Subj : Re: cell service was: To : Barry Martin From : Nancy Backus Date : Tue May 05 2020 19:44:36 -=> Quoting Barry Martin to Nancy Backus on 28-Apr-2020 10:19 <=- NB>>> Possible, but I go by that place pretty regularly, and hadn't seen NB>>> evidence of it starting to tatter.... NB>> More recently, I noticed as we drove by that the lines (ropes, NB>> whatever) for hoisting the flag are still on that pole... but still NB>> haven't seen any sight of a flag.... BM> Could have been the flag tore in a wind storm.... Could be... :) BM>> I'm thinking that's what may have happened to the Village Inn that BM>> closed down the hill from us. Village Inn (in general) used to have BM>> decent food but over the years has been declining. We more or less BM>> swore off late last year because of the over-salted gravy, gristly BM>> steak (my cut wasn't as bad but a super-cheap cut), and a salad that BM>> had more rust on the lettuce than a junkyard car. NB>> Then perhaps it wasn't just the bridge construction and the pandemic NB>> that did them in... maybe just gave the push to finish them off... BM> Quite possible. Did a quick check to see if any reason was given BM> eventually -- no -- but was reminded a few other nearby locations have BM> also closed (Davenport, Clinton...). Also Village Inns...? so a sort of chain....? BM>>> The building was eventually razed and AFAIK nothing is there. AFAIK BM>>> the property is owned by the Mall, but mall shopping has been steadily BM>>> reduced over the years so they have quite a few empty stores. NB>>> So no interest in reviving the site for anything... The one here NB>>> was on a isolated parcel of land... it's not a bad site for a NB>>> restaurant or other business, but not an excellent one, either... :) BM>> The site is decent; would be good for another restaurant but probably BM>> not a store due to the traffic pattern: one-ways on either side so is BM>> a destination rather than a quick stop. Don't know if any attempt to BM>> build or purchase -- maybe the Mall is asking too much, possibly on BM>> purpose to drive interested businesses into the half-empty Mall BM>> proper. (Not literally but maybe quarter-empty and two of the five or BM>> six anchor stores closed.) NB>> Or maybe there just haven't been any takers interested... ;) BM> The latter, probably. Seems the mini-strip-malls has been the way to BM> build and do business in now; malls took away from downtowns, the BM> mini-strip malls taking away from the mall. The mini-strip malls do have the benefits of easier parking and access to the individual stores... There's one near-ish us that has 6 different restaurants in it... 3 of which are on our list of regulars... :) I think there are 10 (maybe 11 or 12 max) stores total there... BM>> Bridge construction has restarted and the Iowa-bound span's arch is BM>> almost completed: need the keystone piece at the top and as of earlier BM>> this week they're calculating and rechecking to be certain it fits BM>> properly. With that piece installed they can start the deck for the BM>> cars -- and pedestrians? Not sure where the trail is to be -- the BM>> elevator is on the Illinois-bound lane but they were also talking BM>> about the bridge trail to continue to connect with the rest of the BM>> trail system. NB>> Maybe the trail will be two-way traffic on just the one span...? BM> Possibly. I've looked in the past but not found anything, which seems BM> odd as the plans have been presented to the public since before BM> construction started. Just not looking in the right place. And it'll BM> be a surprise to me when I do find out! Eventually... maybe it'll turn up in the news releases when the bridge is ready to be opened to traffic... :) BM>> There was a somewhat noisy helicopter flying last night from probably BM>> the Illinois side to possibly Davenport so maybe a hospital transfer BM>> but I didn't hear anything about a major accident. NB>> Might have been from a hospital filled up with COVID-19 patients NB>> or something.... BM> So that's how Illinois is keeping their numbers down: transfer BM> patients to Iowa!! BM> There are numerous smaller hospitals on both sides of the River and BM> not unusual for a transfer to a larger hospital here in the Quad BM> Cities. And the hospitals here have transferred patients to the BM> even-larger hospitals: University of Iowa Hospitals in Iowa City (IA), BM> the one in Peoria (IL).... Probably evens out... ;) With yours being a multiple city complex, there'd be more of that crossing borders and all... ;) There's transfers here among the local hospitals as necessary, and there are a number of smaller hospitals in surrounding communities as well... And in an emergency, with no beds available here, patients have been airlifted to other cities... I know Pittsburgh PA has taken our patients on occasion... BM>>> That silence was almost unnerving! Never realized how much of a BM>>> constant background hum there was. I was off that day and later was BM>>> in the backyard just to 'get away'. Essentially clear sky, no air BM>>> traffic, strangely quiet. Suddenly noticed a tiny bright spot moving BM>>> slowly from west to east. Definately a plane, guessing either Air BM>>> Force 1 or another special jet bringing someone to Washington, D.C. BM>>> And no, I don't recall hearing any change in the sound when I noticed BM>>> the jet. NB>>> It might have been a satellite, though.... one doesn't hear them.... NB>>> but yes, if high enough, one wouldn't hear a plane, either... BM>> I'm thinking jet because it was scooting right along. Don't recall BM>> for certain if there was a vapor trail; thinking not. NB>> If no vapor trail, then could be a fast satellite... BM> Or really high. Or just not recalling a vapor trail. Maybe..... ;) BM>>> Yes, vaguely remembering that. And possibly the thing throwing me off BM>>> was not remembering the planes back in the 50's were tiny compared to BM>>> some now. Plus that section was 'out in the boonies' at the time and BM>>> probably mostly farmland. Now built up. NB>>> Both could well be a factor... :) BM>> Right. And if a plane needed to do an emergency landing might not BM>> worry too much about clipping the wings off and snapping a few power BM>> poles and traffic lights. NB>> Then, or even now... :) BM> Humans in one piece is better than worrying about the plane! For sure... :) ttyl neb .... Justify my text? I'm sorry but it has no excuse. --- EzyBlueWave V3.00 01FB001F * Origin: Tiny's BBS - http://www.tinysbbs.com (454:1/452) .