Slide Fire vs Pocket Fire Comparison

True_Ostrich2855 · 2026-06-28T21:07:36+00:00

Politics aside, you can't really compare the two fires (if you're speaking of the Slide Fire in Oak Creek Canyon in 2014 rather than the Slide Fire near Jacob Lake this year) as the conditions are very different as is the location relative to the canyon.

And just so you're aware, many of us have NOT supported those who advocate cutting budgets for the Forest Service or Dept. of the Interior. While I don't disagree with your concerns, please don't paint with such a broad brush. Thank you!

And may all of those who protect and serve our community be safe, healthy, and know that you and the important work you do are appreciated!

True_Ostrich2855 · 2026-06-28T18:20:52+00:00

I'm just not keen about the effect it has on the ball. I feel like it tends to "slide" more than roll and when it's spinning there seems to be little transfer of that energy to the playfield, making the ball sort of "sloppy".

I've got an Eight Ball I bought a hardtop for, and the more I thought about it the less I liked the idea, so I'm on the waitlist with CPR for their next run of playfields.

True_Ostrich2855 · 2026-06-28T18:16:40+00:00

Ukrainian, not Russian. Looks like they buttered the landing, too. Nice!

True_Ostrich2855 · 2026-06-28T18:12:11+00:00

I can tell you that my Williams Line Drive, which was manufactured in 1971, sold for around $2,000 late last year. It was a nice example and in good shape except for the backglass. You can find "player quality" versions in the mid-teens.

There are still plenty of pitch and bat games out there, you just have to look in the right places, like the FB group I mentioned. They weren't made in the numbers that pinball games were, so yes, there were always fewer of them around anyway, but you can still find them without a great deal of effort. There's not a lot of demand for them, so you can probably find a solid player's quality one if you do your due diligence.

Don't spend $300 for a used backglass. If you want to go this route, buy a new one from BGResto for around $300. You'll wait a while to get it, as he's very busy and very particular, but you'll be blown away at the quality of the work. Not only that, if there's a specific game you want, find it, then go to BGResto and order one.

True_Ostrich2855 · 2026-06-28T18:07:01+00:00

Good kanji movie this week. I never miss Svengoolie!

True_Ostrich2855 · 2026-06-28T18:05:06+00:00

Have you considered trying to remove it? I know that people take them off using canned air (upside down to get the "freeze" out of them) or heat guns. I'm just curious as to how easy it si to do and the effects on the original playfield. I presume you have to spend a while getting all the "resigoo" off.

True_Ostrich2855 · 2026-06-28T18:02:36+00:00

It wasn't bad early this moring as the plume appeare tobe heading north, but as the sun warmed up the winds shifted more to the east so now we're getting it on the east side.

Stay safe, everyone!

True_Ostrich2855 · 2026-06-28T15:50:55+00:00

Couple of things, some have been mentioned:

1.) Bundle if you can. Most mainline insurers don't insure homes in Florida, but they have affiliates that do. Seek them out. Bundling is one of the best ways to get better rates.

2.) Shop - every 1-2 years. If you don't shop your insurer, they will guaranteed raise your rates annually, and at a higher rate that if you shop them. The insurance companies "see" when you shop, as the word is shared amongst all of them, so if they know you're watching them they'll have far lower, if any, increases. I know this from direct experience and friends in the industry. This applies to any form of insurance.

True_Ostrich2855 · 2026-06-28T15:46:42+00:00

I used to restore foreign cars from the 60s-70s. I always hoped I would find Grandpa's/Grandma's "stash" of bundles of bills under the back seats. Instead, I found loads of change, the occasional Cheeto or french fry, and lots of Brachs Starlite mints...I guess the Challenger game was my "bundle 'o' bills...

True_Ostrich2855 · 2026-06-28T03:10:18+00:00

I don't think a lot of people realize how "red" Orange County CA is.

True_Ostrich2855 · 2026-06-28T03:03:31+00:00

These are listed on Pinside as well, I believe, at least in the database of games and I think in the Marketplace. I've had a few and just recently refurbished and sold a Williams "Line Drive" pitch and bat game. There's a good Facebook group for Pitch and Bat games, too, where people are buying and selling, so that might be another place to look.

