Random randomness

dbt1949 · Post by **dbt1949** » Sat Jan 12, 2013 7:20 pm

Lady Sonia

Default · Post by **Default** » Sat Jan 12, 2013 8:05 pm

dbt1949 wrote:Lady Sonia

Sorry, I demand good dental hygiene with my internet floozies.

LordMortis · Post by **LordMortis** » Mon Jan 14, 2013 10:34 am

Feeling like an ass this morning. I just got an XMas Gift Card to Lone Star for thirty bucks from a relative. The nearest Lone Star to me is nearly an hour away. I am so not driving nearly two hours so I can eat thirty dollars worth of free food from Lone Star. So I just gave it to a coworker who lives a lot closer. So my Aunt is out thirty bucks for nothing and my coworker is only going because "Hey, free meal."

I really wish people wouldn't gift give for prescribed occasions. I am a total bummer. I feel like Sheldon Cooper. I generally don't want a gift I have no use for (which is most things) and then I feel like I need to reciprocate and I don't to have to fret over getting you the right gift.

Smoove_B · Post by **Smoove_B** » Mon Jan 14, 2013 10:34 am

in 2010 Smoove_B wrote:Have you ever seen vole runways? Me neither - until today. I am not amused.

After the weird thaw over the weekend, I'm now seeing a significant amount of vole damage in my front yard in a totally different area. Given how long it took for the other damage to finally grow back from two freaking years ago, I'm inclined to go out there and do awful things to tiny mammals. It's always f-ing something with home ownership.

GreenGoo · Post by **GreenGoo** » Mon Jan 14, 2013 10:43 am

I live 15 mins from a lone star (this is a canadian chain, yes? Started in Ottawa, pretty sure. Weird that they made it down into Michigan). My wife and I love it. Please feel free to pass along the free meal to me next time, I'll make sure your aunt's sacrifice is not in vain.

stessier · Post by **stessier** » Mon Jan 14, 2013 10:53 am

I'm pretty sure the Lone Star he is talking about is this one - sure seems like a Texas chain to me.

Edit: Google tells me that even the Canadian version has a "Texas Grill" in the title. You trying to claim Texas?!?

Brian · Post by **Brian** » Mon Jan 14, 2013 10:56 am

We had a Lone Star in Omaha. They went under a couple years ago which was no surprise considering that the food was OK/not great and the service (all of the three times I went there) was downright terrible. Seriously, forty five minutes for a bowl of chili?

They tore it down and built a Longhorn Steakhouse which is far, far better. However, if I am in the mood for steak, I'll drive past the Longhorn's on my way to Firebird's which, considering they are a chain, has become my favorite steakhouse in Omaha.

coopasonic · Post by **coopasonic** » Mon Jan 14, 2013 11:07 am

LordMortis wrote:Feeling like an ass this morning. I just got an XMas Gift Card to Lone Star for thirty bucks from a relative. The nearest Lone Star to me is nearly an hour away. I am so not driving nearly two hours so I can eat thirty dollars worth of free food from Lone Star. So I just gave it to a coworker who lives a lot closer. So my Aunt is out thirty bucks for nothing and my coworker is only going because "Hey, free meal."

I really wish people wouldn't gift give for prescribed occasions. I am a total bummer. I feel like Sheldon Cooper. I generally don't want a gift I have no use for (which is most things) and then I feel like I need to reciprocate and I don't to have to fret over getting you the right gift.

https://www.plasticjungle.com/sell-gift-cards" target="_blank

GreenGoo · Post by **GreenGoo** » Mon Jan 14, 2013 11:42 am

stessier wrote:Edit: Google tells me that even the Canadian version has a "Texas Grill" in the title. You trying to claim Texas?!?

I don't understand what you mean by that.

But yeah, this is the one I was talking about. It's good. I make no claims about its authenticity.

http://www.lonestartexasgrill.com/" target="_blank

LordMortis · Post by **LordMortis** » Mon Jan 14, 2013 11:42 am

GreenGoo wrote:I live 15 mins from a lone star (this is a canadian chain, yes? Started in Ottawa, pretty sure. Weird that they made it down into Michigan). My wife and I love it. Please feel free to pass along the free meal to me next time, I'll make sure your aunt's sacrifice is not in vain.

