The "What's on your mind?" thread

[LordoftheRings]

Originally Posted by sfmarine

Zuckerberg’s new yacht.

Mega party time!

* The color black? ...Bandit pirate color.

[civiclx]

I just recently read an article about Mark selling a home in Woodside. I never knew that he had property there. The road appears to be public so might have to check it out the next time I'm up there. OLI FTW

[sfmarine]

AITA for not wanting the cable company to install a fiber optic line on my property to improve 911 reliability?

A little backstory. We haven’t been able to get cable or high speed internet at all where I live as we’re rural. We reached out to the cable company years ago and they wanted 20k to run a line. I’ve had Directv for 20 years as it’s all we can get. Everyone has satellite on my road. Internet was Verizon DSL for many years as well because it was the only option. 3mb download! Absolutely rubbish.

Thanks to Elon Musk, I was able to get on the beta list for Starlink and I’ve had it ever since. So we’re set for Internet at the moment. Speeds vary but I’m always over 100mb.

A few weeks ago, I received a large manila envelope from the cable company! My first thought was holy crap…they’re finally bringing cable to the area! Honestly if they did it back in ‘99 when we first requested it their ROI would have been easily 10 fold.

So it was not about Internet or cable. They want access to my property to improve 911 services and included a drawing of my property and a contract that needs to be notarized if I approve.

A few excerpts from the letter.
-We are reaching out to property owners like yourself to request a right of way for the installation of a fiber optic connection aimed at improving 911 reliability.

-We seek to bury an underground fiber from existing utility pole #xxx on your property in the front for the installation of the fiber optic connection for 911 reliability.

-This collaboration allows for a streamlined approach to the project while minimizing environmental impact and disruption to the community.

-By granting permission to establish a right of way for the installation of a fiber optic connection on your property, you will directly contribute to the improvement of our 911-reliability infrastructure.

So yeah…this ain’t for the consumer. It’s a propriety line dedicated to 911 services. If they were like “hey because of this you can get fiber optic Internet now” I’d totally be down. The contract is heavy with legal jargon basically granting them full access to my property to construct, reconstruct, operate, and maintain its “facilities” along with brush and tree removal. They’re willing to meet with me because if they’re knocking down trees and tearing up my property, I really need a better explanation because once I sign, they’ll have carte blanche.

The funny thing is I am right across a freaking open field. It’s funny that they’re not going over there. I asked a friend and he said it was likely cheaper for them to go through my property.

If I say no, I’ll be “that guy” but maybe they’ll offer some sort counter offer with compensation -although doubtful.

[LordoftheRings]

What are your monthly payments with Starlink?

[sfmarine]

Originally Posted by lordoftherings

what are you monthly payments with starlink?

$120

[LordoftheRings]

Do you know that guy ^ ? CLick on him to find out more ...
What a little piece of crap!

[LordoftheRings]

Originally Posted by sfmarine

$120

It's expensive.

That doesn't include cable TV? ...Phone line? ...Cell plan? ...Electricity? ...Water taxes?
Garbage pickup? ...Gasoline (car & truck and tractor )? ...Groceries? ...Property taxes?
Mortgage payments? ...Kids school tuitions? ...Clothing? ...Home and car repairs/maintenance? ...Tools? ...Gardening? ...Laundry? ...Restaurants? ...Vacation trips?
...Light bulbs replacements? ...New kitchen? ...New hot water tank? ...New tires? ...Home paint job? ...New roof? ...New bed and mattress? ...New mistress? ...New floors? ...New carpets? ...New bathroom? ...Pet food? ...Bird food? ...Fish food? ...New iPhone? ...New windows (Including Microsoft)? ...

[sfmarine]

Originally Posted by LordoftheRings

It's expensive.
...

Indeed it is but the best I can get out here. It started out at $99 but good ‘ol inflation. No way I’m going back to Verizon DSL. I may end up canceling Directv as I can now stream content but it evens out once you add up all the individual streaming platforms. $200 for the year to stream Yankees games and that still doesn’t get you every game. So keeping Directv is probably the better move.

[Waboman]

Originally Posted by sfmarine

AITA for not wanting the cable company to install a fiber optic line on my property to improve 911 reliability?

A little backstory. We haven’t been able to get cable or high speed internet at all where I live as we’re rural. We reached out to the cable company years ago and they wanted 20k to run a line. I’ve had Directv for 20 years as it’s all we can get. Everyone has satellite on my road. Internet was Verizon DSL for many years as well because it was the only option. 3mb download! Absolutely rubbish.

