Posts by crimsoncobra36

Nathan Alvarez92 said:So, I tried to drop about $160 in cash ($377) at a local convenience store tonight, and the lady behind the counter just flat-out told me she couldn't take it—only Euros. Is that actually how it works now? Or is she just being difficult?

Of course not. You could have easily just used the Venmo app to convert that cash into a digital balance in under five minutes, and honestly, you probably should have mentioned you were going to file a complaint. We all know the staff at those convenience stores aren't exactly known for their brilliance or their hospitality, but that really isn't an excuse for them to be difficult like that.

ironcyclist58 said:Starting Jan 1st, we're looking at a $1 minimum and a $325 max per transaction (before 10 AM and $667).

That’s right, I was typing a bit too fast there because those old habits from back home still tend to stick with us Americans $3.25 😵 even after all this time.

Amy Ward6 said:I've got some $29 coins on me. Is there actually a rule where they only take a maximum of 50 coins per transaction, or $17? If I go over that limit, can I just generate, say, two codes and settle everything at once in one spot, or is the cashier at CVS going to give me a hard time?

Besides hitting up a pharmacy, you could always use a Chase branch or maybe an old-school Western Union. There isn't really a cap on how many times you can pay in a row, so you could technically hit the same spot multiple times, as long as each payment is at least 1 USD (through December 31, 2022 $3.25).

The only thing that might get a little "awkward" is if you show up with a massive pile of those tiny nickels and pennies; honestly, most retail clerks aren't exactly thrilled about dealing with a ton of small change. 😬

Paul White62 said:I totally get where you're coming from regarding Vjalbe, but honestly, that's an issue in so many sports—especially track and field, where
some absolutely insane records from that era still stand today, even though everyone knows there was significant
doping involved. That’s really the only reason I brought her up; she just defined an entire era.

Sure, anyone can sign up for the Vasaloppet and there are plenty of other races throughout the week, but this one 56 miles is the big one. You see similar massive endurance events in the US, Canada, or Japan...
And if we're talking about a head-to-head between Bjørgen and Johaug at this distance, regardless of the technique used, I think Therese Johaug would have outpaced her. 😁

The main thing is that those are still the most significant records from the recent past, and by the end of the 80s, there weren't really any massive superstars in these sports like there were in the 90s and early 2000s. Regardless of everything else, Marit Bjørgen is going to remain the GOAT for a very, very long time.

Those popular marathon-style races are recreational in nature, of course, but it still matters who comes out on top 56 miles. As for the idea of Johaug outpacing her, I don't think that would happen; you're forgetting that Bjørgen has completely dominated the competition quite a few times, including Johaug herself, on longer distances. That includes 19 miles too. Since Bjørgen is physically stronger and larger than Johaug, it feels unrealistic to expect her to keep up the pace on 56 miles—it's like saying Usain Bolt wouldn't stand a chance in the 5000m or 10000m. 😁

It's such a shame there weren't more races at 30km or 31 miles for women in CC, because we would have seen way more of those legendary duels. The FIS knows that cross country is one of the least watched segments of winter sports, especially when it comes to races that drag on for several hours, so they seem to be scheduling less and less of them. Sprints are exciting in any sport, which is why those shorter distances still pull in some viewership. For the casual fan, watching those tense, nail-biting duels that last only a few minutes is much more engaging, especially when you have champions like Bjørgen. Or take those unforgettable, heart-stopping finishes from Northug—we just don't see that kind of stuff anymore.

Paul White62 said:the Italian Jean-Paul Belmondoon.

Sadly, that’s all ancient history now, and the former Valbe is even older. Honestly, if you look at her through the lens of being from the old USSR era, I wouldn't really put her in any GOAT conversation; when you're dealing with the former USSR, we all know those places were basically just doping factories, much like East Germany and the rest of the Eastern Bloc.

As for the Polish athlete, she probably only managed to win there because after her own doping scandal, she didn't exactly go out and dominate quite as much as she once would have 😉

With the Vasaloppet, people from all age groups can compete, so there’s really no reason why these legends couldn't have a little rematch one of these days. My only gripe is that, as far as I know, they only allow classic style there; the GOAT would absolutely crush it if freestyle were an option, but under these rules, it might actually be a close race 😬

Paul White62 said:Well, the rumors were actually spot on—Therese Johaug is heading into her final race at the SK championships tomorrow on the legendary Holmenkollen course. Honestly, she probably could have kept dominating for years, but I guess after grabbing those gold medals at the last Olympics, she felt like she’d checked everything off her bucket list.
A win would be the perfect way to wrap it all up.

https://www.xc-ski.de/events/langlau...ndet-karriere/

She certainly had the talent to keep going, but she chose not to, and hey, nobody is stopping her from competing until she's 40 if she ever changes her mind. 😁 It just feels like she knows she might never reach that absolute "GOAT" status, so why drag it out? Since even the GOAT herself sent her personal congratulations, I think it's only right that we all join in and celebrate her too.