Kellemora wrote: ↑29 Jan 2020, 18:34 Even the old mechanical slot machines they could adjust the house percentage easily.
But at least they couldn't single out players to bait them and adjust the odds based on how much money they had on them.
I've had to work on a few of the old mechanical slot machines that belonged to various homeowners.
If you remember the old Intermatic Time Clocks where you added clips for start and stop times, or the more modern ones with little slots you pulled in or out. A mechanical slot machine is similar in a way. Take the area of the wheel with Cherries. There are 22 slots that can be on or off, pin down or pin up. A machine out of the factory often has only 8 to 10 of the Cherries pins pulled out so the wheel can stop on Cherries. But the next wheel with Cherries may only have 4 to 6 pins pulled out, and the last wheel on a 3 wheel machine, may only have 2 to 4 pins pulled up, usually near the beginning of the Cherries on that wheel. When the stop bar drops, even if it is on that last Cherry, there are no pins to catch as they have already passed before the stop bar dropped on that wheel. And almost always, the Apple right before the Cherry has its 2 to 4 pins at the end of the cycle, so you will hit an Apple. Where these pins are on both the Apple and the Cherry determines the odds of hitting that Cherry. If on the Apple late in the cycle, and at the beginning of the cycle on the Cherry, the odds of hitting a Cherry are very low. You also have had to hit the Cherry on the other two wheels too in order to win, if that machines was set to a 3 Cherry big payout.
The trouble with computer machines is, they change the stop points based on what you hit on the first two wheels.
If you've one too much already, it may not have a way to stop on that last Cherry at all. Which is not nice!
If the machine senses you lost too much money and may walk away, it will gladly feed you a couple of small wins, and maybe a moderate win to keep you hooked, hi hi. Lot's of bells, flashing lights, and whistles on a medium win to get your adrenaline flowing again, hi hi. They don't play nice!
Installing Ubuntu - Part 2
Installing Ubuntu - Part 2
Re: Installing Ubuntu - Part 2
No, they don't play nice, but they do play by the basic rule, i.e., maximize profits. To me the slots are much like the lottery. It's all on the up and up, but the odds of winning are stacked against you. If I were to become an addicted gambler, I think I'd do it with horse racing. I'm sure that can be rigged too, but it seems like a way more exciting way to lose your money.
Re: Installing Ubuntu - Part 2
My brother had a way of beating the odds on many of the game tables.
This is why they have betting ranges on the tables too!
For e.g. a 5 dollar table may have a 20 dollar max bet.
Just to prevent folks like my brother from cleaning up.
Take a roulette table for example:
They have red and black spots, and odd or even spots.
If you put 5 bucks on red and lose, your next turn you put 10 bucks,
if you lose again, you put 20 bucks. If you lose again, you lost all the 35 bucks you played.
He would watch for a couple of blacks in a row, then bet on the red.
While watching, he might be betting the even spot, if odd had come up twice in a row.
You wouldn't believe how many times the same color comes up three times in a row IF you are betting on the other color, hi hi.
This is why they have betting ranges on the tables too!
For e.g. a 5 dollar table may have a 20 dollar max bet.
Just to prevent folks like my brother from cleaning up.
Take a roulette table for example:
They have red and black spots, and odd or even spots.
If you put 5 bucks on red and lose, your next turn you put 10 bucks,
if you lose again, you put 20 bucks. If you lose again, you lost all the 35 bucks you played.
He would watch for a couple of blacks in a row, then bet on the red.
While watching, he might be betting the even spot, if odd had come up twice in a row.
You wouldn't believe how many times the same color comes up three times in a row IF you are betting on the other color, hi hi.
Re: Installing Ubuntu - Part 2
The odds for a two factor bet are 50/50 regardless. If it's not rigged the odds are the same for each bet. The thing about randomness is that it is random over a huge sample, not just three times in a row. It is perfectly possible to get ten reds in a row and still be random, for example. The way your brother won was through his timing. As you point out, after two repeated colors or numbers, there is no guarantee the next round will be different. It's 50/50 each time. My understanding is that 5-card stud is the most equitable game to play in a casino. Then they play with two or three decks mixed together to throw off the card counters. LOL
Re: Installing Ubuntu - Part 2
Although the odds are 50/50 per spin. As you said, it is possible that red could come up ten times in a row.
But by limiting the table stakes to only three tiers, this puts the odds back in the favor of the casino.
I don't remember where to look it up anymore, but even on 50/50 odds, there are tables out there that show the odds for 100 spins of the wheel with 50/50 odds. Guess what, it still comes out 50/50, hi hi.
However, now lets add doubling to a loss, with a limit of three bets, and suddenly the odds swing toward the house in a big way, something like 60% house 40% player counting spins. But if you look at the money, it is more like 75% house 25% player. Those odds go in the opposite direction if there is a fourth doubling tier, 30% house 70% player.
This is why the max bet is always set at only two times of doubling. The original bet, the first doubled bet, and the second doubled bet, or three tiers.
As far as the number field goes on roulette, my brother never bet on a single number. He would either split between two adjoining numbers by placing his chip on the line, or by doing four numbers with one chip sitting on the crossed lines.
