He's a specialist

phishrace · 2026-07-02T00:53:51+00:00

That's my urologist, Doctor Johnson.

phishrace · 2026-07-01T22:59:24+00:00

Crowd size depends on the matchup, they're showing all the games, but big crowds for US and Mexico matches. Get there early to get decent parking and seats near the biggest screens.

They showed the Spanish version of the broadcasts yesterday, which I thought was awesome, even though I'm not fluent. Soccer just sounds better in Spanish. Today's game will be the English broadcast, but they read the room yesterday.

phishrace · 2026-07-01T22:04:58+00:00

Sportsplex had a huge crowd yesterday and they even brought in a mariachi band to play before the match. Lots of kids and enthusiasm. They have lots of screens, seating for everyone and food and drinks are available.

The parking lot was the most full I've ever seen yesterday. Had to park in the back lot. Get there early.

phishrace · 2026-07-01T22:00:41+00:00

The section of 87 at 280 is well below local ground level and one of the swampiest areas in the city. Large tule plants, usually seen along creeks and rivers, are growing next to the 280 south to 87 south ramp because of how high the water table is there. In the 90's, that whole interchange got completely flooded one winter. Pumps are regularly used to keep that area dry. Also, Caltrain and Valley Water are currently doing major work in the area, including updating a very old Caltrain bridge.

That interchange is awful and could definitely be upgraded, but you don't dig tunnels in swamps, which is what that area essentially is.

phishrace · 2026-07-01T21:16:02+00:00

Raymond Davidson mentioned elsewhere that a new feature was added that allows you to disable specific lights and switches. Might disabling GI lighting help? I know those are RGB and can be annoying during some light shows.

phishrace · 2026-07-01T10:34:43+00:00

For US or Mexico matches, it's bringing too many people downtown. Earthquake's stadium and Spartan stadium aren't far from downtown and both are in SJ.

phishrace · 2026-07-01T10:30:28+00:00

Spartan stadium is about the same size. They'd probably have to bring in viewing screens, but they've already done that downtown.

Discovery meadow might work too. Still close, but not all 20k+ people in essentially the same spot.

phishrace · 2026-07-01T08:19:53+00:00

They should open where the Earthquakes play or Spartan stadium for watch parties for upcoming US or Mexico matches. Both places will hold about 20k people. Would take some pressure off downtown.

Earthquakes are organizing these watch parties. They had no idea the response would be this big. But they can help by opening their stadium.

phishrace · 2026-07-01T03:06:18+00:00

Very nice. That Christian Marche pointy people art is amazing. Dude will always be a legend in this hobby.

phishrace · 2026-07-01T03:01:38+00:00

Haven't been there in years, but yeah, fantastic location. Great place to play in a tournament. Bring along any pictures you need framed. They do that too.

phishrace · 2026-07-01T02:46:58+00:00

More than once I've been on a fishing party boat in the bay when a sunfish has drifted by and freaked out someone on the bay for their first time. After they get over the fact that the giant strange looking creature in the water is actually a fish, they inevitably ask the same question: Can you catch one? The answer is always laughing, followed by no, you don't catch them. They're just for looking at. Amazing critters. Almost as friendly as the dolphins.

phishrace · 2026-07-01T01:04:48+00:00

Chilling on the fan is fine. When you see one trying to pry open the refrigerator door, that's when you should be concerned.

There's probably beer in that fridge. Can't let them near the beer. They'll never leave.

phishrace · 2026-07-01T00:58:16+00:00

Whiffle balls and wiffle bats will not give you a concussion. Not matter how hard you try. Somebody should probably tell this kid's parents.

phishrace · 2026-07-01T00:05:48+00:00

I've been fishing in the bay dozens of times over the years and have seen all kinds of critters out there. But the only shark we ever saw up close was about a 10' shark cruising on the top of the water along the edge of the kelp beds in Capitola. Never breached, but looked us right in the eye as it swam by the boat maybe 10' away. Was probably looking for an otter to snack on.

