Octopus Overlords

Is there such a thing as a reliable battery-operated or rechargeable heater that can be placed in a car to defrost it? One of our cars doesn't have heat, defrosters, or a working cigarette lighter. We're having problems with the windshield getting covered in ice, both inside and out, and would like something we could take down, set in place, turn on, and come back in 20 minutes.

This town has always sucked but as time goes on it just sucks more. Theres too many damn people in it now. When I was a kid you never had traffic or congestion. Lights weren't backed up a mile. No one in this town understands how to use a gas pedal. They just coast around on idle. And theres a metric shit ton of them. Red lights take forever to change too.

One of our Walmarts didn't have what I wanted so had to go to the other one on the other side of town. Then Cracker Barrel wont have dressing until Thursday. Why the heck is it one day only. I dont recall that before unless I somehow always ended up going on Thursday before.

Then the radio. I get tired of the one cd in the car so in 3 hours of driving I would flip through the 6 stations I have programmed. 3 hours and 2 Christmas songs was it..nothing else. Every one of the bastards was talking talking talking. One had the nerve to use the station id as Rock all day every day!" then go to yet another commercial. How do they pay the bills if all they do is commercials and no one listens??

traffic or conjection

?

dbt1949 wrote: ↑Mon Dec 20, 2021 1:24 pm

traffic or conjection

?

Correction congestion?

stimpy wrote: ↑Mon Dec 20, 2021 1:33 pm

dbt1949 wrote: ↑Mon Dec 20, 2021 1:24 pm

traffic or conjection

?

Correction congestion?

How's your digestion?

Blackhawk wrote: ↑Mon Dec 20, 2021 1:10 pm Is there such a thing as a reliable battery-operated or rechargeable heater that can be placed in a car to defrost it? One of our cars doesn't have heat, defrosters, or a working cigarette lighter. We're having problems with the windshield getting covered in ice, both inside and out, and would like something we could take down, set in place, turn on, and come back in 20 minutes.

White phosphorous.

Might need to do some light clean up after use.

Brian wrote: ↑Mon Dec 20, 2021 2:20 pm

Blackhawk wrote: ↑Mon Dec 20, 2021 1:10 pm Is there such a thing as a reliable battery-operated or rechargeable heater that can be placed in a car to defrost it? One of our cars doesn't have heat, defrosters, or a working cigarette lighter. We're having problems with the windshield getting covered in ice, both inside and out, and would like something we could take down, set in place, turn on, and come back in 20 minutes.

White phosphorous.

Might need to do some light clean up after use.

If I were going that route, thermite is so much easier to come by.

Blackhawk wrote: ↑Mon Dec 20, 2021 1:10 pm Is there such a thing as a reliable battery-operated or rechargeable heater that can be placed in a car to defrost it? One of our cars doesn't have heat, defrosters, or a working cigarette lighter. We're having problems with the windshield getting covered in ice, both inside and out, and would like something we could take down, set in place, turn on, and come back in 20 minutes.

https://www.hvac.com/resources/best-bat ... d-heaters/

That little $34 one looks small enough for a car.

Daehawk wrote: ↑Mon Dec 20, 2021 3:23 pm

Blackhawk wrote: ↑Mon Dec 20, 2021 1:10 pm Is there such a thing as a reliable battery-operated or rechargeable heater that can be placed in a car to defrost it? One of our cars doesn't have heat, defrosters, or a working cigarette lighter. We're having problems with the windshield getting covered in ice, both inside and out, and would like something we could take down, set in place, turn on, and come back in 20 minutes.

https://www.hvac.com/resources/best-bat ... d-heaters/

That little $34 one looks small enough for a car.

Except it's corded, not battery powered, despite the website labeling it as such. Whoever put that website together is an idiot. Literally nothing that they labeled "battery powered" is battery-powered.

https://learnmetrics.com/best-battery-powered-heaters/:

Here’s the thing about battery-powered heaters: They don’t exist.

In college, we used battery-powered hair dryers to defrost the windshield, though

LordMortis wrote: ↑Mon Dec 20, 2021 8:29 am (I was surprised "The Superman Song" never made it back in its day, given the times it was release and the musical landscape around it)

i do actually remember hearing it played on 'Cities 97' (97.1 FM Minneapolis) back in '91/'92 and my neighbor's dad buying the first CTD album

Except it's corded, not battery powered, despite the website labeling it as such. Whoever put that website together is an idiot. Literally nothing that they labeled "battery powered" is battery-powered.

