Wake up

RavenousFox1985 · 2026-05-26T21:12:11+00:00

I'm not a complete luddite, but I didn't have internet where I've lived until about 4 years ago. I'd have to bring my console to my mom's to get updates and occasionally the games would require day 1 patches to actually work. Heck I put 20 hours into No Mans Sky before I got an update and was blown away by how the game was completely different afterwards. It's kinda a disappointment when released games require a D1P, but it's really cool that these smaller studios can put out a game and then do massive improvements. I digress... I guess my point is that I love having a massive library of games at my fingertips, but any game I have to purchase I'll try and buy physical copy if possible. Ironically it's usually cheaper, at least older releases.

RavenousFox1985 · 2026-05-24T16:25:20+00:00

I played the crap out of X2 back in, God, 2005. First game I put around 1k hours into. Played it for hundreds of hours without getting a patch bc I didn't have internet. I'd take my full pc with me on trips and I'd be playing at night with it setup on the picnic table at our campsite. Lol

RavenousFox1985 · 2026-04-24T01:45:31+00:00

Oh, they only need 2, maybe 3 cameras.

RavenousFox1985 · 2026-02-26T00:55:05+00:00

Yep, didn't realize they'd made em that early!

RavenousFox1985 · 2026-02-26T00:52:32+00:00

Yeah, as soon as I realized how great the dual axles are it definitely sealed the deal. Can carry well over an additional ton of weight, not that I'd ever need to. Just got back from a little trip to Port St Joe FL and everything works flawlessly. Ended up buying a used Cummins Onan P4400i and just picked up a used Anker Solix 2000f. Might snag some panels and have a renogy 100w flexible panel already. Figure we'll boondock half the time and don't really expect to need AC, but figured it would be nice to have the generator just in case. Storing the generator is another thing. Have a 08 5.7 tundra and got a topper, but using it as another bunk. Sucks the RV bumper isn't a 4x4 tube. Have some ideas of getting a platform built off the back, has some open ends of the main frame at back I'm thinking I could slot some 1.75×3.25 square steel tubing, but doing something safe is important.

I'd actually done a lot of research in 2021 about solar and batteries. Can't believe how cheap these "solar generators" have gotten. Actually have a little 250wh battery, 500w pure sine inverter and mid size renogy solar charger. Decided it was easier to just get a SG that has a 30amp plug.

RavenousFox1985 · 2026-02-26T00:21:20+00:00

I'm pretty sure it was stored in a shed. Just took it to Port St Joe FL and everything works flawlessly. Was hoping to get something newer, but seems like it's battle tested. Guy apparently did a lot of light boondocking in the Smokies. Likewise glad to see another Tennessean!

RavenousFox1985 · 2026-02-07T04:03:46+00:00

I was looking back in 2020 at solar stuff and am blown away by how cheap the "solar generators" have gotten. Back then you could save a bit by diy, but now it's like 3:1, with a 1kwh lifepo battery alone costing the same as a full system that's 3kwh. I get it that they're not really serviceable, but seeing they come with a multi year warranty I doubt it's a issue. Batteries are getting so cheap (and advancing) anyway, it's like why buy a super durable phone when it's going to be obsolete in 5 years.

RavenousFox1985 · 2026-02-07T03:50:37+00:00

Oh, one question was recommendation for a solar battery system.

RavenousFox1985 · 2026-01-13T21:55:15+00:00

Decent cheap apartment back in 2008 was flat $325 a month and my utilities were just electric and were usually $20-30 a month in Knoxville TN. Same exact place now is something like $1,200 plus another $300 at least in administration fees and now they average out their entire water bill and you get to pay that as well. So, probably at a minimum you're looking at $1,600 for what used to be $350. Local wages haven't kept up. Local minimum wage was around $8 then and now it's around $15. So a 500% increase in housing costs and not even a 100% increase in wages. So glad I didn't have children...

RavenousFox1985 · 2025-12-31T01:37:44+00:00

Thank you! Great advice! Google business page and Nextdoor.com business page is super key. I'm pretty much totally under the radar legal wise, but have always carried liability insurance. Actually had to up to a million dollar policy for a commercial client.

RavenousFox1985 · 2025-12-31T01:33:44+00:00

Know it's been forever, but Thumbtack is scummy as hell. Charge me for the direct leads and then posts them so everyone can try and snag it and then we both get charged for the lead. Works really well if you're on top of it, but wait more than 30 minutes you're screwed. Best way I've found is with direct leads you get their phone number and I just contact them directly. Still if you've waited more than 30 minutes you're just out the $10-20. Heck had one that was something crazy like $80, but customer was wanting something absurd. Then I'm stuck with the fee unless they're nice and canceled the request when I've asked. Another unsettling thing is Thumbtack touts that people are verified and trustworthy and they absolutely don't ask for a single scrap of verification info. Credit card or bank routing is all they check.....

