The "What's on your mind?" thread

[sfmarine]

Originally Posted by Vilya

I host a multi-player online session of the video game Baldur's Gate 3 one night per week, circumstances permitting, and we live voice chat while playing. It's great being able to yell at the friend that blew you up with a fireball in real time.

[red_5ive]

Originally Posted by RageATL

I have no choice but to use it for work and while I'm generally not a big fan, they have made some recent relatively decent upgrades.

Same here, it's a work thing, can't avoid it. It has definitely improved, and some of the features that were added recently has made it more tolerable, but...

Originally Posted by sfmarine

I miss AIM.

... this right here is exactly my point. How long has AIM been around? M$ has had a model from popular chat services for decades, but they continue to try to reinvent a wheel that doesn't necessarily need to be reinvented. Granted that Teams is an integrated app and not just "a chat tool", but still that cluttered interface.

Ok, rant over.

[red_5ive]

Originally Posted by Vilya

I host a multi-player online session of the video game Baldur's Gate 3 one night per week, circumstances permitting, and we live voice chat while playing. It's great being able to yell at the friend that blew you up with a fireball in real time.

Fun times . We used to have a full group from here that played Destiny during the game's early days. Don't see most of those guys around here anymore.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by red_5ive

Same here, it's a work thing, can't avoid it. It has definitely improved, and some of the features that were added recently has made it more tolerable, but...
... this right here is exactly my point. How long has AIM been around? M$ has had a model from popular chat services for decades, but they continue to try to reinvent a wheel that doesn't necessarily need to be reinvented. Granted that Teams is an integrated app and not just "a chat tool", but still that cluttered interface.

Ok, rant over.

Microsoft has a talent for taking someone else's great idea and then ruining it.

[civiclx]

Oh yeah, so I missed what would have been my first motorcycle racing a few weeks ago. It was held at Laguna Seca which I guess is a pretty famous track here in N.A. This past weekend, they had Indy car racing and I would have liked to have gone to that but I missed that one as well. Hopefully I'll be able to attend an event there soon though. Thank God it's not round so they can't host NASCAR

[fighthefutureofhd]

Originally Posted by Vilya

Most chain restaurants range from awful to just mediocre and therefore they are entirely forgettable. When I want to dine out I almost never crave anything from a chain restaurant. While there are certainly terrible independent restaurants, there are also many very good ones and some truly exceptional choices. There are no exceptional chain restaurants in my experience. I want good to great food when I eat out and most chain restaurants disappoint me. If I want ho-hum food like that served by chains, I can save money and make my own.

I can certainly see that. And i can certainly understand someone seeing it that way. But that's a very blanket statement that doesn't hold a whole lot of weight. I know many, many chain restaurants that are better than your local places. Ted's Montana Grill & North Italia come to mind. Also NY Pie. If you only go to or have gone to the dump chains then chains suck. Don't give up on chains though. They're not all bad. Not even the majority. I forget about In N' Out.

Originally Posted by Vilya

IHOP and Waffle House are nothing special; they are acceptable in the absence of better options. Thankfully, there are almost always better options. I have never seen a Voodoo donut shop; are they a regional chain?

Of course I'm loco; most railroaders are.

Waffle House is the breakfast of champions in the south. It cannot be beat. As for Voodoo Donuts, I don't think they are regional. I believe they are a nationwide chain. My uncle was a railroader and he's not loco. Well, we think he might be to have married my aunt (my dad's sister).

[BizCat]

Somebody mention Waffle House?

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by fighthefutureofhd

I can certainly see that. And i can certainly understand someone seeing it that way. But that's a very blanket statement that doesn't hold a whole lot of weight.

Had I said that ALL chain restaurants are awful to mediocre, that would be a blanket statement, but I said MOST and I stand by that statement as it is my opinion.

There are a chains that I like. I miss the regional chain restaurant IN 'N Out Burger since I moved back to Illinois from Laguna Niguel, CA, but I can not think of any other chain restaurants whose food I ever crave- and I do not crave IN 'N Out burger very often; I think my feelings for it are more nostalgic than anything else.

I can easily find a better independent restaurant for any chain place I have ever experienced, including the Waffle House. I have had vastly better waffles at independent restaurants.

I have never seen a Voodoo donut store, not even in New Orleans where I would expect to find a place named after voodoo. I would certainly give them a try if I ever come across one.

[Waboman]

Originally Posted by sfmarine

I have Cobra coming in from Amazon but with the B&N Arrow sale right around the corner, it makes sense to return it and save $7!

I got a bomb here! I'll kill her! I'll blow this whole place up!
Go ahead. I don't shop here.

I watched my copy last week. Classic 80's cheese. Love it.

[civiclx]

I'm watching The Adjustment Bureau for the first time in several years. I really liked it from the first time that I watched it in the theater. It's the movie that made me an Emily Blunt fan. I'm about 10 to 15 minutes in (they're still in the bathroom) and I won't say I forgot how good this movie is but I'm just really enjoying it.

