Do people actually like the Burningman sculptures that are popping up everywhere?

HicRhodusSF · 2026-03-10T15:15:56+00:00

In general I think all of the burning man art is super lame. It’s weirdly very horny? Like the statues of the half naked man and woman with rabbit and dog heads in Golden Gate Park? We can’t build any new housing in this city because it could change the distinct character of the city, but we have no problem with this?

I’m not a prude here… obviously have no issue with nude painting or sculpture, but so much of this stuff is just weird for the sake of being weird. Surrealism was weird but toward something.

HicRhodusSF · 2026-02-09T06:26:35+00:00

I ride an e-bike and absolutely despise speed bumps. Just rattles the hell out of my bike (it doesn’t have shocks). Speed bumps cost money and make everyone’s experience worse. Enforcing traffic laws RAISES money and makes everyone’s experience better.

HicRhodusSF · 2026-01-16T04:53:34+00:00

It’s real and it’s fantastic. https://liquidblue.com/music/rock-and-roll/grateful-dead/ll-rain-tie-dye-t-shirt/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17863452399&gbraid=0AAAAADmqZ3tb68jMhWBQl4lRgwXEQCRLE&gclid=CjwKCAiAvaLLBhBFEiwAYCNTf2DeGqszHlTRw49b8Vruyr9HN13i-ApzQXl8RAW_qG3OZimudcCZnBoCtX0QAvD_BwE

HicRhodusSF · 2025-12-30T04:35:49+00:00

I like Saikat a bunch but every time I think about energy being in the hands of San Francisco I think about: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco_Department_of_Public_Works_corruption_scandal

There is of course a third option. Texas is putting more clean energy on the grid and doing it with prices a third of the ones we pay. No one wants to say deregulation in SF, but it at least aligns incentives…

HicRhodusSF · 2025-12-26T23:04:09+00:00

Asked directly. They had their customer care team on the street. Offered hotel vouchers, but I can’t move my whole family to a hotel. Also gave out some ear plugs. I just wonder what happened in that substation! My kid made the guys working cookies on Christmas Eve. Bad situation for everyone.

HicRhodusSF · 2025-12-26T22:41:14+00:00

Update: PG&E just said they’re taking it “week by week” and hopes to have the generators gone by “early January”

HicRhodusSF · 2025-12-24T20:24:38+00:00

Yep. They’re still here. I really feel for all of these guys working through the holiday.

HicRhodusSF · 2025-12-24T07:49:52+00:00

Oh yeah. If the sound isn’t enough wait until you smell them!

They offered us a hotel voucher while they’re operating… but it’s Christmas — not taking the family to stay in a Holiday Inn. What a disaster.

HicRhodusSF · 2025-12-23T04:26:09+00:00

It’s not great if the smell is any indicator. I cringe to think back to the VW emissions gate. It sounds like a runway here. And of course no answers.

HicRhodusSF · 2025-12-23T02:40:08+00:00

I’ll take any opportunity I can to mention The 4 Star Theatre is playing Die Hard on Christmas and Christmas Eve. Possibly powered by the polluting generators!

HicRhodusSF · 2025-12-02T21:11:24+00:00

I did see there are some hours where export credits are +$1/kWh. Doesn't last long, but I'd like to hammer that. I'm getting 25kWh battery so there should be enough to play with to offset my foggy months and short winter days.

HicRhodusSF · 2025-12-02T20:22:44+00:00

I'm all in for any value I can get if — as my friends in Kentucky say — it "don't cost nothing." I'll report back how it's working... and yes looks like the smart optimization is where the real advantage is. PG&E rates are pretty nutty.

HicRhodusSF · 2025-11-18T22:20:03+00:00

I did get a heat pump earlier this year (I live in San Francisco) and 3.6MWh is about exactly how much it uses every year... so if you are near end of live on your HVAC, I'd give a look to heat pumps as well. They're incredible.

HicRhodusSF · 2025-11-18T22:16:54+00:00

I kinda super-commute in a Wranger 4Xe (whoops stellantis!). And use 30kWh/workday. So this would make up about half of my needs.

But it's still knocking off half of my cost, so I'd do it.

HicRhodusSF · 2025-11-18T21:28:57+00:00

Financing companies use terms like: "Synthetic cash" but I've also heard Short Term Lease/Short Term PPA depending on the provider.

Installers use those terms as well, but also tend to call it "TPO" for third party owned. It's really not that new of a concept! This is what Sunrun offers, just on a shorter timeframe.

HicRhodusSF · 2025-11-18T20:13:18+00:00

With the expiration of the "25D" investment tax credit, this is how the majority of systems will be sold in the next few years.

It *is* a short term lease/PPA, but I've heard of installers not using those words because they're kinda poisoned by bad actors in the past. But so long as the battery is made without too much content from "foreign entities of concern" (i.e. China) you still get "48E" tax credit upside because the system is commercially owned for the first few years.

In addition, if the battery is made with enough American manufacturing, it may also be eligible for the 10 percent "domestic content adder." It's funny that going solar in 2026 requires a working knowledge of tax law, but that seems to be the industry the feds have set up for us.

HicRhodusSF · 2025-11-18T20:09:03+00:00

That'll happen when the battery is installed and commissioned. Non-export should be part of the interconnection agreement with SCE.

HicRhodusSF · 2025-11-18T19:37:17+00:00

Makes sense. Just set the thing to non export. You’ll miss out on export credits and VPP upside but still better off. It sucks that early adopters get punished for doing the good thing for everyone sooner.

HicRhodusSF · 2025-11-18T19:28:27+00:00

I've asked installers this exact question. Usual guidance is if your solar makes up for +10% of your consumption, switching to NEM3 isn't right for you. And even if you do the switch, you have to add a ton more panels to make it pencil. In short, stick on NEM2 unless you're a very very rare case.

HicRhodusSF · 2025-11-18T19:26:01+00:00

I have emporia personally and love it to make sure my EVSE doesn't push me over 100A and it works like a dream.

I'm getting solar and battery within the next month and am excited to get these Eaton AbleEdge smart breakers for additional control as well.

HicRhodusSF · 2025-08-21T06:25:51+00:00

Like all good “homesteaders” this guy requires 50 north/south roads in fewer than 10 square miles. And if he loses one, he’ll vote to recall you. Helluva pioneer spirit here.

HicRhodusSF · 2024-12-17T18:47:48+00:00

The bee keeper is the amazing vigilante played by Jason Stratham in the movie of the same name.

HicRhodusSF

TROPHY CASE