u/OTPguy

Phewwww, it's hot. It's too hot outside for me and the 'pad' is not much better, so much so I have every electrical device turned off (since they all make heat) except the fridge and fans. Oh the boredom! Can only eat so many popsicles, and take cold showers.

Is there a really good place, where there is always shade and a breeze, but not 1000 people going to the same spot? I really don't want to go to a mall, or swimming pool, or the beach, or almost anything really. Too hot to nap, reading a book is not enough of a distraction, and I don't have all sort of apps on my phone, just one (Environment Canada Weather) reminding me how hot it is.

If I bought one of those radio scanners, is there much to listen? Do people have fun with the modern day walkie talkies in the city? Actually that could be kind of fun with all the high rises now, friendly chatting with fellow city dwellers..... yeah it's that kind of muggy melancholy. :-)

If you feel like me, what do you do to chase away the dog days of summer?

If there are any CBC employees, or Gov Canada decision makers for the CBC reading this, I just want to say that I appreciate and enjoy CBC Radio almost daily. I'll keep it simple and just say that I find it very informative, and useful.

First, for context: I do some smoking now. I have a Big Chief smoker and I enjoy it. But, as you know, it's a 'dehydrator' smoker, and not a cooking smoker.

I am attracted to the offset smokers, but with a small family and small 'needs' there is no way I am buying a million gallon offset haha. I understand smaller offsets are more unstable temperature wise, but I'm pretty sharp.

So, I am looking for key comments from you folks, regarding the realities that come with the various types of smokers. If there are previous great discussion threads on /smoking then please post the URL if you have it bookmarked.

Last comments: If there is an offset smoker, that has a pellet feeder attachment option, so some times I can use wood, and other times use pellets, that would be attractive. Both natural wood, and pellets, are plentiful around here. I will soon be semi-retired, and then in a few years fully retired, so God willing, I will have time to tend to 'low and slow'. I also want to do high temperature cooking, but we have a gas grill for that. I will likely smoke all sorts of meats, fish, vegetables.

Hi all, I don't drive my current newer model F150 much, so keep a smart charger on it. Currently I lift the hood, lay the charger on the radiator hose, connect it, close the hood, and remove it when I drive the truck again.

The charger is likely not rated for permanent mounting in the engine bay, so I'm exploring other mounting locations, some place that it's shielded from wind, rain, road 'spray', high heat, etc, yet am easily able to access and press buttons if I need. I'm not sure this is an achievable goal, unless I get it inside the cab somehow, and then it's a more complex wiring job.

I don't own those buttonless fully automatic detecting type chargers and have no intention of buying any since I already have button based smart charger.

Hoping for some helpful comments.

Hi all, I'm considering buying a brand new 2026 STX SuperCab. What should I know? Any major issues that seem to be creeping into the discussion forums?

Also, I understand Ford stopped making SuperCab, but it seems they are available for 2026 year. Is that true?

Can you get the STX with the supercharged 5.2L engine, or is it the Ecoboost engine(s) only available. I actually enjoy Ecoboost, but am a supercharger fan too. 😄

I really like looking at the Old Town Sportsman 106 Minn Kota, but I have some concerns. The trolling motor is not brushless, which means sooner or later you have to replace the brushes, and I'm concerned if you don't put it back together correctly, especially the water seals, then sooner or later you are at risk of motor failure. Also the electronic speed control, eventually Old Town will stop making this kayak and what do you do for parts? And what if a steering cable needs to be replaced, how do you replace that if there are no access ports? See what I mean?

So, I'm kind of leaning towards the Old Town Sportsman 106, without the Minn Kota system, and then considering adding my own upgrades. With a good stern kit, done right, you have lot of choices for trolling motors, and/or rudders, either kits or DIY.

It would be really great if you could buy the Old Town Sportsman 106 Minn Kota version of the kayak, without the actual Minn Kota system, for various reasons. It seems to be more idea for DIY mods, or adding the Minn Kota system later if you wanted. Old Town staff >> if you are reading this please consider!

Looking to read about your perspectives. Comments please, and thanks!

Was visiting Halifax today, and some radio stations sounded like they were offline. There was the"off air" white noise sound, but slightly above barely audible there was this "cha chung cha chung cha chung....." regular cycling sound that continued on for a long time, past me turning off the radio. The really weird part was in some areas I would get faint music momentarily which makes me think the radio stations were actually still transmitting, but something else was drowning it out.

Did anyone else hear this? Anyone know anything about it?

Ignoring the other tests (pressure puff test, retinal viewing, etc) how long should the vision examination, where they flick the lenses around, take?

And, when a lens is flicked, how long should they give you to decide if that is better or worse?

Thanks.

Hi all, asking for some help, please.

Looking for perspective I guess, and here is context:

I recently replaced two pairs of bi-focals with one pair of progressives because the optometrist / eyeware place pretty much insisted it's really the only way to go. So I have a pair of very expensive premium progressives, and although I have been wearing them for months, and as good as they are I have two main issues: sitting at a desk with multiple computer monitors and other electronics is brutal, I have a very small center of vision that is in focus, and I mean it's small, like only a word or two is in focus and the rest of the image is blurry. I am always 'hunting' to get that small center where I need it. The other is I have my head tilted up such that the underside of my chin is more visible if you were looking at me. I had a discussion with them again and now the "solution" is two pairs of progressives, of different types. They did not explain to me before there are different types of progressive lenses, and they have known for ages that I sit at a desk with multiple screens. I challenged why, and well to be honest it didn't go well, and it feels like they are simply not listening and want me to wear progressives, and nothing else, despite my old bifocals working fantastic for my needs. I've been in sales, and I swear it feels like progressives glasses are making them more money, and they are pushing higher profit margins for their business. I realize that sounds harsh and may be a very unfair thing to say, but this is how I feel, and I feel they are not listening to me, not asking me a lot of questions about my life styles, etc, etc, not explaining the different types of progressives lenses, versus bi-focals, versus tri-focals. Well, what can I say, I am becoming annoyed and jaded. Heck the examination process is about 15 minutes, and then when I get to the buy the nice frames part of the process they have all the time in the world for me.

But I am older, my eyes are weaker. So here we are:

I have an active life style. I like to read, and I look at cellphone screens. I have a desk with various objects including keyboards, laptops, and monitors of various sizes and distance. I work on my vehicles, and I drive them, in the city and on the highways. I ride bikes, and have a dirt bike so I need to look ahead, and down.

I really don't care about, or even notice, the visible lines in bi-focals, or tri-focals. I really don't care about style. I care about having great vision, and I don't mind paying for it.

Can anyone explain to me why tri-focal glasses would not work for my life style, and if I truly need two pairs of glasses then why can it not be bi-focal and/or tri-focal, and not progressives?

And can some of you folks please explain to me your particular vision needs, and the type of progressive lens you have? Just in case I have to continue down this rabbit hole of 'weird somewhat distorted vision with blurry sections (which I don't have with bi-focal glasses).

Thanks everyone!!