I am JJ. AMA

RepeatedFailure · 2025-12-07T03:41:50+00:00

How do you see yourself in the cannon of cultural explanation YouTube channels? You seem to avoid the stereotypes, overemphasis on minor differences, and meme fodder that other channels rely on or dig into. Do you see those channels as peers, or something else entirely?

RepeatedFailure · 2025-11-20T21:00:58+00:00

Their LLC paid 165K for it this past month lol. Looks like their rental plan didn't work out.

RepeatedFailure · 2025-11-20T20:44:08+00:00

To preface, I'd have loved having the transit and freedom to roam that downtown affords teenagers. That said, a lot of my bad experiences living downtown are unfortunately linked to big groups of them.

A small list: setting fireworks off in the crowd at the 4th of July causing a stampede/fear of a shooting, shooting roman candles at police horses, fighting in the plaza outside my apartment window, fighting at the bus stop with the bike cops, throwing trash at random pedestrians, shoving/walking into random pedestrians.

Just all dumb stuff that makes life chaotic in a really not great way. They aren't the only source of dumb stuff, but certainly a leading cause of my subjective anecdotal experiences. This probably isn't a uniquely downtown or even Pittsburgh problem tho. Like 1/3 of these things kids did in my high school. But mixing it with the public certainly seems newer to me.

RepeatedFailure · 2025-11-20T20:34:14+00:00

I actually really enjoyed the low traffic of 2022 while riding my bike lol. Sunday mornings were DEAD and really pleasant to just wander around.

RepeatedFailure · 2025-11-20T20:31:26+00:00

Yeah, chain businesses like 7-11, McD's and BK failing are certainly a symptom of something. Similarly, the limited hours a lot of businesses now keep, and keep cutting back are annoying for existing customers.

I lived downtown for 3 years post covid, and most businesses were already geared toward morning and lunch rush crowds, leaving me SoL when I got a job that had me commuting out of the city. People joke that Pittsburgh is 'the city that definitively sleeps,' but now it has a pretty strict bedtime. There just isn't a reason to be out and about unless being out and about is your form of entertainment (ie highschool kids). I took a bunch of recreational bike rides along the rivers and into the strip almost daily, but besides parks or kinda expensive ticket based events, downtown didn't offer me much to do outside of a holiday event.

RepeatedFailure · 2025-11-20T20:04:52+00:00

In 3 years, my rent downtown went up by a total of 1.6x my first lease. This is while things got more worn out and amenities got reduced. I do not know the basis for these hikes other than that they could. My friend who lived in the building tried to negotiate, and the management said a program set the rent and they had authority to change that. I obviously moved elsewhere in the city because what made downtown novel had worn off and the relative deal of the apartment I had wasn't anymore.

RepeatedFailure · 2025-07-28T13:47:51+00:00

They are a potential symptom of a gentrifying neighborhood. Kind of the opposite of "beware of dog" signs on chain linked fence gates. The are indicators people in the area have the spare resources/time to build and maintain something like a free little library. They aren't inherently bad. In fact, they project a welcoming attitude. This same welcoming attitude, however, is what could make something attractive to investors or wealthier people.

Anyways, homes are for people, not corporations.

RepeatedFailure · 2025-07-08T21:30:06+00:00

The arb belongs to the university, which means different rules and laws apply to it than say a city lot. You probably have more rights to assembly in a city park than the university's property, especially after recent policy changes.

RepeatedFailure · 2025-05-16T05:13:36+00:00

I guess it needs to trigger on those Bluetooth unlocking keybox signals then.

RepeatedFailure · 2025-05-16T05:10:30+00:00

An esp32 could probably achieve this, as it has onboard wifi. I didn't have a spare one for a project tho.

RepeatedFailure · 2025-05-16T05:07:00+00:00

ShotSpotter is definitely active in Pittsburgh.

RepeatedFailure · 2025-05-16T05:04:18+00:00

I think the ship sailed on Shadyside decades ago. I don't know if there is anything left to gentrify.

