u/devilsbard

Just thought Charles Leclerc looks like a younger Ben Feldman.

The instructions I find all say it should be working, my son and I double checked the hardware was assembled correctly too. Only thing I can think of is reloading the software but I can’t seem to detect them on the meshtastic flasher either when connected via USB-C. Is there some obvious thing I am missing at this point? I have an iPhone 17 and a MacBook Pro I’m using, but my son also tried on his PC.

Another interesting place from our Midwest road trip, another cemetery in Keokuk, Iowa, but smaller and with a schoolhouse as part of it. Don’t think I’ve ever seen that before. The sign in the schoolhouse says to contact them about available plots so I think it is still active.

This humble marker and mural inside of a medical center were all that commemorated the 17 people who were killed during an attack by a white mob in 1908. No major convictions for any of the attackers.

It was designated as a national monument in 2024 by Biden, which makes me think we won’t see any movement on this for at least a few more years.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Springfield\_race\_riot\_of\_1908

They have an OK brisket sandwich but the monsters charge $1.49 for an Arizona iced tea Arnold Palmer.

And seriously, would have been a great National lampoon’s vacation reference to just make a moose the mascot.

This building is in Keokuk, Iowa. Not sure what it once was, but now it is nursery.

So after liking Indiana Dunes more than I expected I was thinking the arch might be better too. It was not. It is an impressive structure, and very pretty, but felt more like visiting a small amusement park than an NPS site. Maybe it was the metal detectors you have to go through to get to the museum, or the $60ish we had to spend to go up in the arch, or the event staff who were tearing down all the canopies around the arch, but it didn’t even feel like a national monument, it was like six flags.

But, the museum was really cool with a lot of history of the area. And my kids were able to get the junior ranger badge for the Lewis and Clark trail as well as the gateway arch itself.

In the last month I have had Big Red in Houston, Irn Bru at the Highland Games in my town, ramune from our local Asian market, and Fitz’s Cardinal Cream in St. Louis, and they’re all just bubblegum. Is that flavor something that is broadly appealing but somehow not mainstream enough to have a large brand dominate the market?

Continuing our exploration of Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri we felt this was a necessary stop. Not the house Lincoln was born in, but the one he lived in for 17 years up until he was elected president. Kind of sad to see the things that he expected to come back to after his terms were up. The cast iron stove he bought his wife only a couple months before they left, recreations of the wallpaper they found under layers of paint, recreations of the carpet, hearing about the rooms where he wrestled with his kids, etc. All of it is pretty humanizing for someone who has mostly existed in legend. Also liked that the site was given to the government by his son on condition that it remain free for people to visit.

So I had bagged on this park without having visited it, and my expectations were low. But after spending a day there I liked it. That could be because I like urban/industrial decay and also like nature, but also, the whole state is so damn green right now. Being from Southern California things are pretty dry at the moment, so all this greenery and rain was really nice. Though it is kinda funny still to have a steel mill and a power plant in a national park. Also, Lake Michigan is trippy and beautiful. To be staring out at what to my eyes is an ocean, but with no real waves to speak of, and the air not smelling of salt was a new experience. Wish we could have done the 3 dunes challenge, but the weather was pretty rainy and my family was not up for it. All in all, I dig the place.

Neither factory had tours anymore, but the Albanese factory does have a store at least. Got like 10 pounds of candy, so I’m not super upset.

Learning about the history of the railroad and the labor struggles.

Finally had a win at an estate sale. Does anyone know any info on the larger vase? I’ve never seen Burmese with a non-satin finish and it doesn’t say Fenton anywhere on it like the other two pieces. Reverse image search isn’t helping :(