It's a way of betting less than the minimum bet I think.
He never really won a lot, but never really lost a lot either, but it made him look like a high roller, hi hi.
Even/Odd, Red/Black, only pay equal, so you wouldn't gain by splitting a chip on those, hi hi.
I never played the way my brother did. I may double once, but that's it.
Loose too much to fast adding the next double, because in my case, it never hits, hi hi.
I'm one of those nuts that always put a chip on 0/00 split. Hit a few times too!
The only game I ever came out on, and only played it when on the cruise, was something like 3 card Monte. I don't remember the correct name of the game. Only discovered it the last day of the cruise, and the casino had to close just as we crossed into our territorial waters. However, in that last hour of play, I won back more than half of what I had lost throughout the week on board that ship. I did have a budget I planned on losing, and came home with half of it left over after playing that game. I probably wouldn't be so lucky if I ever played it again.
But by limiting the table stakes to only three tiers, this puts the odds back in the favor of the casino.
I don't remember where to look it up anymore, but even on 50/50 odds, there are tables out there that show the odds for 100 spins of the wheel with 50/50 odds. Guess what, it still comes out 50/50, hi hi.
However, now lets add doubling to a loss, with a limit of three bets, and suddenly the odds swing toward the house in a big way, something like 60% house 40% player counting spins. But if you look at the money, it is more like 75% house 25% player. Those odds go in the opposite direction if there is a fourth doubling tier, 30% house 70% player.
This is why the max bet is always set at only two times of doubling. The original bet, the first doubled bet, and the second doubled bet, or three tiers.
As far as the number field goes on roulette, my brother never bet on a single number. He would either split between two adjoining numbers by placing his chip on the line, or by doing four numbers with one chip sitting on the crossed lines.
It's a way of betting less than the minimum bet I think.
He never really won a lot, but never really lost a lot either, but it made him look like a high roller, hi hi.
Even/Odd, Red/Black, only pay equal, so you wouldn't gain by splitting a chip on those, hi hi.
I never played the way my brother did. I may double once, but that's it.
Loose too much to fast adding the next double, because in my case, it never hits, hi hi.
I'm one of those nuts that always put a chip on 0/00 split. Hit a few times too!
The only game I ever came out on, and only played it when on the cruise, was something like 3 card Monte. I don't remember the correct name of the game. Only discovered it the last day of the cruise, and the casino had to close just as we crossed into our territorial waters. However, in that last hour of play, I won back more than half of what I had lost throughout the week on board that ship. I did have a budget I planned on losing, and came home with half of it left over after playing that game. I probably wouldn't be so lucky if I ever played it again.
Re: Installing Ubuntu - Part 2
The casinos never change the odds of a 50/50 bet. They do change the betting rules. If the players were allowed to keep doubling until they won, then the casino would go broke. LOL
I went to one casino in my life while I was on business in Puerto Rico. I bought $20 in chips and that was my limit. I only knew how to play blackjack back then, so that is where I went. I watched the game for a while before I joined in with several other players. It all made sense except for the "insurance" bar. I had no idea what that meant but I did see other people putting chips on it and getting paid off. So... I put a chip on insurance and it paid off first time. I left the chips there and it seems as if they stayed there after the round; I don't recall the details to be honest. In any case the chips there started to accumulate. I'd guesstimate that I had around 50 chips on insurance before I lost them all in one hand. I also lost 19 of the 20 chips I bought. I saved that last one to bring home as a reminder of why I should not play casino games.
I went to one casino in my life while I was on business in Puerto Rico. I bought $20 in chips and that was my limit. I only knew how to play blackjack back then, so that is where I went. I watched the game for a while before I joined in with several other players. It all made sense except for the "insurance" bar. I had no idea what that meant but I did see other people putting chips on it and getting paid off. So... I put a chip on insurance and it paid off first time. I left the chips there and it seems as if they stayed there after the round; I don't recall the details to be honest. In any case the chips there started to accumulate. I'd guesstimate that I had around 50 chips on insurance before I lost them all in one hand. I also lost 19 of the 20 chips I bought. I saved that last one to bring home as a reminder of why I should not play casino games.
Re: Installing Ubuntu - Part 2
Normally the insurance bar works like this.
But it does vary between casinos.
If the first dealer card is an Ace, and you get BJ or 21, then the insurance kicks in. If the dealer gets BJ the insurance pays you, if you have BJ and the dealer has 21 you win, no insurance applies, but if you had 21 and the dealer had 21 then the insurance pays.
However, some casinos let you leave your insurance chip on the bar during the game, and it stays until needed.
Other casinos will SHOW if the dealer has BJ before any bets are made, so insurance only covers a 21/21 match.
This is why at some casinos you see the dealer lay his cards on glass. A mirror underneath shows his second card so he knows if it was a BJ or not, and lets the players know.
I rarely play BJ so don't know all the ins and outs of the game.
My dad loved to play BJ though, and was fairly good at it, with real cards, not with electronic cards.
But it does vary between casinos.
