359 Degrees - All Comments

re: Santa gave me a ride in a snowplow! (Updated)

Kelly Feng — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 17:23:31 GMT

Hi Scott,

Thanks for keeping us informed. (The snow at the end of the driveway is a little annoying - though I'm not sure the city can do much about it!)

re: Santa gave me a ride in a snowplow! (Updated)

Santa's Elf — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 22:46:51 GMT

Scott, as an aside, perhaps you would be kind enough to do a blog entry concerning the decidedly technical issue of 'memory corruption'.

Some folks believe that the windows error tag PFN_LIST_CORRUPT has somehow to do with the physical operation of their ram chips.

The group of adherents to this interpretation include our own beloved tweety bird who - in one of his few web entries which is not posted on a gay/lesbian web site - intones that he has experienced the same issue (apparently with his laptop running XP), and has attempted to fix the problem by replacing the ram (or entire entire laptop) without success:

www.annoyances.org/.../1230583103

As Santa has taught us elves, these kinds of problems are virtually always caused by leaky software authored in Bangalore (aka Microsoft East), and have nothing what so ever to do with nice little silly cone wafers hidden away in the bowels of the hardware.

There is an excellent discussion of this exact problem at:

www.osronline.com/article.cfm

Thanks for your help.

MICROSOFT

Where every day is Y2K!

Santa's Elf

Scott's reply:

Now, now, we've already heard that there are many people using that screen name. Next you'll be telling me that putting an ice cube on the CPU doesn't really speed up the system!

PFN_LIST_CORRUPT is typically (thought not always) caused by a device driver passing a bad memory descriptor list to a system function. I can think of more likely error messages resulting from RAM failures. If it were me, I'd check return parameter #1 for details and proceed from there. e.g. bad memory unlock values.

I wonder if he's recently installed a web cam and microphone for two way video chats. Your guess of who's on the other side is as good as mine.

re: Santa gave me a ride in a snowplow! (Updated)

Larry Knetzger — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 16:52:45 GMT

Happy New Year Scott, I would be one of those people that would probably buy more than one ticket to such a venture of the UN Security council here in Brookfield, I don't think it would be very productive though. I might add you would certainly make a supreme effort to cap the smoking guns but it's the rest of the members of the Security Council that have a tendency not to change or back off on their thinking. I would look at it like Hamas agreeing to a cease fire with a torch in one hand to light a few rockets to celebrate the new peace agreement.

Some of the other Blogger' s here do not post every comment that pertains to their subject matter. I have made more than one statement of opinion to some of the other people here that never made it to print. But then again that shows no open mind on their part. I appreciate the fact that you let people express their thoughts without editing. Your commentary is always meaningful and done with a bit of humor, which of course is necessary. Enjoy a prosperous New Year every one.

Scott's reply:

Thank you for the comments. I have this great blog written about snow removal around hydrants and storm drains, but it seems like a moot point for now. I'll save it for the next Big One.

re: Santa gave me a ride in a snowplow! (Updated)

Santa's Elf — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 03:37:23 GMT

"If you must engage in this sort of nonsense, post it in a blog where it's expected, even encouraged. Say: www.fairlyconservative.com"

Scott, it's New Years Eve and time to make new beginnings. I think you and Cindy ought to meet at the local malt shoppe this weekend, curl up in a corner booth, iron out your differences and learn to work together for the good of all mankind.

Sort of a little UN Security Council session!

Happy New Year

Scott's reply:

You and Grant would be welcome to join us. We could sell tickets and popcorn. Have a safe and prosperous new year.

re: Santa gave me a ride in a snowplow! (Updated)

Richard J. Steinberg — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 01:17:48 GMT

Senior Citizen Alerts. Senior Citizens Need to Exercise Extreme Caution If shoveling Snow. Consumer Reports Health Blog on snow removal.(seniorjournal.com.)

Many Senior Citizens served honorably in the military service and do not appreciate being insulted. Their peers include Fathers, Brothers, Grandfathers and people of charity and good will.

this is intended to be printed only once.

