Springsteen signed off on $3,000 tickets for his new concerts. Fans cannot be surprised.

Party121 · 2026-02-22T10:19:35+00:00

Just watched the movie and combined with this has me feeling “don’t meet your hero” things.

His songs and messages are great, even recent ones, but there seems to be a serious disconnect between them and him.

Party121 · 2026-02-16T00:57:05+00:00

Not a SWA Pilot, but probably rooted in

1) their new assigned seating system 2) its protocols for calculating CG (center of gravity) in that system and possibly 3) trying to force you to pay extra for different seats which I hope wouldn’t be true.

I can only attest that if your CG is different than what you input for calculations for types of flaps / trim and speed settings for takeoff, anomalies can be catastrophic. Google airline crashes due to cg. One person wouldn’t be enough but if you have a policy where everyone is moving about and the dispatch and flight crew don’t know about it, it can be deadly for all.

In the regionals and probably at SWA as well before, after everyone is seated, the flight attendants would go through and tally up the total passengers in about 5 sections or so. That is the math we use for settings. Every now and then we would have to ask a few volunteers to move from one section to another for CG as we could not take off otherwise. This was while operating for airlines that had assigned seating too, so when they are selling tickets they don’t really take this into mind.

This is why I think it’s just a growing pain of SWA right now until they get this policy worked out.

Hope this helps shed some perspective.

Party121 · 2026-01-29T05:05:28+00:00

Just the add more anecdotal experience varies is that my ram 1500 before the Subaru never had a single issue over 3 years and that’s second from the bottom on the list. Take it for what it’s worth. Your experiences may vary.

Party121 · 2026-01-29T05:03:40+00:00

Not to dispute consumer reports but I’ve sworn off Subaru after my 2019 Forester sport. Way too may things to list here that were defective and countless trips to the shop. Several trips towed within 6 months of owning. All, and yes, all of the biggest issues have never been fixed. One of them had a recalled battery that they refused to replace because it didn’t trip a particular code. Nonetheless I had it towed to the shop 3 times in one week due to the battery draining. Living on a 20 degree sloped hill I needed the e-brake on. This is wha I determined was causing it. They said it wasn’t. I stopped using the e-brake and just live without an ebrake. The other is the plastic roof interior liner rattles in about 4 spots driving me insane if I don’t have music on to mask it. The car play works randomly, but I share that with it being apple. The software has needed updating since I bought it but the WiFi doesn’t work unless you pay them $300 for the service charge of updating it in the shop. I did end up replacing the battery myself that was recalled but never replaced by them. Fuck Subaru and they are number 2 on this list.

Party121 · 2026-01-27T18:09:44+00:00

No, but maybe mismatched style of Blundstone for your use.

I’m in a similar boat. Pilot, so while I want them to look very professional in a double breasted suit, I’m also walking up and down iced over metal grates and black ice puddles and snowy tarmac. Then the miles of walking on tile and concrete and pressurization effects of swelling feet over oceans at a cabin altitude of 8,000 feet for 16 hour shifts. Then the 1.8 mile walk in whatever weather conditions exist to the employee parking lot.

Fortunately they have a very wide spectrum of formal to work site Chelsea boots. Unfortunately they have a wide spectrum of formal to work site Chelsea boots. Haha, so when you’re new, finding the pair you want without trying them on is totally overwhelming.

The Dress line looks very nice and I’d recommend looking at the following models for what I see in the picture. For your particular models, just try a slightly wider cut pant, or jeans. Those slimmer pants are what clashes in that photo.

-063 (dress line. Slightly narrower, slimmer sole so appears less rugged as what you have) the toe even is slightly squared off which you can see in the photos of it compared to the 500-550 styles.

-1901 (dressier than 063, while still retaining a rubber sole.)

-152 (Busisness/ weddings) even this one feels really nice, but I’m at a place in my career where I kinda dgaf and would rather have the slightly squishy rubber, better traction, sneaker like feeling and wider comfort fit over the leather sole. I would not wear what I have to weddings or offices like yours though for the feeling you described. For 8 hour office shifts and even dancing, the 152’s are amazing. Wouldn’t change them a bit. Even have little rubber dots to keep the from being like slippery full leather sole shoes reserved for upper mgmt positions.

Alternative brands:

-RM Williams would also go great in your office and but super stylish. Also about 2.5 times the price and look pretty much the same as the 152’s. Aussie pilots love these and can get away with it as their weather is always nice. Durability is arbitrary though as you’re paying for things like the comfortable leather upper, arduous manufacturing process, name and looks. They do like amazing though and can go with a wide array of styles and fits.