If the first dealer card is an Ace, and you get BJ or 21, then the insurance kicks in. If the dealer gets BJ the insurance pays you, if you have BJ and the dealer has 21 you win, no insurance applies, but if you had 21 and the dealer had 21 then the insurance pays.
However, some casinos let you leave your insurance chip on the bar during the game, and it stays until needed.
Other casinos will SHOW if the dealer has BJ before any bets are made, so insurance only covers a 21/21 match.
This is why at some casinos you see the dealer lay his cards on glass. A mirror underneath shows his second card so he knows if it was a BJ or not, and lets the players know.
I rarely play BJ so don't know all the ins and outs of the game.
My dad loved to play BJ though, and was fairly good at it, with real cards, not with electronic cards.
Re: Installing Ubuntu - Part 2
Hmm, I think I get the idea of insurance. LOL And now for the rest of the story ...
I stayed in San Juan within walking distance of their casino. It was a long walk from the hotel, but I was a new guy in town and took in all the night sights with awe. It turns out there were some ladies in my path who were more than friendly. One in particular seemed more friendly than the others and we got to talking. Yes, she was a hooker. I told her I was on my way to the casino and am not that interested in her services. She insisted that she was clean and reasonable; only $40 at this hotel she knew of. It turns out that she could not come to the hotel I was staying in because the management there knew about her and didn't want those kind of ladies in their establishment. I was not surprised at that. So, in my haste to depart from this unexpected attraction I told her that I'm going to the casino, also banned to her, and if I won enough I'd consider her offer. She seemed disappointed but let me go on my way after that.
When I came out of the casino with my single chip winnings, there she was waiting for me. I told her what happened and that I could not afford to help her out in any way. She then asked if I would be interested in just talking to her at one of the local bars. They had a dance floor and maybe we could dance as well. Well, that seemed reasonable so we went off to the local bar. We talked. We danced, And that was it. She did tell me why she targeted me. Apparently I looked very much like one of her close friends whom she has not seen in a few years. He and I not only looked similar but had similar personalities and mannerisms.
That was my first and last encounter with a lady of the night. She was quite pleasant and normal in all respects, other than the way she earned a living.
I stayed in San Juan within walking distance of their casino. It was a long walk from the hotel, but I was a new guy in town and took in all the night sights with awe. It turns out there were some ladies in my path who were more than friendly. One in particular seemed more friendly than the others and we got to talking. Yes, she was a hooker. I told her I was on my way to the casino and am not that interested in her services. She insisted that she was clean and reasonable; only $40 at this hotel she knew of. It turns out that she could not come to the hotel I was staying in because the management there knew about her and didn't want those kind of ladies in their establishment. I was not surprised at that. So, in my haste to depart from this unexpected attraction I told her that I'm going to the casino, also banned to her, and if I won enough I'd consider her offer. She seemed disappointed but let me go on my way after that.
When I came out of the casino with my single chip winnings, there she was waiting for me. I told her what happened and that I could not afford to help her out in any way. She then asked if I would be interested in just talking to her at one of the local bars. They had a dance floor and maybe we could dance as well. Well, that seemed reasonable so we went off to the local bar. We talked. We danced, And that was it. She did tell me why she targeted me. Apparently I looked very much like one of her close friends whom she has not seen in a few years. He and I not only looked similar but had similar personalities and mannerisms.
That was my first and last encounter with a lady of the night. She was quite pleasant and normal in all respects, other than the way she earned a living.
Re: Installing Ubuntu - Part 2
When I was around 17 years old, me, my younger brother, and cousin about my brothers age, all took a drive down to the famous at that time Gaslight Square. Naturally we couldn't get in anywhere, but they had bands playing in courtyards, and we could see the gogo girls dancing through all the big plate glass windows.
We talked to a couple of girls and then another joined us. Naturally they were offering their services.
My cousin saw someone he knew, I think someone he probably got his weed from.
So we went over and talked to him for a minute, then a guy in a silk suit joined us, and my cousins friend moved on.
I don't think we got more than a couple of words out when this cop comes along and shoves us all in the back of a patrol car. None of us had done anything wrong that I know of, although our cousin is questionable most of the time.
They interviewed us one at a time, and once they figured out we were just visiting the area due to the popularity, they gave us a strong warning and threatened to call our parents. But some higher up cop came in and told us we were free to go. My cousin, the brave one said, we need a ride back, that's where his car is pointing to me. He said no, we were only two blocks away from the parking lot where my car was parked.
The walk down behind those buildings to our car was a bigger scare than the cops put into us.
Some heavy set gal, probably a pimp for the hookers, came up and talked to us for a bit, wanting to know if we wanted to have some fun. When we said no we are going home, she got pretty vulgar, using many terms none of us had ever heard before, hi hi. Come to think of it, the cops ask things using words we never heard before too, hi hi.
About a year later, just after I turned 18, a band I played with was invited to play at two clubs in Gaslight Square, and for the life of me I can't remember the name of the second club, the first was Drums-a-GoGo, the second one had the name Barrel in it without the words a-gogo as most places down there used.