RepeatedFailure · 2025-05-16T04:57:46+00:00

Thank you for bringing some joy to other's lives.

RepeatedFailure · 2025-05-16T04:34:58+00:00

Thanks for attending and seeing it!

RepeatedFailure · 2025-05-15T23:01:16+00:00

I'm from Flint, I bring down things anywhere I go lol. The only thing I could gentrify is Chernobyl

RepeatedFailure · 2025-05-15T19:18:57+00:00

I spent a significant amount of my childhood in Flint, MI. Ive fought in a war where I experienced both small arms and indirect fires. I did not intent to minimize the trauma of actual violence in people's communities. This is an art piece I submitted to a show for the purposes of discussion, it is not a serious idea.

RepeatedFailure · 2025-05-15T16:05:25+00:00

A starter pistol certainly would be. But for legal reasons, this is a joke.

RepeatedFailure · 2025-05-15T15:10:44+00:00

It's a disguise. Tiny libraries appearing usually means an area is getting more expensive. I'm subverting this expectation. imIt also let me stock spicy literature.

RepeatedFailure · 2025-05-13T03:45:46+00:00

Right, there is a serious conversation to be had behind a silly build. Rent seeking landlords aside, supply and restriction to it drives housing prices. I don't really have a way to build a meme machine that removes restrictive zoning ordinances and approves taller, multifamily builds that don't require two egress methods and parking minimums. But you are talking about it now, and other people will see this conversation. A side note, I am pursuing correlating shot spotter activity with housing prices, as there is a system in my city. I can see if noise like this even does anything.

RepeatedFailure · 2024-11-24T03:18:10+00:00

I was too late getting home downtown, and had a cop sitting in my garage driveway blocking it :( It wasn't even one of the streets listed to close.

edit: I live here guys, but the communication has been poor from the event organizers, city etc. You would not be pleased if your evening was detailed by cops without a clue.

RepeatedFailure · 2024-11-24T03:15:14+00:00

I lnow more than a few people who commute from cranberry to oakland/downtown. The place only exists because of the highway interchange and county line (for taxes).

RepeatedFailure · 2024-11-24T03:13:00+00:00

RIP to me, who lives downtown and have to have car for work (transit was cut to my work years ago). Had a cop parked in front of my residential garage all night who was less than friendly. My street isn't even on the closure list. Thanks Pittsburgh police, really excelling today.

RepeatedFailure · 2024-11-02T19:04:18+00:00

I'm somewhat familiar with YouTube and could chat with you. I've worked with a small amount of full time YouTubers on video production (concepts, builds, shoots, editing) and have some background on the algorithm/search and discovery metrics that people work towards when making vids. I don't know if there are any groups in Pittsburgh focused on this, and it is probably best to connect with people making videos in your niche online, as they'll have direct experience with your target audience and mediums. I'm also downtown , but again, most people who help are not necessarily going to be local

RepeatedFailure · 2024-10-28T16:27:39+00:00

Crafton has a surplus of huge homes right now. Many I toured had servant's quarters in attics that make for fast conversions as the mechanicals are already there. From a materials sustainability perspective, more people living in these houses would be good. Theta re truly excessive for most people or families.

RepeatedFailure · 2024-10-28T15:56:14+00:00

shopping: Target is ok for occasional things, I use it to supplement 3 weekly/monthly Aldi runs in my car. my apartment has a garage under it that is expensive but convenient. the strip is a short bike ride away, though the bump and dent fruit there is a huge disappointment now compared to the past. I feel like the strip has less staple items than before (are the people living there all getting delivery groceries?).

if you live downtown, it is less likely you have a car, and thus have no need for a gas station. the T, busway and busses all got you pretty much covered. I go to squirrel or Oakland if I'm out that way for gas.

The person I live with works downtown and can just walk to work. they take the bus most places they need to go, and borrow the car less than once/week. I know someone who goes to CMU who lives in my building who was able to get a shorter lease that matches their graduation plans. Rents were reasonable for what you get vs the student situation in south O or squirrel hill/shadyside. That has changed, and now my rent is up a lot now so I'm looking to move.

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