Wow, I need to go to a forum meeting some time. Sounds like they can be eventful.

Well, I can't speak for everyone but that's not that eventful compared to other instances. MrsAWeeks came into the restaurant I worked at with her husband and since I mentioned on the forum where I worked she asked one of the servers where David is and he came and got me. Server asked her how we know each other, she goes, "the internet". Talk about awkward since she was with her husband lol! Lets see--getting rear-ended while in line to get through customs right before the officer asked us if we took advantage of those Marijuana Dens while in Toronto. I could really write a book about some of the gatherings I've been to.   

AT the bar, and dancing with this girl to big poppa and she starts waving her hands up and down and f-in hits the top of my beer and the glas goes right into my hand WTF.  I was on the subway pulling shards out and people were staring.

Dance clubs and concert halls shouldn't allow any glass beverage containers.

I had a weird experience at a bar the other day, too.  I haven't seen my cousin in years and he asked me if I wanted to go out with him and his friends. I said, "Yeah, sure." So he has us going to this low-rent joint on Morse Rd. Bunch of hood rats in there. We're playing pool and out of nowhere, this dork comes up to me. He says, "This is my first time here". I said, "It's my first time here too but if you want to blend in you probably shouldn't go around telling people it's your first time here." I'm in the middle of trying to shoot at a striped ball and this dork messes up my concentration, saying, "I heard there's only one good pool stick here." I said, "Yeah, I think it's mine because my cousin keeps using it when it's his turn" He goes, "Oh, so you have the Magic Stick..." I turned my head around, lowered my eyebrows, gave him a blank stare and he turned around and walked away really quick, haha. What an idiot.

 

I like to order Red Bull at the bar. I noticed a lot of bartenders don't even know what to charge me for that since they mostly just use them in mixed drinks like Jager Bombs.

Haha, then we went to this biker bar...except everyone in there was 60 years old and over. It felt kind of weird at first. People in there with their oxygen tanks tagging along. I mean, the place had all the decor of a bingo hall. Then out of nowhere this older woman, maybe 70 years old, in a polka-dot dress takes the stage and starts rocking out on the guitar. Stevie Ray Vaugan - Pride and Joy! We all looked at each other in amazement. You really had to be there. That can't be an easy song to play but she was getting it, especially for someone who probably has arthritic hands. All these old people started getting up and dancing, haha. This is why I'm always up for new experiences. I swear, every time, something crazy happens.

^ I seem to recall a forumer on ssp saying he got the same sort of approach from a dude.  I guess avoid the pool table

 

Here's my latest bicycling video of the defective LSD bridge Navy Pier bypass.  The city plans to demolish it and replace it with a new $40 flyover with separated usage lanes and elevated interchanges.  The federal funding has been secured.  Sorry the video was glitchy.  I was putting it together on my lunchbreak and eating at the same time.  I didn't realize I had overlapped some frames that show twice.  The video is also DOUBLE speed

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ifmuth/5610238587/#secrete688a9c42din/photostream

Wow, that is freakin' awful.

It is kind of a mess but I would definitely take that over no trail at all.  I don't know; it doesn't seem all that dangerous to me. It doesn't seem to be a place where cyclists in Spandex go 25 mph but I'm sure it's annoying when so much stuff is impeding your momentum.

Oh trust me people fly through. This is where I cracked my head open when my axle failed last summer btw.  This city is really worried someone is going to die, which probably made a good case for all thad federal money. I hope we can get even more for extra lanes on the trail

I'm so excited.  I just got back from a meeting with the Lakewood Observer people, and it was awesome.  They actually want me to contribute!

Ahh Yerba Mate is great stuff. I bought a pound of it at the herb store. I can already feel the free radicals becoming stabilized as the vitamins in the tea give up their electrons. I hope I don't turn into a granola bar. The only thing more fun than detoxifying is retoxifying.

It is kind of a mess but I would definitely take that over no trail at all.  I don't know; it doesn't seem all that dangerous to me. It doesn't seem to be a place where cyclists in Spandex go 25 mph but I'm sure it's annoying when so much stuff is impeding your momentum.

I used to run there when I lived in the south loop.  Sometimes I was more afraid of the people on bikes than people on cars.  No offense North Andre

anyone want to go to the cavs game tonight?

 

I was reading this book about toilets. I had no idea toilets in America are so bland. Japanese toilets are heated, play music and all sorts of things. they have a control panel on them. Also, a guy by the name of Thomas Crapper made major innovations to the toilet. Fascinating stuff. I wonder if women will ever start using urinals. They make a good argument for it in the book.

