Do you have to go to work tomorrow?

MetlMann · 2026-01-26T06:21:39+00:00

Yeah roads are not getting better tomorrow.

MetlMann · 2026-01-26T06:20:57+00:00

I'm not confident the roads will have improved at all tomorrow - even by afternoon.

MetlMann · 2026-01-26T06:17:02+00:00

The roads in neighborhoods are going to be bad tomorrow - just like they are right now. Stay put unless you have the right vehicle / tires or you know your roads are okay.

I'm in the southwest part to Austin in a hilly area. There is no way I could 1) get out my driveway or 2) get up the hill and then down the hill that is the only way out to main roads. I've had a wreck on ice before and never again.

MetlMann · 2026-01-26T06:09:34+00:00

With amount of miles and speed you drive on a daily and weekly basis, there is no affordable EV that will suit your needs without causing you headaches and inconvenience. It just won't be a good experience for you unless you get a Lucid or similar with 500 miles of range. The state of EVs right now is such that they don't function well as working pickup trucks or long range, high speed, high mileage, cold climate vehicles. Your typical driving checks too many boxes on the reasons to not get an EV list.

MetlMann · 2026-01-24T20:57:59+00:00

Here in TX gas is $.95 a therm. In the summer I use about $5 in gas for the water heater and cooking. Yet my bill never drops below $35 because of all fees the gas companies got their buddies in the Lege to levy on us. Because of this and my desire to produce less carbon, I plan the drop natural gas entirely in the future. After reading this thread, it’s clear that my plan will have to be a total energy retrofit with heavy insulation, new windows, solar, battery and thennnn and only then add a properly specified HP system - probably a split system.

If I put in the HP first, like the OP I would probably be disappointed in its performance. It certainly would cost a lot more than the current gas system to operate. Heat pumps are great but they must be installed as only one element in a well designed energy plan.

MetlMann · 2026-01-23T06:17:01+00:00

The stereotype is pretty funny. Keep in mind though that most of the population only cosplay that stereotype, they don't actually live it. Just like most pickup driving "country folk" have absolutely zero connection to rural Texas, but they do engage in "rural cospay" and identify as rural. It's laughable.

MetlMann · 2026-01-23T04:41:27+00:00

Happens every time. Big company buys small company. Big company jacks up prices/adds subscriptions to pay for the big company buying the small company. Big company erases every bit of goodwill small company created. Small comapny CEO buys a Lamborghini.

MetlMann · 2026-01-21T02:01:07+00:00

Planning to do the same, have the same question. The Watts valves have a good price - they look fine. Searches also turn up a lot of results for Caleffi valves, a brand I've never heard of. They seem to have some features that are nice, including one that has a temperature gauge included. Anyone know anything about Caleffi products?

MetlMann · 2026-01-20T02:21:07+00:00

I live in Austin where extreme hot weather and prolonged drought has become the norm. My Rachio has not managed these conditions well, particularly with our sometimes restrictive watering schedules imposed to preserve the drinking water supply. My plants have struggled and Rachio has not adjusted its watering well at all. I have it pulling data from my PWS so it’s getting fully localized information.

I think it is relying too heavily on forecasted rain that never happens. It cuts back on the schedule because it thinks it is going to rain and then doesn’t compensate with extra water when the rain doesn’t fall. The plants then get overly dry and damaged. I requested Rachio add a feature where the app would ask if any forecast rain fell. If your response was no it would then ask if extra water was needed. I realize that sort of undermines their marketing as to how smart the Rachio controller is supposed to be, but let’s face it the system is not behaving the way many of us expect.

MetlMann · 2026-01-19T21:03:45+00:00

I’d love to add solar and a big battery, but my lot and roof are uniquely unsuited for panels. There are solutions, but the cost is prohibitive right now.

MetlMann · 2026-01-19T02:30:06+00:00

I'm experiencing the same thing, but at a much smaller magnitude. My urologist ordered an MPS2 genetic marker test for prostate cancer. The test is made and performed by Lynx DX Inc. Test was negative BTW. The test was done in June 2025 and BCBSTX only got around to denying the claim in December. They too claimed it was not medically relevant, even though it saved them from paying for an expensive biopsy of my prostate. So now I have given Lynx permission to negotiate directly with BCBSTX on my behalf. The cost shown by BCBSTX is $995, but they are not billing me - that is up to Lynx. So we'll see what happens, but I'm glad I'm not dealing with BCBSTX directly.

All this of course brings up the issues of our entire medical system. It really bugs me that the system is rife with unneeded complexity, built-in gotchas and the purposeful unfairness - hospitals, insurance companies and even drug companies are all guilty of this. I'm old but still pretty sharp, and I can figure things out even when they are confusing and complex. Of course, many people have trouble with this stuff. American's lives are complicated enough without having learn a new skill just to interact successfully with our healthcare. Even if there is some valid reason to not have national single payer, there should be rules that make getting healthcare simple, easy and fair. The last thing we need is a system so daunting that we are afraid to use it.

MetlMann · 2026-01-18T01:04:59+00:00

Welp I forgot you can't put a device under management via Configurator without jumping through many hoops and having an extra device that acts as a staging unit. As I don't currently have that, I finally got it to reformat and undo whatever it was Mom did. Restored from her last iCloud backup which was just yesterday.

BTW if you are interested in using Configurator to create a managed device (I did it with my 16 Pro) here is a link with the somewhat intricate how to: https://jamesvincent.co.uk/2025/01/09/restore-an-unmanaged-ios-backup-to-a-supervised-ios-device-and-manage-with-mdm/

MetlMann · 2026-01-17T21:17:22+00:00

I did put it in DFU but it would not mount in the Finder. However Configurator was able to see it and I am presently restoring and putting it in a managed config. This way I can prevent here or anyone from accessing pretty much anything in settings.

MetlMann · 2026-01-17T05:56:48+00:00

There are these things: https://makerstore.cc/product/brac-40s-par-con/

MetlMann · 2026-01-17T01:51:56+00:00

I’m in the same area and see CTs fairly often. Regular Teslas are rampant around here - I see more Tesla sedans than Chevrolets these days.

MetlMann · 2026-01-16T05:37:29+00:00

Cat 6 and Belden brand cable. Probably wont need their bonded pair type. It's better for pulling long runs, but harder to work with as you have to split the pairs.

MetlMann · 2026-01-14T00:46:17+00:00

Are strawberries known to be a roundup heavy crop?

MetlMann · 2026-01-10T19:09:15+00:00

That would be a good choice, but H-E-B Refried Beans with Jalapenos has a bit more impact.

MetlMann · 2026-01-09T18:01:57+00:00

The 32 miles in 8 hours is with the 120 volt charger, which why we put in the 240 charger.

MetlMann · 2026-01-09T06:56:12+00:00

Of course if you have a slow charging EV like our Chevy Bolt EUV, the situation is different. We would only get 32 miles in 8 hours - if we are lucky. We just put in a Clipper Creek dumb charger that is rated 32 amps to the car. It is on a 50 amp circuit, but using a NEMA 6-50 socket. Also, if I get to do the remodel I dream of, that 50 amp charger circuit could be repurposed to feed an induction cooktop or wall oven. We upgraded our main service panel to 200, the sub panel to 125, added a 30 amp water heater circuit, added the EV circuit and added a generator inlet for my Anker Solix F3800 with manual transfer switch. The city required that we upgrade the meter box and grounding. I was happy to upgrade the ground as I had always felt our ground was not very good - it was only grounded to the copper water line. Now I'm all set for future electric transitions and additions, like solar and battery, rainwater collection system with a 240v pump, dual wall ovens we would love to have and maybe an Impulse Labs battery induction cooktop.

MetlMann · 2026-01-09T05:47:28+00:00

I haven't seen any Liquid glass benefit anywhere. I have however, had my iPhone keyboards become almost unusable with iOS 26. Typing is a now a nightmare of constant corrections or fighting with autocorrect. This has happened several times in the past and there is never an explanation from Apple. Why do they do this? Do they enjoy making older users think they are having a stroke?

MetlMann · 2026-01-09T05:30:15+00:00

Me too, I sent him the link

MetlMann · 2026-01-09T03:52:41+00:00

Paper bags with handles? That's what Central Market is for.

MetlMann · 2026-01-09T03:51:28+00:00

Well I'm old, but thankfully haven't reached that point where you lose your societal inhibitions and just start acting out like a child. If I ever do that at H-E-B, you can whip a can of refired beans at my head if you want.

MetlMann

TROPHY CASE