Well damnit. You're right. I thought Dewalt made one but its propane. Why does google report so many battery and USB powered heaters when none of them are???

People lie, Daehawk.

Blackhawk wrote: ↑Mon Dec 20, 2021 1:10 pm Is there such a thing as a reliable battery-operated or rechargeable heater that can be placed in a car to defrost it? One of our cars doesn't have heat, defrosters, or a working cigarette lighter. We're having problems with the windshield getting covered in ice, both inside and out, and would like something we could take down, set in place, turn on, and come back in 20 minutes.

Heaters use so much power, I'm not sure you'll find a battery one. I know money is likely an issue, but something like this power supply coupled with a small heater would likely do the trick. But now you're talking ~$500.

I don't understand how Pete Davidson gets so much publicity and evidently likes. He is the queerest (and I'm not talking gay) looking dude I've ever seen.

stessier wrote: ↑Mon Dec 20, 2021 6:14 pm But now you're talking ~$500.

I just horked a little.

A rechargeable hair dryer isn't a terrible idea. Turn it on, plop it on the dash, come back in 20 minutes.

Today is the first day of winter and the shortest day of the year.

Winter solstice 2021: Why it happens and how we celebrate the first day of winter

New building going up quickly... looks very small, maybe only drive-thru service. Anybody recognize the color or shape of something possibly from a franchise? Donuts? Burgers? I was thinking Sonic but there's one about a half mile down the road.



Going to walk past it this afternoon, see if there's any progress or clues to what it could be.

Long John Silvers?

Popeyes? Lemme see who uses those colors.

EDIT: No idea. I used to have a site for fast food and the colors they use but cant find it. Long Johns does use blue but have turned to boxy buildings for new ones. Captain D's used to be blue but are now a neon green almost

telcta wrote: ↑Tue Dec 21, 2021 1:43 pm New building going up quickly... looks very small, maybe only drive-thru service. Anybody recognize the color or shape of something possibly from a franchise? Donuts? Burgers? I was thinking Sonic but there's one about a half mile down the road.



Going to walk past it this afternoon, see if there's any progress or clues to what it could be.

Do you have an east coast version of Rally's/Checker's. It looks just like like dining room less on of those, only with the a point front. Rally's/Checker's are flat. It could also be someone very local just doing their thing in the same way Rally's/Checker's does.

LordMortis wrote: ↑Tue Dec 21, 2021 1:55 pm

telcta wrote: ↑Tue Dec 21, 2021 1:43 pm New building going up quickly... looks very small, maybe only drive-thru service. Anybody recognize the color or shape of something possibly from a franchise? Donuts? Burgers? I was thinking Sonic but there's one about a half mile down the road.



Going to walk past it this afternoon, see if there's any progress or clues to what it could be.

Do you have an east coast version of Rally's/Checker's. It looks just like like dining room less on of those, only with the a point front. Rally's/Checker's are flat. It could also be someone very local just doing their thing in the same way Rally's/Checker's does.

Not that I'm aware of. I'd love to see something from another part of the country. Popeye's is a recent addition. I remember when Tim Horton's made an attempt to get into New England but I think Dunkin' ran them out of town. I actually preferred Tim's coffee over Dunkin'

dbt1949 wrote: ↑Tue Dec 21, 2021 1:45 pm Long John Silvers?

Daehawk wrote: ↑Tue Dec 21, 2021 1:54 pm Popeyes? Lemme see who uses those colors.

EDIT: No idea. I used to have a site for fast food and the colors they use but cant find it. Long Johns does use blue but have turned to boxy buildings for new ones. Captain D's used to be blue but are now a neon green almost

Many fast food places in this section of town. There's a Wendy's right next to it, a Popeyes across the street, a Wings going on the other side... so I wouldn't be surprised if it's a Long John Silvers. I've never eaten at one. Red Lobster back in the day, yes, but not Long John Silver.

I'll post another picture later this afternoon since that one is over a week old.

Check the city website for construction permits.

dbt1949 wrote: ↑Mon Dec 20, 2021 6:34 pm I don't understand how Pete Davidson gets so much publicity and evidently likes. He is the queerest (and I'm not talking gay) looking dude I've ever seen.

Part of the essence of Cool is seeming like you don't give a fuck. That's his whole schtick, as far as I can tell.