Came close to being arrested that time too, simply because I was not 21 and inside the building. But since I was part of the band and not drinking, nothing other than a smirk from the officer happened.
We talked to a couple of girls and then another joined us. Naturally they were offering their services.
My cousin saw someone he knew, I think someone he probably got his weed from.
So we went over and talked to him for a minute, then a guy in a silk suit joined us, and my cousins friend moved on.
I don't think we got more than a couple of words out when this cop comes along and shoves us all in the back of a patrol car. None of us had done anything wrong that I know of, although our cousin is questionable most of the time.
They interviewed us one at a time, and once they figured out we were just visiting the area due to the popularity, they gave us a strong warning and threatened to call our parents. But some higher up cop came in and told us we were free to go. My cousin, the brave one said, we need a ride back, that's where his car is pointing to me. He said no, we were only two blocks away from the parking lot where my car was parked.
The walk down behind those buildings to our car was a bigger scare than the cops put into us.
Some heavy set gal, probably a pimp for the hookers, came up and talked to us for a bit, wanting to know if we wanted to have some fun. When we said no we are going home, she got pretty vulgar, using many terms none of us had ever heard before, hi hi. Come to think of it, the cops ask things using words we never heard before too, hi hi.
About a year later, just after I turned 18, a band I played with was invited to play at two clubs in Gaslight Square, and for the life of me I can't remember the name of the second club, the first was Drums-a-GoGo, the second one had the name Barrel in it without the words a-gogo as most places down there used.
Came close to being arrested that time too, simply because I was not 21 and inside the building. But since I was part of the band and not drinking, nothing other than a smirk from the officer happened.
Re: Installing Ubuntu - Part 2
Chicago had the equivalent of Gaslight Square on south State Street right on the edge of the seedier part of town. A few weeks after turning 21 a couple buddies and I decided to visit the strip bars on south State. I never heard of a cover charge until then and was quite put off by it. Some places also had a minimum drink charge as well. It turned out the show girls were not very showy being about my mom's age and not allowed by law to remove the pasties or thongs they wore; something about a health hazard in a public building. Needless to say that whole experience was disappointing. I'm still amazed at how crowded those clubs were given the poor quality of entertainment and the high cost of viewing it.
On the way home we crossed into the seedy part of town just to see what it was like. We were driving and didn't have to go very far to realize we should not be there. LOL So, I made a few turns down some dingy streets to head back north and there was this guy and his gal walking down the street. We were at a stop light and one of the guys in my car decided it would be funny to cat whistle at the girl. A few seconds later there were gun shots and I went through the red light to get the hell out of there. Fortunately I didn't find any bullet holes in the car when I inspected it later on.
I guess when you are young and brave you do crazy things. Now about the craziest thing I do is run Linux alongside of Windows. WoooHooo
On the way home we crossed into the seedy part of town just to see what it was like. We were driving and didn't have to go very far to realize we should not be there. LOL So, I made a few turns down some dingy streets to head back north and there was this guy and his gal walking down the street. We were at a stop light and one of the guys in my car decided it would be funny to cat whistle at the girl. A few seconds later there were gun shots and I went through the red light to get the hell out of there. Fortunately I didn't find any bullet holes in the car when I inspected it later on.
I guess when you are young and brave you do crazy things. Now about the craziest thing I do is run Linux alongside of Windows. WoooHooo
Re: Installing Ubuntu - Part 2
Talking about crazy things. I had this uncle who did everything, fishing, hunting, racing, etc.
His profession was a bricklayer and stone mason. But he landed some really good jobs, like replacing the launch pads after a rocket was sent up down at Cape Canaveral.
He's who taught me to shoot a bow, how to race to win, and several other things.
This is the same uncle who got me into climbing radio and TV towers to replace the lamps.
It was a lot harder work than it sounds like, and of course, back then I was invincible.
Now I can't climb a six-foot step ladder! I don't know if it is age or wisdom, hi hi.
He's also the one who got me hooked on figure-eight stock car racing.
I was already into hobby car racing, and well as drag racing a little later.
But the figure-eight races made me the most money without the cars costing a bundle.
I also drove in a couple of demolition derby's using old Chevy Nomad Station Wagons.
You couldn't kill those things, so the others would block you in until the timer went off, hi hi.
For my bachelor party, my cousin took me to a strip club where the gals were fully nude.
Honestly though, I didn't like it much. Really couldn't see anything due to the crowd of guys around the low stage where they inched up to for the reveal, hi hi.
We actually had a lot more fun at the comedy club we went to the night before.
His profession was a bricklayer and stone mason. But he landed some really good jobs, like replacing the launch pads after a rocket was sent up down at Cape Canaveral.
He's who taught me to shoot a bow, how to race to win, and several other things.
This is the same uncle who got me into climbing radio and TV towers to replace the lamps.
It was a lot harder work than it sounds like, and of course, back then I was invincible.
Now I can't climb a six-foot step ladder! I don't know if it is age or wisdom, hi hi.
He's also the one who got me hooked on figure-eight stock car racing.
I was already into hobby car racing, and well as drag racing a little later.
