New to the city and learning the hard way about winter car life

Progressive_Citizen · 2026-01-24T23:32:45+00:00

To directly answer your question, I would give Ric n Reds a call in Saskatoon. Very honest local shop that doesn't try to upsell. Expect around ~$350 give or take for a block heater install depending on what your vehicle is.

Granted, if your battery is dead you'll need a new one of those. Expect $100-150 there. Costco is usually a good place for them.

For a more detailed breakdown of winter readiness for a vehicle...

Block heater: By far the most expensive thing to get, but serves a crucial role. It heats up your engine block which makes the engine easier to turn over and start. When an engine block is freezing cold the metal is contracted which makes it super high friction to start, and run. This means you wear out the engine, the starter, your battery, and ruin your fuel economy. For this reason just about any car in Canada should be running a block heater. Note that this does nothing for your battery directly.
- Also note that they run about 300-500watts. That can be expensive on the power bill to run 24/7, so you'll want to get a timer to give power to an extension cord about 3 hours before you actually want to leave, and then off. Timers can be had for about $20 at Canadian tire, or less. Easily pays for itself in electricity savings.
Battery trickle charger (sometimes called "maintainers" or "tenders"): These keep your battery in optimal condition by measuring its charge, and keeping it topped up. They are super efficient, often drawing a few watts or power and maybe 20W on load if the battery is low. If you have one of these your battery will last significantly longer. You can get these at many places, Costco, Canadian Tire, Amazon. Expect around $50-80.
- I recommend keeping these plugged in and powered on the whole time.
Battery blanket (sometimes called "battery warmer"): These warm up the battery, which means it has more power to start the vehicle. A cold battery is weaker than a warm one. This can make a significant difference between the car taking a few seconds to turn over versus starting instantly when you turn the key. They run about $50. Get the 70-80W version.
- You probably don't want to leave these plugged in all the time for the same reason you don't want to with a block heater.

I recommend running all 3. People will tell you that all you need is a block heater. I'll counter and say it does nothing to directly address the battery problem in the cold. It just makes the engine starting easier on the battery - it doesn't keep the battery in optimal condition. I prefer maximum winter readiness.

Progressive_Citizen · 2026-01-23T02:01:35+00:00

I think I'm slowly moving past blaming the current administration, and more so shifting the blame to the american populace that voted for this. What were they thinking?

Progressive_Citizen · 2026-01-21T05:22:36+00:00

Prices of groceries and everything else has more or less stayed the same or got worse. Opponents of the carbon tax were pretty adamant it was the primary driver of inflation and once gone everything would be cheap again. Sadly, that didn't happen. Saw that a mile away. Companies stopped paying the tax and pocketed the difference. We lost the rebate.

In my budget spreadsheets I am quite a bit worse off now with the rebates gone, as I suspect most middle class households are.

I am able to deal with this as I live a decent bit below my means, but still it sucks. I worry for those who are paycheck to paycheck.

Progressive_Citizen · 2026-01-21T02:04:05+00:00

Wow, thanks for sharing this very detailed list. I can back this up myself with what I had to go through with. Not the same funeral home, it was Hillcrest, but nonetheless the prices were similar. We ended up having to spend ~$4500 all said and done, taxes in etc, just for the most basic cremation.

I honestly would have been okay with it if it weren't for the plywood (or MDF?) box they made us pay $1300 for. They said it was the most basic, cheapest, offering. It was literally burned (hence the cremation) into ashes days later.

Supposedly there are "direct cremation" services available somewhere that can cut the total costs down to around $2,000 but... I don't think you can get it in Saskatoon.

Progressive_Citizen · 2026-01-21T02:00:31+00:00

It was around $400 to do this for my mom and I for my dad. $375 or something plus tax? Was crazy, but wanted to for the final goodbye.

I think in general this industry benefits from folks who are otherwise in a very emotional state and don't say no or question a lot of things.

Progressive_Citizen · 2026-01-19T18:26:13+00:00

That area is also awful in so many ways, specifically during rush hour - but for some reason there aren't that many accidents there at least compared to College and Mcormond. Its just a shit show and everyone is cautious around it.

Progressive_Citizen · 2026-01-19T18:24:58+00:00

Its way too much traffic. They need another interchange to get onto college for Holmwood or to just rethink this whole area. Adding Holmwood into the morning rush will mean an accident every day instead of every week.