Thanks to Elon Musk, I was able to get on the beta list for Starlink and I’ve had it ever since. So we’re set for Internet at the moment. Speeds vary but I’m always over 100mb.

A few weeks ago, I received a large manila envelope from the cable company! My first thought was holy crap…they’re finally bringing cable to the area! Honestly if they did it back in ‘99 when we first requested it their ROI would have been easily 10 fold.

So it was not about Internet or cable. They want access to my property to improve 911 services and included a drawing of my property and a contract that needs to be notarized if I approve.

A few excerpts from the letter.
-We are reaching out to property owners like yourself to request a right of way for the installation of a fiber optic connection aimed at improving 911 reliability.

-We seek to bury an underground fiber from existing utility pole #xxx on your property in the front for the installation of the fiber optic connection for 911 reliability.

-This collaboration allows for a streamlined approach to the project while minimizing environmental impact and disruption to the community.

-By granting permission to establish a right of way for the installation of a fiber optic connection on your property, you will directly contribute to the improvement of our 911-reliability infrastructure.

So yeah…this ain’t for the consumer. It’s a propriety line dedicated to 911 services. If they were like “hey because of this you can get fiber optic Internet now” I’d totally be down. The contract is heavy with legal jargon basically granting them full access to my property to construct, reconstruct, operate, and maintain its “facilities” along with brush and tree removal. They’re willing to meet with me because if they’re knocking down trees and tearing up my property, I really need a better explanation because once I sign, they’ll have carte blanche.

The funny thing is I am right across a freaking open field. It’s funny that they’re not going over there. I asked a friend and he said it was likely cheaper for them to go through my property.

If I say no, I’ll be “that guy” but maybe they’ll offer some sort counter offer with compensation -although doubtful.

F'ck 'em. They had their chance. "911 reliability." Lol.

[sfmarine]

Yeah…but it’s still like..


So I’ve noticed a weird “shrieking” sound from my HT. Not sure how else to describe it. I feel like it’s a speaker issue or perhaps wiring. There is no crackle..just a weird high pitched shriek. It does not happen all the time but it’s super annoying when it does.

I’ve ruled out a player or HDMI issue as it occurs on both players.

[Batman1980]

Sounds like a wiring issue to me.

Got sent home 30 minutes early from my 6 hour portion of today's 10 hour shift, gives me a bit more time to chill before going back 5-9.

Watching GoT for now and letting the portion of Seveneves that I read today sink in a bit.

[sfmarine]

Originally Posted by Batman1980

Sounds like a wiring issue to me.

Got sent home 30 minutes early from my 6 hour portion of today's 10 hour shift, gives me a bit more time to chill before going back 5-9.

Watching GoT for now and letting the portion of Seveneves that I read today sink in a bit.

I am overdue for a GoT marathon. I wonder if GRRM will ever finish the books lol.

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by sfmarine

I am overdue for a GoT marathon. I wonder if GRRM will ever finish the books lol.

I doubt it which is why I hope the rest of the shows are at least as good as hotd

[sfmarine]

Originally Posted by Batman1980

I doubt it which is why I hope the rest of the shows are at least as good as hotd

13 years since the last book. Last update was last year and he said he was struggling lol.

He’ll finish The Winds of Winter but I do not see George finishing ASOIAF. He is 75 and cannot take another 10 years to pound out another novel.

[Batman1980]

Which is why the terrible tv show ending is probably the only one we're going to get unless he just gives us a better one

[BluRayTim]

I bought my new dress shoes today. They’ll arrive this Thursday to next Monday (excluding the weekend).

I’ll post one or two pictures next week. Then I’ll post a mirror shined toe cap picture or two the day before or the day when I first wear them. Some members asked for pictures.

There’s a shoe cobbler in Syosset on Berry Hill Road. He’s on the east side of the road a quarter to half mile north of the railroad crossing. He can mirror shine the toe caps.

[sfmarine]

Shoe cobblers in my area all went out of business. It’s a dying profession.

[BluRayTim]

Originally Posted by sfmarine

Shoe cobblers in my area all went out of business. It’s a dying profession.

That sucks.

[Bigdog]

Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore, Maryland (March 26, 2024) - YouTube

[Member-222782]

Originally Posted by sfmarine

Shoe cobblers in my area all went out of business. It’s a dying profession.

It's hard enough finding shoe shiners I know, I can shine my own shoes but I'll never do as good enough a job as those guys.

I got my Federal tax refund 7 days after I filed but my State refund is nowhere to be found. IIRC, last year it took over a month for it to show up. I don't get it (literally). The Feds can get me my money much faster than the State and they deal with hundreds of millions of people