But the figure-eight races made me the most money without the cars costing a bundle.
I also drove in a couple of demolition derby's using old Chevy Nomad Station Wagons.
You couldn't kill those things, so the others would block you in until the timer went off, hi hi.
For my bachelor party, my cousin took me to a strip club where the gals were fully nude.
Honestly though, I didn't like it much. Really couldn't see anything due to the crowd of guys around the low stage where they inched up to for the reveal, hi hi.
We actually had a lot more fun at the comedy club we went to the night before.
Re: Installing Ubuntu - Part 2
Those strip clubs would not get a second look in this century. I guess there are still some around but with the internet and smartphones being what they are private showings are available for anybody who wants them. Most are free too. Attitudes have changed and it's hard to imagine what could be coming to entertain the next generation. Anything goes these days. What else is left?
Re: Installing Ubuntu - Part 2
You got that right Yogi!
I was around 25 years old when they closed down the Friday and Saturday night Teen Town held in the basement of the old Fire House. It closed so they could add offices down there.
There wasn't a whole lot for teenagers to do, except find ways to get into trouble.
One of the area restaurant owners had three teenagers and the oldest was not old enough to drive yet.
As his business grew, and he took over all the stores to expand his restaurant in a small strip mall, he ended up buying the entire building.
This building had a basement, and the lower level opened to the back parking lot. The former owner had rented out the basement sections to like a bicycle repair shop, a shoe repair guy, and to the man who owned the hobby shop.
The hobby shop owner put in a huge slot car track, but when the craze died out, it was left empty.
The restaurant owner decided to make a new Teen Town, and designed it more like a adult nightclub.
It had a stage with fancy lighting for the local bands he brought in, a big dance floor, and a bar across the back, no liquor of course. The bands could not start playing until after 8pm when the upstairs restaurant closed.
At first the city gave him all kinds of grief with getting permits and having it pass inspections. But he did all the things they made him do. And everyone said it would never work. Parents were leery about the types of folks that might go so kept their kids away for close to three months after he opened. You couldn't get in if you turned 20. But he had to have chaperones to appease the parents.
Well, just like we had the junior volunteer firemen, he came up with an idea, junior volunteer policemen, and got together with the chief of police over the idea. It Worked! In fact it worked so well, there was a front page newspaper article about it titled "Teen Age Cops Are Tops!"
This was the key that caused his little Teen Night Club to flourish, and his restaurant grew even larger as well.
He had to use part of the basement where the bicycle shop was, this is where he moved his cook prep area, to gain more seating upstairs. Where the shoe repair guy was, became a huge walk in refrigerator.
He was only open as a Teen Nightclub on Friday and Saturday nights, and on other nights he rented the area out for various types of receptions and private parties. Even held an election campaign down there, once. But when the new mayor got in office, all kinds of things changed. The weekend curfew for teens that was extended to 11:30pm for his patrons was rolled all the way back to 10:30pm, and the teenage fire and police teams were abolished.
The owner was also now up in years and decided not to fight. He sold his business and the building and retired. The new restaurant owners managed to get a liquor license and turned it into a tavern that serves food, not much unlike the taverns today that bill themselves as restaurants.
I was around 25 years old when they closed down the Friday and Saturday night Teen Town held in the basement of the old Fire House. It closed so they could add offices down there.
There wasn't a whole lot for teenagers to do, except find ways to get into trouble.
One of the area restaurant owners had three teenagers and the oldest was not old enough to drive yet.
As his business grew, and he took over all the stores to expand his restaurant in a small strip mall, he ended up buying the entire building.
This building had a basement, and the lower level opened to the back parking lot. The former owner had rented out the basement sections to like a bicycle repair shop, a shoe repair guy, and to the man who owned the hobby shop.
The hobby shop owner put in a huge slot car track, but when the craze died out, it was left empty.
The restaurant owner decided to make a new Teen Town, and designed it more like a adult nightclub.
It had a stage with fancy lighting for the local bands he brought in, a big dance floor, and a bar across the back, no liquor of course. The bands could not start playing until after 8pm when the upstairs restaurant closed.
At first the city gave him all kinds of grief with getting permits and having it pass inspections. But he did all the things they made him do. And everyone said it would never work. Parents were leery about the types of folks that might go so kept their kids away for close to three months after he opened. You couldn't get in if you turned 20. But he had to have chaperones to appease the parents.
Well, just like we had the junior volunteer firemen, he came up with an idea, junior volunteer policemen, and got together with the chief of police over the idea. It Worked! In fact it worked so well, there was a front page newspaper article about it titled "Teen Age Cops Are Tops!"
This was the key that caused his little Teen Night Club to flourish, and his restaurant grew even larger as well.
He had to use part of the basement where the bicycle shop was, this is where he moved his cook prep area, to gain more seating upstairs. Where the shoe repair guy was, became a huge walk in refrigerator.
He was only open as a Teen Nightclub on Friday and Saturday nights, and on other nights he rented the area out for various types of receptions and private parties. Even held an election campaign down there, once. But when the new mayor got in office, all kinds of things changed. The weekend curfew for teens that was extended to 11:30pm for his patrons was rolled all the way back to 10:30pm, and the teenage fire and police teams were abolished.
