I vow to never respond to the occasional political statement. But I usually fail.

I confess I really don't care about pinball cabinets being perfect. And that I love the pic of men holding funko pop characters. Total vindication for mine.

I would avoid Keurig and similar devices - I tried to repair one once, and they literally sealed the unit so you cannot take it apart to clean it. As people who repair pinball machines, you understand. The water deposits build up until it stops working. Plus, the little plastic cups are horrible for the environment (although I have seen a few bio-degradable choices).

As a coffee aficionado, buy the beans whole and store them in the fridge, grind what you need daily for the freshest cup.

Finally, as a kid getting ready for school every morning at sunrise, my father used to sit with a cup of coffee. I dreamed of the day I could share a cup as an adult with him. When I finally got the chance decades later, I found out he had been using instant - the foulest fake coffee stuff on the planet. Enjoyed the moment, but not the cup!

I've looked at the flyer, looked at the pics of the game, read the pinside splash page....I STILL have no frickin' clue what is the theme of Dialed In? Is it a mobile ad? Can you hear me now?

I was reviewing the entire Gottlieb catalog - I honestly feel they died in 1982 with the release of the fantastic Spirit. Alien Star in 1984, and nothing beyond that had good gameplay, good theme, and good art in one package.

For me, it's always been Bally 80-82, Stern early 80s, and just now I'm considering 90s pins.

Who doesn't love Elvira? Any of them! Never could understand the appeal of EMs, guess I'm too much a child of the 70s, when technology skyrocketed to the masses. Some have fun art though. Agree with you on the modern stuff. I never understood the idea of a screen you have to look at which a) stops the gameplay action, and b) takes your eye off the ball. Literally.

May the Fourth be with You!

I believe if you love pinball but think saying this is too geeky, you are in the wrong hobby.

It's a fun saying people who like science fiction, comics, pinball machines - (pretty much most who ever lived in the arcade, if you think about it) - a little celebration of Star Wars.

Judging by what I've been seeing, there are several 80s SS machines that are commanding more than some DMD machines. Fathom, Centaur, Star Gazer come to mind.

These are awesome, in CA at the beaches you find the most, and by different companies. Use one! They pay private contractors to go around and pick them up, charge them, and then drop them back off. Beats cars on busy, narrow streets!

With the high price of gas they make a lot of sense, and they are mostly a benefit to the community and to the businesses, but I have read some of what you are saying. And accidents for these tend to be as much as motorcycles, or more in some places - but trying to find parking on the West side and near the beach can take you a long time sitting in traffic and there is no such thing as free parking anywhere. Better to use bikes and these scooters - but wisely, right?

Shouldn't, as long as they are regulated well. They are fun and easy if you use them as intended.

Best Norwegian series is Ragnorok. Really good stuff. Cannot recommend enough - on Netflix.

Already did, prefer Ragnorok.

Not my cup of tea - Sopranos, not a fan of the mob genres. Not to say that it's not appealing for others. Ragnarok is great if you like superheroes.

I can relate - in Los Angeles, there used to be AM radio stations that dealt with subject matter I enjoyed. They were bought and converted into lower-performing sports channels that did not make as much money. But now the entire city is without ANY radio stations covering the broadcasting they got rid of.

I find Canadian geese look way cooler than the average goose.

We used to raise geese on our farm. Oh, I know.

Not this Gen-Xer either. I am too damn cheap to pay for delivery from those services. My wife just used one a few days ago to deliver some food - the guy couldn't find the right address in the apt grounds, so just left it at some random person's doorstep. Didn't call or anything. She had to track down a number to reach him, he says "I'm not paid enough to go back and get it". She spent a half hour just to find the food. The thing is, the driver is partly right - most of those drivers make way less than minimum. But I'm not excusing his attitude or actions. All this just to get food? No thank you.

I confess I cannot stand beer and have never drank more than a sip my entire life.

I normally have a half a glass of wine, maybe once every two months. A little rum, around Xmas. That's all the alcohol I drink. I cannot imagine drinking so much as many of you.

I met Ernest Borgnine a few years before his death. Great guy. His character there and I share the same name. He and his last wife loved to collect Lincoln paraphernalia.

Hey, pulling for you. Take care of yourself.

Having several apt complexes around me, and all of them having their gardeners come on different days, I confess I want ALL gas powered leaf blowers banned. Gardeners should be using rakes. But if that's not possible then I want electric leaf blowers with a decibel limit on them. Not sure which is worse, the noise, the fumes, the debris atomized into the air, or the lack of doing a job right, with a rake.

And get these damn kids off my lawn....

