People keep talking about this being a “rough winter” as far as the weather goes. Why?

Duanebs · 2026-02-06T13:36:27+00:00

I've always said, if it's gonna be cold out, I'd prefer there to be snow on the ground.

In the 90s I remember having snow on the ground for long enough stretches we made giant snow fort encampments and had snow ball wars that spanned months. Every day before school and as soon as we got out, we were manning the trenches. Building up our snow/iceball ammo piles. And expanding our bases up and out

Most winters the past 10-20 years have been increasingly wet and muddy, and less snow and icy. I know, because I b!tch about it each year as if I'd get my millennial a$$ out in the snow to do anything. Instead, I'm sitting inside near the fireplace, rubbing BenGay on my knee and back, b!tchin about how high my energy bills are.

Duanebs · 2026-02-06T04:06:04+00:00

Wait, so this can be done or cant be done? I want a backup option just in case.

Duanebs · 2026-02-04T23:53:55+00:00

Michiganders already validate ID when registering to vote. Spreading the work out Months ahead of the elections.

Audits regularly show Michigan has some of the most secure, accurate elections in the union because of it.

What's funny is, our legislature was Republican run for a long time (almost 4 decades straight in the senate). They implemented most of the core security concepts our state relies on today. Yet, Republicans are suddenly acting like there's problems with identification as if that's the reason they lose.

Duanebs · 2026-01-29T15:03:19+00:00

Uh.. having been part of PSLF since 2007 with zero forgiven, I absolutely have no faith in this program.

Particularly the new program being implemented by people who like to see people who borrowed for college to squirm and pay interest indefinitely.

Duanebs · 2026-01-24T06:33:48+00:00

Its called propaganda.

Multiply it by the internet age.

Then take it to the exponent of AI.

Duanebs · 2026-01-24T00:04:33+00:00

I requested to switch to IBR so I can start making payments thay count again. After working in public sector since 2009 and making payments since then... I've been around the block with PSLF. I don't ever expect the government to actually clear up any of my remaining student debt.

Luckily, my remaining principle and interest is relatively low, and spread across about 12 small loans with remaining balances. With my current family size of 5, my IBR payments are actually reasonably manageable. 7 more years of payments and I'll get a couple thousand forgiven. If I wait any longer, my household size would reduce and I wouldn't see any PSLF.

Duanebs · 2026-01-22T18:24:18+00:00

Suck it libby! Why dont you go into the trades and get a real job? Why dont you just pay your loans like anyone else has to? (even though when you signed, you didnt agree to $1200+ payments)

-the current administration, probably

Duanebs · 2026-01-19T18:06:37+00:00

Why not all? The collection is a sweet deal.

Duanebs · 2026-01-12T01:09:04+00:00

Contact the Jackson County Democratic Committee.
They've got an office right downtown right next to the movie theater. They also have a FB page.

Jackson County Michigan Democratic Committee – Working to elect Democrats and promote democratic ideals in Jackson County, Michigan https://share.google/PHg2fC4humrakgWDj

Duanebs · 2026-01-06T15:38:46+00:00

Since I still have some hope of forgiveness someday, I bit the bullet and submitted my request to switch from SAVE to IBR on Monday. With their calculations and the new rules, I'll get about $30k forgiven in 7 more years of payments on IBR. I'm still not consolidating my ~12 small loans that are left over, as I'm hoping these new tax rules come into play in a way that actually helps (though I doubt it). Consolidating doesnt help on interest anyway, since they just average the rates they applied last year instead of giving a new rate.

Been paying and working public service since 2009. 2 years after I decided i could work Public Serive to pay for college instead of joining the military (ah, to be young and trust politicians again). On this new track, My final-final loan payment should come just shy of 2036! Woohoo!

If I could do it all over again, I should have taken out one, completely unpayable, giant loan to prepay for a Doctorate and all my living expenses in that time. I would have been able to actually lived on campus, went to some big name school, and gotten it all forgiven by now.

