The Miscellaneous Thought Thread

[Disney Analyst]

Congrats. I'm not an expert at that type of cuisine, but when I ate at Din Tai Fung a few times in OC I was impressed with how fresh and beautifully seasoned and presented everything was. I imagine someone who really knows their dumplings would be even more impressed.

Be prepared for pandemonium though. The location at South Coast Plaza is always mobbed to the rafters.

With Vancouver being so diverse, with a huge Chinese population, we do have a decent amount of very authentic and delicious options already. I will be very interested in trying this, to see how it compares. I often worry that these restaurants that become big brands, end up catering more to global tastes vs authenticity.

I will certainly be comparing it to the insane XLB you can find at this little stand:

Cash only, they make the XLB fresh right there in front of you, and they are DELICIOUS.

 

[TP2000]

Point me to the part that says "this will solve California's drought forever-ty and ever in an extremely long term way."

Okay... I get it now.

If you are expecting the California climate to suddenly change and become like consistently wet and rainy South Carolina, no that's not going to happen. California has had extremely dry years followed by very wet years for tens of thousands of years, long before the first humans arrived here down the coast from Oregon. All due to many factors like our 10,000 foot mountain ranges, the way the Pacific ocean currents flip and battle it out from La Nina to El Nino, etc.

Californians know this is how our West Coast climate works. It's very inconsistent from year to year, unlike many areas west of the Mississippi.

There is currently only 1.38% of the state of California in "Moderate Drought"; namely a little area west of Lake Havasu. California's state reservoir system is currently at 129% of its average for this time of year. The soil moisture content measured by NOAA satellites to a depth of 100 Centimeters (what's that in American? Five inches?) for most of the state is off the charts wet.

This is all fabulous news. After the last couple of dry years, we needed this. And we got it. There is virtually no drought area left anywhere in California. A giant state that's bigger than Japan or the United Kingdom, by the way.

This is good news. Good. Happy. A complete reversal from just one year ago. You can tell the trees are loving it.

 

[PiratesMansion]

Okay... I get it now.

If you are expecting the California climate to suddenly change and become like consistently wet and rainy South Carolina, no that's not going to happen. California has had extremely dry years followed by very wet years for tens of thousands of years, long before the first humans arrived here down the coast from Oregon. All due to many factors like our 10,000 foot mountain ranges, the way the Pacific ocean currents flip and battle it out from La Nina to El Nino, etc.

Californians know this is how our West Coast climate works. It's very inconsistent from year to year, unlike many areas west of the Mississippi.

There is currently only 1.38% of the state of California in "Moderate Drought"; namely a little area west of Lake Havasu. California's state reservoir system is currently at 129% of its average for this time of year. The soil moisture content measured by NOAA satellites to a depth of 100 Centimeters (what's that in American? Five inches?) for most of the state is off the charts wet.

This is all fabulous news. After the last couple of dry years, we needed this. And we got it. There is virtually no drought area left anywhere in California. A giant state that's bigger than Japan or the United Kingdom, by the way.

This is good news. Good. Happy. A complete reversal from just one year ago. You can tell the trees are loving it.

So yeah, what you're saying is that there's no proof that this temporary burst of extra precipitation will provide long term solutions, but boy does everything look really pretty right now.

Just as I thought.

 

[TP2000]

So yeah, what you're saying is that there's no proof that this temporary burst of extra precipitation will provide long term solutions, but boy does everything look really pretty right now.

Just as I thought.

I can't tell if you are being facetious. I remember the extreme drought of '76 followed by the floods of '77. That drought was so bad they made a show about it on Eight Is Enough. (The start of the "Very special episode..." era)

Winter brings almost all the rain that California gets. For thousands of years sometimes the winter here is dry, sometimes it is wet, sometimes it's average. Which is why over 100 years ago Californians had to start building the largest system of reservoirs and water conveyance systems in the USA, as we just never know if it's going to be a dry year or a wet year. Or three dry years, or three wet years. California rainfall is never consistent. Likely never will be.

And thank you again to William Mulholland, by the way. I sometimes miss the Golden Dreams show at DCA.

There is currently only 1.38% of California that is in drought. It's a small pocket way out in the eastern desert. The rest of California is now Drought Free. No drought. Nada. Zilch. Nothing. And even unusually wet for August. This is good news. It is not anything to be upset about. Good. Happy.

What will Winter 2024 bring? Who knows? What will Winter 2029 bring? Who knows? What will Winter 2076 bring?...

But 2023 is fabulous.

 

[TP2000]

With Vancouver being so diverse, with a huge Chinese population, we do have a decent amount of very authentic and delicious options already. I will be very interested in trying this, to see how it compares. I often worry that these restaurants that become big brands, end up catering more to global tastes vs authenticity.

I will certainly be comparing it to the insane XLB you can find at this little stand:

View attachment 739220

Cash only, they make the XLB fresh right there in front of you, and they are DELICIOUS.

