Running Bear's December 2021 Coffee Shop
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Boris
Beach Bum
Willie: I do agree with your assessment of Tony Koester. However, I take most of what he writes seriously, as he does research his material. I almost bought his book, last night, but decided to hold off. I'm looking ahead to a smaller room sized layout, in a future home.
Disappointing that your grandson's entry has been delayed. Considering the DIL's medical issues, hopefully a bed will open sooner than later.
Happy to hear Arlene's recovery is continuing to go well. She deserves a break, considering everything.
Isn't it fun when our expensive diesel fleets shed parts along the ROW?
.Tom O; That's quite a lot of lumber there. There was a interesting discussion on the B&O forum, that I follow...They talked about different on line sources, and destinations. Also described the different types of pulp, including the compressed pulp bundles, we used to handle for Scott Paper (Kimberly Clark).
Well, I'm still waiting to learn of the lab results of my covid test to come back. I do not believe I have covid, but...Generally, I'm feeling better, but bored. I should venture down to the train room, haven't been there for a while. Maybe, I can find a project to do?
Texas Hobo
Well Known Hobo
Good Afternoon all! Going to be short as we are getting ready for a grocery run.
I too drive with my hand on the shifter. Learned manual driving from my dad in an old Plymouth sedan. While many of us appear to drive with our hand on the shifter, how many of you pushed in the clutch with your left foot while driving an automatic. Comes as a pretty sudden surprise. It happened to me right after I gave up my manual pick-up for an automatic. Luckily, I was alone, and no one knew of my oops.
STAY SAFE
LATER
I too drive with my hand on the shifter. Learned manual driving from my dad in an old Plymouth sedan. While many of us appear to drive with our hand on the shifter, how many of you pushed in the clutch with your left foot while driving an automatic. Comes as a pretty sudden surprise. It happened to me right after I gave up my manual pick-up for an automatic. Luckily, I was alone, and no one knew of my oops.
STAY SAFE
LATER
JOE -- My sinuses are driving me nuts! I've been taking an OTC allergy pill most of the year with not much relief. Finally I doubled up on them when I first get up in morning. That seems to help, but the main problem is that for the first couple hours I am up, my nose just pours - if I don't keep a kerchief in my hand, I will be dripping on the floor all ofer the place.
Well, fast forward - for the last week I have been using a q-tip and sticking a glob of VICKS up each side of my nose at night. Believe it - it has made a world of difference! After I blow my nose and clear out the overnight glob of stuff that has accumulated ... I feel better, sleep better, and I really hope that I have found a simple cure - temporary anyway!
Well, fast forward - for the last week I have been using a q-tip and sticking a glob of VICKS up each side of my nose at night. Believe it - it has made a world of difference! After I blow my nose and clear out the overnight glob of stuff that has accumulated ... I feel better, sleep better, and I really hope that I have found a simple cure - temporary anyway!
D&J RailRoad
Professor of HO
I would think a constant runny nose might lead to dehydration.
Boris
Beach Bum
Tom: Just a footnote. I spent 50% of my time in Operations Management, with Penn Central, and Conrail, before I burned myself out, with the 72 hours / week schedule we kept. I used to believe and attest to what your answer to me would have been. When I went back to tools, I saw the weakness of the Union. They spent their time fighting with the other union, over who would survive, and ultimately hurt the entire industry. Then came Hunter Harrison and his Precision Scheduled Railroad concept... Retirement is wonderful, I can sit back and see all the dumb things I bought into, and wondered why I never used my Villanova Business Degree, except as a wall decoration.
Term Limits have merit. I'm not sold on the flat tax until I'm assured that it applies to everyone without exception. As a retired family on a "fixed" income, our margial tax rate, rose from 10% to 15% after the People's President cut our taxes...
Reading Terry's dilemma, the fiasco at Deere, and the situation at Kellogg, along with all the other scheming in this morning's financials Just set me off. At least Carnegie built Libraries.
chadbag
Well-Known Member
more than once.
chadbag
Well-Known Member
Is that the marginal rate or the actual rate you paid? The marginal rate is the rate paid on the last dollar. I don't know how you do your taxes but, for example, TurboTax will show you the actual rate you paid after your return is done. The Heritage foundation and others have analyzed the tax cuts mentioned and found that real tax rate (not marginal) for almost all middle class folks went down, and went up for high earners. Also, the share of the taxes paid went down in the middle class and up in the rich class, which means it was actually more progressive.
The heritage foundation has similar analyses available.
truckdad
Well-Known Member
santafewillie
Same Ol' Buzzard
Good Afternoon All. Stubbornly, a heavy fog moved in a bit after dawn and has not lifted, thus keeping the temperature at 50° all day so far. It's so heavy that it is like a mist at times and has precluded any real outdoor tasks from being done. I just read a bunch of posts and threads that I haven't had time to view lately and I noticed a post last night from a long-lost member/moderator named Tony aka Wombat457. Welcome back if you see this. It had been three years.