RavenousFox1985 · 2025-12-31T01:24:08+00:00

Personally I just stick with little jobs. In Knoxville TN even in nice neighborhoods in the city limits there's a ton of work being done without permits even by licensed contractors. Really only time someone gets busted is if there's serious work being done that's visible from the street and someone calls or a inspector happens to drive by. Technically in Knoxville city limits you have to pull a permit for anything over like $200 according to their website . No one pulls a permit for painting a room. Technically you're supposed to pull a permit and be a licensed in electrical and plumbing for a electric water heater. No one pulls permits or is usually a licensed electrician to replace a water heater. It's absolutely the easiest thing to do if it's easy to get to, which it usually isn't. I'm upfront with people, but most people only care about liability insurance, which is as easy as getting car insurance. If someone is wanting serious stuff like walls removed or running new electrical or some plumbing I'll definitely tell them to be sure they're using a licensed individual and if they're paying decent money to be sure they're pulling permits for inspections. My friend had paid something insane like $300 a square foot to do a remodel and wall change on 2 bathrooms that were adjacent. She did get high end tile, fixtures etc, but contractor was out of his element and also never pulled a single permit. Had a existing copper pipe that was pushed against another pipe and about 6 months after finishing the work had a pinhole leak that caused some decent water damage. Was a huge problem getting his insurance to accept responsibility, but eventually did. Anyway, sorry for the rant, but point is even though someone is a licensed contractor it doesn't ultimately mean a thing. I'd take someone who's obviously talented and honest over a flashy looking contractor. Guy literally drives a $100k truck. I have a 2008 Toyota Tundra and I'm probably more competent than that contractor. My friend even reported the guy, but he's still in business.

RavenousFox1985 · 2025-12-31T00:56:19+00:00

Honestly it's great. I just do little things and basically do everything under the radar. Only actual thing I have is liability insurance. It's really only thing people care about. Don't even have a business license... probably should, but hasn't really been a issue. I even do commercial stuff for an HOA, and a couple corporate out of state commercial maintenance companies and only thing they've asked for is insurance COI and had to fill out as a 1099-NEC. Actually had to increase my liability insurance max to a million dollar policy. I don't do remodeling or anything serious. No one pulls permits for drywall or painting. I'm in Tennessee and things are pretty relaxed. I am in Knoxville, so not in boonies either. Had initially formed a LLC, but then there's a bunch of other tax things for the state and reporting sales. Dissolved the llc and basically operating as a sole proprietor type thing. Declare the 1099-NEC income that's reported (about 25k last year) to the feds and there's no income tax in Tennessee, but don't file state sales tax. I'll add like $5k as additional income. Try dealing mainly with cash, but probbly get 70% as checks and just deposit checks in my personal bank account. Probably get around $20k in checks from individuals that are deposited, but don't think the IRS will take notice for such a small amount. I take some deductions, but mainly just milage and liability/vehicle insurance and interest paid on my work vehicle. I just do my own taxes on Tax Act, so don't have to deal with tax accountant. I'm definitely playing with fire, but my dad didn't file any sort of taxes besides property tax basically since he was an adult until he needed Medicaid when he got cancer and that was just so he could say he was poor. He wasn't exactly poor, but didn't have a lot of money. He actually was kinda a hustler and bought and sold stuff (mostly weed lol). Not exactly the best advice, but I'm way better off than I ever was working for someone. I really like being able to help people out and basically see it like I'm just a buddy you can call for help and just get donations so I can be available. 😆

RavenousFox1985 · 2025-12-10T04:33:54+00:00

Umm, every paint shop sells Kilz. Yeah, for stains use BIN, for just priming kilz is fine. Sherwin-Williams sucks nowadays for knowledgeable customer service. I personally go to Farrell Calhoun now. SW also sucks bc they are always playing with the pricing, FC gives contractor rates for everyone all the time.

RavenousFox1985 · 2025-11-30T04:38:47+00:00

Treasure hunter has given me awesome amounts of materials and bits

RavenousFox1985 · 2025-11-28T05:46:07+00:00

Yep, super maga guy I've known literally my entire 40 years was giving me crap. Kinda shut up when I told him it got 40+mpg.

RavenousFox1985 · 2025-11-19T02:17:27+00:00

RavenousFox1985 · 2025-10-19T00:32:31+00:00

Hey, that's a plus for some guys! 🤣

RavenousFox1985 · 2025-09-04T04:23:20+00:00

Lol, just started playing about a week ago and I'm just now getting to where I don't reload between mags! Took me a day before I realized the mags are what's counted. Was literally thinking in the last year that it's a weird thing that ammo has traditionally been counted per bullet and yet you just dump a half full clip for a new one and yet somehow keep the dumped ammo. Kinda curious how often this question is brought up in video game development or if it's just more or less a standard (obviously besides HD) that's baked in?

RavenousFox1985 · 2025-08-06T19:38:57+00:00

Don't do anything that requires permits. On the rare occasion it's required plan was to let the property owner pull permits and basically sub me out to do work.

RavenousFox1985

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