Hobby Thread - May 3, 2025 [TRex]

Welcome hobbyists! Pull up a chair and sit a spell with the Horde in this little corner of the interweb. This is the mighty, mighty officially sanctioned Ace of Spades Hobby Thread. We gave the Ace of Spades Wheel of Hobbies(TM) a spin and it came up with traveling to Canada!

[Top photo: Banff]

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Been a while since we have done a travel theme on the Hobby Thread. As winter recedes and spring and summer emerge (at least in the Northern Hemisphere), wanderlust starts to emerge. Where to go?

Since Canada has been in the news for a variety of reasons, let's take off to The Great White North. What are your favorite places or events to visit? Lots of variety and lots of places to visit. Everyone knows about Niagara Falls, but what else should be on a travel bucket list for Canada?

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Lake Louise was developed as a tourist resort by the Canadian Pacific Railway. The luxurious Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise may be one of the most well-known and photographed locations in Canada. The Canadian Rockies include places like Banff, Jasper, and the national parks of Yoho and Kootenay.

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The Calgary Stampede takes center stage in Alberta each July. The ten-day rodeo is world famous and apparently the largest outdoor rodeo in the world. The event has expanded beyond horse riding to become a cultural event with plenty of music. Shania Twain will headline in 2025. Rodeo activity happens each afternoon leaving the evening for hooting and hollering.

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The Royal Canadian Pacific train is the Orient Express of Canada. If you're looking for a unique bucket-list way of seeing Canada in style (and if your budget is generous), the train may be for you.

The Canadian Pacific Railway was formed to physically unite Canada and Canadians from coast to coast. Construction was difficult at best. In 1885, the east and west portions of railroad track where joined with the last spike in Craigellachie, British Columbia.

Five star hospitality means stellar accommodations and cuisine. Train trips these days typically do not cross Canada, but instead tour western Canada for five days/four nights at a time. Trips start out of Calgary. If you're really a big deal, you can charter the train for 30 guests. There are other train trips in Canada but this is the most luxurious. Has anyone done a tour on this line or others?

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Victoria, the capital of British Columbia sits on beautiful Vancouver Island and is arguably one of Canada's most picturesque cities. British heritage and history is everywhere, such as in the form of double decker buses. Museums, waterfront attractions, Parliament buildings, scenic day trips, and amazing gardens make it a tourist attraction. Its weather is also more mild than many other parts of Canada.

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In more urban terms, Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, and Winnipeg get the attention. Montreal is known for its French language and influence, the 1976 Summer Olympics and F1 racing each year. Toronto is the financial hub and destination of teenagers in the US looking for alcohol. What urban places in Canada are your favorites?

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Canada has many other attractions. Northern Lights? Panning for gold in the Yukon? Sled Dog Racing (not the Iditarod - that is in Alaska, not Canada)? Walking on glaciers? Whale watching? Scenic drives in Nova Scotia? Wild Polar Bears? Historic Quebec city? Thousand Island National Park? Winter sports at Whistler? Lighthouses on Prince Edward Island? Cruising the inside passage?

Where have you gone or would like to go? Horde from or in Canada - where do you recommend visiting? What hidden gems or little known spots should be on a touring list?

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I was going to put this in an ONT, but the Hobbying Horde might have thoughts. Never thought of such a thing before. Is this real or AI? Even if AI, is this possible? Just need some patience and superglue?

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Horde Hobbying update from polynikes - this one is called "Chambers Lake"

Good stuff as always. Thank you!

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What are you hobbying these days? Does spring weather open up new options for your hobbying? As per usual Hobby Thread etiquette, keep this thread limited to hobbying. Your participation does not need to limited to the theme. All hobbying is welcome. However, politics, current events and religious debates can live in threads elsewhere. Play nice. Do not be a troll and do not feed the trolls. Pants, as always, are optional.

Best wishes to those with Hobbies of the horse racing variety. Looks like it is going to be a muddy race today.

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Did you miss the Hobby Thread last week? We talked automata. The comments may be closed, but you can re-live the content.

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Notable comments from last week:

20250503-FD comment.jpg

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Words of wisdom:

"Because despite all our troubles, when things are grim out in that wide round world of ours, that's when it's really important to have a good hobby." Posted by: tankascribe at June 22, 2024 07:41 PM (HWxAD).

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If you have trouble finding something in the content or comments that resonates with you, hijack the thread for your hobbying as you see fit. We will feature a different theme next time. What are you hobbying? We love showing off Horde hobbying. Send thoughts, suggestions and photos of your hobbying to moronhobbies at protonmail dot com. Do mighty things. Lucky horseshoes to all.

Posted by: Open Blogger at 05:30 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Welcome Hobbiests

Posted by: Skip at May 03, 2025 05:30 PM (ypFCm)

2 Nice work, Poly. If only I had a book cover for you to design.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at May 03, 2025 05:32 PM (0eaVi)

3 Hm. No interest in going to Canadia now. Unless they bow to Trump.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at May 03, 2025 05:33 PM (0eaVi)

4 Thar Q-tip cube is patience

Posted by: Skip at May 03, 2025 05:34 PM (ypFCm)

5 It's a beauty way to go.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at May 03, 2025 05:34 PM (63Dwl)

6 Polynikes keeps astonishing us with outstanding paintings

Posted by: Skip at May 03, 2025 05:35 PM (ypFCm)

7 I think Q-tip cube could be done without glue.
I will not attempt.

Posted by: InspiredHistoryMike at May 03, 2025 05:35 PM (L1omb)

8 Thar Q-tip cube is patience
Posted by: Skip at May 03, 2025 05:34 PM (ypFCm)
---
Not pictured: tube of superglue...

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at May 03, 2025 05:35 PM (GlyvH)

9 I finally started my refught of Frederick the Grests loss at Kunersdorf using my Napoleonic era armies.
About 2,700 figures when it's over.
https://tinyurl.com/3423rnpk
I swaped historical numbers of the 7 Years war ,

Posted by: Skip at May 03, 2025 05:37 PM (ypFCm)

10 I think without glue too

Posted by: Skip at May 03, 2025 05:38 PM (ypFCm)

11 The Q-tip piece is held together with earwax.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at May 03, 2025 05:38 PM (Q4IgG)

12 Never been to Canada, and it kind of sounds like it's one of those "Shoulda gone there a while ago" places.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at May 03, 2025 05:38 PM (CHHv1)

13 I been to Canade on the Thousand Island area

Posted by: Skip at May 03, 2025 05:40 PM (ypFCm)

14 9 I finally started my refught of Frederick the Grests loss at Kunersdorf using my Napoleonic era armies.

Posted by: Skip at May 03, 2025 05:37 PM
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That's massive. Do you have an order of battle that describes the movements?

Posted by: TRex at May 03, 2025 05:40 PM (Nlx7c)

15 Q-tip Cube: And I thought I was bored with nothing to do!
Kind of neat, though....

Posted by: boynsea at May 03, 2025 05:40 PM (cx155)

16 Our hobby is road trips.

One of the cool things about living in Boise is just how close so many different places are for a day-long road trip, or an overnighter on the weekends. Today we drove up through Idaho City and over the pass to the Payette valley.

As the weather warms we will start taking my truck up into the mountains and drive some of the really neat looking forest roads.

Posted by: Pug Mahon at May 03, 2025 05:41 PM (0aYVJ)

17 I think Canadian women are probably the hottest per capita.

Australian maybe next.

Posted by: EP at May 03, 2025 05:42 PM (r2ymA)

18 And of course, I stopped over in Victoria at night, with 3 hours of shore excursion time. Total waste.

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at May 03, 2025 05:43 PM (Wnv9h)

19 So, there is no trans-Canadian train?

We must mock them.

Posted by: no one of any consequence at May 03, 2025 05:44 PM (ZmEVT)

20 16 Our hobby is road trips.

One of the cool things about living in Boise is just how close so many different places are for a day-long road trip, or an overnighter on the weekends.