My son texted us earlier today and indicated that the hospital got a room opening and admitted my DIL for her induced labor this morning. I don't really know how long it takes from there, but I will be a grandpa for the fourth time soon.
A lot of interesting posts have been added since I visited this morning. A few comments.
I hope that nobody took my comment regarding Tony Koester as a negative regarding his modeling and his ability to communicate his skills. I only met him once about 20 years ago at a train show in Dallas and he seemed like a nice guy.
I won't get too much into the subject of unions, but it does seem that some of the larger ones exist solely for the benefit of their leaders, the teachers union for example.
Yes, my left foot has hit the non-existent clutch a few times since I started driving the automatic lately - but I never moved the gearshift lever!
Regarding the tax cut act of 2017. According to my wife who has worked at H&R Block for over 20 years, almost all middle income folks indeed got a tax cut. Many didn't realize it because they all had direct deposit and never compared the deposit amount, they only looked at the balance. If they were previous clients of H&R Block, she had a program that pulled up their older info for them to compare; many were actually in awe since all that they knew was what the liberal media had reported. Chad - Thanks for linking to that article, I read it the other day but couldn't remember where it was.
OK, off to the train shed for a while, earlier than usual.
My son texted us earlier today and indicated that the hospital got a room opening and admitted my DIL for her induced labor this morning. I don't really know how long it takes from there, but I will be a grandpa for the fourth time soon.
A lot of interesting posts have been added since I visited this morning. A few comments.
I hope that nobody took my comment regarding Tony Koester as a negative regarding his modeling and his ability to communicate his skills. I only met him once about 20 years ago at a train show in Dallas and he seemed like a nice guy.
I won't get too much into the subject of unions, but it does seem that some of the larger ones exist solely for the benefit of their leaders, the teachers union for example.
Yes, my left foot has hit the non-existent clutch a few times since I started driving the automatic lately - but I never moved the gearshift lever!
Regarding the tax cut act of 2017. According to my wife who has worked at H&R Block for over 20 years, almost all middle income folks indeed got a tax cut. Many didn't realize it because they all had direct deposit and never compared the deposit amount, they only looked at the balance. If they were previous clients of H&R Block, she had a program that pulled up their older info for them to compare; many were actually in awe since all that they knew was what the liberal media had reported. Chad - Thanks for linking to that article, I read it the other day but couldn't remember where it was.
OK, off to the train shed for a while, earlier than usual.
TLOC
Well-Known Member
I have driven this pattern before but never have seen one like it on the shifter
TomO
TLOC
Well-Known Member
Thank you Sherrel. I have a Bobcat I could use and people are available online. I like the idea of cleaning of the deck but I have never seen or heard about cleaning the decks. I assume (yep I know that saying) they just figured the wind will eventually clear the decks as the train moves along.
TomO
PRR Modeler
Well-Known Member
Afternoon All,
Spent a good bit of time in the train room today and got a lot accomplished. I finished the three cork leads, then gave it a black wash, followed by putting the track down. I figure I need 8 sets of track feeders for the track work. To finish up today I cut the 16- 20 ga wires needed and trimmed the insulation on the ends. I figure I'll solder them to the rails tomorrow and connect them to the power buss Friday.
I did test my FP7's through the initial curve without issue but need to do electrical hookup to test everything. I did have a stupid moment today. I initially test track work with a Pennsy H21a hopper (to make sure there's no obvious issues). There was today on the first T/O on the center lead. I figured it was a level issue but just couldn't get it to work. Finally, I ran my finger over the rail and discovered one of the rails was sitting on top of the joiner. After fixing that it worked fine. In my defense the T/O is behind the coal shed on the incline...I'll go with that. Sloppy work.
I am very seriously thinking about moving Hendrix Foundry (the brick building). I can put it on the peninsula when I get there. The reason is that with the new section of engine storage tracks it makes more sense that it would all be part of that engine facility and there wouldn't be a private business in that location. The "yard office" that I would use is from FOS that I built 4 or 5 years ago. It's long enough to fit the area but not as deep, but that can be fixed with scenery material. I took a picture but accidently deleted it, so I'll take another tomorrow.
TomO- Sorry to hear about the Hawaiian weather issues including the ones your brother is having.
Terry- Sorry to hear that about the job.
Jesse- I really like the flat earth color. I look forward to seeing your progress.
D&J- Another nice load.
Mikey- It may look complicated but it's really not.
Joe- Thank you. I'm glad you're feeling better.
