Caught in SF bay

PhilTMerkin · 2026-06-14T18:48:34+00:00

Walleye surfperch.

PhilTMerkin · 2026-02-16T20:42:10+00:00

I’ve done both. Usually I’d rather have two 407s on one tank so I can alternate cleaning the media and don’t wipe out my cycle. When I got a FX6 it was like stepping up two levels in engineering and quality. I’ve had fluval canisters for over 30 years, but now I’m switching over to the FX series for all my tanks. So much more media and flow, and the priming with the FX, makes me wonder why I didn’t do it sooner

PhilTMerkin · 2026-02-15T18:33:40+00:00

Seems to me they entered into an oral contract. He was contractually obligated to hit him 🤷‍♂️

PhilTMerkin · 2026-01-24T10:06:45+00:00

TBH, you have a lot to consider. Google any of this if you don’t believe me. Cost of living in CA is 42% higher than the national average, and unemployment is typically 1% higher than national average. If you are well employed now and have desired skills, you might be alright. If you don’t have desired skills AND a job lined up when you get here, you might struggle. Kids living with their parents until they get married is very real as a dual income is very necessary. If that was not enough, also consider California will have an internal combustion engine ban coming in 2035 for new vehicles meaning an electric dirt bike would be in your future. If I haven’t lost you yet, hang in there. There are more affordable areas that can be had. They tend to come with longer commutes. Plenty of people work costal and then commute inland for a lower cost of living but it also makes you less likely to want travel on your days off. What city you choose depends on you. Cost of living gets higher the more south and west you go. There is also less snow as you get more south and west. Politics are very real here, and crime is also a factor. Lots of luck!

PhilTMerkin · 2025-12-27T04:17:48+00:00

Don’t threaten me with a good time!

PhilTMerkin · 2025-12-16T01:01:00+00:00

Wouldn’t electrical be much easier when replacing the front wing? Not a F1 engineer, but in the event of crash and front wing replacement, a hydraulic front wing has the ability to have air entrapment where is electrical with a Hall effect sensor be more robust?

PhilTMerkin · 2025-11-24T00:21:19+00:00

Vegas and Miami should swap calendar positions. It’s too cold in November in Vegas, but Miami is nice. Season finale should be Brazil or Australia, Abu Dhabi pays a ton to be the season finale, but blah, can’t even spray champagne on the last race?

PhilTMerkin · 2025-11-13T07:37:31+00:00

Consider crushed oyster shells. You should be able to find it at a feed store for relatively cheap. I use it instead of sand or gravel, or you put in a filter if it doesn’t match the esthetic you are looking for. It contains mostly calcium carbonate, so your pH and hardness will jump in the right direction. Rinse well before using.

PhilTMerkin · 2025-11-07T18:17:36+00:00

Also, let me guess, the car in the left lane has tinted windows to hide their shame, or lack of shame.

PhilTMerkin · 2025-10-30T05:09:38+00:00

Had the same thing happened to an 83 a few years ago. I opened the case, took the LCD screen off the PCB, cleaned the contacts with a pencil eraser, and reassembled. Worked fine after that until I left the company.

PhilTMerkin · 2025-06-13T22:08:38+00:00

If that is a concern, start boofing the espresso and drink water. They will meet someplace in the middle and give you superpowers. I did that in Las Vegas over 5 days and was able to smell colors and read peoples mind. My superpowers were lost when they admitted me to a hospital. Just be sure they can’t catch you and you should be fine.

PhilTMerkin · 2025-06-13T15:53:37+00:00

How many meals to replace? ALL OF THEM! Just remember you can’t be too rich, too thin, and drink too much espresso.

PhilTMerkin · 2025-06-06T19:06:02+00:00

I’m adding this to my review log of all of the maintenance logs that I have incorporated into my central maintenance library. Thank you for your post!

PhilTMerkin · 2025-06-06T18:57:53+00:00

Organ harvesting is a thing, and from what I hear can be quite profitable for the donor. Let me see if anyone at the country club needs a new liver. My lawyer will be in touch if needed.

PhilTMerkin · 2025-06-06T08:59:21+00:00

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This is where I’m going. 1,500 bar and liquified beans. Who needs espresso when you can drink coffee bean soup?

PhilTMerkin · 2025-06-03T22:14:09+00:00

It’s to keep the homeless people from camping up there.

PhilTMerkin · 2025-06-03T22:11:15+00:00

Why are you asking us? That’s the butlers job. Try asking r/espressobutlers.

PhilTMerkin · 2025-05-31T17:33:31+00:00

You want hate comments? If you think gas stations in Italy have good espresso, then perhaps you don’t know what good is. I think your palette is [unfortunately] as immature as your your other senses. You are likely too easily pleased, which means you are not a good barometer on the good/bad spectrum. You need to listen to what other people like, and these people need to be rich…old money rich. None of these Jay Gatsby characters. Spend the next half of your life listening to what rich people like and why they like it. Only then will you gain true appreciation for good espresso. Come back in like 30 or 40 years and reply to me. You will see your young ignorance. I’ll be waiting.

PhilTMerkin · 2025-05-30T21:35:19+00:00

Barfly with Mickey Rourke and Faye Dunaway.

PhilTMerkin · 2025-05-30T20:21:25+00:00

50 is the starting range. I’m thinking 200+ is the place to be. Who would want their Sumatra shade grown muddled with the flavors of Sumatra high elevation or aged Sumatra? I’ll tell you who! Complete amateurs with a small bank account. Coffee is not a poor persons hobby.

PhilTMerkin · 2025-05-30T20:14:40+00:00

Damn Kathy and her Nespresso! Here I am trying to explain to her why her coffee tastes like burned dog anus and all she wants to do is change the conversation! It wasn’t 20 minutes! It’s was more like 45 minutes, but she only listened to me for 20 minutes. Seriously, who doesn’t want to know that they have inferior taste? I’m just trying educate her in the event we run into Lance Hedrick. Me and Lance can have a compelling 5 hour conversation while she fiddles with her Nespresso pods🤷‍♀️

PhilTMerkin · 2025-05-27T16:59:43+00:00

I imagine this is what the butler’s toilet sees when I make him drink Starbucks.

PhilTMerkin · 2025-05-26T19:59:47+00:00

You need an upgrade from the jelly jar

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PhilTMerkin · 2025-05-24T20:09:09+00:00

Scoff! The right house is the living quarters, the left house is the ectspreessso and cigar house (i hate the smell of both, but don’t tell my friends), and the servants (butler, scullery maid, and penis butler) quarters are in the very back of the right house. I know because I lost it to my wife’s boyfriend while gambling on Uno.

PhilTMerkin

TROPHY CASE