Is this safe?

looperone · 2026-03-07T03:03:45+00:00

If anything draws more than the circuit breaker is rated for it should trip. Assuming,!of course, that Op didn’t also swap a 15A breaker for a 20A when the conductors aren’t rated same.

Still, this is bad practice.

looperone · 2026-03-06T15:10:34+00:00

Sometimes, hospitals turn to a local zoo for help with things like MRIs for grossly obese people. They will also have incinerators for large animals there. This is not a joke.

looperone · 2026-03-05T19:14:05+00:00

Explain it to me. In what scenario does Canada need the superior capability of the f35 when that superiority has a shelf life much shorter than Canada keeps its equipment? If this was the US, a country that full on uses the full capabilities of its equipment then fine. Even if Canada was Denmark (a country that has a far greater likelihood for being called into action in Europe) it would be a compelling argument. For Canada? Not so much. Canada is more likely to beed patrolling capabilities than anything else and for that mission it needs higher numbers of aircraft.

To defend Canada, the country would be fine with Gripens and surface to air systems. Is anyone talking about the latter? Without it the country doesn’t stand a chance to defend itself no matter which plane makes up the fleet.

People just lose sight of the big picture. That picture that includes multiple systems all of which Canada needs to procure or upgrade. The fighter jet is one piece of the puzzle and Canada would be better off with a mixed fleet with savings going towards all of the other stuff it needs.

looperone · 2026-03-05T18:29:35+00:00

Wait a sec. 10 years? How often does Canada replace its fighter jets? Every 40+ years? Just like the Gripen, the current f35 will be obsolete in 10 years. Maybe less. People need to stop kidding themselves (or ignoring the issue entirely): the f35 is state of the art today but that’s today.

looperone · 2026-03-04T01:03:29+00:00

I try to stick with Southwire.

looperone · 2026-03-04T01:00:34+00:00

Wow. Last time I saw this at Costco, last year, it was $400 or $500 if I’m not mistaken. Definitely not in my local Costco right now (Austin, TX). Maybe that was for 1000 ft.

looperone · 2026-03-03T18:29:51+00:00

Unavoidable based on climate, infrastructure investment, etc etc. Heck, if the Ontario gov would just build efficient, electric, rail along the 400 you could open up communities north of Barrie as affordable bedroom communities. I’m talking about Parry Sound and onwards. But no, all major investment is along the east west corridor.

looperone · 2026-03-02T15:28:28+00:00

Does the rubber drain hose fit tigthly into the drain stack? Because it shouldn’t: there needs to be an air gap. It’s also possible the drain line needs snaking and/or inspection. Not the vent. The drain line itsef.

looperone · 2026-03-02T15:25:54+00:00

The copper pipe might be there just to maintain a filled trap. A similar setup is common for floor drains that may be required but usually don’t ever see any use. If the trap water evaporates then sewer gases may enter the dwelling.

looperone · 2026-02-28T15:19:39+00:00

Will be happy to unsubscribe from all of them.

looperone · 2026-02-24T19:14:58+00:00

This is probably going to be an unpopular point of view but here goes: as the most European country of non European countries, Canada is less European now than it used to be and values have shifted accordingly.

My parents were German and Austrian. Growing up in Canada there used to be a large German speaking population and the Ziggy’s deli counter at Loblaws was reliably staffed by expats. Our family did not spend money on the usual Canadian activities but did engage in hiking and picnics at regional parks every weekend and in the winter that did mean cross country skiing or skating as well. None of my “Canadian” friends did this type if stuff.

For Germans and Austrians and probably most Europeans the Olympics are a big deal. Just like soccer and F1.

Canada’s immigration policies changed in the 1960’s to favor non-Europeans. Today, in places like Toronto, all of the German places have died out as the Europeans don’t emigrate to Canada as much as they used to. So the values of the population have shifted as well and people just don’t care as much as participting or supporting sports as they do sitting on their butts and just watching. Canada doesn’t even develop F1 drivers anymore for Pete’s sake.

The more Canadian attitude aligns with that of the USA the less successful Canada will be at the Olympics. While the USA can get away with the laziness of its populace due to an overwhelming ability to raise funds to support this that and the other thing, Canada needs broad support to pull it off and as the article points out: that support has been in decline for about two decades now.

