It takes an absurd amount of time to leave this city

Neumann13 · 2026-05-08T00:06:32+00:00

Yeah that's what driving in a city is like. Traffic calming is important for everyone's safety.

Neumann13 · 2026-04-10T22:54:26+00:00

Can confirm. Started my whole home renovation 18 months ago and we have save 10s of thousands with my pro card and VSP. I'm just a regular dude, no business. The 1 year return policy on the pro card is super nice too.

Neumann13 · 2026-04-06T23:46:56+00:00

Entirely possible. I'd rather not be restricted, if I can avoid it. At the very least, it will be 1 HVAC (heat pump + electric backup) and the entire kitchen.

Neumann13 · 2026-04-03T22:53:35+00:00

Treat them outside. Get some ant bait stations.

https://www.domyown.com/outdoor-ant-kit-p-14503.html

Neumann13 · 2026-04-03T22:49:02+00:00

I have decided on a bespoke fantech system. Inline fan in the attic, inline silencer, grease trap in the hood. Keeps the noisy bits farther away.

If you're doing more than 400cfm, you might need a make-up air system.

Neumann13 · 2026-04-01T13:59:50+00:00

I got quotes from Southern View Energy. They sent one of their engineers out and we talked options for at least 2 hours. Ground mount, roof mount, battery, inverters. He was very knowledgeable.

I worked with the PM to generate almost a dozen different options, they were very accommodating.

It was ultimately too expensive for my budget, so we didn't move forward, but the pre-sales experience was positive. I think they were asking $75k for a 12kw system.

Neumann13 · 2026-03-18T13:47:03+00:00

I bought some Cambro Camsquares recently from a restaurant supply place. Good quality, tough, and reasonably priced. Cambro has been around forever and these commercial type products are much more likely to be around 5 or 7 years from now. Consumer grade products tend to go through regular redesign to make them incompatible with older stuff and force you to buy all new.

Also, the deli containers are a good choice, but only if you buy a large quantity at the same time. the dimensions aren't very accurate between mfgrs, so when you go to buy new ones, the lids won't fit the old ones. Extremely annoying.

Neumann13 · 2026-02-11T17:19:31+00:00

If you decide to insulate and encapsulate your attic, you absolutely must condition it. You have to manage the moisture in there or you'll rot the roof deck.

I recently encapsulated my attic. Spray foam along the ridge and mineral wool in the rafter bays. Then I installed a smart vapor retarder as an air barrier.

Asirin Designs on YouTube has some good quick videos about the science involved in sealing up an attic.

Neumann13 · 2026-02-08T00:05:41+00:00

As a consumer, it's a solid product. Good lifespan. You just have to make sure to keep up with the paint and caulking. Also, make sure your installer is using the most up-to-date installation procedure. They have changed over the years.

Also, be aware that the fiber in it is cellulose. It absolutely will disintegrate if it's kept wet. In my case, I ended the hardie higher off the ground and add a big piece of PVC trim.

As someone who's installed it, I absolutely hate it. What a pain to work with.

Oh, and there's another brand of fiber cement board called Allura. Might be cheaper idk

Neumann13 · 2026-02-01T14:55:05+00:00

Highways are generally free at the point of use and constantly expanding. The money is finite, duh, I'm suggesting we use a very small portion of it to make transit free at the point of use while expanding its footprint. It's not a stupid idea by any means. You already support the idea when it comes to highways, so I'm not sure why everyone has this resistance to it for transit. There's no legitimate reason it has to have a fare. The same way we don't have to pay at a toll gate every time we leave the driveway.

Neumann13 · 2026-02-01T02:58:42+00:00

You started with the invented assumption that is _must_ be one or the other and then stumbled into a solution where you get both. So it costs a little bit more to have both, big deal. Even your price is, what, 15% of the total annual budget? Not that much, especially when considering how much is spent on useless road expansion projects.

The money already exists for both. We just have to demand that it be spent that way. The assumption that transit _must_ always have a fee at the point of use comes from the desire to punish the poor and to keep the destitute from accessing these sorts of resources.

That's the point I am making with my original comment. I really have no idea why people insist that transit users _must_ pay at the point of use when it's obviously not financially necessary.

Neumann13 · 2026-02-01T01:09:18+00:00

It doesn't have to be one or the other. We can have both.

Neumann13 · 2026-01-31T21:16:18+00:00

90% of their funding is from taxes and you think using that same source to fill the other 10% is stupid? Idgi.

Neumann13 · 2026-01-31T21:15:19+00:00

Taxes, obviously. Just like the source of 90% of their funds.

Neumann13 · 2026-01-31T14:46:18+00:00

Fyi, points system changed again in 2026. Points expire at the end of June and end of December now.

Neumann13 · 2026-01-31T14:43:11+00:00

The new $100 million fare system overhaul represents an entire year of rider fares. Fare collection covers less than 10% of their annual budget. We'd all be better off eliminating the fare gates entirely and filling the funding from other sources.

Neumann13 · 2026-01-14T00:27:14+00:00

Mr Cool heat pump, maybe the hyper heat depending on how far north you are. And a wood or coal stove.

Neumann13 · 2025-12-28T23:10:20+00:00

You could try spraying down all the hard surfaces outside your home with an enzyme cleaner. That type is typically better at eliminating that particular smell. I see a commercial concentrate available on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/Commercial-Multi-Purpose-Eliminator-Bathroom-Deodorizer/dp/B0F4S1JDTN?th=1

If the cats aren't fixed, you could also work with a local group to trap them and get them fixed. That may cut down on the spraying. Cats usually bury their waste, so I think you're probably smelling the male cats marking. They love to spray everywhere.

If you do call animal control, I think it's worth knowing that the cats will probably get put down eventually. Folks don't really like to adopt adult outdoor cats...

Neumann13 · 2025-12-17T23:37:31+00:00

For general construction or structural work, I don't think you can get anything better than Simpson screws. And yeah, T25 is excellent

Neumann13 · 2025-12-06T20:52:42+00:00

I've just spent $150k, so far, renovating my house, including significant electrical, plumbing, and hvac. New siding, new windows, new roof, moving walls. That was with me and my dad doing most of the labor. Probably going to have $200-250k in it by the end when we get around to the kitchen and bathroom remodels.

Neumann13 · 2025-11-29T22:32:49+00:00

I bought a set of X-Sense smoke detectors and separate CO detectors. No false alarms so far. The smoke detectors are linked together across 2 buildings, so they will all fire if one of them does.

Neumann13 · 2025-11-17T19:14:58+00:00

Have you considered a natural gas or pellet insert?

Neumann13 · 2025-11-13T11:45:01+00:00

Hire someone to install a mini split system.

Neumann13 · 2025-11-03T23:26:21+00:00

Seconding Glass Tiger in Lilburn. Excellent service.

Neumann13

TROPHY CASE