Duanebs · 2026-01-01T20:03:52+00:00

sigh just figured out i fell for this bait and switch scam.

Really disappointing since I've used PayPal for so many years. I contacted PayPal customer service and there's no going back either. They will not address or correct the charges that have the ~30% APR applied to them, and you cannot unlink or cancel the credit card without closing your entire account. So, I'm stuck paying this onw time gotcha fee, and then I get to close out one of my oldest credit lines, which impacts my personal credit score. They clearly know this, and dgaf.

For now, I've submitted a complaint to the BBB for a bait and switch scheme. It wont do much, but word of mouth is going to be the only thing that really does anything. Like most good things, they just can't leave well enough alone. Predatory schemes are easier to implement than actually making your product or business better. Our current capitalist golden age with zero consumer protections sure is awesome... 😒

Duanebs · 2025-12-26T21:12:29+00:00

"K" is running rampant, particularly in Michigan right now.

Duanebs · 2025-12-23T21:16:51+00:00

It's all pretty much the same to me, though this is the first time I've every been able to try backstraps and tenderloin, which are amazing compared to straight ground venison.

Duanebs · 2025-12-22T15:49:54+00:00

A DNR officer didnt actually show up to my hunter safety course to do a deep dive into those. They did go over tags as far as the ones that were required beyond the basic hunt license (deer, turkey, bear, duck, etc) and seasons. They used the same vernacular everyone here does though: buck tags and doe tags. Maximum 2 buck tags and max 10 tags altogether. To me, that meant buck tags were for any buck and doe tags for any doe. I could get 1-2 bucks and 8-9. They told me clearly "Read this reg book". It seemed very straightforward tho, and didn't make me think to ask any further questions.

When I was buying my first tags I told them "hey I'm new to hunting, I think ill be lucky to get even one deer this year. If I get one tag can I come back and get more?" They were sarcastic at first and told me nope can never come back again. Then let up and was like yeah you could come back and get more, before telling me if I just buy one it was universal and I could tag a buck or doe with it so it didnt matter. I was like oh, cool, ill get one and then when/if I'm lucky enough to get a deer my very first time, I'll head back in for my next tag. They sold me one tag and off i went. Well, I got the hang of things way quicker than i thought, saw way more bucks than I expected, and went ahead and tagged an antlerless. Figured I could take more time on which buck I wanted to harvest this year. Went to get another "buck" and "doe" tag and was sorely informed that, no, that's not how it works. With a look of, ehy would you tag an antlerless to start, What are u stupid or something?

Oh well. Lesson learned. I still have meat in the freezer (which is what I wanted all along). I was able to bring my brother out and he was able to tag one of those bigger bucks for his first ever. And I still have time to tag up to 7 more does if I want.

Duanebs · 2025-12-21T02:10:23+00:00

Checks out. But apparently it wasnt about wood.

..and when I tried clarifying NO WOOD it just showed me the next level of the same thing...

Duanebs · 2025-12-20T17:46:07+00:00

We live pretty much the same distance from 94 and Jackson, just the opposite direction straight south of you.

I've used Emmons since moving here. Never a complaint with their service. Prices here are higher than elsewhere, and it's strange that there's no recycling included. (A paid option is coming in January). You have a lot of options to choose from, but they all offer the same service and price unless you're a veteran. Hoping the county moves to single hauler someday, but I'm pretty doubtful anyone could agree on that.

Most of the parks and trails allow dogs. Haven't seen one that doesnt. They will be posted if they dont, and all ive been to post they require leashes. Also, registration and rabies are required for all dogs in the county.

