand. We held a wooden rack thing in our hand and put the backward letters in upside down. I turned out to have a strong aptitude for that. To this day I can read backwards and upside down easily.

Hombre and I watch "The Amazing Race" on television, and last week one of the challenges for the racers was to hand set a block of type that way. Most struggled a bit with it, but I was just thinking what a piece of cake that would have been for me.

The family shop had two Linotypes. The clinkity-clankity sound of the machine was fascinating! When my brother went to work there they started offset printing. There are now three offset presses and a modern plate maker. But there are still a dozen or more cabinets with individual type faces.

Redirect Notice

Pop called that rack you placed the letters in a 'stick'. Not very technical. Stick after stick of type was assembled on the 'stone' inside a four sided clamp. The art of typography was how that type was positioned within that clamp. I remember my uncles raising and lowering individual letters so the impression would appear consistent. Sometimes they shimmed letters with pieces of onion skin paper.

Once assembled, the page of type would be fitted into a press. There were five presses at the shop. One was the Little Giant, a horizontal press where the finished work would pass beneath a gas fired dryer. It looked like this:

Redirect Notice

Another press was The Heidelberg with a big chrome cylinder powering paper onto type. This is the Heidelberg:

Redirect Notice

Another Heidelberg press is the Windmill with a rotating arm taking one piece of paper (usually an envelope) from a rack to the type and then to another rack. It looks like this:

Redirect Notice

But my favorite are the two hand fed Platen presses. They look like this:

Redirect Notice

You must develop a rhythm when operating these presses. Otherwise, they'll call you "Lefty" and not in a political sense.

Yes the proper term was the 'stick' for that hand held thing that we loaded the type into. And I used some of those presses in that college printing class and also on my first couple of newspaper jobs. I met Hombre when we were both working at the Plainview Herald (West Texas) and by that time most copy was punched from a qwerty keyboard onto a long tape that was then fed into the linotype machine that set the type. Very modernized and more efficient in its day, but absolutely primitive compared to today's all computerized technology.

I was a hugely prolific writer on an old manual typewriter in college, and later I thought the IBM Selectric, especially with capability to do corrections as you typed the copy, was the most amazing invention ever. And now I don't own a typewriter because the computer can do pretty much everything (except fill in the blanks on a printing form--I really miss my typewriter at those times.)

 

[peach174]

Todays giggles

 

[Nosmo King]

What's the 'over/under' on Christmas lights? I ask because there are still a few stalwart holdouts burning outdoor Christmas decorations here. Of course, in this neck of the woods, there are several Orthodox families, Eastern, Greek or Russian, who celebrate Christmas on January 7 rather than December 25th. When I spent my time in Puerto Rico I found that the gift exchanging portion of Christmas happens on January 12th marking the arrival of the three Oriental kings (what were their names again? Balthazar, Melchior and was it Phil.)

At Riverview Cemetery the groundskeeper's house starts looking like a Vegas casino decorated with white lights framing each window and not one but at least two trees bedecked with more tiny white lights. This decor goes up shortly after Thanksgiving. Pop and I used to bet on when all those lights would go dark after the holidays. My usual guess was Groundhog Day. Pop would guess Washington's Birthday. The smart money was on St. Valentine's Day.

But this year I've seen more decorations up later than ever. Granted, most of these Christmas decorations are those modern projector systems shining laser guided snowflakes on the siding. But how long is long enough? Any opinions?

 

[Montrovant]

What's the 'over/under' on Christmas lights? I ask because there are still a few stalwart holdouts burning outdoor Christmas decorations here. Of course, in this neck of the woods, there are several Orthodox families, Eastern, Greek or Russian, who celebrate Christmas on January 7 rather than December 25th. When I spent my time in Puerto Rico I found that the gift exchanging portion of Christmas happens on January 12th marking the arrival of the three Oriental kings (what were their names again? Balthazar, Melchior and was it Phil.)