Posted by: Pug Mahon at May 03, 2025 05:41 PM
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Your new neighborhood is stuffed full of marvelous scenic drives. Hidden gem. Glad you're getting out to enjoy it.

Posted by: TRex at May 03, 2025 05:45 PM (Nlx7c)

21 ***Shania Twain will headline in 2025.
---

Well, they do know livestock even if they don't do country music.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at May 03, 2025 05:45 PM (5875v)

22 https://www.kronoskaf.com/syw/ 1759-08-12 Battle of Kunersdorf
https://tinyurl.com/mpweyxj3

Posted by: Skip at May 03, 2025 05:46 PM (ypFCm)

23 Canada: It's big.

The touristy polar bears are in Churchill, Manitoba. Everyone's packing heat on Halloween to protect the kiddos.

Tonnes of fishing opportunities, particularly in Quebec, northern Ontario, Manitoba, and the Northwest Territories.

In the Maritimes, you have the Bay of Fundy and its famous tides. Prince Edward Island's economy runs on potatoes and Anne of Green Gables tourism.

Quebec has a lot of cultural and historical stuff going for it, but be warned that the further you get from Montreal (even in Quebec City) the more you're going to notice that a lot of French gets spoken. Even in parts of Montreal you get into French-only enclaves. If you can, experience a Montreal Canadiens game.

Ontario has Toronto, of course (aka. the Centre of the Universe). Ottawa has the Parliament buildings and the annual tulip festival, since the Dutch provide a whole lot of them in gratitude for what Canada did for them in WWII.

Posted by: Vendette at May 03, 2025 05:47 PM (IjhTR)

24 I've only spent a lot of time in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Those are very nice places. (Fredericton had the closest mall to Caribou, ME when I was stationed there.) Blueberry Festival in Nova Scotia was fantastic.

I've flown over most of populated Canada once. It was a VERY long day at 250kt with our gear stuck down all the way from Fairbanks, Alaska to Caribou, ME. Buy me a beer and I'll tell that story at a MoMe.

Posted by: GWB at May 03, 2025 05:50 PM (wJRsB)

25 I've been to Quebec Province a few times but, given the current situation, don't have any great desire to return. Montreal is just another big city, only the accents change from any city in the USA. We did enjoy Quebec City. It's a bit of France without having to cross an ocean. Pleasant to walk around and some fantastic restaurants. It was the only part of Canada that had a sense of history.

My ancestors were among the first families sent from Normandy to establish Quebec City in the 1630s. There's a monument to them in a city park overlooking the St. Lawrence River. Kinda cool to see the area from that perspective. (This is not an exclusive group. Those folks bred like rabbits so there are many thousands with my last name that have come along over the centuries.)

Posted by: JTB at May 03, 2025 05:50 PM (yTvNw)

26 My best time in Canada was a wilderness canoe trip from Old Crow in the Yukon Territory to Fort Yukon in Alaska about 10 years ago. Great time, wonderful scenery. Came across moose tracks several times, never saw a moose. Saw lots of bear sign, and a few at a distance, which is the way that I prefer them.

One airplane flying up (I think it was from Whitehorse to Old Crow) was so old it still had the little metal ashtrays in the seat armrests.

Posted by: The Neon Madman at May 03, 2025 05:50 PM (yNfcm)

27 So, there is no trans-Canadian train?

We must mock them.
Posted by: no one of any consequence at May 03, 2025 05:44 PM

We already mock trans-Canandians.

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at May 03, 2025 05:51 PM (Wnv9h)

28 My retirement trip (and husband's knee-replacement victory lap) was to the Canadian Rockies and Glacier National Park. Flew in and out of Calgary. Stayed in Canmore, which is only kilometers from Banff and much cheaper and more comfortable than that touristy town. We had a great time but neither of us would ever go back to Canada now.

Sorry, hosers.

Posted by: Art Rondelet of Malmsey at May 03, 2025 05:51 PM (FEVMW)

29 My limited Canadian adventures include fishing expeditions in Gananoque, in the 1000 Islands region. Also a very nice work week in Ottawa, which turned into an all-inclusive vacation, as my phone never rang the whole time I was there, enabling me to further my research into Canadian beer without interruption.

I'm travelling to Florida next week and will report on any interactions I have with visiting Canadians...

Posted by: Joe Kidd at May 03, 2025 05:51 PM (bA75n)

30 24 Buy me a beer and I'll tell that story at a MoMe.

Posted by: GWB at May 03, 2025 05:50 PM
***
Deal.

Posted by: TRex at May 03, 2025 05:52 PM (Nlx7c)

31 I have never been to Canada. It looks like a nice place to hike. I've heard Waterton Lakes across from Glacier NP is jawdroppingly beautiful. Have also heard nice things about the train ride across Canada.

Posted by: ScaryMary at May 03, 2025 05:52 PM (uksS7)

32 We have been to 8 of 10 provinces plus Yukon. We even had our honeymoon in Quebec

One unusual and nice place was Waterton Lakes National Park in SW Alberta. You can take a tour boat down to the other end of the lake in Glacier National Park (USA). There is a customs building for boat passengers.

Otter Falls Campground in SE Manitoba is in the sparsely developed Canadian shield region, not in the prairie. Beautiful sunsets over Margaret Lake.

Posted by: CapeFear at May 03, 2025 05:53 PM (10sTU)

33 Manitoba: Winnipeg has the Mint. Also, go try to see a Winnipeg Jets game. For those who live in the Dakotas and parts of MN, it's an alternative to taking a trip to the Twin Cities.

Saskatchewan: Why cruise control was invented (no, I'm not serious about that, but if you've ever driven through southern SK you'll understand why).

Alberta: As already mentioned, it's got Jasper and Banff; Jasper is less commercialized, but if you're able do the drive between the two and visit the Columbia Icefields. Calgary has the aforementioned Stampede. Edmonton has what used to be the world's largest shopping mall, West Edmonton Mall. Vulcan has Star Trek Days. Also home of the oilsands up in Fort McMurray.

BC: Besides Vancouver and Victoria, there's the Okanagan, which has a climate conducive to growing wine grapes and citrus.

Yukon/NWT/Nunavut: Fishing. Yellowknife has an all-sand golf course.

Posted by: Vendette at May 03, 2025 05:54 PM (IjhTR)

34 My limited Canadian adventures include fishing expeditions in Gananoque, in the 1000 Islands region.

Posted by: Joe Kidd at May 03, 2025 05:51 PM

When I was at Drum, I used to go up to Ganonoque to the little theater on the river. Great performance of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at May 03, 2025 05:56 PM (Wnv9h)

35 Thanks Rex for posting. This is one of the lakes in my community just walking distance from me. I've been doing a series of paintings of photos I've taken in my community. I've got three more in the series that I've completed that hopefully I can share.

Posted by: polynikes at May 03, 2025 05:56 PM (VofaG)

36 Frederick attacked a Russian Army twice his numbers, it was a flank attack, and started well but in middle of August it was hot and the numbers finally overwhelmed them.
The Prussians attack is easy, so putting that straight up my main task is turning the flank to meet them.
The Russian army had Austrians but as I don't have any the Bavarians are subbing. On other hand the Prussians are weak in Grenadiers and Cuirassiers so the British are lending troops.

Posted by: Skip at May 03, 2025 05:57 PM (ypFCm)

37 I've been to Canada many times. When I was a kid I went to hockey camp in a small town in Ontario. Favorite places are Vancouver and Quebec City.

Yea, it's full of French speaking assholes but Quebec City in the winter is pretty spectacular. Last remaining walled city in North America.

Posted by: JackStraw at May 03, 2025 05:58 PM (viF8m)

38 I always wanted to go to Quebec, oh well.
Of course there was a famous 7 Years war battle there

Posted by: Skip at May 03, 2025 05:58 PM (ypFCm)

39 Polynikes,
Like that painting. Before I looked closely I thought the top part was a photo with the way the sky looked through the leaves. I really enjoyed the golden sunlight (not just bright but golden) on the clouds, filtering through the tree branches and reflected in the water. There is a richness to the painting that is pleasant to view.