I was going to mention the huge Chinese community in Vancouver. In the 1970's I had friends who moved there, a lovely Vietnamese couple named Ghet and Grace who escaped the Communists just before the fall of Saigon. Ghet would take us to all these fabulous little restaurants in Vancouver's burgeoning Asian neighborhoods back then that I as a typical white American guy would have never been able to know about.

This seems like a miss for DCA's new San Fransokyo food court remake. From the info I saw, it looks like they've gone sort of a mall food court "fusion" route instead of creating a Chinese takeout place like this.

DCA used to do a good job with their Lunar New Year events using the old Burger Invasion counter service location as a seasonal Asian offering. But I can't think of any Disney theme park outside of Tokyo DisneySea that has a permanent and truly good Chinese restaurant offering, can you?

 

[CaptinEO]

I was going to mention the huge Chinese community in Vancouver. In the 1970's I had friends who moved there, a lovely Vietnamese couple named Ghet and Grace who escaped the Communists just before the fall of Saigon. Ghet would take us to all these fabulous little restaurants in Vancouver's burgeoning Asian neighborhoods back then that I as a typical white American guy would have never been able to know about.

This seems like a miss for DCA's new San Fransokyo food court remake. From the info I saw, it looks like they've gone sort of a mall food court "fusion" route instead of creating a Chinese takeout place like this.

DCA used to do a good job with their Lunar New Year events using the old Burger Invasion counter service location as a seasonal Asian offering. But I can't think of any Disney theme park outside of Tokyo DisneySea that has a permanent and truly good Chinese restaurant offering, can you?

It's so odd to me the fusion stuff. I mentioned it before but the park is all about that. Whether it's a hot dog grilled cheese, Bagels and Lox Nachos, or Birria Ramen.

It must be selling well I suppose? It'd be awesome if they had a straight japanese restaraunt here in addition to the crossover offerings at the other restaraunts.

Then again maybe I don't want to try however Disney would butcher sushi.

Also it is so funny when you think how in the same company one regime built burger invasion, another called it tacky and tore it down, and then the next one added in a giant cardboard happy meal box as a restaurant.

I just want them to make up their minds.

 

[TP2000]

Then again maybe I don't want to try however Disney would butcher sushi.

From a legal perspective, Splitsville already has the contract on awful sushi for the Disneyland Resort.

 

[CaptinEO]

From a legal perspective, Splitsville already has the contract on awful sushi for the Disneyland Resort.

I remember at opening reading the reviews and have never gone in. Any time I walk by it seemed empty, who is paying the rent for this spot?

Also can we talk about how different the crowd who wants sushi is from the crowd that wants to go bowling? What a poorly thought out concept.

 

[D.Silentu]

It's so odd to me the fusion stuff. I mentioned it before but the park is all about that. Whether it's a hot dog grilled cheese, Bagels and Lox Nachos, or Birria Ramen.

I'm sure I'm not the first to this conclusion, but I imagine it has a lot to do with tempting Keyholders to buy food in the park. Something frequent visitors would likely be less inclined to do if it wasn't unique.

 

[CaptinEO]

I'm sure I'm not the first to this conclusion, but I imagine it has a lot to do with tempting Keyholders to buy food in the park. Something frequent visitors would likely be less inclined to do if it wasn't unique.

Im sure that is true and the concepts are weird enough to be instagrammable which means free ads for the park.

To me the silliest example of this I saw was them serving shrimp covered in blue food coloring on Galactic Starcruiser. No thank you on that one.

 

[Rich T]

Just got an email from Busch Gardens Tampa.

Apparently, starting August 30, the park is going completely no-cash. You won’t be able to use cash anywhere on site, including the toll booths. Kiosks will be available for converting cash to gift/debit cards.

Interesting! I wonder how soon other parks in the area will adapt this policy. Personally, I don’t pay cash for anything at any park; the tiny bit of paper money I bring along is strictly for tipping at the hotel.

 

[Disney Analyst]

Just got an email from Busch Gardens Tampa.

Apparently, starting August 30, the park is going completely no-cash. You won’t be able to use cash anywhere on site, including the toll booths. Kiosks will be available for converting cash to gift/debit cards.

Interesting! I wonder how soon other parks in the area will adapt this policy. Personally, I don’t pay cash for anything at any park; the tiny bit of paper money I bring along is strictly for tipping at the hotel.

Get ready for the outrage from some.

The Vancouver PNE (basically our version of a state fair) did the same after Covid, completely cashless operations now.

A certain demographic likes to scream on the PNE's various social media posts about how they will never go again, cash is king, etc. etc. etc.

 

[TP2000]

Just got an email from Busch Gardens Tampa.

Apparently, starting August 30, the park is going completely no-cash. You won’t be able to use cash anywhere on site, including the toll booths. Kiosks will be available for converting cash to gift/debit cards.

Interesting! I wonder how soon other parks in the area will adapt this policy. Personally, I don’t pay cash for anything at any park; the tiny bit of paper money I bring along is strictly for tipping at the hotel.

I don't like that idea at all.

