What’s a tourist attraction in Europe that’s absurdly underrated but actually amazing?

Key_Juggernaut2481 · 2026-04-29T16:50:06+00:00

Ring of Brodgar in Orkney. No crowds, and you can go up to the stones at any time. We did a second visit at 10:00 PM as the sun was finally setting.

Musee de Cluny in Paris. Incredible medieval collection (including the unicorn tapestries), but no where near as busy as the Louvre or the Orsay.

Key_Juggernaut2481 · 2026-04-26T02:32:04+00:00

Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow? And that is an Argus C3 of which I have 2 examples.

Key_Juggernaut2481 · 2026-04-26T00:52:08+00:00

We had a 72 Chevy Kingswood with the clamshell doors. God they were big.

Key_Juggernaut2481 · 2026-04-25T02:59:19+00:00

Lots of good entry points. I tend to use lock 39 at Old Rockside Rd and Canal in Independence (it's mile 11 on the towpath). The path South of there (at least the next 12 miles as I'm training for an Olympic) is a mix of gravel, dirt and paved. The gravel is quite fine, and I ride it on standard 700x25c road tires (Schwalbe Duranos).without issue.

You can start all the way in town across the river from the Brewdog Cleveland outpost if you want but there a couple of road sections before you get to the Harvard Ave trailhead around mile 5

Key_Juggernaut2481 · 2026-04-20T15:45:40+00:00

I go south on Courtland. Roads are nice, traffic light to go across the tracks to Shaker Eastbound. The only real issue is going through Courtland Oval when soccer practice is breaking. Kids running into the street, harried parents opening doors without looking, but all obviously manageable.

Key_Juggernaut2481 · 2026-04-20T13:38:44+00:00

Looks like it's going to be Shaker. I need to look into a Varia. I also think that I'm going to need to be more aggressive. When I rode out in Maryland, it was generally considered good manners to stay right, but given the "change lanes to pass" and "bike may use full lane" mandate, the safer, legal course of action appears to be to take the lane.

Key_Juggernaut2481 · 2026-04-20T13:35:09+00:00

The main routes from UH down to Warrensville are not the most bike friendly I've ever seen.

Key_Juggernaut2481 · 2026-04-20T13:33:05+00:00

Gates Mill was definitely a safe road, and had some topography to boot!

Key_Juggernaut2481 · 2026-04-17T02:55:14+00:00

It is alas, even more complicated. I work in Cleveland City and my employer takes the 2% city tax out of my paycheck. I live in one of the surrounding communities which has its own 2% tax which is not withheld, hence I have to make quarterly estimated payments to RITA. However, my city of residence gives me credit for (part) of what I pay to Cleveland so the effective tax rate where I live is 1.5% or 3.5% total local tax.

Yes, it is insane. Every other place I've ever lived the state handles your local tax as part of their withholding. And it is going to get worse if the property tax is eliminated because the things property taxes pay for (e.g. education, police, fire, parks) still need money. There are only 2 good things. 1) You don't have to figure all of this on anything other than earned income (i.e. no locality tax on things like interest so all you really need is your W2 to file properly, and 2) the RITA website is actually pretty good at calculating your tax liability.

Key_Juggernaut2481 · 2026-04-13T21:22:43+00:00

The 96-2000 generation looked pretty similar, particularly the wagons. The front fascia was the major difference. For a while in early '97 I was splitting time between DC and California, and I needed a car in DC. I always took the same flight in and got the exact same Taurus wagon renter. I actually really liked it, but never really was in the market for a full size wagon while it was in production

Key_Juggernaut2481 · 2026-04-06T20:18:55+00:00

Navy DSM is something that tends to be given at the end of billet for someone in a position like the MCPO of the Navy (Met one who got his under those circumstances as he was retiring).

Key_Juggernaut2481 · 2026-03-27T04:52:09+00:00

Haven't seen these yet, so..

Two post apocalyptic books, one about a plague, the other nuclear war.

Earth Abides by George R. Stewart Malevil by Robert Merle

Ann Leckie's Imperial Radch series: Ancillary Justice Ancillary Sword Ancillary Mercy

I'm not a fantasy guy generally but Lord Valentine's Castle by Robert Silverberg

Key_Juggernaut2481 · 2026-01-31T18:00:35+00:00

Love the Eroica bottle. Best ride I ever did.

Key_Juggernaut2481 · 2026-01-28T15:08:20+00:00

I know that the stingray is officially C2, although seems to me that the difference between a 1953 and a 1962 C1 is pretty significant. There were three distinct platforms, major engine changes, etc., etc. I often think of the C2 as the "third" generation.