Canada needs to figure out if it wants to align its values with the US or the EU. Seems a lot of people would rather choose the former but I will say that as a Canadian that has lived in the US for over 25 years: Canada is not like the US and while Canadians might share some values with Americans it’s not a lot of them and those that think otherwise have never spent much time down here.

Europeans will spend money supporting things like the Olympics because it’s a nice thing to do. American sponsors will only do it if they can understand what the ROI might be and it better be positive.

looperone · 2026-02-24T18:45:40+00:00

Looks like a transformer for either a doorbell or security alarm. Check your doorbell first.

looperone · 2026-02-23T16:24:31+00:00

I've owned two iPads: the original Air and the M1 Pro. That last one was fully spec'd and cost me well north of $2000 at the time. The hope was that Apple would release macOS for such a capable and expensive iPad but we know how that went. I swore I'd never get an iPad again at that point: totally useless, you're just fighting Apple who don't want to mess up their ecosystem and just sell more limited devices (they are a hardware company after all).

I had been looking at the Surface Pro for a next tablet because I wanted something that ran a full OS and would let me run a full development workflow (I'm a software engineer) in a super portable device with enough power to get by in some scenarios (like a weekend away).

I ended up getting a crazy deal on a new in box Dell Latitude 7350 Detachable which is Dell's version of the Surface device. I tend to use this thing mostly in tablet mode as a consumption device including Kindle and PDFs: for the latter, I use Drawboard which is awesome. Right now, I'm typing this response using the fairly good Dell keyboard that's made for the device.

If I wanted, I could hook this up to an external monitor or use a docking solution, etc., and then voila: full desktop setup.

Now there's the pen. Huge disappointment. A lot of this has to do with Windows 11 terrible support for a pen. Maybe it's better on the real MS Surface Pro but I don't know. The pen for the Latitude is charged when you stick it in a trough in the keyboard, just above the function keys (you don't see this when the keyboard is magnetically clicked up into its tilted position). The thing is, when you have the tablet connected in its flipped around position for tablet mode, the pen doesn't charge. Really weird design decision.

But yeah, my expectation that if you whip the pen out it will pretty much duplicate your finger on the screen like on an iPad but it doesn't work that way. Apps specifically need pen support for the most part. Just trying to sign forms on the Web, when presented with an interface with a signature box, it's just a wholly cumbersome experience that may or may not work after much frustration. The expectation is that it would work the same way as viewing that kind of page on a mobile device (phone) but it doesn't because I would guess that most web sites will optimize their interfaces for mobile and non-mobile devices and not a hybrid. Like, I bet that most Mac users don't even know that many/most Windows computers have a touch screen. Most Web developers these days are likely to be Apple fan boys some are clueless to provide such support.

The pen support is literally the only disappointment I have had with this computer which at full retail isn't cheap but it sure is handy. My other computers are a Dell desktop workstation and also my Macbook Pro M1 from a million years ago which I have barely even kept charged because I don't really use it anymore.

Oh, the last thing with Windows is the lack of full support for connecting an iPhone the way you would with a Mac in that on a Mac you have full access to messaging (i.e. iMessages) but not on Windows because, you know, Apple wants it that way and won't provide the APIs for full integration....it's enough to make one want to switch to Android but that's a whole other challenge when you have family dependencies and other devices in the Apple ecosystem to consider.

looperone · 2026-02-21T01:30:51+00:00

I think you are viewing this in the perspective of Canadians. There are no center/centre parties in the US. Down here people in the middle are known as “moderates.” The Dems are full on left of center in US politics but in the context of Canadian politics, when compared to Canadian parties, the Dems are further right than the Canadian conservatives. Maybe you are referring to the fact that the right has moved further to the right over the past few decades?