I was reading this book about toilets. I had no idea toilets in America are so bland. Japanese toilets are heated, play music and all sorts of things. they have a control panel on them. Also, a guy by the name of Thomas Crapper made major innovations to the toilet. Fascinating stuff. I wonder if women will ever start using urinals. They make a good argument for it in the book.

 

Puts "bathroom reading" in a new context. :-D

Oh man, one time I used this public toilet on the shores of the Rhine in Wiesbaden, Germany. It was in a small building dedicated to the toilet. After I put some coins in the slot, the door whisked open and I entered. The door slowly closed behind me as a relaxing voice in German (they do exist) gave me some instructions essentially telling me to enjoy my dump. Then the most wonderful, relaxing music began to play. The seat was perfectly shaped, it was just the right height and everything was immaculate.

 

Americans complain about having to pay to use the restroom overseas, but you get your money's worth. Over here, you go in the men's room a lot of times and it will be filthy, you pinch your nose and say "P.U." upon entering, someone's peed on the toilet paper, and the stalls are rusty and have been ripped out of the wall by some rage-o-holic. Also they don't make refills for the soap machine built into the counter -- they leave out a filthy bar of soap, there's no paper towels plus they sell that terrible circular "Lifestyle" gum in the machines that tastes like rubber. Of course, the door lock and dryer are broken.

Men in Germany sit while peeing because when you stand up, vapors go into the air and even stain the walls. Sitting seems so emasculating to me.

Hmmm. I recall seeing men use urinals there but they may not have been Germans.

Well at urinals your target is only like 5 inches in front of you and they're kind of enclosed. Perhaps the book refers to a scenario in which you're faced with no option but a toilet.

Germans pee standing up at urinals. Sitting down at toilets. Wanna know why? The "examination table", aka "poo shelf", creates quite a splatter:

 

At one bar I went to in Germany, the men's urinal was in the hallway on the way to the ladies' room.  How freakin' embarrassing.

 

Or it may have been a potted plant.  It was a long night.

Haha, X unknowinngly watered their plants for them.

I don't remember seeing toilets like that, but I didn't go #2 anywhere besides hotel rooms and that one on the Rhine.

Hotels probably figure it is better for business not to freak out Americans. Those toilets are very common.

Haha, X unknowinngly watered their plants for them.

 

No, it was definitely a urinal, it flushed.

 

Or maybe I spilled my beer in it.  Long night.

From my experience, those toilets are more common on the old East Germany side where as on the West Germany side they knew how to make toilets. Blame the Communists. :-)

^ That would fail to explain their prevalence in the Netherlands.

 

This one was raised on a platform but many of this type are flush (he he he) with the floor. The squarish part on either side of the bowl is for one's feet. The dipping bucket is for flushing.

 

<img src="http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l258/GabrielsPlace/thailandbest/P1130442.jpg" alt="" class="bbc_img" />

That is a cool toilet. I am broke and in debt but I promised myself that when I am rich and successful, I would get a urinal and a bidet in my bathroom. Well, it may come in second, next to Granite Counter tops and the revolving book shelf leading to the secret passageway.

 

Isn't it kind of weird that we in the U.S. don't use bidets that wash your front and back side? We live in the wealthy land of innovation. We lead the world in patents but American consumers, when it comes to toilets, are a product that we only replace when necessary and want to buy the bare minimum. Yet we buy Droids and folks with disposable income will pay for Colon Hydrotherapy or Colonics or whatever they're called. There's a place that specializes in that by my house! So weird... Some cultures (much less affluent mind you) find it repulsive and disgusting that we simply use bath tissue. After reading (skimming) the book, I realized how right they are. I think I'm going to at least start buying baby wipes.

 

You guys should check ou that book. I can't remember what it's called though. I'll have to get back to you on that. It's pretty incredible how far we've come along with sanitation and sewer systems and equally incredible how much we take it for granted.

 

The book also mentions that in America, you can't really tell someone you're "taking a dump" or any of the equivalent phrases without either using offensive curse words or sounding extremely childish. Hell, some of you are probably grossed out by the fact that I brought this topic up. I feel like that Drunk/Histrionic Professor that somehow got tenure and is showing the class some very awkward powerpoint slides  :drunk:  :speech:

"The Unmentionable World of Human Waste and Why It Matters". There ya' go. The title of the book was at the tip of my tongue, being that it's so short of a title.

I think urinals have to be used often or else they wind up stinking up the house.

My wife and I had the urinal fight when we re-did the bathroom. As with most house related decisions (and pretty much any other ones as well), I lost. I maintain that it would have been a win win. I could pee efficiently, and she didn't have to worry about down seat retaliation

 

re: bidet's...unless they operate with the force of a fire hose, it's not going to really help.