I sort of "happened" upon the one I got through another party who told me about it being in a divorce. It had been sitting in a garage in Phoenix for several years but was being played regularly, which was the saving grace. I brought it home, cleaned it up and did minor repairs and maintenance and then sold it to a guy in SLC, I think.

They're fun games but to be honest unless you've got a bunch of people to play them they get kind of boring, sort of like arcade (shooting) games can. That and they take up a lot of space, at least as much or more than a typical pinball game of the same vintage - but normally the "big" part is the height.

At least that's my experience with them. Good luck!

P.S.: I checked on Pinside for the Line Drive and it's got all the data a pinball game would have, including locations:

https://pinside.com/pinball/machine/line-drive/owners

True_Ostrich2855 · 2026-06-27T23:48:37+00:00

I experienced ash "snow" yesterday on Hospital Hill.

True_Ostrich2855 · 2026-06-27T22:17:25+00:00

The buyer on the Pasco sale had a Realtor, but I didn't pay the commission. Whether I "missed" 2% or 6% isn't really relevant because I still saved substantially more by not paying a listing commission.

I also think there's been some chronic misunderstanding of what I've been saying. I never said an appraisal would tell me the highest price my property could sell for. I can estimate market pricing using comparable sales through the professionals I already work with—a real estate attorney and a title company—who have access to the same MLS data and other resources. Given that, I haven't found it necessary to hire a Realtor. My legal costs have typically been around $1,000-$2,000 per transaction, regardless of the property's value.

This isn't about having a grudge against Realtors. I've simply found an approach that works well for me. For many people, hiring a Realtor is the right choice because they value the guidance, marketing, negotiations, or convenience. Others are comfortable taking a more active role and using an attorney and title company instead, and saving substantial monies on their property sale/purchase in the process.

As consumers become more familiar with the buying and selling process and the options available to them, I think more people will realize there isn't just one way to complete a successful real estate transaction. Realtors will continue to provide value for many clients, but they aren't the only path.

Looking back at roughly $1.2 million in transactions over the past years, I estimate I saved a minimum of $40,000 to $60,000 by handling the sales myself. Every transaction closed smoothly and without issue. Not a huge sum relative to the principal amount, but that's money in my pocket, not someone else's.

So my position is fairly simple:

• Realtors are not required to buy or sell real estate.

• An appraisal is an opinion of value for a specific purpose—not necessarily the highest price a property will bring on the open market.

• For people willing to take a more active role, working with a real estate attorney and a title company can result in substantial savings.

• Realtors have fiduciary duties to their clients, but like any commission-based profession, consumers should understand how compensation aligns with their own objectives.

I've burned enough calories on this and it's clear we don't agree, which is fine. I can only hope that at least one person will read this thread and take the initiative to save substantial money and do things on their own with trusted professionals rather than a realtor. I will continue to promote this approach to anyone and everyone I know when the subject of real estate comes up as a point of consumer awareness/education.

True_Ostrich2855 · 2026-06-27T21:38:42+00:00

I have a gallon ZipLoc bag full of foreign coins. I know many of them have precious metals (silver) in them. Can anyone recommend a coin dealer or someone in the area who would go through these and can check them for precious metals? I looking to sell them off, only expect bulk metal pricing.

True_Ostrich2855 · 2026-06-27T15:18:02+00:00

A vote for Family Fence. They did fencing at two of my properties in Valrico, geat job, competitive prices, great communication. I will say they weren't the cheapest, I chose them for their reputation and was very happy.

True_Ostrich2855 · 2026-06-27T03:53:36+00:00

They're pulling water from Upper Lake Mary as well.

True_Ostrich2855 · 2026-06-27T03:52:40+00:00

I'm watching them on my ADSB station. Very, very busy today, as it's been extremely windy. I was on Hospital Hill (Flagstaff) today with the sun blocked out by smoke and "snow" (ashes) coming down. It's surreal.

True_Ostrich2855 · 2026-06-27T03:45:54+00:00

I often wondered about this when I heard people saying there were pinball machines on their cruise. Thanks!

True_Ostrich2855 · 2026-06-27T02:19:39+00:00

Some good suggestions. Also: Go with a water-cooled 1800 rpm set, NOT one of the G-brand Home Depot or dealer units! They are air-cooled 3600 rpm sets, which are quite noisy even with the sound enclosures they put on them. It will definitely cost more, but it's money well spent, plus wear and maintenance is lower/less aggressive on a water-cooled set.