I confess I never liked stuff like that, I always liked Marx Bros over 3 stooges

Marx Bros were the thinkings man version, but from a different era. I like the clever slapstick like Chaplin. Truly classic stuff.

I confess I have lost the ability to rest or relax. Even on the weekends, I feel if I'm not doing something productive, I'm losing something.

Plus less parts that can break down.

The first time I met Jane Seymour, we watched Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, with her this little thing curled up in a blanket next to me. Fun times.

Punched through a plate glass door as a kid. Took a triangle of skin - all the layers, when I pulled back. Makes a nice scare

I hope she gets better. I know what it is to lose a parent. Like you, I am thankful for every day and say it each morning. Peace be with you.

You have burst my bubble where I imagine every Canadian is the paragon of jolly, easy-going laid-backism.

I have just the thing for that!

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Swampfire, I would be pissed too. That's a lot of money to be left to dry out.

I confess I've had a good week. Work is wrapping up a huge project, the wife's business is taking off, I have started chatting with a few great pinball collectors, and I've been permanently ejected from not one, but TWO threads at pinside. So I know I'm doing something right. Heh!

Love a good flea market!!

I confess this morning I was verbally attacked by a new employee of a coffee shop I've been going to for 28 years. In an empty store, I sat my stuff down and was talking to my wife on the phone. I had planned on grabbing some food afterwards, but this belligerent worker I've never seen asked if I was waiting for someone, and then demanded I leave or he'd call the cops because I hadn't bought anything yet. My wife heard on the phone, and she was shocked as well. He wanted to pick a fight, and I won't be going back until he's fired. My wife has tried calling several times this morning to reach the owner, but this person won't even answer the phone, apparently. I have had casual chats with the owner in the past, you can bet we're going to chat during the week. Already posted on yelp. He's the employee sitting in the seat I left. He seemed very eager to gloat.

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I had a nice chat face to face with the owner, politely reminding her who I am (we’ve had nice chats before), how long I’ve been coming there, and told her I love supporting them as a small business but I won’t go there anymore as long as they have employees like that. I was literally the ONLY person in the whole place when he charged up. My wife heard the exchange through the phone. She called the owner as well. But there are two great coffee shops one block over. Just time to visit them more often.

Yep. Hope you got a chance to see it. Fun film

Profuse apologies and she’ll talk to him. Reality, nothing except I posted a searing Yelp with picture and leave our 30 year watering hole for new hotness. My wife thought she should offer something, but this owner took over about 5 years ago, and it’s been going downhill since.

I used to live for movies at a theatre. Now it’s so expensive I rarely go. This from a guy who spent 25 years working in film.

I would suggest looking for any country that has a better quality of life. Things like single payer healthcare, no guns, and an investment in the support infrastructure you might find useful in your life. Ruling out Europe seems rather rash, given that most countries there and in places like Australia and New Zealand have a far better quality of life (and no Marxism). I'd really worry about crime in the places you mentioned. I too worry about the US, but for the threat of authoritarian fascism. America has no marxism threat. But if you really feel that way, I'd suggest Israel, Costa Rica, Italy, Somalia, Congo and Saudi Arabia. Given the bitcoin crash, I have no idea if that's a wise option.

Hope this helps.

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Yeah, then you want Somalia and the Congo. Given your requirements for warmth, guns, no real government "interference". Nicest part of town within the nicest hood, in any central American country? It can be done, but you also become a really good target. But that's just me, I tend to like law and order.

I love these - especially the ones that just let you see and hear. I still want high quality live streams from places like coffee shops, public places with live sound. Harder to find with audio.

I had to look up Uruguay, had no real knowledge of the area. I was surprised to read about the country, it looks interesting.

I liked most of your post, but this stood out. So to be clear, you are glad that others are paying for your healthcare, but are against you paying anything for others to have healthcare.

I can't square that. Thank you for your service, by the way.

I have no beef with him getting quality healthcare. I firmly believe, having seen how it's handled in all the other first world wealthy countries, that it shouldn't require anything more than being a citizen. I know you disagree.

But let's both agree swampfire's lawn needs a whole lot more water!

He wouldn't like Alaska. They have "marxism" in that the government gives each state resident free money. Yes, that's why "marxism" was in quotes. Plus, the state bird. Mosquito.

Stormchasing the plains and reaching out to touch the world, one culture at a time.

And the bacon! Especially the bacon. bacon, mmmmmmm

I got this a few years ago. #1 of 250. The artist is J. Scott Campbell. He is a great guy.

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When I rail about the need for better pinball art, it's because I know this is possible.

Happy Juneteenth! Speaking of gold rush, watch the miniseries Klondike. Brilliant!

I have years now having gone the other way. I only have streaming services, and no regular cable or local television channels. I get free streaming if I want news, but I rely on print like the NYTimes for indepth coverage of anything.