I think urinals have to be used often or else they wind up stinking up the house.

 

They flush, dude.

 

re: bidet's...unless they operate with the force of a fire hose, it's not going to really help.

 

Oh well. I've never even tried one but I still want one in my bathroom to confuse the hell out of people who are thinking, "What the hell do I do with this thing?  :wtf: " They're not at all common.

I'm starting to think channel ten news is the Fox News of the local media. The weatherman is the biggest sensationalist. He just talked about a tornado watch in INDIANA and no kidding, he goes, "I'll let you know when it hits YOUR neighborhood." Dude I'm not worried about a possible tornado all the way in Indiana. I think this was the same guy who last year was saying, "We've never seen weather patterns like this! Head to your basement because this is the storm/tornado event of the century!"...and nothing happened. This is a guy who is consistently wrong about...it being sunny the next day. Then he'll talk on-air about all the flack he gets from people for being wrong all the time. Then you have Jerry Revish. Have you seen his eyes?! He's the most cracked-out looking news anchor I've ever seen and he's been on that station eversince I can remember as a kid.

.I went to this rock climbing speech/seminar thing and I guess the guys who spoke were world-renowned rock climbers. I like rock climbing butit's funny to me how some die-hard rock climbers think it's their life calling to make it to the top of a cliff. Every climber has that one story about how they fell exactly 40 feet without a rope and harness. Mabe 40 feet is the threshold for evading death and folks who fell 41+ feet didn't live to tell about it. During Q and A I tried so hard not to be the @sshole who raises there hand and goes, "Um yeah, do you have like, a real job?" I think I was just overcome with jeaalousy that there are actually people out there who can make a living from doing something actually fun. They had aoll these picturesfrom excursions in Chad, UK, etc. I wondered how they could actually afford to do it or find the time but big companies like The North Face and whomever makes that herpes medication, will actually sponsor trips for well known climbers.  I want that life :(

I'm starting to think channel ten news is the Fox News of the local media. The weatherman is the biggest sensationalist. He just talked about a tornado watch in INDIANA and no kidding, he goes, "I'll let you know when it hits YOUR neighborhood." Dude I'm not worried about a possible tornado all the way in Indiana. I think this was the same guy who last year was saying, "We've never seen weather patterns like this! Head to your basement because this is the storm/tornado event of the century!"...and nothing happened. This is a guy who is consistently wrong about...it being sunny the next day. Then he'll talk on-air about all the flack he gets from people for being wrong all the time. Then you have Jerry Revish. Have you seen his eyes?! He's the most cracked-out looking news anchor I've ever seen and he's been on that station eversince I can remember as a kid.

 

That is a cool toilet. I am broke and in debt but I promised myself that when I am rich and successful, I would get a urinal and a bidet in my bathroom. Well, it may come in second, next to Granite Counter tops and the revolving book shelf leading to the secret passageway.

 

Isn't it kind of weird that we in the U.S. don't use bidets that wash your front and back side? We live in the wealthy land of innovation. We lead the world in patents but American consumers, when it comes to toilets, are a product that we only replace when necessary and want to buy the bare minimum. Yet we buy Droids and folks with disposable income will pay for Colon Hydrotherapy or Colonics or whatever they're called. There's a place that specializes in that by my house! So weird... Some cultures (much less affluent mind you) find it repulsive and disgusting that we simply use bath tissue. After reading (skimming) the book, I realized how right they are. I think I'm going to at least start buying baby wipes.

 

You guys should check ou that book. I can't remember what it's called though. I'll have to get back to you on that. It's pretty incredible how far we've come along with sanitation and sewer systems and equally incredible how much we take it for granted.

 

The book also mentions that in America, you can't really tell someone you're "taking a dump" or any of the equivalent phrases without either using offensive curse words or sounding extremely childish. Hell, some of you are probably grossed out by the fact that I brought this topic up. I feel like that Drunk/Histrionic Professor that somehow got tenure and is showing the class some very awkward powerpoint slides  :drunk:  :speech:

 

I interned way back in the North Shore suburbs of Chicago for a small architecture firm that did houses for very wealthy people.  Your ideas aren't crazy, because we had to think like that.  I worked on the design of a house that had a rotating bookshelf which led to a secret passageway.  There was bathroom with a large shower, toilet, and urinal, or you could open another door which was an elevator.  The elevator took you either down where it split off to a wine cellar or garage, or upstairs to the bedroom suite, which attached to the "his" walk-in closet.  The house had another elevator which serviced the kitchen and a larger garage on the lower level and hallway connecting additional bedrooms on the upper floor.