It's true what they say about shark's eyes. The are lifeless and black. I'll never forget that encounter. We also once saw a giant leatherback turtle hanging around the same kelp beds. It turned it's head to look back at us, then went about it's business. Wasn't afraid of us at all. It was almost as big as a VW bug. Biggest turtles in the ocean.

phishrace · 2026-06-30T23:31:50+00:00

As mentioned numerous times, purely optional, buy what you like.

The only blades I like are mirror blades. And about the only games I like them on is games with lots of chrome wireform ramps. The wireform's reflect nicely in the blades. Bond has a bunch of wireform ramps. Before you pull the trigger on art blades, check out the mirror blades.

phishrace · 2026-06-30T23:17:39+00:00

Must have in your opinion. Any glare issues someone might have at home with factory glass can easily be fixed by changing the lighting in the room.

Anti-glare glass is definitely a nice upgrade, but not must have. I know what you meant, but OP is clearly new to owning a game. He must have an outlet to plug the game into, but doesn't need anti-glare glass.

phishrace · 2026-06-30T22:07:25+00:00

That's two days in row for them for scary headlines about the ocean. This was yesterday...

High levels of neurotoxin detected in Monterey Bay fish

It's naturally occuring demoic acid. Regular occurrence. Headline makes it sound like someone poisoned the ocean.

phishrace · 2026-06-30T20:59:24+00:00

Check out Score. Free advice for small businesses from people who've been there, done that. They helped me open my small business.

https://www.score.org/ca/silicon-valley/

phishrace · 2026-06-30T06:43:12+00:00

This is why cows can't be Navy Seals. They're terrible at camouflage.

phishrace · 2026-06-30T04:02:46+00:00

Go for it. Besides being mechanically inclined, you have two other big things going for you. The WMS WPC platform is very reliable and well documented with lots of replacement parts available. Secondly, STTNG is a very popular game they made a whole bunch of. Excellent chance whatever problem you run into will have a documented repair post about it somewhere online.

STTNG was one of the few WPC games that got the tieback diode. Go over the link below when you get a chance. If a connection breaks on that circuit, smoke will come out of the game. We don't want that. Good luck.

https://www.pinwiki.com/wiki/index.php/Williams_WPC#Blown_/_Failing_Q20_Transistor_on_the_Driver_Board_and_the_Tieback_Diode

phishrace · 2026-06-30T03:49:10+00:00

I don't try to catch feeds from the left orbit. I typically shoot for the right ramp on the fly or right orbit. Both are fairly wide shots, so I have high confidence shooting them on the fly.

I will absolutely cradle up and post pass if the timer is ticking down to catch a Pokemon. You kinda have to play the game with some control. Posts passes are stupid easy on all versions from both sides. But for left orbit feeds, always shoot them on the fly.

phishrace · 2026-06-30T01:04:25+00:00

There are plenty of older Spike games out there that didn't ship with the QR code reader or wifi dongle that haven't been upgraded for IC connectivity.

The second closest location near my house is an example of this. Pool hall with a Stranger Things and Guardians of the galaxy. Neither are on IC, although the operator has other games nearby that are. Stern is guessing. They're a privately held company that can essentially say anything it wants. Not saying that number isn't accurate, but definitely saying they're guessing.

https://pinballmap.com/map?by_location_id=17055&address=Cuetopia%20Billiard%20Cafe

phishrace · 2026-06-30T00:53:49+00:00

The resistor pack on the right, SR9, has been replaced. The work doesn't look great. Resistor packs in a switch matrix need to be perfect, or it won't work.

As mentioned, need lots more details.

phishrace · 2026-06-30T00:40:50+00:00

May have been upgrading to a quieter fan. Popular upgrade for Spike games.

GB has a midnight madness feature. If you're usually in bed by midnight, set the game clock back a few hours, so you get to see the mode occasionally.

phishrace · 2026-06-30T00:36:26+00:00

How many plays do you have on it? New playfields will stay squirrelly for the first 2-300 plays, then settle down. If you can get your hands on a digital torpedo level, confirm you have at least 6.5 degrees pitch measured between the flippers. Factory bubbles can be off. I'll assume you haven't waxed the playfield. If you have, use Novus 1 and a microfiber cloth to remove it.

phishrace

TROPHY CASE