I confess I don't ever see a time when I'm not having to work. Good for you though.

A good thing to remember - there are those out there that have far worse issues to deal with. Puts all the little bs into proper perspective.

I confess it's been years since I've eaten at a fast food place - yuck.

And it can be worse. Look up Long Covid - my friend's teenage daughter has that, and she gets so tired she has to use a wheelchair and cannot go to school. For 5 months now.

I confess the thrill of having another pinball project to start working on is still a great way to lift my spirits. I confess that the urge to restore runs strong in my blood.

I confess the worst pin I restored was a Bally Eight Ball. Here's the head. I confess I did what nobody should ever do, because I was new at this and stupid. I plugged it in.

And it WORKED.

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When I finished it, it was a nice clean thing of beauty I gave to my father for his birthday. But there was a lot of work between that and then.

Yes, that was it.

Love Maine coons - Bengals and Savannahs are cool too. Our best tempered was a Birman. But most all of our cats have been rescues. Never cared for dogs, but I love a good independent cat.

I confess I haven’t been proud to be an American most of my life. This is just the latest example. We keep going backwards while the rest of the world moves forwards

I’m not alone in feeling this way

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/wwii-veteran-turns-100-cries-over-us?_amp=true

Sweden, Canada, Switzerland, Norway, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Denmark.

To name a few first world countries.

I confess I am looking forward to CA Extreme! Already made a list of games I hope to play in person. Going to be fun!

We are having to deal with my mother-in-law having taken a turn with dementia. It's very hard.

I confess I wanted to get a project machine, I confess that I got two instead. I confess I am not upset by this.

There are internet sites that can be found which broadcast the major sports from the US. You just need really good virus blockers.

Was not aware. Well, last time I eat there.

I hope they get it in time. My wife had something similiar, went into a couple of lymph nodes. They got it all, and that was years ago. She has a clean bill of health, I hope it turns out the same in your sister's case. Maybe she is afraid, and that's why she put it off. Fear can make you make crazy decisions.

I confess that I was really disappointed with the ongoing CA Extreme Expo.

I spent money flying up for the day, renting a car, etc.. All in all, I DID have some fun.

But I had looked at the list of games that were supposed to be there, made a list of about 20 I was really excited to try or spend more time learning. The must-play, really want to see in person. Yeah, you guessed it. NONE of them were there. I spent an hour running thinking there must be another floor or room with the rest (there was, but only for 10 competition pins). It's really disappointing after making the effort.

I wish they either got firmer commitments from those generous enough to bring their games, or had a way of updating the list before the show - they could have kept my registration fee and I could have cancelled the flight. It seemed odd ALL of the ones I wanted to see weren't there. I choose to fly back early.

I confess that I will be in the minority. I confess it's a first-world geek problem. It still sucked.

My list - things I just never see much in person:

Apollo 13, Black Pyramid, Bram Stoker's Dracula, Cactus Canyon Continued, Cleopatra, Cybernaut, Demolition Man, Earthshaker, Harlem Globetrotters, Junkyard, Jurassic Park Data East, Laser Cue, Lost in Space, The Shadow, Spirit, T2, World Cup Soccer (ok, it was only 17).

I would strongly suggest Rogue One. Otherwise, sure.

There are only four movies. Rogue One is perfect, and then the original three.

I enjoyed all three Riddick movies. Also, you need to check out Dredd. You'll like it I think. And if you haven't, Predators. Great sequel to the original.

Don't forget, John Carpenter's The Thing. And The Fog

I have seen it - It’s fun - there isn’t a sci-fi film I haven’t seen, big film buff. It’s what I did for 28 years, so always love good films.

Eleven-fifty five….five minutes to midnight….

Since we are on the subject, if you love film stop using dvd and get yourself a blu-ray player. There is a massive difference.

Being someone whose day job relies on an accurate picture, and as a moviefile, I notice any compression- it’s unacceptable. Plus I don’t want to be tied to a streaming service.

I had built up a huge collection of nerf guns that I had given my daughter over the years. Decided to sell them at a garage sale. My daughter and I had to go on an errand, came back and found the wife had sold ALL of them - for 5 dollars. For ALL. We couldn't believe it.

Now that's the way to bowl!

It's also an early symbol for Christianity. Odd how symbols can be changed.

I live in CO, but I work in CA. So there's a lot of possible variations there.

Sydney Funnel-web Spider? The deadliest spider in the world? f**k!

In our backyard and old garage in CA we had black widows everywhere. The biggest one decided to camp out in the hollow tube holding up our grill. You learned to watch were you put your hands when outdoors. When I found them, they died mercifully quickly.