Yesterday afternoon on KFI AM 640, they had an interview with an LA politician who was putting forward a proposal to make it illegal in Los Angeles for businesses to not accept cash from customers. There's apparently a group of people that are called "un-banked", who don't have a bank account or debit card and rely on cash only. Who knew? They are also the reason payroll check cashing places exist, because they have no bank account and don't want one.

The thought is that in the need for DEI goals and to be equitable, you have to accept cash if you are a private business.

But even though I've been, I guess, "banked" since I was 14 and opened my first savings account with my dad during my first summer job, I approve of that.

Looking at this 20 dollar bill in my wallet, I am reminded of two things;

1. "THIS NOTE IS LEGAL TENDER FOR ALL DEBTS, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE"
2. Andrew Jackson had a feathery Disco Era haircut that was way ahead of his time.

 

[Consumer]

Just got an email from Busch Gardens Tampa.

Apparently, starting August 30, the park is going completely no-cash. You won’t be able to use cash anywhere on site, including the toll booths. Kiosks will be available for converting cash to gift/debit cards.

Interesting! I wonder how soon other parks in the area will adapt this policy. Personally, I don’t pay cash for anything at any park; the tiny bit of paper money I bring along is strictly for tipping at the hotel.

Dumb. Cash is a wonderful way for families to vacation on a budget.

 

[TP2000]

Dumb. Cash is a wonderful way for families to vacation on a budget.

Also a wonderful way to teach children how to budget, and the value of money. I still remember as a child having an envelope of my allowance and odd job money on vacations, and I'd count it and decide what to spend it on. I also remember tracking my money in my little Jr. Savings Account and then going to the department store with it all at Christmas to spend it on gifts.

Valuable life lessons that I'm not sure translate as well to a debit card and a banking app.

 

[drizgirl]

Dumb. Cash is a wonderful way for families to vacation on a budget.

Maybe Mickey doesn't want you to stick to a budget.

 

[Disney Irish]

I can't tell if you are being facetious. I remember the extreme drought of '76 followed by the floods of '77. That drought was so bad they made a show about it on Eight Is Enough. (The start of the "Very special episode..." era)

Winter brings almost all the rain that California gets. For thousands of years sometimes the winter here is dry, sometimes it is wet, sometimes it's average. Which is why over 100 years ago Californians had to start building the largest system of reservoirs and water conveyance systems in the USA, as we just never know if it's going to be a dry year or a wet year. Or three dry years, or three wet years. California rainfall is never consistent. Likely never will be.

And thank you again to William Mulholland, by the way. I sometimes miss the Golden Dreams show at DCA.

There is currently only 1.38% of California that is in drought. It's a small pocket way out in the eastern desert. The rest of California is now Drought Free. No drought. Nada. Zilch. Nothing. And even unusually wet for August. This is good news. It is not anything to be upset about. Good. Happy.

What will Winter 2024 bring? Who knows? What will Winter 2029 bring? Who knows? What will Winter 2076 bring?...

But 2023 is fabulous.

View attachment 739228

The point that was being made is that all it takes is for one month of sustained heat at above normal temps for that "1.38% of California in drought levels, Hooray California is out of drought, I can leave my hose on!" to go to "99% of California is in drought levels, I have to stop watering my lawn!".

Its going to take a long time of sustained wet weather to bring California out of the drought long term.

 

[PiratesMansion]

It's so odd to me the fusion stuff. I mentioned it before but the park is all about that. Whether it's a hot dog grilled cheese, Bagels and Lox Nachos, or Birria Ramen.

It must be selling well I suppose? It'd be awesome if they had a straight japanese restaraunt here in addition to the crossover offerings at the other restaraunts.

Then again maybe I don't want to try however Disney would butcher sushi.

Also it is so funny when you think how in the same company one regime built burger invasion, another called it tacky and tore it down, and then the next one added in a giant cardboard happy meal box as a restaurant.

I just want them to make up their minds.

The alternative is selling the most boring burgers, hot dogs, and pizza that you can imagine.

I'd take potentially too interesting over too basic.

 

[PiratesMansion]

The point that was being made is that all it takes is for one month of sustained heat at above normal temps for that "1.38% of California in drought levels, Hooray California is out of drought, I can leave my hose on!" to go to "99% of California is in drought levels, I have to stop watering my lawn!".

Its going to take a long time of sustained wet weather to bring California out of the drought long term.

Thank you! Behold, the power of reading comprehension!

 

[TP2000]

Its going to take a long time of sustained wet weather to bring California out of the drought long term.

It's almost like there's some folks that just hate good news.

There is no drought left in California now. It's over*. (*Except for the 1.38% of the state's land mass still in Moderate Drought.)

California swings from wet to dry every few years, over and over again, for thousands of years. That's not going to stop.

Here's a graph of California's wet years vs. dry years going back to 1895, when good record keeping began statewide. Can you point me to the year when California changed its weather patterns "long term"?

California

Current state-level drought information for California: .

www.drought.gov