Recent posts

#21

Off-Topic / Re: Random Thoughts

Last post by formulanone - April 26, 2024, 08:44:15 PM

Today marks one year since I converted to taking horizontal road pictures.

The only way to take road pictures. There's typically much more to look at on the sides of the road than in the sky.

Sometimes horizontal works out, but it's a matter of personal taste...



...but maybe 1-of-500 of my road shots are taken in portrait orientation. Roadside signage is a mix, but if I want the road an

#22

Sports / Re: NFL (2024 Season)

Last post by SEWIGuy - April 26, 2024, 07:45:52 PM

Prescott, Tua, Goff, Purdy, Murray and Rodgers are not better than Jordan Love. That's a laughable take.

There isn't a Packer fan in the world that would take Rodgers back over Love. Anyone could see the offense was 100x better last year.

#23

Off-Topic / Re: Random Thoughts

Last post by Big John - April 26, 2024, 07:42:57 PM

^^ The first paragraph was the premise of the TV show Undercover Boss.

#24

Sports / Re: NFL (2024 Season)

Last post by JayhawkCO - April 26, 2024, 07:29:23 PM

I watched him plenty last year. We'll obviously agree to disagree.

#25

Off-Topic / Re: Random Thoughts

Last post by ZLoth - April 26, 2024, 07:26:07 PM

After doing some work around the house, I got this evil thought... why not have a TV series where we see these highly-paid/highly-visible celebrities and business leaders do some "menial" tasks like clean a pool, change the oil, change the sheets on their bed, do simple repairs, and so on. I wonder if they even still know how to do the ordinary things, or if they are left flummoxed.

Along the same lines, I would like to see the folks who design some of the newer vehicles actually try fixing some of the simpler stuff, like replace a headland on a car, change the oil, change the battery, or even change some of the turn signal or brake lights. This was brought about a few years ago on a previous vehicle when I was replacing the headlight on my car. Right headlight... no problem, but the left headlight required that I remove some parts to get to the bolts that held that headlight.

#26

Southeast / Re: I-40 in North Carolina

Last post by jdunlop - April 26, 2024, 07:22:50 PM

Both the DDI and SPUI work best when there's heavy ramp traffic.  That's why the DDI is typically an easy replacement for a SPUI. 

Definitely wouldn't do a SPUI just for heavy through traffic.  They are useful for heavy overall traffic (such as Brier Creek Parkway/US 70, which was discussed previously.)

My quick rule of thumb for DDIs when we first considered them is if the ramp traffic took up more than 50% of the signal timing.  The idea is that with a DDI, the through traffic is basically limited to 50% of the green time at the crisscross intersection (assuming a relatively even volume split on the surface street.) So, if the ramp traffic took more than 50%, a DDI would give back time to the through street.  (It wasn't a warrant to install, just to consider it.)

With the DDI, you also have to consider off-peak periods, and whether the negative phasing impact for light traffic (ramp traffic less than 50% of signal time) is worth the positive impact during peak periods.  With advanced simulation, that's now easier to calculate, and provide additional data to make the decision about whether or not to put a DDI in.

For retrofits where you can reuse the existing bridge(s) and little modification is needed to the ramps, then the DDI is a great, relatively inexpensive, fix.  For new locations or ones where the entire interchange has to be rebuilt, that opens up other options that very often will be better than a DDI.  (A Parclo B, as I believe I mentioned earlier.)  However, off ramp loops (typically a single lane exiting) has a capacity limit of about 1300 vehicles/hour, which would likely kill that as an option, opening it back up for DDIs.  A left off a DDI can handle a lot more than that - a single lane "straight" exit's capacity is around 2000 v/h, plus it's easier to provide multiple lanes exits and making the left turn.

#27

Off-Topic / Re: Minor things that bother y...

Last post by ZLoth - April 26, 2024, 07:18:21 PM

Passport renewal, which was available strictly by mail only because I have a current valid passport, having to make multiple stops to assemble everything needed to mail in.

What is so hard about it? The last time I renewed my passport in 2022, I had initially planned to do the renewal when I returned from a international trip as it was within one year of expiration. However, because the trip was cancelled, I did the renewal then because, if I'm not going anywhere, I might as well use the non-expedited renewal which, at that time was 12 weeks. I also have a premium membership with AAA, so the passport photos were free, and the passport processing facility is in Irving which is right in the DFW area. And, yes, I paid a little more to get the passport card as well as the passport book.

This year, the Global Entry cards get renewed. Considering that a fee increase goes into effect on October 1st, I'm going to do it in late September.

#28

Sports / Re: NFL (2024 Season)

Last post by thspfc - April 26, 2024, 07:13:52 PM

Love's season was a lot closer to Stroud's than people want to think. I guess that's a product of fans falling in love with the shiny new toy on the upstart underdog team. Stroud is that, Love is not. His second half of the year, and into the postseason, was better than Stroud's.

I think Love is a fringe Top 10 guy.

Mahomes is currently in a category of his own.

Allen, Jackson, Burrow, Stroud and Herbert are in the next tier. Rodgers might be here also but he's old and coming off a major injury.

Tua, Goff, Lawrence, Stafford, Prescott, Hurts and Purdy are guys I'd take over Love right now but he could easily surpass any or all of them.

Would not take Cousins or Murray over Love at all.

This aligns pretty well with my list, except I'm taking Love over Tua, Purdy, Lawrence, Stafford, and Dak as well. (Wouldn't trash Cousins like that, he belongs with the above guys, but I wouldn't take him over Love either.) That puts the following guys in front of him:

- Mahomes
- Allen
- Burrow
- Lamar
- Stroud
- Herbert
- Hurts
- Goff (total 50/50)

Love over Rodgers should be a no-brainer at this point. Love had a better year last season - by a lot - than Rodgers did with the same team in 2022. Since then Rodgers tore his achilles and has not completed a pass in what will be over a year and a half.

To clarify my position, this isn't about drafting a dynasty fantasy football team. I'm not saying "which is the better QB to build my team around", which is a much different conversation than "who is the best QB now". I don't think there's any way you can say Love is a better QB than Rodgers. If you're down six with 3:00 left in the 4th quarter, there's no way you'd rather have Love than Rodgers (assuming he's healthy).

No, I'd rather have Love than Rodgers. To quote Shaq, I don't think you're familiar with Love's game.

Love had a better year last season - by a lot - than Rodgers did with the same team in 2022. Since then Rodgers tore his achilles and has not completed a pass in what will be over a year and a half.

#29

Off-Topic / Re: Minor things that bother y...

Last post by TheHighwayMan3561 - April 26, 2024, 07:09:34 PM

Passport renewal, which was available strictly by mail only because I have a current valid passport, having to make multiple stops to assemble everything needed to mail in.

#30

Off-Topic / Re: Minor things that bother y...

Last post by J N Winkler - April 26, 2024, 07:05:12 PM

These aren't "lonelyhearts" scams. They're pornbots.

There is a difference?