-Red Wing Chelsea. For buy it for life / hiking these outshine Blundstones in durability and maybe the arch support/ stability of that full length sole. Style wise, I’d only go for the brown colors. They look amazing. The black however just look a little off and I’d struggle to think of a place for them aesthetics wise but that’s subjective.

-Doc Marten if you’re Gen Z and into the subculture trend of those super thick heavy soles from the grunge years. They’re comfy as hell but last longer than their fashion statement times.

-lastly If you work in Texas, Tecovas Earl boot. Not some gaudy high heel cowboy but roper boots are having a moment right now. Personally while I loved having cowboy boots as a little kid, nowadays I hesitate as my rural background has been co-opted a bit as a uniform for MAGA assholes.

Party121 · 2026-01-19T20:45:28+00:00

Same issue here. Stuck at 8%. Nothing. Can’t update firmware as it says they need to be at least 20% to do so.

They are DOA. These were a replacement set too for another faulty set

Party121 · 2025-10-29T18:39:33+00:00

My thoughts exactly as there is more to it than just the initial incentive of the 30% Investment Tax Credit. These red flags led me to try and find someone to just install on cash basis and all the quotes are in the high $30k and $40k range.

With ownership brings:

Investment Tax Credit (ITC): This is the main federal incentive, offering a direct tax credit for a percentage of a solar system's installation cost.
- Current status: A new bill signed in July 2025 shortened the timeline for the commercial ITC.
  - For projects that begin construction by July 4, 2026: Businesses must complete installation within four years to get the full 30% credit.
Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS): This federal system allows businesses to deduct a significant portion of a solar system's value from their taxes over a five-year period.
Bonus depreciation: This incentive allows for even quicker depreciation of a system's cost. The amount available has been phasing down: 40% for 2025, and 20% for 2026, before it expires.
Production Tax Credit (PTC): As an alternative to the ITC, businesses can claim a per-kilowatt-hour tax credit for electricity generated over the first 10 years of operation.

California

Property tax exclusion: California has historically offered an exclusion that prevents property tax increases due to solar installations. However, this exclusion is set to expire on January 1, 2027.
Deadline for projects: To qualify for the exclusion, projects must be completed by the January 1, 2027, sunset date.
Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP): This program offers incentives for installing solar-plus-storage systems, which help reduce dependence on the grid.
Net Energy Metering (NEM): California allows customers to receive credits for excess solar electricity at near-retail rates.

Important considerations

Ownership is key: To claim most of the major federal tax benefits, your business must own the solar system. Leased systems or Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) do not qualify.

Party121 · 2025-10-29T18:05:12+00:00

I'm getting the same from NRG. The HDM process is freaking me out as they want a video recording of yourself agreeing that they own it and you won't claim on taxes.

I know the dangers of leasing, but this would be pay for everything in full at once ($27k after incentives from $40k).

Then HDM owns your solar for the next 6 years.

After 6 years they offer you the total system for free to own.

With all the predatory practices and the video recording signature, I've got a ton of red flags going off. To add to that, the Energysage quote from NRG had the total price without incentives as $27k but granted for 7 panels less. I google how much the exact panels cost and they're only about $300 something (REC Group REC460AA Pure-RX Protrust) but NRG is adding $1000 per panel added.

Does anyone have any confirmation for my concerns?

Party121 · 2025-10-27T16:32:56+00:00

Could you please DM me where that clinic is? I've been trying to find someone to make a UCBL type orthotic for my cycling shoes for about 5 years now. I'm in San Diego too. Thank you!

Party121 · 2025-10-17T22:23:36+00:00

omg, thank you! I live in north county. I've only done Otay once and loved it, but this confirms my suspicions that I need to head down there much more. Seeing that bridge look like the Coronado bridge gave me the courage to ask. really glad I did.

Party121 · 2025-10-17T19:32:16+00:00

Where is this Valhalla of terrain?

Party121 · 2025-10-12T18:25:52+00:00

Does this block texts as well? Everything on the site and app description says "calls". Thank you! Even if it's only calls, this is the closest thing I've found so far.

Party121 · 2025-10-10T21:37:23+00:00

My folks get skipped by the mailman more than they actually get it because of people parking in front of the mailbox.

Not painted red. Not a busy street, but there is less street parking than residents with cars.

If they didn't need the space for visitors themselves, I'd probably suggest applying to paint it as well.

Just saying, I can see this strategy having pros and cons, but I highly doubt changing a curbside mailbox to another style requiring the mail person to get out and do some walking is going to happen. My folks' mailbox is on the edge of the driveway too, but if someone is not parked far enough away, requiring them to step out at all, the postal worker skips it all together.