The owner was also now up in years and decided not to fight. He sold his business and the building and retired. The new restaurant owners managed to get a liquor license and turned it into a tavern that serves food, not much unlike the taverns today that bill themselves as restaurants.
Re: Installing Ubuntu - Part 2
One of the cool things about living in O'Fallon is the pubs. There are some honest to goodness pubs in the area which are, as you say, taverns that serve food. There are two kinds in fact; one being the Irish pub and the other being a more English style pub. Either way there aren't too many true pubs up by Chicago. There you will indeed find places that call themselves pubs but never really get the idea as they have down here. A while back we went up to Dubuque, Iowa, where we attended a family gathering at a German pub. It was a lot like the pubs down here, but of course the food was different. I also think the pub in Iowa was a lot older than anything around here. I was amazed to see such a place literally in the middle of nowhere. I can't imagine there are enough farmers in that area to keep the place profitable. Apparently there are.
We also had teenage nightclubs when I was a kid. I never got interested in that kind of thing but they were popular. My favorite pastime was parking along Lake Michigan and watching the submarine races with my favorite gal. LOL
We also had teenage nightclubs when I was a kid. I never got interested in that kind of thing but they were popular. My favorite pastime was parking along Lake Michigan and watching the submarine races with my favorite gal. LOL
Re: Installing Ubuntu - Part 2
I call places like Abernathy's, Ruby Tuesday, and others, Taverns that serve food.
I can safely say that because not a single one of those types of restaurants would open in ANY of the Dry Counties here in TN. But as soon as those counties went Wet, they all moved in like vultures.
We had a lot of bars and taverns back home that served plate lunches and small dinners, but never billed themselves as restaurants. Most of them were around forever and in small towns, everyone knew everyone else, even in several adjoining towns. I guess like today, everyone goes to where the booze is being poured to socialize.
I don't drink so never much hung around those places, but that doesn't mean I didn't go to parties and such.
When I was younger, I was always on the go somewhere. But today, I just hide in my office all day and half the night.
I can safely say that because not a single one of those types of restaurants would open in ANY of the Dry Counties here in TN. But as soon as those counties went Wet, they all moved in like vultures.
We had a lot of bars and taverns back home that served plate lunches and small dinners, but never billed themselves as restaurants. Most of them were around forever and in small towns, everyone knew everyone else, even in several adjoining towns. I guess like today, everyone goes to where the booze is being poured to socialize.
I don't drink so never much hung around those places, but that doesn't mean I didn't go to parties and such.
When I was younger, I was always on the go somewhere. But today, I just hide in my office all day and half the night.
Re: Installing Ubuntu - Part 2
Places like Ruby Tuesday, TGIF, and Applebees are just one step above the fast food places like McDonalds. They have their place for folks who want more than a burger. Around Motorola there were dozens of such places for the local business people to entertain clients for a business lunch. Fine dining they are not, but the food is acceptable. They would be out of business without the alcohol on the menu because that's where all the profits are. I consider myself a non-drinker but that would not stop me from visiting the local bar and grill for a nice lunch with my wife. Just because they sell the stuff doesn't mean I have to buy it.
Missouri, at least the part of it I live in, has some interesting ideas about alcohol sales. You can't go to a grocery store without them having a huge alcohol department. Stores up north had them too, but back in Chicago the main source of alcoholic beverages were liquor stores dedicated to that purpose. I know of one such store here in the neighborhood but never went into it to see what they have. I like to cook with certain brands of wine but the grocery stores have limited variety and most often they don't even handle what I'm looking for. Then agian, down here you can get those single serving bottles of booze just about anywhere. They were banned altogether up north. I don't get it.
Missouri, at least the part of it I live in, has some interesting ideas about alcohol sales. You can't go to a grocery store without them having a huge alcohol department. Stores up north had them too, but back in Chicago the main source of alcoholic beverages were liquor stores dedicated to that purpose. I know of one such store here in the neighborhood but never went into it to see what they have. I like to cook with certain brands of wine but the grocery stores have limited variety and most often they don't even handle what I'm looking for. Then agian, down here you can get those single serving bottles of booze just about anywhere. They were banned altogether up north. I don't get it.
Re: Installing Ubuntu - Part 2
For as long as I can remember, all grocery stores in Missouri sold alcoholic beverages.
The only time they couldn't sell alcohol was on Sunday during the Blue Law days, and on election days, which I think still holds true today.
We had some of the largest package liquor stores in the nation also, places such as 905 Liquors became a major local chain.
Nearly every store that sold cold soda, also sold cold 3.2 beer which did not require a liquor license at the time, and it could be sold on Sunday during the Blue Law era.
It don't bother me that a place sells alcohol, I eat lots of places, that don't bother me.
What does bother me is they bill themselves as restaurants when they are really just taverns that sell food.
We had a lot of such places, many of them boasted about having over 99 kinds of beer, but they only sold ONE Cola soda, usually Choke-a-Cola, hi hi. Even today, most restaurants who claim to sell all flavors of Coke or Pepsi products don't.