At Riverview Cemetery the groundskeeper's house starts looking like a Vegas casino decorated with white lights framing each window and not one but at least two trees bedecked with more tiny white lights. This decor goes up shortly after Thanksgiving. Pop and I used to bet on when all those lights would go dark after the holidays. My usual guess was Groundhog Day. Pop would guess Washington's Birthday. The smart money was on St. Valentine's Day.

But this year I've seen more decorations up later than ever. Granted, most of these Christmas decorations are those modern projector systems shining laser guided snowflakes on the siding. But how long is long enough? Any opinions?

I haven't the faintest clue. I know next to nothing about Christmas traditions from outside the US, and I probably don't know quite a lot of Christmas traditions from inside the US.

 

[Foxfyre]

What's the 'over/under' on Christmas lights? I ask because there are still a few stalwart holdouts burning outdoor Christmas decorations here. Of course, in this neck of the woods, there are several Orthodox families, Eastern, Greek or Russian, who celebrate Christmas on January 7 rather than December 25th. When I spent my time in Puerto Rico I found that the gift exchanging portion of Christmas happens on January 12th marking the arrival of the three Oriental kings (what were their names again? Balthazar, Melchior and was it Phil.)

At Riverview Cemetery the groundskeeper's house starts looking like a Vegas casino decorated with white lights framing each window and not one but at least two trees bedecked with more tiny white lights. This decor goes up shortly after Thanksgiving. Pop and I used to bet on when all those lights would go dark after the holidays. My usual guess was Groundhog Day. Pop would guess Washington's Birthday. The smart money was on St. Valentine's Day.

But this year I've seen more decorations up later than ever. Granted, most of these Christmas decorations are those modern projector systems shining laser guided snowflakes on the siding. But how long is long enough? Any opinions?

I don't know. In many of the more orthodox traditions, Christmas Day doesn't end the Christmas season but begins the 12 days of Christmas. The 12th day is the 'Feast of the Epiphany" or the coming of the wise men and begins the season of Epiphany ending the day before Ash Wednesday that ushers in the season of Lent on the liturgical calendar.

So maybe your neighbors plan to keep the lights up through Epiphany? That would mean they will take them down on Valentine's Day.

 

[Nosmo King]

What's the 'over/under' on Christmas lights? I ask because there are still a few stalwart holdouts burning outdoor Christmas decorations here. Of course, in this neck of the woods, there are several Orthodox families, Eastern, Greek or Russian, who celebrate Christmas on January 7 rather than December 25th. When I spent my time in Puerto Rico I found that the gift exchanging portion of Christmas happens on January 12th marking the arrival of the three Oriental kings (what were their names again? Balthazar, Melchior and was it Phil.)

At Riverview Cemetery the groundskeeper's house starts looking like a Vegas casino decorated with white lights framing each window and not one but at least two trees bedecked with more tiny white lights. This decor goes up shortly after Thanksgiving. Pop and I used to bet on when all those lights would go dark after the holidays. My usual guess was Groundhog Day. Pop would guess Washington's Birthday. The smart money was on St. Valentine's Day.

But this year I've seen more decorations up later than ever. Granted, most of these Christmas decorations are those modern projector systems shining laser guided snowflakes on the siding. But how long is long enough? Any opinions?

I don't know. In many of the more orthodox traditions, Christmas Day doesn't end the Christmas season but begins the 12 days of Christmas. The 12th day is the 'Feast of the Epiphany" or the coming of the wise men and begins the season of Epiphany ending the day before Ash Wednesday that ushers in the season of Lent on the liturgical calendar.

So maybe your neighbors plan to keep the lights up through Epiphany? That would mean they will take them down on Valentine's Day.

For what it's worth, this evening I saw a red lighted heart on a neighbor's front door. Is St. Valentine's Day a holiday to decorate for now?

I noticed at the convenience store the other day a display of Reese's hearts along side Snickers hearts. Five weeks ago, they were Reese's snowmen and Snickers Christmas trees. My guess is by February 15th, they'll be Reese's Easter eggs and Snickers bunnies. After Labor Day, they'll be Reese's jack-o-lanterns and Snickers ghosts only to be replaced by snowmen and pine trees again. I think there's a finite amount of chocolate and it gets repurposed seasonally.