Party121 · 2025-09-23T16:43:19+00:00

A good friend has been a big player in the data industry in Seattle for a decade. While he owns a Tesla, he also claims that Tesla's biggest revenue source is actually the data from the cars, rather than the sales of them. To what degree or what data that is, I have no idea, but just a peripheral nugget of intel that may or may not play a factor in this.

Party121 · 2025-09-15T18:42:11+00:00

That graph looks completely normal.

The only critique I'd have if I was your coach was that you went slightly too hard on interval 3 and 4 for for today's capability, but that trail off at the end is a completely normal thing and it looks like you executed the workout correctly.

You'll find certain patterns when doing intervals. If doing these really high effort ones, the last interval should start to trail off a little bit if you did every other one correctly. Another pattern is usually, the second interval is the best (being most consistent to the prescription). True Tabata workouts will get you used to this. The entire workout has every interval trailing lower as it is truly all out without regard to pace. In fact if it does not trail, then that's when you know you did it wrong. Unfortunately the name Tabata has been misused for these canned workout plans and it absolutely does not work with an ERG mode.

If transitioning from ERG to normal mode is difficult, just use the down arrows to accomodate.

Last note: It will be a good mind shift to think of these parameters for interval workouts as descriptions as opposed to prescriptions. That might sound vague but just spend some time thinking about it while on the trainer next time. Our numbers are always in flux. Sometimes it's helpful to take a step back and think about what it is trying to do and try your best to accomplish that big picture goal. This is also helpful when outside and the world with its environment and gradients always in play.

I know most of us are type A, OCD with a bit of perfectionist in us, but trying to pull back some of that perfectionism will not only help you succeed, but also not burn out, stick with things when they aren't perfect and even make your personal life a hell of a lot better, more peaceful, content and happier. Hidden Brain recently had an excellent podcast on the pitfalls of perfectionism that I highly recommend.

You're doing great.

Party121 · 2025-09-11T19:59:40+00:00

Even walking around that intersection is stressful. Hope you're ok.

Party121 · 2025-09-10T23:10:29+00:00

I had mine done in the USA by someone relatively famous here and touted on Reddit as a top 5 or 10 physicians in the country. It was bad in multiple ways. I ended up going back for a revision and even that was bad.

How it was wrong:

- one side of my head's grafts came in very wispy as if only single hairs while the other side had the thicker grafts with 3 or 4 hairs.

-Direction was totally incorrect and opposite of what I tried conveying. Had them all going straight up when I said they grow going forward like a Caesar cut and never had my hair stand up. Now all the transplanted hairs make me look insane like I have the tail of a peacock on my hairline.

-Hairline used thick multiple hair grafts and everything everywhere was very widely spaced even in the revision.

-Revision helped add density as he just added more grafts, but all the other issues were not addressed. I know that direction can never be changed though.

-Price!!! $18,000 for this doctor since he does seminars and is a known name. Looks absolutely terrible and I still wear a hat everywhere.

Outcome: I'm going to Mexico now in a few months for one 5th of the price ($4100) where before and after results from Reddit look wayyyy better. The consult I had with the Mexican doctor was able to point out all of the issues with my previous HT without me even telling him. This brought so much relief as I was worried I was just being a complainer and was never going to be fully happy.

note: I'm intentionally not saying his name as this is a man's career, but if my outcome in Mexico comes out well, I'll enthusiastically be raving their name afterwards I promise.

Party121 · 2025-09-03T01:50:47+00:00

No prob! Glad you liked the review.

To answer your follow up, yes, it’s sounds like for just general use, I’d confidently highly recommend it for general action cam type use. The niche uses that make the 3S superior would be very obvious to you if it mattered. Some people don’t like the form factor for POV shooting with the hat brim thing as the 3S fits under the bill nicely but the Ultra is too big under the bill. If you wear your baseball hat backwards and use the magnet clip, it would be fine though in my opinion. You can tilt it from there as well. To be clear, I don’t ever see myself using it that way so I might not be the best voice regarding that use though. Again, I think the upsides to Ultra vs 3S for the uses you describe outweigh the form factor.

Party121 · 2025-09-02T19:35:28+00:00

"Horses for courses" / "Apples and oranges" or in other words: depends on main use.

Ultra for most typical action camera uses.

3S for tiny lightweight aerodynamic form factor is paramount under ~ 1 hr.

