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Post by Ardbeg... innit on Apr 1, 2012 13:55:34 GMT -6
In the Basel train station. While the name is misspelled we, as a family appreciate the effort to make us welcome with personalized toilet facilities.  |
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Post by Ardbeg... innit on Apr 1, 2012 14:51:48 GMT -6
The link is to an example of what I am doing. Just an example of my work from the afternoon game today. This is the "Most important shot" summary. My shot chart and my verbage. The shot by shot review does not seem to be up right now. The red and yellow dots are where the stones ended up. The empty circles are the stones that were removed and mentioned in the description of the shot. We have to plot and grade each shot, along with the type of shot (in this case "Double Take Out" with "Counter Clockwise" rotation, 100% successful (graded 4 out of 4). The written description goes along only with the "most important shot", which may or may not be the "prettiest" of the game.. but in this case it was. LinkMore games to view at the site above, and live shot by shot updates during games. Right now, I am scheduled for the following games... USA-Denmark, 3:00am EDT, Monday... Denmark-China, 8:00am EDT Monday... China-France, 3:00am, Tuesday...Scotland-China, 1:00pm Tuesday (I didnt realize until now how many China games I have)... France-Norway, 8:00am, Thursday. Wednesday and Friday, I get to play tourist, hopefully I will get a playoff game or two next weekend The US is not doing so well. If they could end the games at the 5th end break it would be a different story... 2-1 if they could stop after 5 ends... 0-3 in reality. New Zealand (aka the Team Scottish Diaspora) stunned team Norway and the French seem to be on the rise... Canada and the Swedes are in charge... so get your meatballs on. |
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Post by Chicago Jake on Apr 2, 2012 0:56:28 GMT -6
The name may be misspelled, but it does sound like a tasty new low-fat burger from McDonald's.
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Post by Irish Stu on Apr 2, 2012 2:20:16 GMT -6
The Centralbahnp family must have been delighted to find they had their own personalised parking space.
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Post by innit Geezer on Apr 2, 2012 9:31:25 GMT -6
Take pictures and enjoy. Im curious about the food and culture.
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Post by Irish Stu on Apr 2, 2012 9:45:29 GMT -6
From what I learned about the Swiss from going out for three years with someone who works in a Swiss bank... racist, homophobic and sexist just about covers it. I hear the food is good though.
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Post by ♥ COVID-19♥ on Apr 2, 2012 9:47:27 GMT -6
Sounds like they'd fit right in here in the good ol' U.S. of A.
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Post by Ardbeg... innit on Apr 2, 2012 11:19:36 GMT -6
This is near the edge of the "French" part of Switzerland. Walking down the Strasse you are just as likely to hear Merci as Danke. Occasionally some Italian and English tossed in.
I have not run into the homophobia or sexism, but cigarette smoking is still an art form. While the no smoking laws are similar to the US, as applied here it seems to be a given that everyone smokes as near to the outside door as possible, preferably wher the air will draft the smoke back into the building. It also seems to be required that the smokers form a wall at the entrance through which all other non-smokers must pass. The Swiss are, for the most part courteous to a fault, in this they are most unyielding.
Even though this is the "french" part of Switzerland, the French are held in as much if not more disdain than elsewhere.
Food... one word, in a variety of forms, and in MASSIVE quantities... carbohydrates, in both the simple and complex forms. Protein seems to be an afterthought, vegetables sparingly... fruits?? surely you jest.
They say that Switzerland is one of hte safest countries in the world. The public transit is cheap, and seems to be an honor system. The trams and buses pull up at the stop and everyone just climbs in. I am told that occasionally someone will pass through and check for passes or punch ride cards. We each bought a 6 ride/7 day ticket back on Saturday, and I still have 6 rides on it. If you get caught without the proper ticket however, its a 100 Franc fine. Carrot and stick.
Swiss health care is VERY privatized. We were told that if you need to go to the hospital check with your health care provider BEFORE you go in the door, and then call the US Embassy for backup. You will get a bill.
26 Kantons (states) in the country, it is a VERY loose confederation and great autonomy between them.
Gasoline BTW- 1.90 CHF per liter which equals about $8.40/US gallon.