Scott's reply:

Excellent points, Dick. Perhaps you could pursue them on your blog.

re: Santa gave me a ride in a snowplow! (Updated)

Santa's Elf — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 22:14:21 GMT

Oh mercy Mr. Berg, thanks for getting that roughneck off my back. Big strong self sufficient bike boys in black leathers frighten little elves. Especially those toughs who sit at their back window shooting birds off their feeder with a pellet gun! Jimminy, I wish there was a law against that! Those Joel Osteen followers sure can be a chore now and again.

re: Santa gave me a ride in a snowplow! (Updated)

intewedm — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 15:50:33 GMT

Elf, you are such a sad and pathetic creature. Envy doesn't suit you!

"Senior citizens have earned respect and dignity and the right to a quality lifestyle."

Why is it that seniors seem to think they deserve more than the young? There are plenty of miserable cusses that deserve none of what you assert. If a person lived a decent life and saved for their old age, they wouldn't have to be beg for handouts that are paid for by younger people struggling to pay their own bills. In my opinion, too many oldsters are selfish. That said, they are still the "greatest generation" all-in-all, and we should give them a hand if we can...but it's unattractive for them to "demand" special treatment just because they got old.

Scott's reply:

Now boys, be nice. Santa is already updating his list for next Christmas. If you must engage in this sort of nonsense, post it in a blog where it's expected, even encouraged. Say: www.fairlyconservative.com

re: Santa gave me a ride in a snowplow! (Updated)

Richard J. Steinberg — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 00:36:33 GMT

"to err is human, to forgive is divine", (Alexander Pope).

re: Santa gave me a ride in a snowplow! (Updated)

Santa's Elf — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 00:07:25 GMT

"Perhaps the judge should move into an assisted living complex so that he doesn't have to maintain a private property."

Has the tweetster been shopping for one? I hear they're going to build a nursing home for senior Harley riders out on Pabst Farms. You may want to slip into a Depends, mount your bike and rumble on out for a look round.

Happy New Year Tweety, etc.!

re: Santa gave me a ride in a snowplow! (Updated)

Richard J. Steinberg — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 21:22:04 GMT

The fire hydrant is clear and will remain so. Senior citizens have earned respect and dignity and the right to a quality lifestyle.

Scott's Reply:

Dick, you might try entering your comment just once. Repetition is not needed and makes you looks a bit ... awkward. Given my "no censorship" policy, I publish all comments, no matter how foolish they make the author look.

re: Santa gave me a ride in a snowplow! (Updated)

Richard J. Steinberg — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 21:22:03 GMT

The fire hydrant is clear and will remain so. Senior citizens have earned respect and dignity and the right to a quality lifestyle.

re: Santa gave me a ride in a snowplow! (Updated)

Richard J. Steinberg — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 21:22:02 GMT

The fire hydrant is clear and will remain so. Senior citizens have earned respect and dignity and the right to a quality lifestyle.

re: Santa gave me a ride in a snowplow! (Updated)

intewedm — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 17:19:11 GMT

Perhaps the judge should move into an assisted living complex so that he doesn't have to maintain a private property.

re: Santa gave me a ride in a snowplow! (Updated)

Santa's Elf — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 02:07:34 GMT

"I remove the snow the city plowers leave at the end of the driveway plus the sidewalk and the mailbox area."

A Dick, didn't you forget the fire hydrant discreetly nestled on your lawn behind the plowed bank in three feet of fresh snow? Can't expect the city to do everything for you. Heck that multimillion dollar slush fund would disappear long before the city got to lending it out to the school district on our behalf!

Happy New Year.

re: Santa gave me a ride in a snowplow!

Richard J. Steinberg — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 01:06:09 GMT

My comments are the senior viewpoint, and include not only the elderly, but the disabled, heart patients and all people who cannot perform the labor needed to shovel snow. We hire a private snow plower for the driveway and I remove the snow the city plowers leave at the end of the driveway plus the sidewalk and the mailbox area.

re: Santa gave me a ride in a snowplow!