Canadian chains make it up to Detroit fairly often. But Lone Star is Texas chain, so it had to make it up a lot further than just crossing the Ambassador Bridge.

Brian wrote:We had a Lone Star in Omaha. They went under a couple years ago which was no surprise considering that the food was OK/not great and the service (all of the three times I went there) was downright terrible. Seriously, forty five minutes for a bowl of chili?

They tore it down and built a Longhorn Steakhouse which is far, far better. However, if I am in the mood for steak, I'll drive past the Longhorn's on my way to Firebird's which, considering they are a chain, has become my favorite steakhouse in Omaha.

We have a ton of Texas themed Steak House around here. Lone Star was first but for whatever reason they couldn't compete and closed most of their locations. Now we have Logan's, Longhorns, Texas Road House, Texas Steak House, and Texas something eles and I don't know what else. I think Logan's is winning the war because they moved to budget steaks forever ago and then I assume they make their money off of beer.

coopasonic wrote:https://www.plasticjungle.com/sell-gift-cards

I'd feel like even more of an ass then. My parents bought me one of those freezer bag maker things which could have been straight out of an infomercial. I'm sure I'll use it eventually and it was very kind of them. But I'm so good about rotating food that it amounts to a machine take valuable kitchen real estate and will take years and years to pay for itself based on my lifestyle.

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Mon Jan 14, 2013 12:45 pm

stessier wrote:I'm pretty sure the Lone Star he is talking about is this one - sure seems like a Texas chain to me.

WE APOLOGIZE
There are no restaurants at or around 'TX'
...
Corporate Offices:
Plano Support Center
5055 W. Park Blvd., Suite 500
Plano, TX 75093
972-295-8600

That's fine. We have no shortage of steakhouses. Even if they're based here, they don't even see the need to build one here.

A nonny mouse · Post by **A nonny mouse** » Mon Jan 14, 2013 3:36 pm

Smoove_B wrote:
in 2010 Smoove_B wrote:Have you ever seen vole runways? Me neither - until today. I am not amused.
I'm inclined to go out there and do awful things to tiny mammals.

Make sure to get them drunk first.

And also, are they voles or Moles? (Yes, I know the difference - different treatment for them though).

Smoove_B · Post by **Smoove_B** » Mon Jan 14, 2013 3:39 pm

They're definitely voles -- they've carved tell-tale runs through my lawn. I'd take a picture but this is identical to what it looks like:

Two years ago they were coming from a hedgerow along the edge of my property. Now I can see they're emerging from a landscaped berm that's covered with Pachysandra.

A nonny mouse · Post by **A nonny mouse** » Mon Jan 14, 2013 3:41 pm

stessier wrote:
tinfoil for easy clean up.

I was going to laugh and say "O.K. Grandpa" but I say tinfoil myself.

I wish you could still get tinfoil. I hate it when tomato based sauces eat through the aluminum foil (which is a scary thought.)

And to make it a full Lordmortis ramble, I still use a pan because I don't want to heat the entire oven (and house) up just to cook some bacon.

A nonny mouse · Post by **A nonny mouse** » Mon Jan 14, 2013 3:45 pm

Smoove_B wrote:They're definitely voles -- they've carved tell-tale runs through my lawn. I'd take a picture but this is identical to what it looks like:

I kind of figured you knew what they were, I was just checking (we have people all the time coming to the museum to ask us the difference).

Smoove_B wrote:
Two years ago they were coming from a hedgerow along the edge of my property. Now I can see they're emerging from a landscaped berm that's covered with Pachysandra.

Try covering the landscape berm with incendiary devices or landmines and see if that works.

Skinypupy · Post by **Skinypupy** » Mon Jan 14, 2013 3:55 pm

Smoove_B wrote:Two years ago they were coming from a hedgerow along the edge of my property. .

Was it bustling?

Paingod · Post by **Paingod** » Mon Jan 14, 2013 4:04 pm

We used to let the cats out to hunt the tiny mammals, but then larger mammals hunted our cats - so the tiny mammals won. Now we just curse at them and plot to get devices that will eliminate them.

dbt1949 · Post by **dbt1949** » Mon Jan 14, 2013 10:00 pm

RTFM

I really hate that.