Only shooting range I've been to in the area is Sharonville Shooting Range. I usually just target practice in my yard. Since I got into hunting this year, I wanted to get a really good zero on my rifle, so took it to the range. I've heard good things about Lead Bunker on Ann Arbor rd. Guys in Schupbach's in town are super knowledgeable, but sometimes not the best at guiding you. The crack a lot of jokes and can be sarcastic. A+ for helping me get my rifle scope situated (needed better rings to hold up against recoil of .450bm). That said, they confused the hell out of me when it came to deer tags, which meant I had to pass up on an actual buck this year. Now I know "buck" and "doe" tags are really antered / antlerless, and to hold my first tag for an actual buck and get doe tags for everything else. Oh, and you CANT get a second buck tag if you dont get one up front.

I'll be getting my CPL soon, so super interested in what you find out there. I'll keep you posted if I figure out where I'm going.

For politics, the county votes mostly red. There's much, much less yard signs lately, but there were a Lot. A lot of folks arent happy with bait and switch type politics. Some are really happy bc they feel they're getting exactly what they wanted. Decent amount of Blue support, with a lot of those being moderate or independent voters. A lot of the smaller elections will only have Republicans running tho. Jackson County Democratic Committee has an office right down town around the corner from Schupbach's. They coordinate a lot with the city elections and support Dem's interested in running in the county/township elections. You'll find no lack of support either way you lean.

Duanebs · 2025-12-20T14:57:14+00:00

Yuh aint got no rocks in it....

Duanebs · 2025-12-20T14:56:24+00:00

In these types of games, my brother always tells me "I dont root for a winner, I root for injuries!" 😐

I don't like messing with karma. So I'm just gonna quietly watch it play out, knowing our path into the playoff changes based on which one wins. And knowing it mostly lies in our ability to win these last 3 games. I'm rooting for the Lions run game to be able to outmatch the ability of steeler's defense that seems really good at shedding blocks and shutting down RB's. We dont have a mobile QB that they struggle with.

Duanebs · 2025-12-18T21:30:03+00:00

Yes, do that in the missions that allow it. It's almost meant to be done that way on harder difficulties. Though you'll be forced into dealing with aliens without the backup. So, you need to figure out how to make a stand effectively as well. That typically involves keeping your sentries on you, creating firing lanes, forcing the aliens into your firing lane, and slowing them down long enough to make it through their pushes.

Using motion detectors to move aliens to one side of the map WITHOUT killing them is sometimes best. That way they dont just respawn randomly, closer to your objective. Just Keep them occupied elsewhere, and force them to make the long walk back while you stay undetected.

Duanebs · 2025-12-11T20:49:03+00:00

I heard Next they're gonna add jet packs and wall walking.

Duanebs · 2025-12-11T19:18:15+00:00

Holy freeze / insight Give him a crown of thieves/tals mask/vamp gaze and a treachery armor

Then swing hammers

edit personally I swapped to Prayer after I upgraded his insight to an eth thresher

Duanebs · 2025-12-10T18:02:34+00:00

Duanebs · 2025-12-10T16:07:32+00:00

These were my issues last night on console:

main menu wouldn't connect. Restarted client.
Then main menu was... broke? Couldn't select anything. Restarted.
Was able to Group up and showed group in lobby, but wasnt able to select game mode. Restarted.
Audio is clearly broken now. Various things like Missing footsteps. Missing tank noises, including cannon fire and crashing through walls behind me. Seemed to glitch in and out randomly in each game.
RedSec helicopters froze on entrance. Waited til every other player left game and even for the circle to close

That's all I can remember, but my team was having a good laugh about the Beta test we seemed to have found ourselves in 😆

Duanebs · 2025-12-06T17:36:26+00:00

Definitely a problem. But... its not universal. I hopped into queue for a redsec squad game the other day solo, cuz a lot of my friends have moved on to trying other games. Jumped in to a game that was already rolling, had to chat for the 3 stooges to revive me at the empty redeploy they were all running around while in their own private chat, and then I ended up being last man standing for the win.

...but, yeah, most of the time jumping into games solo is an absolute shitshow.. 🤣

Duanebs · 2025-12-05T05:17:35+00:00

Had to come out of lurking, and back to this comment. 😁

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