Guy- I find that RA and a metal paint scrapper works for pulling up cork (white glue) better than caulk, but either way the cork is destroyed.
Jaz- That photo is amazing.
I hope everyone has a good night.
Spent a good bit of time in the train room today and got a lot accomplished. I finished the three cork leads, then gave it a black wash, followed by putting the track down. I figure I need 8 sets of track feeders for the track work. To finish up today I cut the 16- 20 ga wires needed and trimmed the insulation on the ends. I figure I'll solder them to the rails tomorrow and connect them to the power buss Friday.
I did test my FP7's through the initial curve without issue but need to do electrical hookup to test everything. I did have a stupid moment today. I initially test track work with a Pennsy H21a hopper (to make sure there's no obvious issues). There was today on the first T/O on the center lead. I figured it was a level issue but just couldn't get it to work. Finally, I ran my finger over the rail and discovered one of the rails was sitting on top of the joiner. After fixing that it worked fine. In my defense the T/O is behind the coal shed on the incline...I'll go with that. Sloppy work.
I am very seriously thinking about moving Hendrix Foundry (the brick building). I can put it on the peninsula when I get there. The reason is that with the new section of engine storage tracks it makes more sense that it would all be part of that engine facility and there wouldn't be a private business in that location. The "yard office" that I would use is from FOS that I built 4 or 5 years ago. It's long enough to fit the area but not as deep, but that can be fixed with scenery material. I took a picture but accidently deleted it, so I'll take another tomorrow.
TomO- Sorry to hear about the Hawaiian weather issues including the ones your brother is having.
Terry- Sorry to hear that about the job.
Jesse- I really like the flat earth color. I look forward to seeing your progress.
D&J- Another nice load.
Mikey- It may look complicated but it's really not.
Joe- Thank you. I'm glad you're feeling better.
Guy- I find that RA and a metal paint scrapper works for pulling up cork (white glue) better than caulk, but either way the cork is destroyed.
Jaz- That photo is amazing.
I hope everyone has a good night.
Boris
Beach Bum
Chad: Over a four year period, two years before...two years after the "tax cut", with virtually the same level of income, and ever increasing medical costs, my taxes went up 1000 to 1200 a year. after the tax cut. Reductions in withholding, were offset by increased Estimated Tax payments. It worked out to an actual increase, because my state and property tax deductions were limited. I really don't care what the Heritage Foundation says, I know what I paid. (I use H&R Block software, as it is more accurate than Turbo Tax, in my experience.
Bruette
Well-Known Member
Terry, what is the procedure for becoming a state Inspector in North Carolina? In Maryland it was only a written test and demonstrating you can do a proper inspection.
truckdad
Well-Known Member
Good afternoon Gentlemen & lady.
The weather up here has been foggy, cold and gloomy so I spent a couple hours in the trainroom. I needed a boilerhouse for the sugar mill and being a cheapskate, I used an old Forest Lumber building I had and put a quick coat of paint on it and added 2 stacks to see if it will fit the bill. I'm going to remove most of the dock section and add a little more paint and it should work. Before & after picks.
Another project I started & finished is a 1:1 scale model of California's High Speed Rail System. If anyone is familiar with CHSR, they will see the accuracy & quality of my modeling skills represented here as seen in the pic.
hope all are well.
The weather up here has been foggy, cold and gloomy so I spent a couple hours in the trainroom. I needed a boilerhouse for the sugar mill and being a cheapskate, I used an old Forest Lumber building I had and put a quick coat of paint on it and added 2 stacks to see if it will fit the bill. I'm going to remove most of the dock section and add a little more paint and it should work. Before & after picks.
Another project I started & finished is a 1:1 scale model of California's High Speed Rail System. If anyone is familiar with CHSR, they will see the accuracy & quality of my modeling skills represented here as seen in the pic.
hope all are well.
troyphoto
Snarky Old Fart (in training)
Interesting data can be had about the tax cuts. Especially from the govt's own hearings
Seems like the higher up the ladder one was on income, the greater the percentage of tax break they got. 2.9 seems to be the highest break, and lowest 0.4. Nice graphics in the post I linked.
As for health issues, I've got slight sinus pressure, but not taking meds for it. Still taking zinc.
I forget who mentioned humidity, but we keep our house at 38% or higher year round due to my wife getting nosebleeds easily. I've got room humidifiers in her heavy use areas (office, living, and bed rooms) as well as an on-furnace humidifier that I change the pad in every year.
And, yes, a good two-fingers of Scottish blended whiskey (Monkey Shoulder) seems to really help. Or so the whiskey says.
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Reminds me of an old Mack I had to drive a few times. If you saw me waving at you while I was shifting gears, I can assure you it wasn't my hand you saw...
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