Larry G's was a great restaurant, they did not sell liquor, but did have over 75 different flavors and brands of soda, if it was made, they had it, no matter how weird. hi hi. Their business was so good, the shopping center they were in booted them out because they used every parking space in the entire shopping center. Since they were under contract for five years, all the stores got 4 to 8 assigned parking spots in front of the stores to help alleviate the problem. At the end of 5 years, they could not renew their lease. The owner planned on opening in what was a furniture store at one time, single building in the middle of a large parking lot, but the city wouldn't let him because they said it would cause undue congestion at a major already overcrowded intersection. He just said lump it and moved out to Franklin County.
The only time they couldn't sell alcohol was on Sunday during the Blue Law days, and on election days, which I think still holds true today.
We had some of the largest package liquor stores in the nation also, places such as 905 Liquors became a major local chain.
Nearly every store that sold cold soda, also sold cold 3.2 beer which did not require a liquor license at the time, and it could be sold on Sunday during the Blue Law era.
It don't bother me that a place sells alcohol, I eat lots of places, that don't bother me.
What does bother me is they bill themselves as restaurants when they are really just taverns that sell food.
We had a lot of such places, many of them boasted about having over 99 kinds of beer, but they only sold ONE Cola soda, usually Choke-a-Cola, hi hi. Even today, most restaurants who claim to sell all flavors of Coke or Pepsi products don't.
Larry G's was a great restaurant, they did not sell liquor, but did have over 75 different flavors and brands of soda, if it was made, they had it, no matter how weird. hi hi. Their business was so good, the shopping center they were in booted them out because they used every parking space in the entire shopping center. Since they were under contract for five years, all the stores got 4 to 8 assigned parking spots in front of the stores to help alleviate the problem. At the end of 5 years, they could not renew their lease. The owner planned on opening in what was a furniture store at one time, single building in the middle of a large parking lot, but the city wouldn't let him because they said it would cause undue congestion at a major already overcrowded intersection. He just said lump it and moved out to Franklin County.
Re: Installing Ubuntu - Part 2
The last time I shopped up north in a grocery store that liquor law was still in effect; no sales before noon on Sunday and nothing on election day. Otherwise you can get all the booze you want 24 hours a day. It didn't make sense to me, but I suppose there are a lot of laws on the books that don't make sense in the year 2020. The emphasis here in Missouri is slightly different than what I'm used to seeing, but I'm spoiled. There was much more variety where I came from compared to around here. Perhaps if we lived closer into St Louis the shops would be different. It's one of the nicer things about living in or near the city: you can get anything you want. Anything.
Larry G's sounds a bit like Sonic the fast food joint. They have hundreds of flavors of soda; so I'm told by somebody who worked there. I never went into a Sonic because until very recently they didn't exist in the Chicago area. We have one here in town but I never see it crowded. There is also a very suspicious looking Dairy Queen on Main street. It's just like all the ones I've seen before with one exception: I never saw more than two or three cars in their parking lot. Usually it's empty. PLUS, they are open all year long. The ones near Chicago close for the winter. I'm wondering how this particular Dairy Queen stays in business given the lack of patrons I've witnessed. My wife has been in there and bought things, and they are nothing special. I can only imagine they are selling drugs or something on the side. LOL
Larry G's sounds a bit like Sonic the fast food joint. They have hundreds of flavors of soda; so I'm told by somebody who worked there. I never went into a Sonic because until very recently they didn't exist in the Chicago area. We have one here in town but I never see it crowded. There is also a very suspicious looking Dairy Queen on Main street. It's just like all the ones I've seen before with one exception: I never saw more than two or three cars in their parking lot. Usually it's empty. PLUS, they are open all year long. The ones near Chicago close for the winter. I'm wondering how this particular Dairy Queen stays in business given the lack of patrons I've witnessed. My wife has been in there and bought things, and they are nothing special. I can only imagine they are selling drugs or something on the side. LOL
Re: Installing Ubuntu - Part 2
Living in Des Peres and Creve Coeur, nearly everything one could want, for home was within a few blocks up to about 3 miles away. For business, virtually everything was under 5 miles away, and rarely over 7 miles.
Most of the products I use in business down here still come from my original St. Louis suppliers, except for packaging materials which I found a very iffy local source for. You never know if they are going be in business or not, they have changed hands a couple of times between each of my orders, and the last time they acted like they didn't want to mess with my small order, but did it for me anyhow. Probably a front for drugs as you mentioned.
We had an aunt and uncle who owned a Dairy Queen, but that was back in the days when all places like that were packed as national chains were not yet abundant.
I really miss the way some of the things were back in the days of my teens to early 30s!
Poly-TICK-ians have nothing to do except create one new law after another, and most of them cause all kinds of problems for everybody. They promote things that are really bad for us, in order to ban things that have never been a problem in the first place.
We have a bill in TN congress right now that can only lead to major health issues for everyone.
Reusable totes are so laden with bacteria and pathogens they should be considered a health hazard.