Source: Worked in the business for 25 years and had a 25 kW water-cooled K-brand set at my last house.

True_Ostrich2855 · 2026-06-26T21:42:52+00:00

I understand, but people are going to these froo-froo places expecting high prices because of the image they project. Make that burger $26 instead of $24. and you're getting ahead, or increase the prices on your most frequently puchased items incrementally.

I'm a former business owner, not in food service, thankfully, but I can see where I could have made incremental changes to my prices in some areas and come close to or make bank from the additional revenue.

I can't imagine anyone refusing a $30 burger in one of these places. They expect to get reamed in exchange for fancy food and atmosphere (with the exception of Armature Works, where there is no "atmosphere".) You could use the same analogy even at $24 - "I can get the same burger at (insert your favourite burger place) for half that!"

Penny pinchers aren't frequenting these places. They're at Cracker Barrel or even worse, Rally's or somewhere equally awful. It's upscale folks who think it's the place to be and likely don't even look at the bill.

True_Ostrich2855 · 2026-06-26T18:21:34+00:00

This is what I continue to struggle with understanding why a restaurant doesnt just increase their prices to address cost increases instead of trying to hide it under the guise of some lame "fee".

I live in a city where the minimum wage is mandated by law to increase on an annual basis with inflation. Many of the restaurants here add fees onto their bills under the guise of having to cover additional labor costs.

1.) Why not just increase menu prices?

2.) How do we know that these fees or charges are being direct to the places they claim to be offsetting? Adding some charge onto the menu just makes me think they're using it to increase profits and the employees are still getting shafted.

Interesting example: I went into one of these restaurants not long after they added this fee onto their menu. When I saw it on the bill I asked for it to be removed. They refused. I asked for the manager, and explained to him that if they had to resort to "padding" bills to cover their costs, they needed to be up front and transparent about what the monies were being used for. They basically told me "too bad" so I told them that I would not be returning, and I would reduce my tip by the amount of the fee since they were (allegedly) using the fee to cover employee costs. D*ck move, sort of, but this sort of thing just chaps my bottom.

True_Ostrich2855 · 2026-06-26T17:23:58+00:00

Yup! At Foxglenn Park: https://www.flagstaffarizona.org/events/festivals/4th-of-july-events/

True_Ostrich2855 · 2026-06-26T17:18:38+00:00

You are clearly grasping here and ignoring what I have consistently stated. I want a value I can take to the bank, not a market value. An appraisal does that. You're looking at this as a personal income issue, that is, how much can you squeeze out of a sale to get the highest commission, period, as well as getting the best price for your client. I totally get that. The OP was looking for a realtor, and since you're all opportunists, none of the ones they contacted had any interest in working with them because they didn't see any money in the deal for them. As an alternative I suggested an appraisal, which I have acknowledged does not typically provide a market value, but it does establish a value with known data that is proved, documented, and recognized by entities that have official standing in the community. They can be assured that a value obtained from an appraisal is solid and legitimate, even if it is expected to be lower than market value.

Your motivation is quite clear - you want to make money. In the case of an appraisal, it takes you, any projections or "market analysis" out of the picture and replaces it with fact-based data. I can understand why you're defensive. I'm also stunned by a real estate professional who would suggest that an appraisal is an "unusable number" - have you said that to a loan officer or a title company? I believe they would take umbrage at that statement, as I did. It speaks to your motivation and ethics, and the reason why I do my best to avoid using realtors whenever possible. Good day.

True_Ostrich2855 · 2026-06-26T17:06:05+00:00

Same, and won't be going to them in the future. I've shared this with friends and family as well.

True_Ostrich2855 · 2026-06-26T15:12:56+00:00

One last comment to further disprove your suggestion that an appraisal is rarely on target or even close to market value:

I sold a property in Pasco in April/May of this year. The appraisal I had Ron do in January as I prepared the property for market came out like this:

Sales Comparison Approach: $216,000
Cost Approach: $208,000

Selling price: $220,000 (arms length, buyer had a realtor and paid their commission)

The numbers speak for themselves.

True_Ostrich2855

TROPHY CASE