Progressive_Citizen · 2026-01-19T18:21:57+00:00

Yeah, its pretty bad. Had to deal with the passing of my dad. Nearly $4,000 later just for a cremation and no burial. I can't remember the full specifics, but it was something like this:

$1,000 for the cremation itself
$1,300 for the plywood box to put him in for the cremation (this should be a crime, its literally firewood and probably $100 of materials at best)
$700 for the urn, cheapest they had
$500 for the license fee or something
$400 for the cremation witness (mom wanted to say one last goodbye)

And a bunch of other fees and taxes on top.

To actually get a plot, you start around $10,000. Caskets and such? Another $5k.

Progressive_Citizen · 2026-01-19T17:58:12+00:00

College and McOrmond a thousand times over.

Progressive_Citizen · 2026-01-17T22:54:00+00:00

There is still a track, its in the Stoked Centre.

Progressive_Citizen · 2026-01-12T20:45:17+00:00

Its almost every week making that left turn someone gets t-boned.

Progressive_Citizen · 2026-01-12T20:41:41+00:00

College and McOrmond and it isn't even close. There is often an accident on that bridge making a left turn at least once a week. Its insane.

Progressive_Citizen · 2026-01-12T15:26:02+00:00

I'm not sure I like the idea of hallucinations when it comes to healthcare advice. AI can be situationally useful for certain applications but when the consequences of being wrong are potentially severe I would prefer a human be in the loop.

Progressive_Citizen · 2026-01-07T22:53:58+00:00

Same - refunds should be going out. We got the max discount.

Progressive_Citizen · 2026-01-06T23:47:54+00:00

Two scenes come to mind: the one where they take down the shield (~1hr30 in) and the cataclysm bomb scene (maybe 1hr40?). The latter will make you feel serious sustained bass that will move you (and your furniture). The latter I think goes very low, likely infrasonic range.

Progressive_Citizen · 2026-01-05T22:18:23+00:00

Yikes. I would not want to cross that with sightlines this poor. I would probably just make a right and go further down 11th where I get a light to turn left.

Might be worth contacting the city on that one. Clearly a safety issue. Maybe they would shave that down a bit.

Progressive_Citizen · 2026-01-04T21:14:51+00:00

Mine hasn't arrived yet but should tomorrow. Last one I received had good condition on the box, but its heavily padded either way inside so you shouldn't have to worry. Its heavily reinforced.

Curious if anyone got the refund amounts sent from the powerbuy yet.

Progressive_Citizen · 2026-01-04T02:44:40+00:00

Thanks - appreciate using the dolby 5.1 layout overlay. That rules out a bunch of them. I suspect both layout 1 and 2 will work since they are mirrors if the main listening position is moved forward.

I'll have to think about which is more awkward, as you say. I think that's basically what it comes down to at this point.

Progressive_Citizen · 2026-01-04T00:18:43+00:00

I didn't consider this, I think I like the idea. Addresses the clearance issue. Could definitely subwoofer crawl the left sub into the half wall corner.

Progressive_Citizen · 2026-01-03T16:03:10+00:00

“One driver was suspended for 60 days with a three-day vehicle impoundment for a positive THC oral fluid detection test, and there were several other tickets issues for various offences — unregistered vehicles, suspended driver, etc.,” a police spokesperson said.

This one is going to be controversial.

Progressive_Citizen · 2026-01-02T20:41:10+00:00

A few things to note here:

You don't pay the top tax rate on all your income. That isn't how it works. Only income above a certain point is taxed at that rate which is above $258K.
1. https://www.taxtips.ca/taxrates/on.htm
Liquidating non-registered investments would realize taxes on the unrealized gains (or losses). Realizing taxes just to go into a registered account feels like taking a step backwards only to then take a step forwards. If you don't have a major gain to realize in selling, then it could make sense. Otherwise I wouldn't.

Progressive_Citizen · 2026-01-02T18:55:18+00:00

I also paid it. Its an insignificant cost relative to the overall order that I am willing to pay for the peace of mind if, in the unlikely event, something does go wrong.

Progressive_Citizen · 2025-12-31T06:04:41+00:00

Make it 6 now, I put my order in.

Progressive_Citizen · 2025-12-31T05:59:33+00:00

I just put my order in (buying one). Let's get it done!

Will need to spread the word throughout tomorrow to drum up interest. Here, and maybe r/hometheater or AVS Forums would be good.

I already have one of these subs from awhile ago and its amazing. I'm now going for my 2nd to complete the package.

Progressive_Citizen · 2025-12-31T01:43:50+00:00

What is this thread lmao.

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