trinacriabob

Who said Germans don't have a sense of humor? Happy Sunday.

@Robert Hall Thank you. There is now some "advertising" in hotel websites calling out a "laptop safe" when it's bigger than a regular one. What is really off-putting is when it's a brand of hotels that should have in-room safes ... and they don't. Or, worse yet, when the description shows that there is a safe and, then, it's not there because the website description hasn't been updated: they're either transitioning to another model or they've removed them altogether.

If you are in a hotel and there is a (laptop) safe in the room, you'd probably use it for your laptop if leaving the room and/or hotel for a while. If you are in a hotel without one, what do you do (with your laptop)? I often have them pass on room service ... that's for sure. It would be beneficial for some of you to weigh in.

Random thoughts: Saw many German imports sporting medium enamel grey exteriors with darker red leather interiors in affluent desert communities and this combination looks nice. Was following a recent Dodge Challenger on the freeway tonight and I love that rear light bar, so I think it's the best looking of the 3 pony car rehashes. Saw an immaculate black 2007 or 2008 Cadillac DTS on the freeway tonight and they still look good, even timeless. I happened onto a dog video last night and it had "Dog Whisperer" Cesar Millan in it. I read about him and he once ran a "Dog Psychology Center." Ha. He does not have a degree in psychology, animal husbandry, or anything. Then, L.A. douchebag groupthink shines through. The list of celebs who used him (one refers or copies another celeb) is lengthy. Remember when celebs were snapping up Priuses, almost as if to make a statement? About 40% of my music collection consists of African-American artists. I notice this as I surf Bluetooth. Some of my friends joke that I was Black in a previous life. Come on. Some white artists - even hard rockers - are more starched than many Black artists ... smooth, earthy, sassy, passionate, gravelly, and/or powerful ... that's what I like in music and they put out some great musical tracks. Happy Friday.

It's great when you're relaxed, sport a chill vibe, and are open to the unexpected. So, here I am, sitting on the outside terrace of a coffeehouse outside Palm Springs, drinking an iced tea, and just wrapped up conversing with a Chinese lady living in the 909, and her teenage daughter, while her rambunctious German Shepherd was jumping on my lap and trying to lick my face. It was my fault. I asked if the dog liked people and being pet. Affirmative. Life's good.

They look identical as opposed to fraternal. If someone wants to choose a religious way of life, more power to them. There are definitely shortages, but a good chunk of those who go into it definitely should NOT be going that route. I've known this typology among leaders above me and even a few people I went to school with - some shitty people who were actually less "Christian-like" than I am, and I am definitely not a "holy roller." (I function much better as a "bon vivant on a budget.") I applaud the kind hearted and altruistic men and women who do choose this and stay on track. For many considering it under the Catholic umbrella, celibacy is one big ticket item that will likely dissuade them. Human beings just aren't wired like that.

What do you know about Wikipedia? Toward the end of each year, they put up a banner ad asking for $2.75 - ~ a cup of coffee - to support their efforts. Are they a nonprofit? Do they have positive cash flow to easily remain afloat? Any insight into their operations? Either way, I send them about 4 "cups of coffee" each December because I use the site extensively.

You're a talented craftsman. - - - - - I know only one person who went to University of Dayton. I don't think she had any issues with it, except that it was a continuation of Catholic high school and was displeased with that aspect. I can relate, as my undergrad was the same way, and this was at a more liberal Catholic college in a big city. Public schools were like an oxygen mask to me. Too much education in a religious setting can sometimes backfire and cause burnout. - - - - - I would have never thought I'd say this, but I, too, would like to revisit Arkansas. There is so much understated beauty.

A man was ecstatic to have entered into a relationship with a nymphomaniac. However, the nympho aspect faded away in short order while the maniac persona remained.

A woman went to a psychiatrist and said, "I believe I may be a nymphomaniac." The psychiatrist said, "I believe I can help you with that. My fee is $80 an hour."

Interesting musical chairs I recently learned about. ITA Airways was recently acquired by Lufthansa. ITA, and preceding Alitalia, were in SkyTeam, headed up by Delta along with Air France and KLM. ITA came across as an unwanted stepchild for the more fastidious French and Dutch. SkyTeam is pricey, as are their award redemption tiers. With this transaction, ITA joins Star Alliance, headed up by United and with Lufthansa and Air Canada in the consortium. I'm happy about this. At least I am right now.