Posted by: JTB at May 03, 2025 05:58 PM (yTvNw)

40 Polynikes, I hope you will share more of your art in the future. You do lovely work.

Posted by: ScaryMary at May 03, 2025 05:58 PM (uksS7)

41 Okay, more Canadian memories. Our first trip was to the Gulf Islands--the Canadian side of the chain that's the San Juans in the US--in 2000. That included some time in Victoria, BC as did a later trip. (If you ever go, DO NOT MISS Butchart Gardens.) We've also spent a week in Nova Scotia and visited New Brunswick.

Loved every minute of all of those trips but the last trip was nearly 10 years ago and I wouldn't do any of it again.

Posted by: Art Rondelet of Malmsey at May 03, 2025 05:59 PM (FEVMW)

42 Depending on the province or territory, the drinking age is either 18 or 19. For example, Ontario is 19 and Alberta is 18. But booze is taxed to high heaven (as are cigarettes).

Posted by: Vendette at May 03, 2025 05:59 PM (IjhTR)

43 Went on a fishing trip to Canada back in 2009. It was a lot of fun. We were in the middle of nowhere, at least 100 miles from anyone else.

Very remote and peaceful lake. Lots of fish.

Also moose, beaver, and bears. Oh, my!

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at May 03, 2025 06:00 PM (GlyvH)

44 >>>https://tinyurl.com/3423rnpk
I swaped historical numbers of the 7 Years war ,
Posted by: Skip
---

That's patience.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at May 03, 2025 06:01 PM (5875v)

45 The coliseum scene in the Star Wars movie Phantom Menace is listed as the movie model with the most parts. It's made up of over 450k painted Qtips that represented people in the stands.

Posted by: polynikes at May 03, 2025 06:02 PM (VofaG)

46 ***Rodeo activity happens each afternoon
---

Ride 'em cowboy, you can't make your money if you hit the ground.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at May 03, 2025 06:03 PM (5875v)

47 One year we took an overnight car ferry from Portland Maine to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. Explored Bay of Fundy, French Speaking Tim Hortons in SW Nova Scotia, Explored Truro, Windsor, tidal bore, Halifax, Cape Breton Island, another ferry to Prince Edward Island ate a huge lobster dinner at a fire department hall. and drove over the Confederation Bridge to New Brunswick.

Yes, road trips are hobbies.

Posted by: CapeFear at May 03, 2025 06:03 PM (10sTU)

48 My only time in Canada was driving through Alberta, northern BC and Yukon en route to Alaska. I wanted to take some time and enjoy it, but my buddy was some kind of big-ass hurry, despite the fact that we did not have jobs waiting for us. Saw some really beautiful Aurora though.

Posted by: Pug Mahon at May 03, 2025 06:03 PM (0aYVJ)

49 Being in the PNW, Canada land is just a skip away.

I like taking the Victoria Clipper out of downtown Seattle. It’s a quick trip and Victoria is a very walkable city. Good coffee shops, lovely little pubs and nice accommodations.

Vancouver is an awesome city. So much diversity. In a good way. The smells of different spices and the sounds of different languages and music is intoxicating. Lots of shopping too! Plus, there’s Stanley Park.

Whistler mountain has world class skiing. As does Kewlona.

Harrison Hot Springs is also gorgeous and family friendly.

Plus, there’s camping in the Frazier River Valley.

Posted by: nurse ratched at May 03, 2025 06:03 PM (mT+6a)

50 >>BC: Besides Vancouver and Victoria, there's the Okanagan, which has a climate conducive to growing wine grapes and citrus.

I did a business trip to Vancouver during March years ago. Flew from Boston to Vancouver almost entirely over Canada. All I saw out the window was snow until we got close to Vancouver and all of a sudden it was green.

It was strange going from wearing a winter coat in Boston to sitting out on the deck of my hotel in short sleeves in Canada. Vancouver has some unique weather.

Posted by: JackStraw at May 03, 2025 06:04 PM (viF8m)

51 I’ve been to Banff and Jasper, and stayed at the Fairmont at Lake Louise. But that was back in the late 70s with my mom and dad. I suspect things have changed a tad.

Posted by: nurse ratched at May 03, 2025 06:05 PM (mT+6a)

52 CapeFear--

We took that same ferry when we went to Nova Scotia. Sadly I heard that it has shut down. We were on one of the first trips to arrive in Yarmouth and they really needed the traffic there. Nice folks.

Posted by: Art Rondelet of Malmsey at May 03, 2025 06:05 PM (FEVMW)

53 Niagara Falls was scary.

Posted by: Eromero at May 03, 2025 06:08 PM (LHPAg)

54 Glacier National Park crosses the border. It’s a beautiful park. I’d love to do some backpacking there.

Posted by: nurse ratched at May 03, 2025 06:08 PM (mT+6a)

55 My paternal grandfather is buried in Canada somewhere. Never met him but I do know he was in the Canadian Arm Forces before he moved to America and married my grandmother. I have a photo of him in uniform. My father was the youngest of five . My grandfather, his father, died when my grandmother was pregnant with him.

Posted by: polynikes at May 03, 2025 06:09 PM (VofaG)

56 My Inland Passage Alaska cruise starts in Vancouver, BC. I'm looking forward to the trip.

Posted by: mrp at May 03, 2025 06:10 PM (rj6Yv)

57 TRex,

After last week's thread with the dancing mice automata, you gave me an idea. I spent some time trying to come up with sketches of mice in various poses. Still a work in progress. Fortunately, I have a LOT of inexpensive sketching paper and plenty of pencils.

If I can capture the look I want on paper I'll see if I can develop some simple whittling ideas.

Don't hold your breath as none of this may work and would take some time. If anything comes from it, I'll let you know. However, I'm having fun playing with the ideas.

Posted by: JTB at May 03, 2025 06:10 PM (yTvNw)

58 I'd mentioned breaking down pallets a couple of weeks ago for an ongoing project. Some moron linked a video of some Russian guy using blocks and a hammer to separate the slats. I wanted to report back in and say thank you, the method works great.

Posted by: Boron Quidquid - Nose rings and tattoos show that her trauma is her personality at May 03, 2025 06:11 PM (gZdiR)

59 >>Niagara Falls was scary.

Slowly I turned ..

Posted by: JackStraw at May 03, 2025 06:12 PM (viF8m)

60 Posted by: nurse ratched at May 03, 2025 06:08 PM (mT+6a)

-
It's a relief to see this nic here BTW

Posted by: Boron Quidquid - Nose rings and tattoos show that her trauma is her personality at May 03, 2025 06:13 PM (gZdiR)

61 Yes
I recall ferry business declared bankruptcy and could not pay employees or suppliers.

We were at same motel in Truro as the film crew for Trailer Park Boys. That was 2014.

We had also visited all St. Lawrence Valley cities.

Another time we went camping at a park about 80 miles north of Quebec City. That was remote!

Posted by: CapeFear at May 03, 2025 06:13 PM (10sTU)

62 https://tinyurl.com/4xx2eznv
Have one other picture, this is from north to southwest on map link. Still on 1st turn so will be going a couple weeks I think.

Posted by: Skip at May 03, 2025 06:14 PM (ypFCm)

63 Oh and I have to mention that those aren't badly painted trees in the horizon but rather the two exhaust stacks of the entergy power plant in the area.

Posted by: polynikes at May 03, 2025 06:15 PM (VofaG)

64
Rumor has it that you must be very proficient at crawling on your belly if you choose to visit Icebacksland and interact with their Carney Folk.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at May 03, 2025 06:15 PM (8NMm8)

65 Afternoon, Hobby People,

No real hobbying this week. Though I hope to mount my road trip to SW Indiana and NW Kentucky this month once my finances are settled. The car is ready, and I want to go before hurricane season starts (even inland areas like the Ohio Valley can be affected by the rain and flooding of such storms).