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Post by ♥ COVID-19♥ on Apr 2, 2012 12:18:36 GMT -6
... fruits?? surely you jest.
Well, I guess that would explain the homophobia then, wouldn't it? |
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Post by Tex on Apr 2, 2012 15:01:23 GMT -6
The light rail in Dallas and Austin both use similar honor systems - seems to work reasonably well.
Here I am smelling bad body odor at the Kilgore WalMart and you damned one percenters rubbing it in my face about Switzerland. Just ain't right.
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Post by innit Geezer on Apr 2, 2012 17:23:25 GMT -6
 Gasoline BTW- 1.90 CHF per liter which equals about $8.40/US gallon.[/quote] Given what we pay for medicore Swiss cheese and Swiss Miss hot chocolate packets here in the states it seems to all balance out.
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Post by Tex on Apr 2, 2012 19:46:32 GMT -6
From what I learned about the Swiss from going out for three years with someone who works in a Swiss bank... racist, homophobic and sexist just about covers it. I hear the food is good though. They have a lot of Swiss hitters over there. |
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Post by Ardbeg... innit on Apr 4, 2012 23:48:30 GMT -6
Took the day off yesterday and went to Jungfrau. It is a mountain, not the highest in Europe but dame close to it. It has a cog train that runs up and through the mountain to near the top. THe final train station is near 11,300 feet, highest train station in Europe. There is an scientific observatory up there plus a restaurant and visitors center. Unfortunately it was cloudy and snowing so not much to see, but I did take pictures which I will post later. The cog train runs the last 5 miles and last 5000 feet vertically, through a tunnel that was dug into the mountain, solely for the train. LinkAt the lower elevations are the towns of Interlocken and Wengen. Wengen is a ski mecca. Observations: (1) You really can set your watches by the Swiss rail system. I did, and after I did, I noticed that the latest a train left a station was 5 seconds after the minute. A 3 minute connection to switch trains at a station is not only doable, but comfortable and reliable. (2) I have yet to see a pothole in any road... or for that matter a pothole patch bigger than my fist, and I really had to look to find one of those. Yes, I guess that the weather is milder than what I am used to here, except maybe at 5,000+ feet, so there isnt as much freeze/thaw break up on the roads, but I think that the roads are simply built better, and smaller cars/less truck traffic. Just my guess. |
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Post by Chicago Jake on Apr 6, 2012 8:20:51 GMT -6
Holes in the cheese, but no holes in the roads. It's the bizarro world!
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Post by Ardbeg... innit on Apr 6, 2012 12:47:40 GMT -6
... and the cheese smells more than my personal WC
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Post by innit Geezer on Apr 6, 2012 15:07:40 GMT -6
Took the day off yesterday and went to Jungfrau. It is a mountain, not the highest in Europe but dame close to it. It has a cog train that runs up and through the mountain to near the top. THe final train station is near 11,300 feet, highest train station in Europe. There is an scientific observatory up there plus a restaurant and visitors center. Unfortunately it was cloudy and snowing so not much to see, but I did take pictures which I will post later. The cog train runs the last 5 miles and last 5000 feet vertically, through a tunnel that was dug into the mountain, solely for the train. LinkAt the lower elevations are the towns of Interlocken and Wengen. Wengen is a ski mecca. Observations: (1) You really can set your watches by the Swiss rail system. I did, and after I did, I noticed that the latest a train left a station was 5 seconds after the minute. A 3 minute connection to switch trains at a station is not only doable, but comfortable and reliable. (2) I have yet to see a pothole in any road... or for that matter a pothole patch bigger than my fist, and I really had to look to find one of those. Yes, I guess that the weather is milder than what I am used to here, except maybe at 5,000+ feet, so there isnt as much freeze/thaw break up on the roads, but I think that the roads are simply built better, and smaller cars/less truck traffic. Just my guess. 11,000 plus feet takes a little getting used to. I've only been in that elevation once. |
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Post by innit Geezer on Apr 6, 2012 15:13:13 GMT -6
The roads here in New York State are particularly bad and NYC ranks dead last in road conditions for industrialized nations. NYC roads are only better than the Republic of the Congo according to a report I heard on the news the other morning.