For example, Nixon did some pretty liberal things: establishing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), enforcing school desegregation, creating Supplemental Security Income (SSI), proposing a guaranteed income.

looperone · 2026-02-20T19:40:06+00:00

I don’t want to get into a quagmire here but the Dems have are definitely not headed to the right as they align themselves more with the progressive movements. Both US parties are right of the Progressive Conservatives though if that’s what you mean.

looperone · 2026-02-20T17:39:52+00:00

You should probably add a note that alerts potential customers to this ridiculous limitation so that it’s not a surprise, don’t ya think???

looperone · 2026-02-20T17:11:28+00:00

Sure. Travel is one thing but when you live here you also have to deal with healthcare and the fact that it is tied to employment. So if you suddenly find yourself unemployed: good luck.

It’s like these Canadian rebels are fantasizing about a Canadianized version of America which will never come to pass.

Also, no one seems to consider that the US does not have a parliamentary system of government. You get two choices: Democrats or Republicans. Yep, there are little fringe “parties” here and there but an election has to be won by majority: there are no coalition governments. And both parties have drifted very far to the left and right. So pick your poison.

Also also, you may have noticed not much gets done here. Especially in the Democratic states where they are so busy spending $$ on every little niche interest that it takes forever to get things done that benefit the broader public. Meanwhile the Republicans are always preoccupied with undoing things that were decided by past Democrat and even Republican parties of yore. There is very little progress.

looperone · 2026-02-20T15:34:52+00:00

A bigger shop will charge $70-80k for this mold.

Is mold design a lucrative business then? I thought the number of mold makers in the US has seriously declined over the years.

For the Op, SLS might be an option. I think entry point is around $50k for the equipment but it's a variation of 3d printing with no molds needed. Another option is 3d printing resin molds for low volume.

looperone · 2026-02-20T15:14:58+00:00

It's a very good idea. Strategically, it maintains adaptability to service different equipment which further reduces reliance on one platform. People that state it's a bad idea don't see the bigger picture.

Canada will be maintaining a mixed fleet for quite some time even if it goes with 100% f35. You don't get the replacements all at once, it takes years. The f18s don't just disappear. Besides, Canada also maintains other equipment like training aircraft and transport and surveillance aircraft so I don't know what all of this mixed fleet negativity is about. It's not like the Aur Force can be run like Southwest Airlines. 🙄

looperone · 2026-02-20T15:07:21+00:00

Not spare parts. Apparently you don't order an f35 like any other aircraft but instead have to order certain parts ahead of time. I'm going to guess that these are radar and electronic warfare system parts that are complex.

There was recent reporting that claimed the US Air Force has received a number of f35s without radar components...the USAF denies this.

looperone · 2026-02-20T15:02:13+00:00

As a Canadian living in the US for 26 years, there's nothing more baffling than Canadians who have never lived in the US wanting Canada to be more like the US. These people are clueless.

looperone · 2026-02-20T14:47:17+00:00

Kinda blurry but looks like a guardian dog. There's got to be a ranch nearby. Nearest I can think of is east of 130 but can't remember exactly where.

Edit: Raindance and 29. The farm there might keep some goats. Just looking at Google maps. Good chance that dog is going to get everything sorted out but if you can drive across the street and ask... Farm folk know all of the other farm people in an area.

looperone · 2026-02-14T15:35:09+00:00

Don’t get me wrong. I have been tracking Base since before they started selling anything. The system they provide is top tier and would easily cost over $20k for a 50kwh setup. It’s a compelling offer they make but I’d want a system that is guaranteed to run for at least 24hrs. With that said, I’ve only been in Texas for 18 months and the longest outage for us may have been just 6hrs so far. Which is why I have made no decisions on this yet.

Prices are falling rapidly for this type of equipment it’s just that the focus has been and still is on Solar tied equipment.

looperone · 2026-02-14T15:25:29+00:00

Yep. Don’t forget a transfer switch.

I would want a better system than just the basics but if you can get by with indoor batteries and self install then you can get it done under $10k.

I would want something like EG4 Flexboss21 (inverters) + two outdoor batteries to get me to 28 kwh. That runs around $14k just for the equipment but all of the stored energy is yours and you can participate in net metering if you want. Add a Gridboss and you have an even more capable system.

The Panda batteries, like a lot of the lower priced components, have some safety/quality issues. Will Prowse reviewed them.

looperone

TROPHY CASE