 

Residential elevators aren't as expensive as one might think, and they don't take up all that much space.  For the cost of redoing a sizeable kitchen with new cabinets and counters is equal to the cost of a residential elevator.  It's actually worth considering if you want to grow old in a large multi-level house. 

I was watching some channel on cable and they had this show about a small engineering firm that custom-builds secret passageways in existing houses. They used all sorts of electronic and mechanical devices to make it work. Their clients weren't really wealthy, just had extra money and chose to spend it on that. There would be like a chess board and you have to move the queen to a certain square and I guess it completes some circuit causing the bookshelf to rotate or a wall to open up revealing a secret opium den. Those guys are so skillful. I bet they have a lot of patents just from coming up with solutions for challenges with pre-existing houses. The things people choose to do, to remodel their houses are in general, just boring. "Lets build a deck out back", "Lets get new cabinets." Do something creative, I say. Even if I had money, I wouldn't want an elevator. I run up and down steps habitually and I'd probably be too impatient for a slow elevator.I'd install a firehouse pole before that.

Well now theres a tornado warning in my county with up to 70mph winds. I kinda feel like an idiot now. These tornados are fun though!

I had a bidet next to the toilet in my house in LA. Never used it, and neither did my ex. I'm not even sure the water was hooked up to it. It just seemed weird to me.

 

I'm down with the baby wipes thing though, yeah. But don't put those down your toilet, they are not septic system friendly, even if they say they are.

I'm starting to think channel ten news is the Fox News of the local media. The weatherman is the biggest sensationalist. He just talked about a tornado watch in INDIANA and no kidding, he goes, "I'll let you know when it hits YOUR neighborhood." Dude I'm not worried about a possible tornado all the way in Indiana. I think this was the same guy who last year was saying, "We've never seen weather patterns like this! Head to your basement because this is the storm/tornado event of the century!"...and nothing happened. This is a guy who is consistently wrong about...it being sunny the next day. Then he'll talk on-air about all the flack he gets from people for being wrong all the time.

 

Hyperbole equals ratings. There is no room for modesty in today's fragmented broadcasting climate with ad revenue so difficult to obtain.

 

Late last night I was driving home on US 30, something I try to avoid any time except broad daylight because of the huge deer population along the route. The wind was strong and cold, rain was off-and-on heavy, fog was dense in places, occasionally hail splattered my windshield, and as I neared Fort Wayne I witnessed spectacular displays of thunder and lightning. The posted limit is 60mph, but I had slowed to 45-50mph, something even some truckers had done, because of the weather. If I have to drive rural roads at night I keep a sharp eye on the roadside, looking for the reflection of headlights off deer eyes, but the visibility was bad last night and I almost got one. I only realized what had nearly happened after something flashed across my headlights. It was over in an instant, and if I had been going a little faster I would have harvested some venison and torn up my car.

 

I got home about 11:30, dead-tired, and the violent weather continued long after I fell asleep. This morning I had no hot water. I have a direct-vent water heater, with the vent in a sheltered area behind my house, and last night was the first time in 22 years of living here that the wind blew out the pilot light.

 

This morning as I was waiting to have the steering aligned on my car I picked up a Farmer's Almanac from among the stack of year-old magazines in the waiting area, and checked the weather forecast. It was spot-on for what we've been experiencing over the past several days.

I picked up a Farmer's Almanac from among the stack of year-old magazines in the waiting area, and checked the weather forecast. It was spot-on for what we've been experiencing over the past several days.

 

How do they DO that? Bunch of witches, if you ask me. Witches!!

They sell Farmer's Almanacs at Blockbuster of all places!

Wow damage is pretty severe in my neighborhood. The wind blew down a very strong white privacy fence and this is one that wraps around a whole multi-unit subdivision! Stores are closed from having no internet and therefore, not being able to accept credit/debit cards. Trees knocked over cable lines everywhere and a few tractor-trailers literally flipped over on their side!  Anyone else get a lot of damage?

We need a new Urbanbar thread:

 

David's Random Musings

Rob, how are those Almanacs able to prediict weather so accurately? Sorry, NatiNinja. I need a blog. Its too easy for me to post with internet on my phone. Today i walked through the parking lot and this woman was sitting in her car and saw me walking towards her and I heard her doors suddenly lock as I walked along the side of her car.. I kinda wanted to open her car door, lean over and scream, "Boo!" I guess I got a taste of what it's like to be black.People are so ridiculous.

David, the pasty gangsta

I'm like the most generic looking, all-american whiteboy ever. Even for Canal Winchester. I don't get it. I think people are watching too much channel 10, 11 o'clock news.