I don't feel religion is bad. I have one. It's the dogmatic "holier than thou" crowd - usually older ladies who go to socialize and gossip - that drives people away. Ukraine has the right to exist peacefully the way we've known it to be for some 30 to 40 years. The death toll is harrowing, and it's hard to think about the children, elderly, and invalids they've killed or maimed. And these instigators claim to believe in God. Not.

It brings on a sigh of relief when: "What car am I being assigned?" "A Malibu." The less drama, the better. Spending the Christmas holidays in SoCal. I wouldn't consider THAT drama-free, but a familiar place in a familiar car.

This sort of dog is a rare blessing. The populated parts of Western Turkey have worked hard to go 180 degrees (well, not quite that far) from their "Midnight Express" reputation and you just don't mistreat the cats and dogs who roam freely around Istanbul. This video makes it easy to see why a good many dogs are more likeable than most fellow human beings.

Happy Friday the 13th! With that comes this joke: Q: What did one lesbian vampire say to the other? A: "Same time, next month?"

Yikes. I don't know. I still haven't been in the Chunnel. That link between Denmark and Sweden that is part bridge and part tunnel is something. The bridge across the Strait of Messina has challenges left and right. California High Speed Rail is like a flickering bulb. This is akin to going to another planet!

I just want to add Corfu and Zakynthos, plus more Athens, to my only trip there once before. I'm always more at ease vacationing where I know or can decipher the language. I may try to visit Bulgaria (language and alphabet ... ouch) and Romania for fall color next year. The video does not refer to causality. The SP was a weird model and not many were made.

The Arco Arena is in Sac, but in the Natomas area, and built when it was a much emptier area with a lot of fields. It is/was one ugly stadium. The Kings used to play there. The rapport with the Lakers was strained. Someone on the L.A. side called Sacto a cow town. The locals were pissed. The locals supposedly would bring cowbell triangles to games with the Lakers played at home. I'd have to look if that's true. Karma is a bitch. The Monarchs also used to play there. I won't go there. A place where I worked once hired a girl who had a Monarchs sticker on her SUV rear window to work as a "paraprofessional." She had to work on something for me. I sensed she didn't know anywhere near enough. I asked her if she knew the actual dimensions of a 2x4. She did not! This wasn't kindergarten. She wasn't working out very well ... for anyone. One day, she stopped showing up, either because she was stressed out or knew she was going to be let go. There is/was all this empty land and they still haven't gone through all the hoops to put in the light rail from downtown to the airport through that soulless Natomas area. City nicknames go from Sactomato to Excremento, and then some. I have/had a few smarter friends who worked at a few wings of the government there and they either got complacent or had nerves of steel to keep plowing ahead to be achievers alongside some duds. Living in the foothill communities is the way to go if you have to live in that metro area, but you'll have rattlesnakes as neighbors.

I'm having trouble letting go ... of my Alitalia app!

It is indeed a very cool thing! It's a place in the flyover zone that you can't fly under. LOL ... sorry. Someone in the audience always asks about this. It's interesting when they slide in the final piece - the keystone - and it fits perfectly. (Of course, there have to be tolerances all throughout.) The movie they show is very informative. A lot of cities can't plan ahead because they don't know what's coming, like the arch. There should have been a mall or lawn devoid of buildings beyond the arch stretching quite a ways to the west. One big turd is Sacramento, CA. There is a mall to the west, unobstructed between the interstate and the capitol. There should have been 3 more malls in the other directions. To the north of the capitol, it gets dumpy very quickly.

I remember when they reported from overseas where the parents were and the mother was completely dysregulated, cursing America and saying they were good boys. Good boys don't plan and make lethal attacks at major civic events. There is a big ingrate factor in America. Some people are able to move here and are then still disgruntled. It's a hard thing to come to realize that this country works in concentric circles. There is still a lot of power in wealthy WASPy dynasty type faimilies here and the circles then fan out. People who are more and more dissimilar from that yardstick find themselves on outer rings and they might be pissed. However, their kids have the option to break that fairly fast by getting an education and doing things with it. This is even more problematic in (South)Western Europe where who you know means even more. Sure, some actress from Sicily or singer from Naples from the working classes got a break, but it's not that common because it's systemic. Case in point: grown-up frat boy type Jesse Watters made an uncalled for comment about the likely fate of the accused shooter. If you think that, shut up. It's obvious that Jesse Watters is very silver spooned as he is one arrogant SOB and thinks he can say what he wants. They got rid of Tucker Carlson. They could get rid of a few others on that network. Some people appreciate being here, knowing it's not perfect, and some people are here and fuming.