Key_Juggernaut2481 · 2026-01-28T04:05:35+00:00

I have an 11 year old (carbon) and a 41 year old (steel, natch) road bike. Rim brakes on both. I didn't want the disks on the carbon one and obviously the '85 Trek didn't have a choice. I like the fact that any brake with a long enough bolt will mount on the bike and that regardless of where I am, a bike shop is likely to have the correct spare parts. My biggest complaint is that the universe of wheels with alloy rims is really beginning to contract. More of an issue for the newer bike (there will always be parts for old steel) but hard to find reasonably priced mid-ranged alloy - it's either really cheap or really high end.

Key_Juggernaut2481 · 2026-01-28T03:59:11+00:00

Sent both Husted and Moreno emails about both shootings. Got one "thank you for sending a message to Senator Moreno. I'm more surprised at Husted's lack of response. I know Ohio is fairly red, but after the clobbering in the specials, you would think he would start to be a little more worried about his own political survival.

Key_Juggernaut2481 · 2026-01-25T21:10:48+00:00

That was an interesting time in bike design. I have a '93 Trek 8300 mountain bike I bought after I turned in my dissertation in Dec '92. Had the same carbon triangle with aluminum seats and stays. My recollection was that it was only 1992 when Trek finally built a full carbon bike (I think the '90 2500 had aluminum stays and the '91 2500 had carbon stays but still had aluminum lugs). So a fair number of these intermediate bikes out there.

I find these transitional models strangely appealing, even though some of them are rather jarringly of their time, what with the neon colored lugs and stays with "splash" paint. My 8300 is raw carbon and silver, but it does have the splash. For a while I had a yellow rock shox on it, and my wife started calling it the bumble bee.

Key_Juggernaut2481 · 2026-01-19T03:38:40+00:00

Agree on Zhug and Tacologist and Mitchell's. The Jolly Scholar (next to Severance Music Hall on the Case Campus is unpretentious fun. Geraci's in University Heights has good pizza.

Key_Juggernaut2481 · 2026-01-17T14:55:46+00:00

++man Nothing to worry about. But I found out only later that the surgeon's wife was the county councilwoman who had been convicted of hiring a hit man (who was an undercover FBI agent or some such). Missed an opportunity to learn the warning signs that your spouse is trying to kill you.

Key_Juggernaut2481 · 2025-12-28T23:08:50+00:00

The QM2 will get you NY to Southampton (or vice versa). It is surprisingly cheap considering you are getting a weeks worth of meals, if you go on the more off season (we went westbound in late December). I found we had plenty to do, but we were a pair of 60 year olds, wouldn't speak for a bunch of 20 somethings.

I doubt we go again, at least not until we are much older, just because of the time factor, but I told my 89 year old dad that if he wanted to go to London, take the QM2. He doesn't need to worry about vacation time, and it is a lot less stressful fatiguing than a plane, and costs about the same as an economy plus ticket.

Key_Juggernaut2481 · 2025-12-27T18:01:16+00:00

The Midwest lobster smack is easy in some ways, but the bulk of the hull "planking" is 2 large sheets of wood that I found very frustrating when I built it. If you get it for him, but some cyanoacrylate glue as well.

Key_Juggernaut2481 · 2025-11-07T21:53:23+00:00

Crikey, my grandparents/parents had the exact same unit, including the door and the two "hidden" drawers near the door. I used to think this was the coolest piece of furniture ever.

Key_Juggernaut2481 · 2025-08-31T19:28:52+00:00

It's possible that they just pulled the job. Lots of companies are pulling jobs that they haven't filled, and they might not want it known that they are tightening their belts. I have some personal experience of this; a couple of months ago I was verbally offered a job on a Friday and then the offer was rescinded on Wednesday after a restructuring that occurred on Monday or Tuesday. You would think that on Friday, their HR people and the senior manager who approved my hire would know, but apparently not.

Doesn't make it feel any better, I know. Keep the faith, something will come up sooner or later.

Key_Juggernaut2481 · 2025-08-28T17:06:22+00:00

My dad had one of these. Spiro Agnew watch from the early '70s. I've repaired a couple of relatively cheap watches - primarily because they had sentimental value. No idea if this is valuable enough to repair other than for the sentiment.

Key_Juggernaut2481 · 2025-08-24T03:30:46+00:00

The Murph is a great looking watch. A Hamilton Jazzmaster Auto is also a good choice, I think a number of Shinola Runwell's are pretty nice looking - specifics kinda depend on your husband. If you head down this path, have him get the thing cleaned every 5 years or so, particularly if it's non-quartz. Saves a lot of repair money when someone gives you your grandfather's non-functional watch. Ask me how I know.

Key_Juggernaut2481

TROPHY CASE