People use the same bags to haul meats one time, and produce the next time, or sometimes mix them in the same bag.
Then they sit around for a week or two on the floor of a closet, or in the back of a car, until they go shopping the next time.
Our Poly-TICK-ians are encouraging folks to use reusable totes because they plan on banning grocery stores from providing bags, plastic or paper. I know this is a gimmick to allow stores to Sell Bags at a grossly inflated price.
But what concerns me are all the health issues I just mentioned above.
Even back when I owned the restaurant, we had to keep a sharp lookout for any woman setting her handbag on a table and make sure and sterilize that table before the next patron could use it.
We had a board on the wall with hooks in it, one for each table, and a stack of super wide popsickle sticks, about as wide as tongue depressors but not as long, some were painted red, others orange and yellow, and a few blue ones.
If we saw a purse on a table, even if only for a split second, we hung a red paddle on that tables hook on the board.
Orange was to replace the salt shaker, yellow the condiments. Kids love to put sugar in the salt shakers or vice versa.
Yellow normally just meant to clean the condiment bottles. Blue meant a toddler may have dumped a load in his diaper, so sterilize the high chair, booster seat, and seating. This was normally done every night anyhow, but if we spotted a potential problem, we tried to hop on in immediately.
You would never believe the things that go on in restaurants, especially when you have a bunch of teens coming in after school. And we didn't have camera's and videos back then, so even when you caught one burning a hole in the seat, they claimed it was there when they sat down. We had no way to prove otherwise.
Most of the products I use in business down here still come from my original St. Louis suppliers, except for packaging materials which I found a very iffy local source for. You never know if they are going be in business or not, they have changed hands a couple of times between each of my orders, and the last time they acted like they didn't want to mess with my small order, but did it for me anyhow. Probably a front for drugs as you mentioned.
We had an aunt and uncle who owned a Dairy Queen, but that was back in the days when all places like that were packed as national chains were not yet abundant.
I really miss the way some of the things were back in the days of my teens to early 30s!
Poly-TICK-ians have nothing to do except create one new law after another, and most of them cause all kinds of problems for everybody. They promote things that are really bad for us, in order to ban things that have never been a problem in the first place.
We have a bill in TN congress right now that can only lead to major health issues for everyone.
Reusable totes are so laden with bacteria and pathogens they should be considered a health hazard.
People use the same bags to haul meats one time, and produce the next time, or sometimes mix them in the same bag.
Then they sit around for a week or two on the floor of a closet, or in the back of a car, until they go shopping the next time.
Our Poly-TICK-ians are encouraging folks to use reusable totes because they plan on banning grocery stores from providing bags, plastic or paper. I know this is a gimmick to allow stores to Sell Bags at a grossly inflated price.
But what concerns me are all the health issues I just mentioned above.
Even back when I owned the restaurant, we had to keep a sharp lookout for any woman setting her handbag on a table and make sure and sterilize that table before the next patron could use it.
We had a board on the wall with hooks in it, one for each table, and a stack of super wide popsickle sticks, about as wide as tongue depressors but not as long, some were painted red, others orange and yellow, and a few blue ones.
If we saw a purse on a table, even if only for a split second, we hung a red paddle on that tables hook on the board.
Orange was to replace the salt shaker, yellow the condiments. Kids love to put sugar in the salt shakers or vice versa.
Yellow normally just meant to clean the condiment bottles. Blue meant a toddler may have dumped a load in his diaper, so sterilize the high chair, booster seat, and seating. This was normally done every night anyhow, but if we spotted a potential problem, we tried to hop on in immediately.
You would never believe the things that go on in restaurants, especially when you have a bunch of teens coming in after school. And we didn't have camera's and videos back then, so even when you caught one burning a hole in the seat, they claimed it was there when they sat down. We had no way to prove otherwise.
Re: Installing Ubuntu - Part 2
Well yes, I suppose that famous real estate mantra applies to availability of stuff too: location, location, location. When my daughter lived in Clayton and we came to visit there seemed to be no shortage of shops or supplies I could buy. Of course we were only visiting and I didn't know the real situation, but there certainly was more variety. We are not exactly living out in the country, but I can see it from my back deck. The lifestyle is different than what I've known all my years and the cost of living is substantially less than Chicago. So, I guess that trite old saying is true too, you get what you pay for.
I'm pretty sure there was a time when the government was more responsive to the needs of it's citizens than it is today. It's all changed and I don't really put the blame on the politicians. The law makers are the enablers but their support for legislation is in response to corporations and big businesses. Maybe back in the old days corporations weren't big enough to have much influence, but that certainly isn't the case in the year 2020. "We the people" have been replaced by business interests. I don't see that changing any time soon.
I'm pretty sure there was a time when the government was more responsive to the needs of it's citizens than it is today. It's all changed and I don't really put the blame on the politicians. The law makers are the enablers but their support for legislation is in response to corporations and big businesses. Maybe back in the old days corporations weren't big enough to have much influence, but that certainly isn't the case in the year 2020. "We the people" have been replaced by business interests. I don't see that changing any time soon.