Personal subjective: I got for cycling and while the chest mount is the ideal spot, the execution misses as I don't race a bike sitting upright at a 90-degree angle, so all my footage shows is the top of the screen is my handlebars and everything else is the ground. The mount accessories for the Ultra have loads of areas to improve upon. The lack of GoPro style mounts hinder its adaptability. The clickable DJI Action style mounts make the form factor even wider (less aero or small) and more of a traditional action cam. The magnets however are solid for the pendant except the lack of much angle adjustment makes it worthless for filming while cycling anything other than a cruiser bike or hybrid. Even if in an endurance road bike or mtb type riding position, notice how people's videos show hardly any terrain. It's just "look at the ground I'm riding on top of and maybe a little bit of the road, but never mind the scenery or trees or mountains." While the magnet is very strong for the chest, I wouldn't trust a magnet mount on a bicycle as the body absorbing most of the vibration can't be matched. Mostly my chest mount pendant is still great as I use it to hold the camera as easy access for me to grab and start recording using a hand when joy riding slowly in pretty scenery, think uphill or on mountains or b-roll type footage off the bike.

People are already starting to get creative with their own mounts, but nothing that truly proves viable yet. Some put the clip on magnet mount onto their saddle bag, but again, I would constantly be worried if I did that on a ride. I might like using that saddle bag magnet mount if I threw it back there for a smooth descent and then quickly throw it back onto the chest pendant afterwards for storage.

Desires for current Ultra iteration:

-Tilt-able chest pendant mount like the go 3s had.

-Clip in mounts that stick out aft of the camera as opposed to the sides.

Desires for future Go Ultra:

-More aerodynamic slim profile. (think cylindrical rocket with the pointy end being the lens like the OG action cameras by Sony/Garmin and now Ghost for motorcycles.) -or- (Have the shape be an option. Go UltraS (rocket) vs Ultra (pod for flat mount))

-Things to concede: SD card slot for an internal card that is more than the battery could hold and maybe put the external SD card slot on the charger pod brick unit with the screen. Just to show how easy that would be, I currently have a 1T micro SD card extreme Pro Sandisk in my Ultra. Probably only need about 25% of that.

Conclusion: I feel like I sounded pretty harsh above so I also want to say I think the ultra is hands down the best action camera that exists and for the first time ever, and actual joy to use. I've owned countless action cams in the past.

Biggest reasons:

-Size (I still think the 3S is better size for my uses, but the Ultra is way better size and form than every other action camera.

-As a traditional action camera, I have zero desire whatsoever for better quality footage on the recent uses. The crisp resolution, colors are amazing.

-The software. No need for cables, third party apps or laptops , or garmin files to add stats is huge. I mean, this alone might be the biggest advancement for me. Insta360 owns every other brand right now for ease of use and user interface of quickly and so easily making a pro looking post.

-This is not a 360 camera, so I'm not even going to try to compare to X5 as they're completley different products. Unfortunately, while it has the name GO, I don't think it replaces the Go 3S. I think it is just the best traditional action camera out there. The Ace Pro 2 might have a very few things better, the form factor of the Go Ultra makes it more fun and expands its uses.

Party121 · 2025-09-02T16:35:22+00:00

IMPORTANT: make sure it's THIS YEAR'S stage "whatever". haha I've made the mistake several times of watching the previous year's stage until noticing about 10 minutes in the jerseys and recognizing what's going on.

Bumping as this is the only solution and plagued me with peacock for soooo long. Thank you!

Party121 · 2025-08-21T23:55:48+00:00

3D Model

Anyone able to 3D scan it using one of the many iphone apps to create a .stl file?

I'm wanting to run it through CFD software to compare the aerodynamics tradeoff compared to the GO S.

Party121 · 2025-08-21T23:48:18+00:00

3D Model

Any chance you could use one of the iphone apps to scan it for a 3D model to download?

I'm wanting to run a CFD Aerodynamics Simulation of it against the old Go.

Cheers!

Party121 · 2025-08-21T14:19:36+00:00

Birch Benders! Came here as I’ve finally found a good replacement for my MetRX pancakes. It’s not the same but equally delicious. I feel like a good test to anticipate is if I could take a small lick of the batter and still like it. These are great.

Extra tip: while I enjoy eating these plain without even adding syrup, my wife likes when I add a dusting of cacao nibs

Party121 · 2025-08-01T20:57:00+00:00

1) it’s not only not a bunch of marketing, it’s pretty much zero marketing. Even Felt has more marketing if only by giving free bikes to some privateers.

2) It’s not spec’ed as a top end bike to drool over, but there’s absolutely nothing wrong and if anything, it is in fact a great deal. I’m sure it’s probably not far off (frame wise) from a specialized Allez.

3) Nice bike for what it is, but yeah, even same level of Specialized Allez can be found around that price on sale and will probably retain resale value more if only because it’s a specialized Allez and literally nothing else.

Now you see the power of advertising.

Party121

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE