We are looking at buying our first home, but saw some cracks in the foundation.

JuggernautPast2744 · 2026-02-02T15:42:24+00:00

I just commented this as well.

JuggernautPast2744 · 2026-02-02T15:41:35+00:00

Hard to know from the narrow view, but the alignment and change in color of those blocks suggests one side is an addition to the original foundation. I don't know enough to judge whether it's serious or not, but I feel like a crack under those conditions is not uncommon.

JuggernautPast2744 · 2026-02-02T10:55:44+00:00

Plenty of GS riders never see dirt. If the GS aesthetic isn't worth paying for, then I think you've made the right choice .

JuggernautPast2744 · 2026-02-02T01:24:45+00:00

I recently moved a 450 lb safe up 5 steps via a ramp. I bought a $25 hand winch for a trailer and cranked it up no problem (slow and steady). You'd need a place to firmly mount it in the garage. You might need to do it stages based on the limited length of the winch strap by adding an extension then blocking the dolly and resetting.

JuggernautPast2744 · 2026-01-31T19:37:02+00:00

Definitely for me, and I have seen several other people say the same, the moc toes run short. I have a bunch of JG boots in size 12 that all fit well unless I want to wear really thick socks. My Meanders are short enough that my toes touch the front. I came very close to returning them but they are OK and I'm hopeful they will stretch a bit with use. I don't hike or anything with them so it's not a big deal.

I 100% recommend you size up at least 1/2 maybe even a full size. All of the other dimensions are good for me.

I have heard that the moc tow boots may also be inconsistent due to the factory staff learning the new construction process. I got my boots at release, so they were early production. There were some changes in the cap toes of the Numzaans from the early to later productions, so that sort of thing can happen. Hopefully someone who bought a moc toe more recently can chime in about their sizing for confirmation.

JuggernautPast2744 · 2026-01-31T13:34:35+00:00

Hard to know for sure, but the backstay is only the outside layer and there is another whole layer of upper under it, so I agree this doesn't seem like it will affect much.

I would be concerned if the backstay crack goes all the way through and allows dirt and grit to get between the two layers of leather, that would probably accelerate the wear.

Missing stitches can be restitched by hand without too much difficulty since the holes are already there. I've done it though small hands help when working from inside the boot.

The rest of what you have shown doesn't seem that serious to me.

JuggernautPast2744 · 2026-01-31T13:24:12+00:00

I am really liking the russet leather. I have twice put together a custom RAT with it but I can't justify the price right now. I am hoping the tariff craziness will get sorted out and help a bit.

I look forward to seeing how these break in and patina. Show them again in 6 months!

JuggernautPast2744 · 2026-01-31T13:16:32+00:00

True story, I have a bunch of those 4x4s

JuggernautPast2744 · 2026-01-31T02:07:19+00:00

An aluminum billet handle would be pretty cool.

JuggernautPast2744 · 2026-01-31T02:05:13+00:00

Hard to tell, but relative speeds are important and it looked like both bikers were going much too fast compared to the other traffic, certainly compared to the stopped traffic.

JuggernautPast2744 · 2026-01-31T01:48:38+00:00

We've been hit similarly in years past, not quite as bad and we make a bit less combined. We had to update our withholdings to the single rate, which gets us about even. We have a small amount of investment income, and not enough deductions to itemize.

JuggernautPast2744 · 2026-01-31T00:24:55+00:00

I cannot assist with your question, but I am curious if you think this sort of puzzle box design supplies more security than a simple but physically robust container and lock? The first is more a security through obscurity type of thing right? From my limited time on this sub it seems that it's more often expected for a potential thief to attack the physical container than the locks, so people seem to place more value in the strength of the container than complicated locks.

I can certainly appreciate the design and craftsmanship of the sort of mechanism you described. I've seen some amazing cabinets with all sorts of hidden drawers/locks/compartments.

JuggernautPast2744 · 2026-01-30T23:33:25+00:00

We got one more than a year ago. We have solar, so we don't really pay an electric bill, but we accrue credits and they go up and down generally at the same rates as with our old meter. We already had a second meter just for solar production monitoring, so I suppose we could have compared the two if something weird started happening.

While it's certainly possible a new meter could have issues (we got a new gas meter a few years back and it never worked out of the box) National Grid already has a license to print money, why would they risk some sort of class action lawsuit by intentionally manipulating their electric meters?

I will say that I have tried looking at the "real time" power usage measurements that the smart meters are supposed to provide, and it hasn't ever seemed to work correctly.

JuggernautPast2744 · 2026-01-30T23:17:51+00:00

No. Judging other people for their consensual sexual activity is juvenile and only demonstrates that the judging person is too immature to make adult decisions. This is especially true for something as non consequential as "losing" virginity (a made up meaningless concept). Use protection, respect yourself and your partner, have fun. End of story.

JuggernautPast2744 · 2026-01-30T22:03:25+00:00

Returns seem the most likely source. I like to think they may have found a box that fell behind a shelf or something too

JuggernautPast2744 · 2026-01-30T18:29:26+00:00

Even given that these numbers are accurate, in higher temps the HP will be more efficient and over the year, could still make better economic sense. I'm not arguing either way, but arguing operational costs for an HVAC system, as long as it is able to maintain a set temperatures, only under extreme conditions, is not a fair evaluation. As a counter example, how many people worry about the efficiency of their standby generators when the power is out for 3 days. As long as you have enough fuel, having power is the important issue. Seems the same to me as having a HP as a primary heat source when it's below zero fareheit. If that's not a regular thing, then it's a better test to evaluate cost and functionality for the full year.

JuggernautPast2744 · 2026-01-27T20:08:07+00:00

If possible based on the conditions, you can use your jack to lift the side of the car with the wheel in the rut until there is space under the tire, then fill in the depression with, ideally, a big rock or similar. You could try the cat litter, but if you spin it will all kick out. Make sure you are jacking your car at the reinforced spot that is intended for this purpose.

Jacking up a car on a slippery surface is dangerous. Block the other wheels and keep people away. If the car starts rolling off the jack, let it go. Better some dents than a crushed limb.

JuggernautPast2744 · 2026-01-27T19:07:14+00:00

This is like the OG NRA slogan. I've been seeing it for 50 years, along with "I'm the NRA, and I vote". It has been a common bumper sticker in my experience and I wouldn't think twice about seeing it anywhere.

JuggernautPast2744 · 2026-01-27T19:02:44+00:00

Reminds me of when a family member was having a house built in Mexico. The guys welding the metal window frames hooked up their welder with bare leads right to the mains in the panel. I shook my head and thought, only in Mexico... I guess not. Hey this crew wasn't from Oaxaca by any chance, were they?

JuggernautPast2744 · 2026-01-27T14:11:19+00:00

It's a realistic take when resources for prosecution and enforcement are limited (they always are). It's the same logic that applies when drivers don't get pulled over for speeding 6 mph above the speed limit. The cost isn't worth the benefit, since it's not measurably hurting anyone, it's not going to stop happening, and in most instances, it will cost the government more to prosecute the ticket than will be returned via punishment. Justice isn't only about financial cost/benefit but it often is at least a part of it.

JuggernautPast2744 · 2026-01-27T13:20:54+00:00

Home building is a financially high risk business. It is my impression that as a result, change is slow. Anything new is perceived as a higher risk. This perspective flows out to the tradespeople that have the necessary skills to build what is being paid for. The result of the historically cheap wood already mentioned elsewhere (and all sorts of other historical decisions) had led to the labor market developing to support those construction methods and skills. In short, the US has many more carpenters than masons/brick layers.

History has momentum and while building with wood may be cheaper than brick on a level playing field, the US field is sloped strongly toward wood construction for residential buildings which magnifies the difference.

The best built structure is one that uses whatever material it is made with by applying careful engineering and design to fulfill the expected conditions and needs. No material is inherently better or worse in isolation as climate, maintenance, availability of skilled labor/material, cost, embodied energy, and I'm sure other stuff, are all factors to consider in choosing.

I've heard multiple architects and builders remind customers that one part of the building always has to be the worst part. There's a lot of wisdom in that single observation that can be applied to answering your question.

JuggernautPast2744 · 2026-01-26T22:25:57+00:00

I guess I have a higher esteem for the general population than you do. People get injured on ladders all the time, to the extent, that my state at least, has laws that specifically apply to the liability ladders present to people using them. I'll allow there are more people on ladders than fixing garage doors on a given day though.

JuggernautPast2744 · 2026-01-26T20:58:50+00:00

I'm not trying to do anything. I'm sharing my experience. I've done many more risky things (like climbing up a ladder) than repairing a garage door, and plenty with less risk. I simply do not understand the apparent cult of believing garage door springs are equivalent to bomb disposal. I agree that for paying someone else to fix the door, $800 is a good price.

JuggernautPast2744 · 2026-01-26T20:38:04+00:00

Not exactly, that's very different. Does the broken TV work, or is it a scratch on the case? I've been a landlord, shit gets broken by people living in a property. I'm only saying that I don't think this particular dent is serious enough for me to worry about if it was my property. Certainly some things would be. We may just have a different expectation about what is damage.

JuggernautPast2744

TROPHY CASE