# Today in Civilization I Saw **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Tags:** photo\ **Created:** [May 23, 2025, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-civilization-i-saw/1018708 "2025-05-23T15:59:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2026, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-civilization-i-saw/1018708/81 "2026-01-04T21:27:00Z")
I was in the grocery store yesterday, and I heard an odd _zooshuup, zooshuup, zooshuup_ sound. I looked around, and there was a guy with a big backpack on, and the sound was coming from the backpack. A large clear tube ran from the backpack and disappeared under his t-shirt. The guy was young, maybe late 20’s or early 30’s, average looking, and seemed completely normal in every way, until I saw a hand-written sign on the back pack: **Artificial Heart Recipient.** 🤯 I really wanted to talk to him, but I figured he must get endless questions, hence the sign, so I left him alone. I didn’t have any idea that the technology was available to make such a device portable. ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2026, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-civilization-i-saw/1018708/82 "2026-01-04T21:52:15Z")
I stopped at a grocery store, parked next to a hoopty, ya know a beaten up car. It was running with no one in it with the passenger window open. It was still running when I came out of the store 10 minutes later. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2026, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-civilization-i-saw/1018708/83 "2026-01-04T21:55:04Z")
Whereas I didn’t know that any such devices were external. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2026, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-civilization-i-saw/1018708/84 "2026-01-04T22:05:23Z")
That is really cool. Good luck to him. The only way it could be better would be if instead it sounding like Darth Vader breathing. My sighting … Today I was out biking in a busy urban downtown. And needed to maneuver around a large vulture standing in the bike lane. I saw no sign of roadkill anywhere nearby. The vulture was walking slowly & looking around alertly. But sure wasn’t boresighted on a nearby meal, nor perturbed by the cars & bikes whizzing by. Huh. ---
**Author:** ![Ponderoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponderoid/32/19221_2.png) [@Ponderoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponderoid)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2026, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-civilization-i-saw/1018708/85 "2026-01-04T23:27:28Z")
My understanding is the best artificial heart tech that’s been approved for use still requires a lot of external kit, but it’s been easily portable in a backpack for a while now. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2026, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-civilization-i-saw/1018708/86 "2026-02-22T21:20:28Z")
Today I saw this. [![Google Photos](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczP_al1vW4QKqbf-IDXXbpVP9IyOHCgjcibv4iOOvBYwQ5lrCDfd3brsotiNWbwhoBdS_5Nk7BeomB-E1YO5y0_-ljaXGmMrQPGfTpJgbN83UJV5Xlk=w600-h315-p-k "New photo · Sunday, Feb 22 📸") ](https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipMrIUlfZZqoWLMIhoQmYMabAQMoaHMKzNJFz5K6IuGy8wVWjTkimFPLUbTzHqWBog?key=enJaR2xJVHc2SjVHa2ZUbkxhSEpmOTFZUnZHUm5B) Click for the full image. Should you desire a bespoke cake, order on line and it will appear in this…. thing. I have no idea how this is financially viable - there are four compartments for chrissakes. It’s in a smallish market town in rural Surrey (the UK one). It’s about a hundred meters from a bakery (!). There are some things in civilization that I just don’t understand at all. j ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2026, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-civilization-i-saw/1018708/87 "2026-02-22T21:22:20Z")
The world’s smallest Automat! [![](https://thumbs.6sqft.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/21022115/Automat_by_Berenice_Abbott_in_1936.jpg?w=1560&format=webp) ](https://thumbs.6sqft.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/21022115/Automat_by_Berenice_Abbott_in_1936.jpg?w=1560&format=webp) ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2026, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-civilization-i-saw/1018708/88 "2026-02-22T21:23:29Z")
I’m suspecting he didn’t order online j ETA: and I just found this (Six year old!) video on YouTube [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/9d-lBnxMN2k/maxresdefault.jpg "Cake Collection Locker by Lola's Cupcakes") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9d-lBnxMN2k) ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2026, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-civilization-i-saw/1018708/89 "2026-02-26T03:41:29Z")
I saw a Skeezik smoking Crack today! At least I figure that’s what he was doing. I’m not really a Crack Expert. I pulled into the Kroger and parked on the right side of a car. Step out and see this mangey looking dude (He looked like Ted Neely circa Jesus Christ Superstar, but real thin and greasy) flattening out a piece of tinfoil on the center console of his car. I turned around to get my shopping bag and tell the dogs to Be Cool, and turned around again, and he’s got this little white “rock” (about as big as a sand pebble) on the tin foil. I was intrigued! Never seen anything like this before! Right here in the Kroger parking lot! He kinda looks at me with a clear daze going on, and I bailed and went into get some hamburger. I nearly went back and moved my car, but I figured he had his attention somewhere other than my shit-wagon. When I came out, the car was there, but Crack-Head was gone. 🤔 ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2026, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-civilization-i-saw/1018708/90 "2026-03-28T00:21:08Z")