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at May 03, 2025 06:17 PM (omVj0)

66
I heard somewhere, yesterday, that Vancouver, BC has joined Portland and Seattle in the elite league of Northwest Cities That Chose to Become Shitholes.

Well, done!

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at May 03, 2025 06:18 PM (8NMm8)

67 Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at May 03, 2025 06:17 PM (omVj0)

Are you going to look at houses or just the area you want to eventually focus on?

Posted by: polynikes at May 03, 2025 06:19 PM (VofaG)

68 I remember as a wee lad waking up one morning in a provincial park camping ground in NB and finding skim ice in the water bucket. On the Fourth of July. I was impressed.

Posted by: mrp at May 03, 2025 06:20 PM (rj6Yv)

69 My parents honeymoon at Niagara Falls, then we went there when when I was maybe 13

Posted by: Skip at May 03, 2025 06:20 PM (ypFCm)

70 Fortunately, I have a LOT of inexpensive sketching paper and plenty of pencils.
-

This reminds me of a video I s saw recently of "what kind of artist are you?" or similar. Carefully maintained meticulously arranged boxes / drawer of different hardnesses and brands depending on the need, vs a #2 that you found at the bus stop that has someone else's teeth marks on it.

It was cute and might be content. I'll try to find it.

Posted by: Boron Quidquid - Nose rings and tattoos show that her trauma is her personality at May 03, 2025 06:20 PM (gZdiR)

71 Speaking of the Canadian railroads. Gordon Lightfoot was commissioned by the CBC to write what became his Canadian Railroad Trilogy to celebrate the 100th anniversary of its completion. I think it was relased in 1967. Some really good music that doesn't get played often enough.

Posted by: JTB at May 03, 2025 06:21 PM (yTvNw)

72 My only connection with Canada is via my late mother, who was born out on the prairies in Saskatchewan. The village, pretty much a wide spot in one of their roads, is still there. Her family left SK in 1928 or so and moved . . . to Florida! Her dad has been with the railroad there. In FL he turned to farming in some fashion near Orlando, and her parents lived to about 1967, still (I think) on their land. Mom had a brother and sister, and I think they got the property, or what there was left of it after taxes. No idea.

Mom told me the first thing she learned in moving to 1920s Florida: Shake out your shoes in the morning. Scorpions.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at May 03, 2025 06:22 PM (omVj0)

73 Always cut away from you with a utility knife.

Posted by: jsg at May 03, 2025 06:22 PM (SATZE)

74 I loved the too short time I spent in the Maritimes, in particular Newfoundland, I really wanted to attend the Folk Music Festival in St. John's, but alas, life got in the way.
But I offer this link for your consideration:
https://nlfolk.com/festival/info/
Beautiful country and salt of the earth people, and my brief sampling made me convinced that Canadians have an inherited singing gene!

Posted by: Commissar Hrothgar at May 03, 2025 06:22 PM (hOUT3)

75 Mr. L and I went to Vancouver Island for our 25th anniversary. 20 years ago. Don't know if it has changed much but it was a glorious trip. Temperate rain forest to hike through, surfing, and the most beautiful ocean views I have ever seen.

Posted by: Mrs. Leggy at May 03, 2025 06:23 PM (dyL4B)

76 There was a pretty good murder mystery Marilyn Monroe movie that took place in the Canadian side Niagara Falls called Niagara.

Posted by: polynikes at May 03, 2025 06:23 PM (VofaG)

77
Mrs KvC and I are hobbying away at getting our yard in Sussex back to looking decent after the ravages of Coof lockdowns and an extremely abbreviated visiting season last year. That today is our 28th wedding anniversary is a plus -- we are actually having a great time and we have seen progress at the close of each day.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at May 03, 2025 06:24 PM (8NMm8)

78
Are you going to look at houses or just the area you want to eventually focus on?
Posted by: polynikes at May 03, 2025

***
Both, I think. If I like what I see, I will call a real estate agent representing a house I like. Mainly I want to see what the roads and traffic are like, talk to some actual people ("Do you *like* living here?"), and see what it feels like.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at May 03, 2025 06:24 PM (omVj0)

79 >>I heard somewhere, yesterday, that Vancouver, BC has joined Portland and Seattle in the elite league of Northwest Cities That Chose to Become Shitholes.

Despite it being a beautiful place, Vancouver is a key destination for fentanyl from China. The CCP infestation in the US pales in comparison to their takeover of Canada.

Posted by: JackStraw at May 03, 2025 06:25 PM (viF8m)

80 Marilyn Monroe was hotter than a 200 dollar dirt bike

Posted by: jsg at May 03, 2025 06:26 PM (SATZE)

81 Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at May 03, 2025 06:24 PM (8NMm8

Happy anniversary!

Posted by: polynikes at May 03, 2025 06:26 PM (VofaG)

82 I am about 3 hours from Banff, and 5 from Jasper. Seldom visit the parks; may pass through from time to time on the way to points beyond.

I am about an hour from the Royal Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller, which is big attraction for dinosaur lovers.

B.C. has become too expensive, and too moonbatty for me.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at May 03, 2025 06:26 PM (GZp4e)

83
polynikes

We thank you!

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at May 03, 2025 06:27 PM (8NMm8)

84 >>I loved the too short time I spent in the Maritimes, in particular Newfoundland, I really wanted to attend the Folk Music Festival in St. John's, but alas, life got in the way.

Come to the Newport Folk Festival. It's better and I know some people.

Posted by: JackStraw at May 03, 2025 06:27 PM (viF8m)

85 One of the cool things about living in Boise is just how close so many different places are for a day-long road trip, or an overnighter on the weekends.

Posted by: Pug Mahon at May 03, 2025 05:41 PM

You could also cross the Snake and visit Ontario and . . . Be glad you live in Boise.

Posted by: Kindltot at May 03, 2025 06:27 PM (D7oie)

86 There was a pretty good murder mystery Marilyn Monroe movie that took place in the Canadian side Niagara Falls called Niagara.
Posted by: polynikes at May 03, 2025

***
In the Bond novel From Russia With Love, one scene in Istanbul features a gigantic poster or billboard advertising that movie. Fleming called the chapter "The Mouth of Marilyn Monroe."

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at May 03, 2025 06:28 PM (omVj0)

87 Incidentally, it is a fine Spring day here, not a cloud in the sky, and temperature is pushing 70.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at May 03, 2025 06:29 PM (GZp4e)

88 57 If anything comes from it, I'll let you know. However, I'm having fun playing with the ideas.

Posted by: JTB at May 03, 2025 06:10 PM
***
Outstanding! Best wishes.

Posted by: TRex at May 03, 2025 06:29 PM (Nlx7c)

89 Pug,

You and your love could road trip to Yakima next weekend and meet up with some PNW Morons.

Ping Mark in the left sidebar. Please come.

Posted by: nurse ratched at May 03, 2025 06:29 PM (mT+6a)

90 Posted by: mrp at May 03, 2025 06:10 PM (rj6Yv)

I think you will not regret that trip, beautiful scenery and a grand way to travel!

Posted by: Commissar Hrothgar at May 03, 2025 06:29 PM (hOUT3)

91 Come to the Newport Folk Festival. It's better and I know some people.
Posted by: JackStraw at May 03, 2025 06:27 PM (viF8m)

But you better make reservations. I think RI has a small occupancy limit

Posted by: polynikes at May 03, 2025 06:30 PM (VofaG)

92 Despite it being a beautiful place, Vancouver is a key destination for fentanyl from China. The CCP infestation in the US pales in comparison to their takeover of Canada.

Posted by: JackStraw at May 03, 2025 06:25 PM (viF8m)

That's why it's called "Hongcover."

Posted by: OrangeEnt at May 03, 2025 06:30 PM (0eaVi)

93 77 That today is our 28th wedding anniversary is a plus -- we are actually having a great time and we have seen progress at the close of each day.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at May 03, 2025 06:24 PM
***
Hooray!! Congrats!