Larry Knetzger — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 15:19:59 GMT

I Think Santa'a Elf has the solution . Put all the snow either in the middle of the street or across the street in the your neighbors driveway, especially if Mr. Steinberg were living their. Or, you could assign one plow to every street and just go up and down with the plow angled to the center and move it back and forth until spring comes and it all just melts away. If you timed it right you could sneak out of your driveway when the snow was on the other side of the street.

Scott, some people cannot understand the mechanics of plowing. The idea is to get it off the street. This is an old complaint that has a easy solution. Take responsibility for your own property and don't pass the buck to the city. Owning real estate has lots of responsibility that the owner must take care of.The City does as good a job as possible and still maintain some kind of budget.

I think the ordinance covering the subject here was created so there is an assignment of responsibility and is very clearly stated. I don't think the Mayor , you or any other city official can expand on its meaning or tell some one how to grab a shovel, snow blower or plow and take care of the heavenly gift. That is just the way it is. Don't like it move to a warm climate and enjoy a hurricane or lots of humid heat.

Your information was very timely and once again I also learned something I did not know before (existence of the ordinance). The ordinance is done very well. For the most part our drivers of the city trucks are very skilled at doing a very difficult job to say the least. I have always found them very professional,friendly and courteous.

Scott's reply:

I have seen one solution to the snowbump issue. If you use a front end loader with a plow instead of a patrol truck, you can get an attachment that blocks the show when you come to a driveway. It amounts to a big plate on the right side of the loader that drops down on command when the plow passes the driveway. The snow accumulates in front of the plow until the plate is lifted, leaving one big pile when it's past the driveway. This won't work for Brookfield since the loaders are used for moving the sand and salt. Also, I don't think there is a salt spreader that mounts on the back of the loader so you would have to send out a truck anyway. Still, it is a solution.

See the video at: http://henkemfg.com/higate_video.html

Besides, this sudden thaw and rain have made it a moot point for now. I hope your storm drains are clear and sump pump outlet isn't blocked!

re: Santa gave me a ride in a snowplow!

winegirl — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 21:00:50 GMT

I'd prefer more public works people and fewer police. We have more than enough police. Public works folks also need to be on the lookout for potholes that are forming and will become a safety issue shortly. Those need to be addressed aggressively, not like last winter. Even if the road is "state" or "county" maintained, I still think the plow drivers and other public employees should proactively contact the responsible agency for attention to those road hazards (like the axle buster that is forming in Capitol Drive heading east of Lilly Road.)

Thank you for pointing out the ordinance which prohibits placing snow from private property into the road. I saw a City plow driver chew out a private plow operator who was doing just that in my neighborhood last week. I only wish the other neighbors who blew a huge pile of snow from their driveway into the middle of Woodland Place would get the hint. We almost got stuck in the big drift they created in mid block (after the plows came through.)

re: Santa gave me a ride in a snowplow!

Santa's Elf — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 16:40:43 GMT

Correction, unless the guy you were with had a bag on, he wasn't Santa!

How about reversing the angle of the plow blades? The plow would then move snow from the side to the middle of the road, placing the load directly within the city's area of responsibility!

Then I'd really believe the guy was Santa.

Happy Holidays to all!

re: Santa gave me a ride in a snowplow!

Richard J. Steinberg — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 02:55:44 GMT

We will wait for he staff to find a solution and for you to report in a timely manner. A response from the Mayor is appropriate.

re: Santa gave me a ride in a snowplow!

Richard J. Steinberg — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 18:57:53 GMT

Scott. Many residents want to know why the city snowm plows push the snow back into a recently cleaned pvt. driveway ? Can that be avoided to aleviate extra backbreaking work by the resident ?

Scott's Reply:

The plow blades move the snow from the middle of the street (front of the truck) to the side of the road, which is exactly where the driveways are (must!) be located. How can this be avoided? I'm sure the staff would be willing to consider suggestions, but I can't imagine what could be done differently.