Many fast food places in this section of town. There's a Wendy's right next to it, a Popeyes across the street, a Wings going on the other side... so I wouldn't be surprised if it's a Long John Silvers. I've never eaten at one. Red Lobster back in the day, yes, but not Long John Silver.

I'd say White Castle but the roof shape is wrong - unless they're being forced to comply with local facade regulations (which isn't out of the question).

The colors give off a bit of a Culver's vibe, but I don't know how far that spreads outside of the Midwest.

All those places have dining areas though. That looks like drivethru only. We have a number of local place like that, especially ice cream shops but the biggest chain I can think of is Rally's/Checkers. Again they don't have a pointy top.

Wait, Lee's Famous Recipe has no dining room and a pointy top. If you get one of those, you are in for heaven. Best fried chicken ever. There are very few places my lazy ass will go out its way for and Lee's is one of those places, or it was until my heart started making threats.

http://leeschickenplymouth.com/

hepcat, you need to go visit telcta.

Isgrimnur wrote: ↑Tue Dec 21, 2021 2:53 pm hepcat, you need to go visit telcta.

Whoa! Plainville is really close. I’m usually down there walking around, I know exactly where that is. I’ll have to check it out.

Isgrimnur wrote: ↑Tue Dec 21, 2021 2:12 pm Check the city website for construction permits.

I’m sitting in Panera looking around the city website. So far nothing. I see a bunch of town planning and zoning meetings so I can pull up some of the agendas… I see one has a link to a permit. There’s a Ruby Tuesday that is vacant and they’re looking to subdivide that area.

LordMortis has me salivating over Lee’s Famous Recipe now.

A few months ago I wrote about South Shore Bar Pizza, a hyperlocal specialty that's soaring in popularity.

Today I noticed a sign over a long-vacant storefront: BOSSS BAH PIZZA. It's next door to the SouthSide Tavern, which might account for one or more of those esses. Wouldn't surprise me at all if SouthSide is opening a pizza takeout; it's a highly successful bar.

I'm looking forward to trying their pies. I haven't visited many bar pizza joints because (a) covid ended our indoor dining last month, and (b) they are mostly dive bars where my type isn't welcome or comfortable.

Daehawk wrote: ↑Tue Dec 21, 2021 1:33 pm Today is the first day of winter

Pfft. Might want to let the weather know.

telcta wrote: ↑Tue Dec 21, 2021 3:12 pm LordMortis has me salivating over Lee’s Famous Recipe now.

Is Virginia or Ohio closer to your house? I think mine is outlier for a chain largely from Ohio and Kentucky and I feel blessed to have it.

LordMortis wrote: ↑Tue Dec 21, 2021 3:51 pm

telcta wrote: ↑Tue Dec 21, 2021 3:12 pm LordMortis has me salivating over Lee’s Famous Recipe now.

Is Virginia or Ohio closer to your house? I think mine is outlier for a chain largely from Ohio and Kentucky and I feel blessed to have it.

I'm in central Connecticut, I think traveling to Ohio may be a less stressful drive unless I hit Virginia through Harrisburg.

telcta wrote: ↑Tue Dec 21, 2021 1:43 pm New building going up quickly... looks very small, maybe only drive-thru service. Anybody recognize the color or shape of something possibly from a franchise? Donuts? Burgers? I was thinking Sonic but there's one about a half mile down the road.



Going to walk past it this afternoon, see if there's any progress or clues to what it could be.

...
No big clues other than it certainly seems to be solely a drive thru unless those front windows are part of a small dining area. I figure the kitchen would take up the majority of space in this tiny building.




I'll see if I can get an answer from the city website, but this is fun trying to figure it out.

I tried looking for drive thru only restaurants in CT and I don't see anything that looks remotely like that so now I need to know...

A drive through wedding chapel?

Coffee? Liquor?

Blackhawk wrote: ↑Tue Dec 21, 2021 4:58 pm Coffee? Liquor?

I remember my dad driving into a beer distributor garage in PA, pop the trunk and a guy comes out and fills it with cases of beer. You didn't have to get out of the car... That was magical, but it was Iron City Beer... my first taste of beer that put me off drinking for 20 years.

Jaymann wrote: ↑Tue Dec 21, 2021 4:49 pm A drive through wedding chapel?

Marriage at the first window, divorce on the other side. Hmmmm...