Posted by: TRex at May 03, 2025 06:31 PM (Nlx7c)

94 Vendette, a friend of my Dad's lived in Churchill. On Halloween he said the parents went out and turned on all the car headlights so the kids wouldn't be jumped by a polar bear.
One morning he got a call from the neighbor warning him to use his back door because there was a bear sleeping under the living room window.

Posted by: Kindltot at May 03, 2025 06:32 PM (D7oie)

95 58 I'd mentioned breaking down pallets a couple of weeks ago for an ongoing project. Some moron linked a video of some Russian guy using blocks and a hammer to separate the slats. I wanted to report back in and say thank you, the method works great.
Posted by: Boron Quidquid - Nose rings
----

Another and opposite technique also works well. Sawzall with Diablo or your choice metal cutting blades. Cut the nails between the slats and the frame. It makes less sweat and is easy on the joints.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at May 03, 2025 06:32 PM (5875v)

96 "What are you hobbying these days? Does spring weather open up new options for your hobbying"

Autocross and rallycross have started back up. Two events a month is enough.

Posted by: fd at May 03, 2025 06:33 PM (vFG9F)

97 96 Autocross and rallycross have started back up. Two events a month is enough.

Posted by: fd at May 03, 2025 06:33 PM
***
Love it. Send photo(s) of you in action and I'll post.

Posted by: TRex at May 03, 2025 06:34 PM (Nlx7c)

98 I visited Quebec City in the 70's, my then husband spoke French so we didn't have much trouble. One restaurant actually segregated their diners--English speakers on the second floor and French on the first.

Quebec has some incredible churches--Notre Dame de Quebec Basilica was fantastic, its baldachin is a replica of the one in St. Peter's. Notre Dame des Victoire is much lower key, although a side chapel was a little startling. There is a life size statue of the crucified Christ lying in plain sight under the altar.

Posted by: Lirio100 at May 03, 2025 06:34 PM (zS4/f)

99 Posted by: fd at May 03, 2025 06:33 PM (vFG9F)

I do miss motorcross but don't miss the bumps and bruises.

Posted by: polynikes at May 03, 2025 06:35 PM (VofaG)

100 What are you hobbying these days? Does spring weather open up new options for your hobbying"

Autocross and rallycross have started back up. Two events a month is enough.
Posted by: fd

-

A man could make a small fortune doing that.

Posted by: Boron Quidquid - Nose rings and tattoos show that her trauma is her personality at May 03, 2025 06:35 PM (gZdiR)

101 Make?

Posted by: fd at May 03, 2025 06:36 PM (vFG9F)

102 >>But you better make reservations. I think RI has a small occupancy limit

Indeed. Exclusivity has limits.

Posted by: JackStraw at May 03, 2025 06:37 PM (viF8m)

103 Make?
Posted by: fd at May 03, 2025 06:36 PM (vFG9F)

Heh. Like making money owning a boat.

Posted by: polynikes at May 03, 2025 06:37 PM (VofaG)

104 100 A man could make a small fortune doing that.

Posted by: Boron Quidquid - Nose rings and tattoos show that her trauma is her personality at May 03, 2025 06:35 PM
***
Lemme guess. Make a small fortune from a larger one?

Posted by: TRex at May 03, 2025 06:37 PM (Nlx7c)

105
My parents honeymoon at Niagara Falls, then we went there when when I was maybe 13
Posted by: Skip

Wow, it was the same with my parents and me (and my sister).

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at May 03, 2025 06:38 PM (63Dwl)

106 A man could make a small fortune doing that.
Posted by: Boron Quidquid - Nose rings and tattoos show that her trauma is her personality at May 03, 2025 06:35 PM (gZdiR)

Okay I get now.

Posted by: polynikes at May 03, 2025 06:38 PM (VofaG)

107 Another and opposite technique also works well. Sawzall with Diablo or your choice metal cutting blades. Cut the nails between the slats and the frame. It makes less sweat and is easy on the joints.
Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at May 03, 2025 06:32 PM (5875v)

What about a small-diameter hole saw? Use a metal guide plate with holes to suit the O.D. of the hole saw, and clamp it so the nail heads are centered in the holes. Make an annular cut around each nail, boards come free. Plug holes later with dowels and glue. Should go pretty quick.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at May 03, 2025 06:40 PM (GZp4e)

108 Jockstrap, would that hockey camp have been Halliburton Hockey Haven?

Posted by: James commerford at May 03, 2025 06:40 PM (5fFQw)

109 Despite it being a beautiful place, Vancouver is a key destination for fentanyl from China. The CCP infestation in the US pales in comparison to their takeover of Canada.

Posted by: JackStraw at May 03, 2025 06:25 PM (viF8m)

Chinese buying houses and condos in Vancouver and Toronto are one reason the real estate prices are insane in those areas. And most of those properties sit empty. They're just putting their money in Canadian real estate to get it out of China and have a foot in the door in Canada, so to speak.

Posted by: Vendette at May 03, 2025 06:41 PM (YrlwH)

110 I do my motorsports on a budget. My rallycross car started out as a $500 parts car. You can autocross your daily driver and have plenty of fun.

Posted by: fd at May 03, 2025 06:41 PM (vFG9F)

111 I think you will not regret that trip, beautiful scenery and a grand way to travel!
Posted by: Commissar Hrothgar at May 03, 2025 06:29 PM (hOUT3)

Thank you. It's also a sibling reunion, so that makes the voyage extra special.

Posted by: mrp at May 03, 2025 06:42 PM (rj6Yv)

112 I am about 3 hours from Banff, and 5 from Jasper. Seldom visit the parks; may pass through from time to time on the way to points beyond.

I am about an hour from the Royal Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller, which is big attraction for dinosaur lovers.

B.C. has become too expensive, and too moonbatty for me.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at May 03, 2025 06:26 PM (GZp4e)

I forgot about Drumheller! Right in the middle of the Badlands. I like to make people's eyebrows rise in incredulity when I mention the existence of the self-explanatory Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump.

Posted by: Vendette at May 03, 2025 06:43 PM (YrlwH)

113 >>Jockstrap, would that hockey camp have been Halliburton Hockey Haven?

Happiest bunch of peckers in the whole wide world.

Posted by: JackStraw at May 03, 2025 06:44 PM (viF8m)

114 91 ... "I think RI has a small occupancy limit"

The occupancy limit eased after I moved away in the early 70s. My standard joke was every time I took a deep breath three families had to move to Connecticut. :-)

Glad to see the Newport Folk Festival made a comeback. I have some wonderful memories of the Jazz and Folk Festivals from the 1960s. Unless things have changed, parking for so many people around Fort Adams must be a problem.

Posted by: JTB at May 03, 2025 06:44 PM (yTvNw)

115 Every American should be required by law to drive up the ALCAN at least once.

Don’t cheat. Drive the whole way. Being in TX this means driving up to Sweet Grass, MT/Coutts, AB, to begin the Canadian segment. From there you will go to Beaver Creek, YT to get to AK.

I have been all over Canada. Only two provinces I have not visited: MB and SK. And two territories: NWT and Nunavut.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at May 03, 2025 06:47 PM (vm8sq)

116 Old-school nail puller:

https://tinyurl.com/2wwkss7u

I have used one similar. Long shank contains a slide hammer. A few strokes of the slide hammer drive the jaws into the wood on either side of the nail head. Then you tilt it towards the "leg" sticking out one side, and the jaws close on the nail, tightly, and lever it out. They work pretty well. Leaves divots in the plank. of course.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at May 03, 2025 06:48 PM (GZp4e)

117 Dinosaur hunting would be fun

Posted by: Skip at May 03, 2025 06:49 PM (ypFCm)

118 B.C. has become too expensive, and too moonbatty for me.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at May 03, 2025 06:26 PM (GZp4e)

No Vansterdam for you then?