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Post by Ardbeg... innit on Apr 8, 2012 12:32:11 GMT -6
Gaz, at 11,000 I had more than one case of dizzyness (on standing) and vertigo once when I walked over a glass floor in the expo center up there, and huffing and puffing walking uphill... but your mileage may vary
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Post by ♥ COVID-19♥ on Apr 8, 2012 12:37:56 GMT -6
Sounds like me during sex.
Sent from my DROID Pro using ProBoards
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Post by Ardbeg... innit on Apr 8, 2012 12:50:35 GMT -6
Choking the neck or choking the chicken?
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Post by Ardbeg... innit on Apr 8, 2012 12:55:13 GMT -6
Friday we visited the Alsace region of France. Saw some of the villages there that date from the 12th century AND escaped both world wars. Plus visited a castle that was restored by Kaiser Wilhelm II during the the period that Germany held the area prior to WW I. Wine tasting... got to try a new type of wine I had never tasted before "Sylvaner", white, drier than a Reisling, with a VERY delicate flavor. Fortunately, as in most of Europe, they do not destroy the wine by adding too many sulfites.
Saturday, we went to Zurich. A former PhD student of Ann's lives there. He met us at the train station and we visited the Swiss National Museum, the old town area of Zurich, and University at which he is now doing post-doc work.
We did a small Easter dinner at the house today. Then I made one last run to St Jacob's to stats the Gold Medal game Canada beat Scotland 8-7 in an extra end.
Airport tomorrow morning Swiss time, home by midnight Eastern US time.
Its been a great trip, lots of fun, but its time to get home.
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Post by ♥ COVID-19♥ on Apr 8, 2012 12:55:58 GMT -6
Now seeing limits of this app!
Sent from my DROID Pro using ProBoards
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Post by ♥ COVID-19♥ on Apr 8, 2012 12:58:31 GMT -6
Choking the neck or choking the chicken? Exactly! Sent from my DROID Pro using ProBoards |
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Post by Ardbeg... innit on Apr 8, 2012 12:59:47 GMT -6
Sent from my DROID Pro using ProBoards I couldnt have added anything to make your position clearer |
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Post by Ardbeg... innit on Apr 8, 2012 13:00:24 GMT -6
Now seeing limits of this app! Sent from my DROID Pro using ProBoards Of course, that make even more sense |
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Post by ♥ COVID-19♥ on Apr 8, 2012 13:51:44 GMT -6
This Euro trip has made you even more bitter and angry than usual.
Sent from my DROID Pro using ProBoards
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Post by Ardbeg... innit on Apr 8, 2012 23:17:42 GMT -6
It must have been the semi-sweet chocolate I ate
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Post by ♥ COVID-19♥ on Apr 9, 2012 7:48:56 GMT -6
I'll blame it all on jet lag and in my typical benevolence forgive you.
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Post by Ardbeg... innit on Apr 9, 2012 12:23:21 GMT -6
WELL... lesson learned. When on the ground in Germany or Switzerland, USE THE TRAIN TO GET AROUND IN COUNTRY.
We had a commuter airline for the first leg of the journey today, Basel to Munich. CANCELLED!! So, we are still in Basel, and will be until Tuesday morning.
Basel to Frankfurt (now) bright and early. We had to fly Heather direct from (now) Frankfurt direct to DC. She has a job interview that came up late last week. So now we bid auf wiedersein in Frankfort, she flies to DC then Amtraks home to Williamsburg.
US.. we still fly to Chicago tomorrow, but they couldnt get us on a flight to Houghton until at LEAST Wednesday afternoon (the 2 flights/day in and out are booked solid). So after Chicago, we fly to Green Bay and then rent a car for the 4 hour drive home. It might be a good time to experiment with "5 Hour Energy". Arrive in Houghton at about 11pm... hopefully
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Post by Chicago Jake on Apr 9, 2012 12:28:15 GMT -6
Drop Dr. Bob's name. That might get you some extra respect.
Good luck on the journey home!
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