I guess this is civilization returning to nature. The store burned a few years ago, and it’s just been left to rot: [![Imgur](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55172714860_f82a958570_b.jpg "DSC\_4942") ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/11822576@N08/55172714860/in/dateposted-public/) ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2026, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-civilization-i-saw/1018708/91 "2026-04-01T21:39:56Z")
When Civilizations collide: [![Imgur](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55182593588_5a750e7579_b.jpg "IMG\_4410") ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/11822576@N08/55182593588/in/dateposted-public/) ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2026, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-civilization-i-saw/1018708/92 "2026-04-07T20:54:28Z")
(Photo to follow.) Seen in the corner of Brockham Big Field (no, that’s really its name). For reference, we’re about 25 miles south of London here. [![Google Photos](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczPiguKZoJYS3LIi1Qyyjzk8_iixyOUs0TTHHcvsL5Yex2FBID1E0Xb8M8b4EMvJMfprdELJEq77zQ3JKSh9oFlCWpkyX2ihgCXGL7RpWngV__5K5bI=w600-h315-p-k "New photo · Monday, Apr 6 📸") ](https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipMayReWMTzGm3eIGInwexCd_l0Jkw4JRQak24KrxTpwTXk3yXnyI94DJfZYmC9BkA?key=WlhQWXYtMmNSamxkd2h4Tk9INUZWNkxYcHpjNG1n) (Click through for the full image, dammit.) Made us laugh and it’s a brilliant idea - but googling, it does appear to be a thing, rather than a stroke of local genius. Nice to see anyway. j ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2026, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-civilization-i-saw/1018708/93 "2026-06-08T22:41:24Z")
An [old-time Big Boy steam locomotive](https://www.cleveland.com/news/2026/06/live-tracker-for-big-boy-no-4014-follow-worlds-largest-steam-locomotive-through-northeast-ohio.html) came through town today. The tracks go right past my apartment, as well as fairly close to Mom’s house, but she didn’t have any place to get close for it (there was a transit police car guarding the former-siding ramp down to the rail cut), so she came out to my place to watch it. Sadly, my railfan uncle wasn’t able to make it, but it’ll probably be going back the same way in July. I planned ahead as far as bringing folding chairs and making sure I had a book, so we could be in place an hour in advance. Mom had me beat, though: She baked a bunch of train-shaped sugar cookies, and was handing them out to the other spectators. ---
**Author:** ![CaveMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cavemike/32/16379_2.png) [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2026, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-civilization-i-saw/1018708/94 "2026-06-08T22:49:11Z")
That’s awesome! You got to see it chugging along too. I’m jealous. Did they do the steam whistle as it went by? I saw Big Boy last week, but it was parked and had a much bigger crowd than I expected. They were giving out plastic whistles to the kids which went just as you would expect. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2026, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-civilization-i-saw/1018708/95 "2026-06-08T23:06:52Z")
> [@CaveMike](#): > > Did they do the steam whistle as it went by? I think they were required to by local law, since it was at a grade-level crossing. Though they probably would have anyway, just for the fans. I was also able to squish a penny on the tracks, but it must have vibrated off pretty quick, because it only got slightly squished. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2026, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-civilization-i-saw/1018708/96 "2026-06-08T23:12:59Z")
Yaay! I saw it entering Las Vegas once back around 1990-1992 when I lived there. Really an amazing sight. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-civilization-i-saw/1018708/97 "2026-06-25T18:08:55Z")
Saw this little guy yesterday: [![](https://i.postimg.cc/c1zBpKBM/IMG-4673.jpg) ](https://i.postimg.cc/c1zBpKBM/IMG-4673.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-civilization-i-saw/1018708/98 "2026-06-28T22:54:47Z")
[![](https://i.postimg.cc/qRH9gS02/IMG-4677.jpg) ](https://i.postimg.cc/qRH9gS02/IMG-4677.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2026, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-civilization-i-saw/1018708/99 "2026-07-02T16:17:15Z")
Is my bagel ready? [![](https://i.postimg.cc/28xzJ6RP/IMG-4683.jpg) ](https://i.postimg.cc/28xzJ6RP/IMG-4683.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2026, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-civilization-i-saw/1018708/100 "2026-07-04T14:47:58Z")
If you were to say to me “Well, here I am in the south east of England, and it’s July fourth - where would I go to see an American revolutionary? Armed, of course. And ideally buying eggs.” I would without hesitation reply: “Well, it’s a tough ask, but your best bet would be Lewes market.” And I would be right. [![Google Photos](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczN3ZM06mBLSRhYU8HmEZ1ypPWigG3Mb70YyOAEyQ__4Tlee5vIambdQKsQNi85bxEI187wPyM4aL06JAiCgbhPP5ZtWicWgmD-8ifLi6V-rEEXy8uw=w600-h315-p-k "New photo · Saturday, Jul 4 📸") ](https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipN499dTAW29Ea-yy7hTp4DNi3qDvYkEvd4IKp1CwLVO_y2-pUDA6LHdpHhzYvnEKA?key=MGxvMUZULXlvdHg0QU9xNHYzMWVkLWJ2RHQ5VlpB) j (Sigh. Click through for the full picture) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-civilization-i-saw/1018708.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-civilization-i-saw/1018708.md?page=6)