I’ve been there three times. Drove up to Whistler on one visit and ferried over to Victoria for the other.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at May 03, 2025 06:49 PM (vm8sq)

119 Dinosaur hunting would be fun
Posted by: Skip at May 03, 2025 06:49 PM (ypFCm)
----
I've read Ray Bradbury's "A Sound of Thunder."

It doesn't end well.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at May 03, 2025 06:50 PM (GlyvH)

120 I forgot about Drumheller! Right in the middle of the Badlands. I like to make people's eyebrows rise in incredulity when I mention the existence of the self-explanatory Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump.
Posted by: Vendette at May 03, 2025 06:43 PM (YrlwH)

I am only a few miles from Dry Island buffalo jump, which was seldom used, but higher than Head Smashed In.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at May 03, 2025 06:50 PM (GZp4e)

121 82 I am about an hour from the Royal Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller, which is big attraction for dinosaur lovers.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at May 03, 2025 06:26 PM
***
Isn't everyone a dinosaur lover?

Posted by: TRex at May 03, 2025 06:51 PM (Nlx7c)

122 >> Unless things have changed, parking for so many people around Fort Adams must be a problem.

Things have changed a lot but it's still a huge problem because the crowds have also grown. They encourage people to park at the old jai lai facility or other areas with large parking and shuttle people over.

Posted by: JackStraw at May 03, 2025 06:52 PM (viF8m)

123 Don’t cheat. Drive the whole way. Being in TX this means driving up to Sweet Grass, MT/Coutts, AB, to begin the Canadian segment. From there you will go to Beaver Creek, YT to get to AK.

I have been all over Canada. Only two provinces I have not visited: MB and SK. And two territories: NWT and Nunavut.
Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at May 03, 2025 06:47 PM (vm8sq)

Anyone taking that route will pass within 30 miles of Peon Manor. Less than that if you take the alternate route North (which also puts you on the Edmonton ring road). Visitors welcome.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at May 03, 2025 06:53 PM (GZp4e)

124 Isn't everyone a dinosaur lover?
Posted by: TRex at May 03, 2025 06:51 PM (Nlx7c)

Why, yes! Yes we are!

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at May 03, 2025 06:54 PM (GZp4e)

125 RIP Ruth Buzzi.

Posted by: Preparing gp For Lazy Loading at May 03, 2025 06:54 PM (7o9l6)

126 Now I want to make a qube
No glue
Glue is for cheaters

Posted by: vmom deport deport deport at May 03, 2025 06:55 PM (GhIJO)

127 Lemme guess. Make a small fortune from a larger one?
Posted by: TRex

-

There it is

Posted by: Boron Quidquid - Nose rings and tattoos show that her trauma is her personality at May 03, 2025 06:59 PM (gZdiR)

128 I made contacts in 21 countries this week. A couple Indonesian stations YB1UK and YE4FNN, about 9500 miles. I got spotted by a guy on Reunion Island, but did not hear him myself.

Got another big capacitor for another loop antenna. Try and find a setscrew knob that fits a 0.375" shaft; go ahead, I dare you.

Posted by: Preparing gp For Lazy Loading at May 03, 2025 06:59 PM (7o9l6)

129
Isn't everyone a dinosaur lover?
Posted by: TRex

From a distance.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at May 03, 2025 07:00 PM (63Dwl)

130 And, this may sound crazy, but: head to Ottawa. No, I’m serious. It’s very European looking, especially if you are in areas adjacent to Parliament Hill.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at May 03, 2025 07:00 PM (vm8sq)

131 "Isn't everyone a dinosaur lover?
Posted by: TRex"

Only if we are going steggy.

Posted by: fd at May 03, 2025 07:00 PM (vFG9F)

132 I've read Ray Bradbury's "A Sound of Thunder."

It doesn't end well.
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at May 03, 2025 06:50 PM (GlyvH)

Was it…

…a DELICATE SOUND OF THUNDER???

Posted by: Floyd, Pink at May 03, 2025 07:01 PM (vm8sq)

133 To enjoy the glory of Alberta, watch the Final Sacrifice on MST. Best part is Tom Servo's song about Canada.

Posted by: Pug Mahon at May 03, 2025 07:02 PM (0aYVJ)

134 And, this may sound crazy, but: head to Ottawa. No, I’m serious. It’s very European looking, especially if you are in areas adjacent to Parliament Hill.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at May 03, 2025 07:00 PM (vm8sq)

And in the winter you can skate on the Rideau Canal if it's sufficiently frozen over. Gatineau, Quebec is right next door if you want to say you've been to Quebec.

Posted by: Vendette at May 03, 2025 07:03 PM (YrlwH)

135 132 That's the one where the guy goes back in time, accidentally alters the future, and when he gets back to now, he finds out that President Douche has been replaced by President Shit Sandwich. Which I guess is supposed to be a tragedy.

Posted by: Preparing gp For Lazy Loading at May 03, 2025 07:04 PM (7o9l6)

136 "Try and find a setscrew knob that fits a 0.375" shaft; go ahead, I dare you.
Posted by: Preparing gp For Lazy Loading "

Did you find one? I've got a box of knobs, including some really old ones. Bakelite even. I might be able to fix you up.

Posted by: fd at May 03, 2025 07:05 PM (vFG9F)

137 Rush fans: make a holy pilgrimage to Queen’s Park in Toronto. Why? Because the ON Parliament is there. If it looks familiar, check the cover of Moving Pictures.

Be sure to fly into Lester. B. Pearson International Airport in Toronto: YYZ.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at May 03, 2025 07:06 PM (vm8sq)

138 136 I ended up ordering a NOS big Ohmite rubber knob on eBay, but thanks! I'm just so surprised that you can't find em at hardware stores. Somebody suggested McMaster, and they have a lot of knobs, but not a setscrew knob that I can see. It has to be insulated too, can't be metal.

The Ohmite knob is as old as the capacitor is, so they will look very cool paired together.

Posted by: Preparing gp For Lazy Loading at May 03, 2025 07:09 PM (7o9l6)

139 Sovereignty won the Kentucky Derby.

Posted by: JTB at May 03, 2025 07:10 PM (yTvNw)

140 "I am about 3 hours from Banff"

Did you ever meet the Burglar of Banff-ff?

Posted by: Kwak! at May 03, 2025 07:11 PM (89Sog)

141 Re. Life lessons:
Back before I was 29, I worked with Mike.
Mike could be described as dapper even though his work attire was exclusively clean and pressed khaki Dickies top to bottom.
With his red hair and neatly trimmed mustache Mike was obviously of Irish decent. He stood about 5'-2" and weighed about 120 pounds. He was probably 50 years old.
Mike was born and grew up on a ranch in Montana.
As a young man he was a jockey and rode in races as far away as South America and Cuba.
He had two friends with whom he followed the rodeo circuit. He rode in the horse races held in conjunction with the rodeo and his two friend rode broncs and bulls.
The Calgary Stampede was coming up and there was one more small rodeo between the biggest purses of the rodeo year at the Stampede. One of the friends said he was going to go home because he did not want to risk getting hurt and missing out on big money at the Stampede.
They made arrangements to meet up in Calgary.
On the appointed day of the meeting they found their friend on crutches with a cast on his broken leg...he got hit by a car while he was crossing the street in his hometown.

Posted by: waepnedmann at May 03, 2025 07:11 PM (j+9co)

142 See, I only horde good stuff, like old knobs. More than a few times they have come in handy though.

Posted by: fd at May 03, 2025 07:11 PM (vFG9F)

143 139 Sovereignty won the Kentucky Derby.

Posted by: JTB at May 03, 2025 07:10 PM
***
Seen on X: "You would think in a mudslinging race that a horse called Journalism would prevail."

Posted by: TRex at May 03, 2025 07:12 PM (Nlx7c)

144 Bakelite was way underrated as materials go. Don't know why manufacturers don't use it anymore. Except for eastern bloc rifle magazines maybe.