Don't be, because it was a little stressful as a kid, with only one rough - very rough - crossing. I had no choice in the first 2 round trips, or 4 crossings. My parents bought passages on the ships so we could move overseas on them ... and back ... and across ... and back. LOL. Passage 5 was not right after college, but close enough. I had to do it. The others are more recent. FWIW, crossing to the UK is 7 days. Crossing to Italy (no longer a thing) was about 7 or 8, reaching the Strait of Gibraltar in about 5 to 6 days, usually with a stop at Lisbon before entering the Med. Yes, it is possible to do the cargo ship thing. You'll have lodging and your meals, but I don't know what else. On a ship, you'll never get bored because there's so much to do. There are also nooks and crannies where you can indeed burrow, relax, and read/write.

There is "some" relief about the "closure," but also one big WTF. They apprehended the likely perpetrator of the murder of Brian Thompson in Manhattan. America is transfixed when someone in a high profile case is on the lam - think Brian Laundrie and Scott Peterson, even though with similar but different circumstances. In the movies, "Thelma and Louise" come to mind, at the very least. The arrest came about fairly quickly. Thank the McDonald's in Altoona, PA. The WTF is his background. WTF! He has a bachelors and masters degree in a STEM field from Penn. He was in a fraternity. He went to an exclusive prep school in Baltimore. He was the valedictorian. He was capable enough in his chosen field. It's interesting and bizarre that he shares an alma mater with Trump and Musk. From where he lived, Ivy League Penn, in Philly, is really close to the Baltimore area, so he didn't stray far from home. What made him snap? How did he go from Ivy League grad to marksman and gun connoisseur? Did he grow up with a silver spoon or not? What was the household like? Everything on paper so far looks standard. This is going to take some unraveling. He obviously wasn't as "smart" as he thought he was. I feel bad for everyone adversely affected. I'm thinking his parents, relatives, and friends are in shock and some people will not treat them too kindly going forward, which is unfair.

First, the greenhouse of the charred Charger says 2006 and on up to the redo in the mid-2010s, so no interest on my part. But thanks! (Medium well for me.) - - - - - The ocean liner video is true, for the most part. When the ocean liners were pulled, there was a niche for one to stay in the game - the QE2 (1969-2008). That ensured she was close to full and profitable. I've been on it once and it was sleek and modern (for being from the OG group). They kept their promise and she is now a hotel in Dubai. She looks the same, minus the lifeboats. I would love to stay there for a night or two, but Dubai isn't on my radar. The France (1962-1974) was the longest ship for decades, between 1,000 and 1,100 ft. long, and French food as standard equipment every day would have grabbed me, but she started to sail far from full and bled red ink. The S.S. United States situation rotting away in Philly saddens me. It should be redone and parked next to a venue in Manhattan. It's the U.S.'s very last true ocean liner. Americans don't have as much of a connection with ships, IMO. Italian Line had 4 ships (after the Andrea Doria replacement with the Leonardo) into the late '70s, retiring them on a staggered schedule. They took the southern route, so there was more time to enjoy the pools. They differentiated themselves with white hulls and superstructures to reflect that sunnier route. The food was great - better on the 2 smaller ones compared to the 2 bigger ones, per my parents. I've done 4 crossings with the family as a kid and it changes how you see the world - for the better. The floor/deck plans below the promenades were "messy" (labyrinthine) to keep people in their 1 of 3 classes, so not that amenable to conversion. The Leonardo was the only ship that crossed into the Pacific, on a unique 41-day cruise to Hawaii, from Italy, through the Panama Canal. The Leonardo, relative to size and weight, was the biggest gas guzzler in the fleet - much like the L-1011 relative to other heavies. The current Queen Mary 2 (QM2) is a dream. I've now done the crossing twice. ("Economy class," and perfectly okay, though one inactive member here who could afford the suites up high had to trash it.) It's big and, even if full, it never feels crowded. Not only that, it's beautiful inside and out, and fairly luxurious in a traditional way, but also fairly priced. One of the coolest things is sailing out in tandem with a Staten Island Ferry - what a treat for those lucky commuters and visitors. Also, a crossing is not a cruise - it's a different purpose and different experience, with a diverse crowd using the QM2 for transportation between the U.S. and Europe. Cunard Line (not sure) may have once had the slogan "Getting there is half the fun," IIRC. I'm on board with that! I can be a pedantic nerd when it comes to this topic and I'll own that.