 

[Nosmo King]

I heard a little bon mot the other day. It was about an immigrant who was told that in America the streets are paved with gold. He came to America only to find that the streets are not paved with gold. In fact, the streets are not paved, and he was the guy who was going to pave them.

Just a thought when contemplating the plight of today's immigrants.

 

[Ava]

One of the best parts about winter is it kills all the BUGS.

Kills the bugs and cuts down on what I call the Bumpkin Factor. Nothing is more irritating to me than a loud exhaust system. Motorcycles, pick up trucks and automobiles where the mouth breather of an owner decides that lacking a degree from n automotive engineering is no hidden evidence where the practicality of a muffler is concerned. Reading or writing or watching a movie can be disrupted by one of these idiots rumbling up the steep street outside. Come a few inches of snow and they decide to drive one more block south where the street is not only less steep but in far better shape.

Springtime and the bumpkins seem to want to tell the world how inconsiderate they are by pulling the hill in front of the Luxurious Pimplebutt Estate.

I'm a retired Master Harley Davidson Technician. Also have a degree in Electrical Engineering. Also worked for IBM. Also was an Avionics Tech in the Air Force... and I love loud exhaust... Course it's in my blood. I love that sort of thing, but I fully understand those that don't. It takes a certain kind of person... but I wouldn't call them "mouth breathers." Some are highly educated and intelligent.

There are laws against it though. They appear to be enforced here in Wisconsin. About the only thing I hear loud here is Harleys. How we get away with it I couldn't tell you, could be that Wisconsin is home to Harley Davidson.

I love the sound of a Harley. LOVE IT!!!!! I love the ride, too. Been there.

 

[Foxfyre]

Good night darlinks. I really do love you guys.

And we continue to pray and/or send good vibes and/or positive thoughts and/or keep vigil for

Harper (Save's granddaughter),
Pogo’s friend Pat and special comfort for Pogo,
Nosmo's mom,
Rod, GW's partner,
Kat's sister,
Sherry's Mom for treatment to be successful,
The Ringels in difficult transition
Dana, Foxfyre's friend recovering from heart transplant
Mr. and Mrs. Gracie in difficult transition and wellness for Gracie,
Mr. and Mrs. Peach174 for full recovery from setback,
Strength and stamina for gallantwarrior in his relocation project,
Ringel's injured shoulder and general wellness,
Drifter for the best job ever,
ricechickie for trouble free healing and wellness,
BigBlackDog for comfort and effective treatment,
NosmoKing's cold,
Hombre's cataract surgery.

And for our students, job hunters, others in transition.

And the light is left on for Noomi, Freedombecki, Esthermoon, Sixfoot, and all others we hope are okay and will return to us.

Getting past our failures, inadequacies, insecurities, shortcomings, and mistakes have made us who we are as much as our successes and accomplishments. So never be afraid to try. The Titanic may have sunk, but mighty ships sail the seas just the same.

 

[Big Black Dog]

Today is the day... Got up at 0400 to take my pre-surgery shower and take care of a few things before I leave to go to the hospital for the out-patient surgery to replace my pacemaker. I’m sure everything will go well and there will be no problems. Just in case there might be problems I have given Nellie the beagle and Taco the mut some extra love this morning and have even gone as far as to tell Mrs. BBD where my top secret stash of mad money is hidden. (It’s stuffed in a sock and carefully hidden in the bookcase behind War and Peace.). I’ll need to find a new hiding place once I return from the hospital. I’ve said my prayers and double checked to make sure I have clean undies on. My mother would always tell me to wear clean undies in case you needed to go to the hospital. I wouldn’t want to disappoint her. Today I’m sporting my Batman under Roos! That might be TMI. Anyway,I’m all set to go and I’ll check back in shortly after I get back home.

 

[Ridgerunner]

BBD