Posted by: Preparing gp For Lazy Loading at May 03, 2025 07:12 PM (7o9l6)

145 What you'll find now in Canada is a lot of the food service jobs, oil change places, and truck driving has gone to immigrants from India, who we courted in India making lots of promises about earning and bright futures, and we streamlined applications and got hundreds of thousands of them, maybe millions to come over. They found out that these jobs, in order to earn a living wage, must be worked very long hours just to survive. A lot of them went back to India very disappointed with the reality.

A lot of them stuck it out, and they're good, conscientious workers but the side effect is that this has displaced entry level jobs away from our youth who are legitimately asking, "What do I do now?" They're giving up on ever having a home or a future, and that's not a good thing.

We're hearing a lot more Indian music in restaurants, and there's a lot more Indian groceries and restaurants popping up (fair enough, they want to be catered to as much as anyone does!)

(continued in part 2)

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at May 03, 2025 07:13 PM (O7YUW)

146 (part 2)

This is really changing the look and feel of Canada, and doing so quickly. If it wasn't for the insane housing costs driven by this much immigration and stupid levels of government regulation holding back building of desperately needed new homes while also increasing costs to do studies that just don't need to be done, and if it wasn't for what this was doing to an entire generation of youth looking do get through a few years of their starter jobs, I'd have a pretty positive outlook on it.

Right now though, I'm watching all of this and thinking, "I hope we get through this all and adjust quickly enough, otherwise this is going to go rodeo with a quickness."

There are still nice things to visit and enjoy here, just ignore the politics of both the United States and Canada, and focus on the core of the things you came here to see and do. Politics ruins everything anyway.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at May 03, 2025 07:13 PM (O7YUW)

147 Watched the Kentucky Durby. Didn't care who won

Posted by: Skip at May 03, 2025 07:13 PM (ypFCm)

148 Watched the Kentucky Durby. Didn't care who won
Posted by: Skip

I was rooting for one of the two grays just because.

Posted by: Tuna at May 03, 2025 07:15 PM (lJ0H4)

149 Seen on X: "You would think in a mudslinging race that a horse called Journalism would prevail."
Posted by: TRex at May 03, 2025 07:12 PM

LOL. Man, that track was sloppy.

Posted by: Notorious BFD at May 03, 2025 07:15 PM (mH6SG)

150 147 If none of the horsies got hurt, everybody wins

Posted by: Preparing gp For Lazy Loading at May 03, 2025 07:16 PM (7o9l6)

151 There are still nice things to visit and enjoy here, just ignore the politics of both the United States and Canada, and focus on the core of the things you came here to see and do. Politics ruins everything anyway.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at May 03, 2025 07:13 PM (O7YUW)

I agree with everything you wrote.

Posted by: Vendette at May 03, 2025 07:16 PM (YrlwH)

152 Bakelite was way underrated as materials go. Don't know why manufacturers don't use it anymore. Except for eastern bloc rifle magazines maybe.
Posted by: Preparing gp For Lazy Loading at May 03, 2025 07:12 PM (7o9l6)

The precursors are toxic (phenol and formadehyde) and considered carcinogenic. It discolors when it gets really cold, and gets furry if you get solvent on it (the wood pulp filler doesn't dissolve like the resin) And plastic is easier for injection molding

Posted by: Kindltot at May 03, 2025 07:17 PM (D7oie)

153 149 LOL. Man, that track was sloppy.

Posted by: Notorious BFD at May 03, 2025 07:15 PM
***
Sergeant Major Deal!

Posted by: TRex at May 03, 2025 07:17 PM (Nlx7c)

154 "Try and find a setscrew knob that fits a 0.375" shaft; go ahead, I dare you.
Posted by: Preparing gp For Lazy Loading "

Did you find one? I've got a box of knobs, including some really old ones. Bakelite even. I might be able to fix you up.
Posted by: fd at May 03, 2025 07:05 PM (vFG9F)

I looked in my radio knob drawer. None that size. But I am headed out to the shop. I have some larger knobs that came off equipment, and office chairs; stuff like that. It might be possible to find a large knob like that, and then epoxy a 3/8" bushing with a setscrew thread into it. I presume one would want a Bakelite or other hard plastic knob.

Alternative, maybe? Get a pool ball, chuck it in lathe, turn to knob shape, and drill shank hole and setscrew hole.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at May 03, 2025 07:17 PM (GZp4e)

155 >>There are still nice things to visit and enjoy here, just ignore the politics of both the United States and Canada, and focus on the core of the things you came here to see and do. Politics ruins everything anyway.

Canada is a beautiful country. Some of the people make it a bit difficult but that's true everywhere.

I'd love to do one of the train trips through the Canadian Rockies. Still on the bucket list.

Posted by: JackStraw at May 03, 2025 07:18 PM (viF8m)

156 Sergeant Major Deal!
Posted by: TRex at May 03, 2025 07:17 PM

Howdy, boss! Damn, my rank changes on a daily basis. Heh.

Posted by: Notorious BFD at May 03, 2025 07:19 PM (mH6SG)

157 Hey AOP do you have a spring drawer too?

Posted by: fd at May 03, 2025 07:19 PM (vFG9F)

158 I'd love to do one of the train trips through the Canadian Rockies. Still on the bucket list.
Posted by: JackStraw at May 03, 2025 07:18 PM (viF8m)

Buster Keaton did a shore-to-shore movie on Canadian rail

The Railrodder

youtu.be/eW9J6htZSUc

Posted by: Kindltot at May 03, 2025 07:22 PM (D7oie)

159 144 Bakelite was way underrated as materials go. Don't know why manufacturers don't use it anymore. Except for eastern bloc rifle magazines maybe.
Posted by: Preparing gp
---------

Bakelite distributor caps on 8 & 9N Fords are a pain in the asterisk.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at May 03, 2025 07:22 PM (5875v)

160 The precursors are toxic (phenol and formadehyde) and considered carcinogenic. It discolors when it gets really cold, and gets furry if you get solvent on it (the wood pulp filler doesn't dissolve like the resin) And plastic is easier for injection molding
Posted by: Kindltot at May 03, 2025 07:17 PM (D7oie)

I have never experienced that sort of deterioration with Bakelite. Distributor caps have been made from it for over a century. They hold up well in a tough environment.

Precursors of table salt are pretty damned toxic, too.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at May 03, 2025 07:22 PM (GZp4e)

161 156 Howdy, boss! Damn, my rank changes on a daily basis. Heh.

Posted by: Notorious BFD at May 03, 2025 07:19 PM
***
You too, huh?

What a world.

Posted by: TRex at May 03, 2025 07:23 PM (Nlx7c)

162 Hey AOP do you have a spring drawer too?
Posted by: fd at May 03, 2025 07:19 PM (vFG9F)

Indeed. One for tension springs, one for compression springs.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at May 03, 2025 07:23 PM (GZp4e)

163 Time to say thank you and good night before the music thread takes the Ace of Spades stage. It should be a good one, so stick around. Thanks for being here and for all who contribute. Hello to the lurkers too! The Hobby Thread mailbox is always open, so write anytime.

Posted by: TRex at May 03, 2025 07:24 PM (Nlx7c)

164
A lot of them stuck it out, and they're good, conscientious workers

-

(types, deletes, waits for another thread)

Posted by: Boron Cobbie - Nose rings and tattoos mean she made the traumas her personality at May 03, 2025 07:24 PM (oFxbF)

165 My old house (built in the late 1920s) had a bakelite outlet mounted on the floor for a dryer. Didn't think much of it when I moved in, but when the washer started to leak I was a little more comcerned....

Posted by: PabloD at May 03, 2025 07:25 PM (VYzpf)

166 Well, I am headed out to the shop. Going to put batteries in the tractor and lawn mower, and un-hibernate them.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at May 03, 2025 07:26 PM (GZp4e)

167 Hey AOP do you have a spring drawer too?
Posted by: fd at May 03, 2025 07:19 PM (vFG9F)

Indeed. One for tension springs, one for compression springs.
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon

-

I broke down and bought dedicated fancy-pants small parts storage boxes. Really nice, stackable, with handles, and the little "cups" for each separate partition press against the transparent top of the case so that none of the washers or springs or what-not shift from one to the other.