Jolor · Post by **Jolor** » Mon Jan 14, 2013 10:20 pm

GreenGoo wrote:
stessier wrote:Edit: Google tells me that even the Canadian version has a "Texas Grill" in the title. You trying to claim Texas?!?
I don't understand what you mean by that.

But yeah, this is the one I was talking about. It's good. I make no claims about its authenticity.

http://www.lonestartexasgrill.com/" target="_blank

Started by Val Belcher who was from Houston but came to Ottawa to play football with the Riders.

dbt1949 · Post by **dbt1949** » Tue Jan 15, 2013 9:20 am

When somebody borrows money from you why do they think they can make monthly payments to return it? They borrowed a lump sum.

Daehawk · Post by **Daehawk** » Tue Jan 15, 2013 9:44 am

Was in the mall yesterday and was shopping with the wife in Belk when I hear someone whistling the Imperial March...the Darth Vader song. I asked the wife if she heard it but don't think she did. So then its in my head and I whistle it. im sure there was some guy further over asking his wife "hey did you just hear someone whistling the Imperial March song?"

Anonymous Bosch · Post by **Anonymous Bosch** » Tue Jan 15, 2013 11:07 am

Smoove_B wrote:They're definitely voles -- they've carved tell-tale runs through my lawn.

You are in New Jersey, so it's impossible to rule out C.H.U.D.s.

GreenGoo · Post by **GreenGoo** » Tue Jan 15, 2013 11:29 am

dbt1949 wrote:When somebody borrows money from you why do they think they can make monthly payments to return it? They borrowed a lump sum.

Because I said it was ok when they borrowed it and if they didn't miss a payment I wouldn't charge them interest.

Are you just handing out money to people who ask for it? Can I have some?

GreenGoo · Post by **GreenGoo** » Tue Jan 15, 2013 11:31 am

Jolor wrote:Started by Val Belcher who was from Houston but came to Ottawa to play football with the Riders.

Yeah, my father in law is a former Rider. He's got some pictures with Belcher up on the wall at the Lone Star, and in a couple of other places around town. Belcher hasn't been an owner for a long time though, I don't think. Changed hands years ago. Dropped in quality slightly, imo. Still good though.

Smoove_B · Post by **Smoove_B** » Tue Jan 15, 2013 12:27 pm

Anonymous Bosch wrote:
Smoove_B wrote:They're definitely voles -- they've carved tell-tale runs through my lawn.
You are in New Jersey, so it's impossible to rule out C.H.U.D.s.

One of the traps I set last night took a bite out of something - there was a bloody furry chunk caught in the teeth, but whatever it was pulled itself free. Tenacious little bugger. I'm sending it to the lab for DNA analysis. Might be Sasquatch.

Skinypupy · Post by **Skinypupy** » Tue Jan 15, 2013 12:59 pm

The iPad needs another volume level between 1 and 0. 1 is loud enough that my co-workers can hear what I'm doing on my iPad through the wall, but I don't really want to turn it off completely.

Scuzz · Post by **Scuzz** » Tue Jan 15, 2013 1:22 pm

Daehawk wrote:Was in the mall yesterday and was shopping with the wife in Belk when I hear someone whistling the Imperial March...the Darth Vader song. I asked the wife if she heard it but don't think she did. So then its in my head and I whistle it. im sure there was some guy further over asking his wife "hey did you just hear someone whistling the Imperial March song?"

My kids high school mixes that in with the regular graduation music at graduation ceremonies.

Scuzz · Post by **Scuzz** » Tue Jan 15, 2013 1:26 pm

I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery.” -Thomas Jefferson

Do you think Thomas Jefferson ever thought someone in the future might think that statement to be rather strange coming from a man who owned and screwed his slaves?

dbt1949 · Post by **dbt1949** » Tue Jan 15, 2013 2:47 pm

Sent off a 31 carat dark blue Tanzanite for appraisal. If real and unmodified would be worth $30K+.
Got it back this week. Found out it's not Tanzanite. Instead it's a natural royal blue spinal (not man made or treated) and is rarer and worth more than the Tanzanite.