[Bradsdadg]

Package set to arrive today. Was about 10-15 minutes away in the next town over. Post Office decides to ship it halfway across the country in the opposite direction again

[Driver78]

Originally Posted by civiclx

I'm watching The Adjustment Bureau for the first time in several years. I really liked it from the first time that I watched it in the theater. It's the movie that made me an Emily Blunt fan. I'm about 10 to 15 minutes in (they're still in the bathroom) and I won't say I forgot how good this movie is but I'm just really enjoying it.

I have to revisit this one. Seen it a couple times (theater and BD) and remember really liking it. Unique concept. Whenever I'm in the mood for a good contemporary sci-fi yarn this should be a good fit.

[fighthefutureofhd]

Trying to get through another lousy day here. I won't say anymore. Don't want to jinx this any further.

Originally Posted by Vilya

Had I said that ALL chain restaurants are awful to mediocre, that would be a blanket statement, but I said MOST and I stand by that statement as it is my opinion.

There are a chains that I like. I miss the regional chain restaurant IN 'N Out Burger since I moved back to Illinois from Laguna Niguel, CA, but I can not think of any other chain restaurants whose food I ever crave- and I do not crave IN 'N Out burger very often; I think my feelings for it are more nostalgic than anything else.

In N' Out is quite good. And they spreading out east and in the south. So, you may be able to have them again. Have you to been to Ted's Montana Grill? That is one of the best chains out there. Their burgers cannot be beat. Not even by some of the best burgers around. It puts a lot of our local places to shame. If it's a well run restaurant and has good food who cares what it is. That's my motto. I'm an equal opportunity eater here.

Originally Posted by Vilya

I have never seen a Voodoo donut store, not even in New Orleans where I would expect to find a place named after voodoo. I would certainly give them a try if I ever come across one.

They can't have one in New Orleans. The locals find Voodoo Doughnuts to be insensitive and culturally inappropriate. The backlash mainly comes from voodoo practitioners and historic preservationists. It's a freaking doughnut shop for heavens sake.

[civiclx]

I could use some more discipline in my life
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/b91AyInGwbk

[Driver78]

Chain restaurants aren't as horrible as they're made out to be. They serve their purpose. Not all of us need or can afford 5 star dining every day. I went to a restaurant one time and the bill was almost $400. I nearly died that day - it's a good thing I was packing Christmas envelope money that night.

[civiclx]

Originally Posted by Driver78

I have to revisit this one. Seen it a couple times (theater and BD) and remember really liking it. Unique concept. Whenever I'm in the mood for a good contemporary sci-fi yarn this should be a good fit.

I don't think I even made it halfway through. I paused it at some point to take a six minute nap and when the alarm went off, I set it to repeat one more time and then I didn't wake up for until a few hours later Maybe I'll finish it before I return to work tonight.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Driver78

Chain restaurants aren't as horrible as they're made out to be. They serve their purpose. Not all of us need or can afford 5 star dining every day. I went to a restaurant one time and the bill was almost $400. I nearly died that day - it's a good thing I was packing Christmas envelope money that night.

Some chain restaurants are really bad, most are mediocre, uninspired, and forgettable, while precious few are worth seeking out.

I wasn't just referring to fine dining and I can't afford it very often, either. There are many locally owned and operated restaurants that are reasonably priced that are extremely good.

There is a little family owned Italian restaurant near me that has been in continuous operation since 1933- that's 92 years and counting- that makes the Olive Garden look as bad as a can of Chef Boyaredee. This local treasure serves not only vastly superior food, but also larger portions and at a comparable cost. You only stay in business for 92 years by being extraordinary.

[red_5ive]

Originally Posted by Vilya

Microsoft has a talent for taking someone else's great idea and then ruining it.

No joke. Office/MS 365 runs like a tired dog up a hill compared to Google Docs/Workspace.

[Mike16]

I wish there was some way to track first class mail. My new RealID driver's license was mailed last Wednesday, informed delivery showed it as being delivered on Thursday along with one other piece of mail and yet neither were delivered. I'm convinced my idiot mail man mis-delivered it but I can't prove it, seems obvious if you receive mail not addressed to you (or even at your address) you drop it back in your mail box so it can get to it's recipient but obviously not everyone is honest /smh

[fighthefutureofhd]

Are you subscribed to Informed Delivery? That will let you know whatever mail you are due to get day to day. They even email you daily digests and let you know when something's due to be delivered.

Originally Posted by Vilya

Some chain restaurants are really bad, most are mediocre, uninspired, and forgettable, while precious few are worth seeking out.

I wasn't just referring to fine dining and I can't afford it very often, either. There are many locally owned and operated restaurants that are reasonably priced that are extremely good.

There is a little family owned Italian restaurant near me that has been in continuous operation since 1933- that's 92 years and counting- that makes the Olive Garden look as bad as a can of Chef Boyaredee. This local treasure serves not only vastly superior food, but also larger portions and at a comparable cost. You only stay in business for 92 years by being extraordinary.

Rose: [smelling Sophia's spaghetti sauce] Sophia, that smells heavenly! Is it Chef Boyardee?
Sophia: [holding up a kitchen knife] Stick it in my heart, Rose, it'll hurt less!