Super nice.

Now to just go through those old coffee cans...

Posted by: Boron Cobbie - Nose rings and tattoos mean she made the traumas her personality at May 03, 2025 07:26 PM (oFxbF)

168 Next you'll be telling me Ireland is a real country.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo at May 03, 2025 07:26 PM (xcxpd)

169 "One for tension springs, one for compression springs."

Heh, I knew it. I don't have drawers though, I have boxes. So many springs. Where do all these damn springs come from?

Posted by: fd at May 03, 2025 07:26 PM (vFG9F)

170 149 LOL. Man, that track was sloppy.

Posted by: Notorious BFD

That’s what she said.

Posted by: nurse ratched at May 03, 2025 07:27 PM (mT+6a)

171 43 perfessor
Sounds like la verendrye provincial park. 300 miles north on Montreal. I went there in 69 and 70 and caught the biggest freshwater fish of my life. Trolling for Walleye and northern pike. Long haul from Connecticut towing a boat. The campground was primitive, but it did have a porta potty. And close to the campground was a church, a bar restaurant and store along with the gas station.
All pretty much in the same building. Beyond that it was 100 mile drive to anywhere.

Posted by: kactus at May 03, 2025 07:28 PM (twS2i)

172 TRex, Thanks for the hobby thread. Always some fun and interesting stuff.

Posted by: JTB at May 03, 2025 07:28 PM (yTvNw)

173 143
139 Sovereignty won the Kentucky Derby.
Posted by: JTB at May 03, 2025 07:10 PM

Against the favorite Journalism, lol. We really are in the era of Trump.

Posted by: EP at May 03, 2025 07:28 PM (r2ymA)

174 Horse racing is class warfare at its pinnacle.

I used to go to Delta Downs in Vinton, LA frequently. It was divided into poor, middle class and rich sections. I mingled mostly in the poor section unless I was on a date. Then I did the Fake it til you Make it strategy.

Posted by: polynikes at May 03, 2025 07:29 PM (VofaG)

175 167 Ha! I just this afternoon sorted my tools into an organized set of boxes. No more digging through icepicks to find a wrench.

Posted by: Preparing gp For Lazy Loading at May 03, 2025 07:30 PM (7o9l6)

176 >>Buster Keaton did a shore-to-shore movie on Canadian rail

I'm more this way. I'm not fit for polite company.

https://tinyurl.com/2ewvz76z

Posted by: JackStraw at May 03, 2025 07:31 PM (viF8m)

177 LOL. Man, that track was sloppy.

Posted by: Notorious BFD

That’s what she said.
Posted by: nurse ratched at May 03, 2025 07:27 PM (mT+6a)

I think that's more 'That's what he said'

Posted by: polynikes at May 03, 2025 07:31 PM (VofaG)

178 Long ago and far away, I attended the Kentucky Derby for twelve consecutive years. A caravan of my closest peeps made the journey every year. Those were some really good times.

Posted by: Notorious BFD at May 03, 2025 07:31 PM (mH6SG)

179 Horse racing is class warfare at its pinnacle.

-

We spend a lot of time on local lakes in a ratty old bass boat, and I've spent most of my life on or near inland waters in one way or the other. What I've observed is that boat people are, in general, some of the nicest and most helpful folks to other boat people in general up to the half million or so dollar mark, and then those people dont want to be around anyone with a boat that only costs $499,999.

But for the most part some guy on a $150K pro bass fishing getup will talk and laugh for a while with the old black man on his 12 foot john boat with nothing but a trolling motor.

Posted by: Boron Cobbie - Nose rings and tattoos mean she made the traumas her personality at May 03, 2025 07:34 PM (oFxbF)

180 Sounds like la verendrye provincial park. 300 miles north on Montreal. I went there in 69 and 70 and caught the biggest freshwater fish of my life. Trolling for Walleye and northern pike. Long haul from Connecticut towing a boat. The campground was primitive, but it did have a porta potty. And close to the campground was a church, a bar restaurant and store along with the gas station.
All pretty much in the same building. Beyond that it was 100 mile drive to anywhere.
Posted by: kactus at May 03, 2025 07:28 PM (twS2i)
---
Not even close...it was up in north central Ontario somewhere. Took a 4WD truck to one spot, loaded everything into a eight-wheeled ATV to get to another spot, loaded up two boats with our gear and motored downriver a few miles to the campground. No restaurant, church, or gas station within 100 miles or so. Just a cabin (solar-powered!). We did have a portajohn, though.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at May 03, 2025 07:34 PM (GlyvH)

181 Try and find a setscrew knob that fits a 0.375" shaft; go ahead, I dare you.
Posted by: Preparing gp For Lazy Loading

I've got a brother with a lathe that could do it, so anyone with a good lathe could crank out the insides.
Encase it in whatever turns hard (like any plastic) and Bob's your uncle.

Posted by: MkY at May 03, 2025 07:35 PM (cPGH3)

182 No more digging through icepicks to find a wrench.

-

*fistbump*

and yes, I noticed the plural.

One of the better days of my and my family's life was when I broke down and bought a big roll-around tool chest. I remember it was from Costco. They used to carry a really great "Reviewed: Wait, does this manage to compete with Snap-On?" type one for $700 or so. I've really gotten a lot of use out of that thing.

Posted by: Boron Cobbie - Nose rings and tattoos mean she made the traumas her personality at May 03, 2025 07:36 PM (oFxbF)

183 I broke down and bought dedicated fancy-pants small parts storage boxes.
---------

One of my best purchases was a standing blond oak library card catalogue, surplused by the county. Probably 30 drawers. Plastic bins fit in them easily. I have labled all of the drawers in use, and it is convenient as hell. Probably the most organized part of my life. Need, a circlip? There's the drawer. Rubber grommet? Right there. Masonry screws? There.

This thread has reminded me that my springs need a drawer.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at May 03, 2025 07:46 PM (XeU6L)

184 One of my best purchases was a standing blond oak library card catalogue, surplused by the county. Probably 30 drawers. Plastic bins fit in them easily. I have labled all of the drawers in use, and it is convenient as hell. Probably the most organized part of my life. Need, a circlip? There's the drawer. Rubber grommet? Right there. Masonry screws? There.

This thread has reminded me that my springs need a drawer.
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at May 03, 2025 07:46 PM (XeU6L)

Respect.
I remember card catalogs....days long gone...

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo at May 03, 2025 07:51 PM (xcxpd)

185
One of my best purchases was a standing blond oak library card catalogue, surplused by the county.

-

Dang, that's a great find.

Posted by: Boron Cobbie - Nose rings and tattoos mean she made the traumas her personality at May 03, 2025 07:51 PM (oFxbF)

186 Dang, that's a great find.
Posted by: Boron Cobbie
------

Wasn't cheap. I bought it years ago, think I paid $325, but, I wanted it.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at May 03, 2025 07:57 PM (XeU6L)

187 NOOD - with Marshall stacks!

Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at May 03, 2025 08:00 PM (VNX3d)

188 180 perfessor

Cabin??
Luxury
We stayed in a hole in the ground, covered by a piece of twig

Posted by: kactus at May 03, 2025 08:01 PM (twS2i)

189 The Bay of Fundy. Go to the northern end. Stand on the edge of the water for 1 minute. You will see the tide going up or down. It may be the most amazing natural feature in the world, although Yellowstone just told me to hold my geysers.
And Sudbury, Ontario to see what devastation mining can do to the Earth. What a pit.

Posted by: jimmymcnulty at May 03, 2025 08:39 PM (EAGie)

190 Respect.
I remember card catalogs....days long gone...
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo
------------

Always wound up in a totally different section than intended.
A wonderland.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at May 03, 2025 09:08 PM (5875v)

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