AWS260 · Post by **AWS260** » Tue Jan 15, 2013 2:50 pm

dbt1949 wrote:Sent off a 31 carat dark blue Tanzanite for appraisal. If real and unmodified would be worth $30K+.
Got it back this week. Found out it's not Tanzanite. Instead it's a natural royal blue spinal (not man made or treated) and is rarer and worth more than the Tanzanite.

LordMortis · Post by **LordMortis** » Tue Jan 15, 2013 2:51 pm

dbt1949 wrote:royal blue spinal

No idea what that is but in Dwarf Fortress I know it's a big blue asterisk with a hole in the middle that doesn't increase the value of stuff as much as diamonds which are a big white asterisks with a hole in the middle.

All I "know" about geology, I've learned from Dwarf Fortress.

Skinypupy · Post by **Skinypupy** » Tue Jan 15, 2013 3:22 pm

dbt1949 wrote:Sent off a 31 carat dark blue Tanzanite for appraisal. If real and unmodified would be worth $30K+.
Got it back this week. Found out it's not Tanzanite. Instead it's a natural royal blue spinal (not man made or treated) and is rarer and worth more than the Tanzanite.

Party at dbt's place!

Enough · Post by **Enough** » Tue Jan 15, 2013 3:23 pm

dbt1949 wrote:Sent off a 31 carat dark blue Tanzanite for appraisal. If real and unmodified would be worth $30K+.
Got it back this week. Found out it's not Tanzanite. Instead it's a natural royal blue spinal (not man made or treated) and is rarer and worth more than the Tanzanite.

Has anyone in your family asked to borrow the money yet?

Unagi · Post by **Unagi** » Tue Jan 15, 2013 3:42 pm

Scuzz wrote:
I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery.” -Thomas Jefferson

Do you think Thomas Jefferson ever thought someone in the future might think that statement to be rather strange coming from a man who owned and screwed his slaves?

You are misreading it.
It's not that he prefers A) over B).

He's a coniseur of various freedoms, and the ones he likes best are the dangerous ones that lord over peaceful systems of slavery. And yeah, sex.

He also prefered a light cream over fresh berries.

Jag · Post by **Jag** » Tue Jan 15, 2013 5:40 pm

So my company's two owners are in town for a very important meeting in my office. We have me (General Counsel), CFO, CEO, 2 owners and an Estate lawyer. He's explaining a Charitable Lead Trust and writes on my whiteboard, in big giant letters:

CLT

I take one look at my friend, the CFO and we both burst out laughing. Luckily we are a pretty informal group, but it took us a minute to get under control

stessier · Post by **stessier** » Tue Jan 15, 2013 5:51 pm

I must fly too much as my first thought is the meeting was going to be moving to the Charlotte airport.

Zarathud · Post by **Zarathud** » Tue Jan 15, 2013 7:49 pm

You might have laughed just as much if the lawyer spelled it all out -- CLAT or CLUT.

One involves fixed amount annuity payments, (CLAT) while the other involves fixed percentage-of-value unitrust payments (CLUT). As it happens, I spent the afternoon refreshing my understanding of issues when these trusts are funded. These are a few of my favorite tax stategies which make the estate tax effectively a "voluntary" tax when you're willing to give appreciating assets away to charity at death or to family during lifetime.

Jag · Post by **Jag** » Tue Jan 15, 2013 9:10 pm

Yeah, I need to better understand this stuff since it has to do with company succession and I'll probably be the one who has to answer all the questions.

MHS · Post by **MHS** » Tue Jan 15, 2013 9:21 pm

stessier wrote:I must fly too much as my first thought is the meeting was going to be moving to the Charlotte airport.

When I lived in Pensacola, I was always most amused with the Pensacola to Charlotte flights.

stessier · Post by **stessier** » Wed Jan 16, 2013 5:54 am

MHS wrote:
stessier wrote:I must fly too much as my first thought is the meeting was going to be moving to the Charlotte airport.
When I lived in Pensacola, I was always most amused with the Pensacola to Charlotte flights.